Virtual University

Renewal Surcharges for Loss Experience

One of your insurers has initiated a surcharge program for renewals of insureds who have had even a single claim in the past three years. Is this legal? Is it…

Connecting jigsaw puzzle Business solutions success and strategy concept

Company Payment Obligations

An insured’s account renewed in May, but the policies were not delivered until June. The agent believed that late delivery made these policies June items, payable to the insurer by…

Agency Customer Drop Box for Premium Payments

An agency would like to provide additional services to valued clients. One of the suggestions was to provide a drop box for customer payments for both agency and direct bill…

3D cartoon Hand holding star, paying extra bonus money to employee, special gift more salary or premium payment for high performance worker concept. Gift give away and bonos. 3d rendering illustration

Accounts Receivable Statistics

Do you have a good handle on your accounts receivable for agency-billed business? How do you measure up to industry standards or best practices ranges?

Jigsaw puzzle connecting together. Team business success partnership or teamwork concept. 3d rendering illustration

Eliminating Receivables

The time that your staff spends on collection is much more expensive than the returns. If you establish a procedure that suggests that payment will be made by the agency…

Agency Liquidity Ratios

It is almost embarrassing to say, but most insurance agents reckon their success by the balance in their checkbook. They don’t pay attention to those superb Operating Statements (Profit &…

Interest rate financial and mortgage rates concept. Home and cube block shape with icon percent on balance seesaw scales. 3d illustration

Hidden Assets in Independent Agencies

A respected client of the Agency Consulting Group recently analyzed the impact of direct bill income on the working capital and asset base of their independent agency. They found it…

“Courtesy” Calls on Cancellations of Direct-Billed Policies

After years of preaching to agencies that they should not call customers whose direct bill policies are in a “pending cancellation” state due to non-payment of premium, at least one…

Financial manager, realtor or insurer consulting clients, interviewing interracial couple in office. Happy smiling black wife and caucasian husband taking loan, mortgage, purchasing real estate

Lack of Documentation on L&H Sales

Some independent contractors sell L&H insurance and split commissions with a bank-owned agency. The agency does not get a copy of any of the documentation, from application to policy. Servicing…

Disaster Planning & Recovery for Insurance Agencies

Here are the components of a Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) that was unfortunately missing in New Orleans and was woefully inadequate in the State of Louisiana. As critical as the…

Tornado Season Ahead Caution Sign With Tornado Background