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Aug. 5th 2022 - A publication of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California
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Bob Teshima
President
IIABCal
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President's Message
Painting Our Masterpiece Together
Seeing the bright, smiling faces of our industry's future sitting around a table to discuss the opportunities ahead for California's independent insurance agents and brokers is inspiring.
After attending this summer's Strategic Planning session and hearing what our young leaders had to say, this old industry war horse realized we are in good hands. Diversity, community, hope, and opportunity are just a few of the words our young leaders used to describe the future. With the capable hands of our new CEO, Jill Epstein, and with your help, we will shortly begin to see the beginning of a new masterpiece.
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CEO Corner
Developing The Next Generation of IIABCal Leaders
IIABCal directors, volunteers and staff hunkered down in Burbank July 25th to discuss areas for strategic focus and how to reach those goals.
In the short-term, we encourage you to click here for descriptions of each Committee and a self-nomination form. We will also send out a member survey so we can learn what each segment of our membership wants and needs. We hope to develop new leaders and offer even more valuable services as a result of these initial efforts!
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Jill Epstein
CEO
IIABCal
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IIABCal leaders and staff meet to discuss future association strategies and goals
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Media Outreach
IIABCal's Young Talks To Media About Burdensome Rate Regs
IIABCal General Counsel Steve Young on Tuesday talked to ABC 10 News in Sacramento about how state's regulations have made it increasingly difficult for insurance companies to do business in California.
"There's a very complicated insurance rating law that is in effect here, that makes it very difficult for insurers to have confidence that they can get the rate that they need from an actuarial perspective to write these risks going forward," Young told ABC News Sacramento.
Young was quoted in the story addressing GEICO’s abrupt closing of its physical offices across California.
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Watch Steve's news interview here.
“Steve’s work with reporters is an example of our expanded media initiative to bring to the attention of the public how rate regulation under Prop 103 has negatively impacted and exacerbated the homeowners insurance availability crisis in California,” IIABCal CEO Jill Epstein said.
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Breaking News on Products
New Leadership Announced For Service Corporation
IIABCal Executive Director Jill Epstein announced the promotion of Mike Orrick to vice president of the Independent Insurance Producer Service Corporation (IIPSC). In addition to his reponsiblities as Membership Vice President, Mike will be tasked with overseeing product sales of the for-profit subsidiary.
You'll be hearing from Mike and his team as we re-introduce you to some of the competitve products, such as E&O, EPLI, Earthquake and Flood, and as we rollout new offerings.
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Expect a call from Mike Orrick and his team to discuss our product offerings.
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Member Question of the Month
Q. We have a particular business policyholder that we would prefer to stop doing business with. The client is abrasive, frequently uncommunicative, and often late in paying premiums. Can we “resign” as their insurance producer?
A. As a general rule, yes. There is nothing that requires broker-agents to provide insurance services to a particular customer indefinitely. There are several important exceptions to that general rule (summarized below), but for the most part you don’t have to do business with anyone you don’t want to, so long as you have a reasonable business reason.
Click here for the rest of the answer!
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IIABCal’s “Member Question of the Month” features questions from agents & brokers.
IIABCal General Counsel Steve Young provides answers to your legal questions as part of your membership benefits.
Have a question? Email Steve Young at syoung@iiabcal.org.
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Members Matter
Membership Growth Remains Strong
As we wrap up our 2022 membership efforts and start focusing on 2023, we are excited to share that we have brought on 13 new Associate Members and 27 new Regular Members.
In addition we have added more than 50 new agency locations within our existing membership. This growth adds to the strength of our ability to Promote, Protect and Perpetuate independent agents and brokers in California.
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In order to ensure that we have the most up to date information on our members and provide you the most value for your membership, we will be sending out instructions on how to update your company and individual profiles in August. Please keep a lookout for that. Also, our 2023 dues renewal cycle will begin in October.
If you have any questions about your membership, the benefits that IIABCal provides, or have any updates to your company profile, please contact Jenn Pouey, VP of Member Services at jpouey@iiabcal.org or 925-426-3304.
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New Member Spotlight
Foresight Group Joins Ranks With IIABCal
IIABCal is excited to announce its newest associate member, Foresight Group, a workers' comp insurtech company with an award-winning safety management program.
"As technological efficiences continue to drive agents and brokers to new systems and platforms, insurtech firms will play a larger role assisting agents and brokers in better serving their customers," IIABCal President Bob Teshima said. "Foresight Group is one such company, and we welcome their knowledge, expertise and talent to our association."
Foresight Group’s co-founders David Fontain and Peter Grant set out on a mission to bring workers #homesafe at the end of a shift. Today they are helping deliver on that promise. Foresight provides innovative coverage, pricing, and safety coaching for America’s core industry sectors, like construction, manufacturing, and agribusiness.
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Why Join IIABCal?
“California is our largest territory with some of our most engaged brokers, as well as a fantastic representation of clients in the core industries we are focused on—Agribusiness, Construction, and Manufacturing,” said Matt Keeping, Head of Distribution for Foresight. “Becoming a member of IIABCal was both an honor and a no-brainer for us. We’re thrilled to join the ranks here.”
Read more about Foresight Group in the member spotlight story.
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IBA-SFV Executive Marian Jocz Retires After 23 Years of Service
IBA San Fernando Valley member agents and brokers said goodbye to their retiring Executive Director, Marian Jocz, after 23 years of services to the local Big "I" association.
Marian was the glue that held the IBA-SFV Board of Directors together, and she will be greatly missed by hundreds of South California independent Insurance agents. With all our love, we wish her all the best in the future. Thank you, Marian, for all that you have done for us and the organization.
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IIAB Fresno Awards Two Scholarships To Local High School Students
As part of the local association's community outreach program, the IIAB Fresno awarded two scholarships to high school students this past January. IIAB Fresno gives out two scholarships each year to well rounded high school and college applicants.
This year’s recipients were John Henry Lee from Bullard High School, Fresno, who is attending Santa Clara University in the Fall, and Analiese Figueroa from San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno, who is attending California State University, Fresno in the Fall. Each student received $1,000.
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Professional Education
Cyber Insurance 101 (1-CE)
The cyber insurance market grew at the intersection of cybersecurity and insurance and might be hard to understand for the non-initiated. This session will cover the basics that agents, brokers, businesses and security professionals should know about when approaching cyber insurance.
● Types of coverages available
● Difference between packaged and standalone cyber
● Myths about cyber insurance
● What to look for when seeking insurance
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Future Dates:
Sept 13th: 10 to 11 a.m.
Nov. 8th: 10 to 11 a.m.
All Pacific Times
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Blast From The Past:
Working Together To Meet Member Agent & Broker Needs
A history of cooperation between the National Big "I" and the California state association has been critical in meeting the advocacy, education, product and branding needs of member independent insurance agents and brokers on both the state and national level for more than 100 years.
From left, IIABA & IIABCal Past President
Lyle Huggins, IIABCal Past President
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Milt Cherverton and IIABCal Executive Secretary Bill Williams share a moment during a joint National/State meeting (circa 1980).
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