Archives for July 2008

HIGH-TECC 2008 – Day 3

Day 3 of HIGH-TECC is a morning session that is the true software junkie – techie overload session.  What’s Great in 2008 is presented by Steve Anderson and others that he has asked to participated.  Steve had Duke Williams talk about the importance of Google, AdWords positioning and pricing, etc.

Steve and the group discussed how to put live chat at your agency website and how to manage that with the agency staff.  Some agencies are using this technology and shared with the group their tools and experience.

HIGH-TECC 2008 – Day 2

The first session of HIGH-TECC day 2 is Bridging the Industry Communication Gap Panel.  The panel is a diversified group.  There are members from rating services, insurance carriers, Agents Council for Technology, ACORD, and insurance agents.  The issues considered in this discussion are those around the ability of insurance agencies to be able to do effective on-line rating using the data from their agency management systems and having the quote make the round-trip back to the agency management system.  The audience was very active in asking questions of the panel as well as expressing their needs and concerns on this subject.  I really like the terminology that Keith Savino used about comparative rating.  In their agency they refer to the software they use for comparative rating as “a data aggregation tool”.

HIGH-TECC 2008 – Day 1

HIGH-TECC is an annual gathering of agents, brokers, vendors, associations and executives interested in the technology which drives the insurance industry.  The atmosphere is charged with a high level of knowledge on the subjects at hand and the sharing of information.  I have attended this conference for the past several years and find that there is always more to learn than I ever imagined.  I have never heard an attendee that didn’t find the meetings and information exchange valuable. 

Millennial Survey

Networking GroupI am embarking on a study of what attract and keeps Gen-Xers and Millennials engaged in the insurance agency business.  As I look around insurance agencies that I visit I don’t see enough of the individuals in these groups.  When I do see them they are rarely engaged in the true business of insurance.  Those that are employed in agencies are usually in assistant roles.  This is a great starting place, but no clear career path seems to be defined in most agencies to ensure that these individuals continue to grow and move forward in the agency.

I get the impression in casual conversations with these groups that they are just biding their time until they search out something better in another profession.  I don’t believe that the independent agency system understands how to recruit or manage these groups of people.  However, the very existence of agencies depends on doing so.  Look for my full length article in the July 2008 edition of “The Anderson Agency Report”.  You may access the survey at Millennial Survey, my website or via the link in the article.  My request is that everyone in your agency 30 years of age and younger complete this survey.  There will be on-going information at this blog and in “The Anderson Agency Report” on the findings of the study.  I will also be looking at and discussing solutions to the issues that result from the study.

Agency Staff Perpetuation – TAAR – July 08

A few years ago, an acquaintance (who is of retirement age) decided to work three days a week in lieu of full time.  She intended to maintain this work arrangement for several more years.

Read Article

Subscribe to The Anderson Agency Report