You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Turn off Animations
Turn on Animations
Hidden Anchor
Follow
Special Menu
About
Big "I" Celebrates 125 Years
Contact Us
Find an Agent
Member Directory
Find State Association
Your State
Media
Find an Agent
Sign In
search
main menu
panel menu
It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.
default
Services
Programs
ACT
Ask an Expert
Best Practices
Big "I" Hires
Company Partners
Trusted Choice Relief Fund
Diversity
E&O Risk Management
Government Affairs
IA Magazine
InsurPac
InVEST
Legal Advocacy & Governance
Marketing and Branding
TechCompare
Trusted Choice
Virtual University
Young Agents
Products
Big "I" Alliance Blue
Big "I" Flood
Crump Life Insurance Services
Big "I" Alliance
Employee Benefits
Home Business
InsurBanc
Professional Liability
Retirement
Umbrella
Business Resources
Resources
Big "I" News
IA Magazine
Virtual University
Ask an Expert
Agency Universe Study
How To Start An Independent Agency
Agency Perpetuation
Market Share Report
Technology
Marketing
Diversity & Inclusion
Right Start Series
Cyber Resources
Talent Recruitment
E&O Risk Management
Disaster Relief Fund
Contract Review
Young Agents
Events Calendar
Webinars
Branding and Marketing
Market Access
Market Access Newsletter
Events
Big "I" Legislative Conference
ACT Meeting
Big "I" Fall Leadership Conference
Events Calendar
Big "I" Winter Meeting
Webinars
Government Affairs
Issues
InsurPac
Legislative Conference
Press Releases
Belong
Agency Management
Agency Management
Virtual University
Research Library
Checklists, Charts & White Papers
Commercial Lines
Auto
Endorsements
Garage - Auto Dealers
Liability
Other
Physical-Damage
Business Income
CGL
Additional-Insureds
Conditions
Contractual
Coverages
Crime
Definitions
Endorsements
Exclusions
Insureds
Liability
Other
Flood
Miscellaneous
Professional-Liability
Property
Conditions
Coverages
Endorsements
Exclusions
Others
Perils
Workers' Compensation
Life-And-Health
Health
Life
Miscellaneous
Personal Lines
Auto
Conditions
Endorsements
Insureds
Liability
Other
Physical-Damage
Rental-Cars
Flood
Flood Resources
Homeowners
Conditions
Condo-Issues
Definitions
Endorsements
Insureds
Liability-Coverages
Liability-Exclusions
Others
Property-Coverages
Property-Exclusions
Property-Perils
Vehicles
Miscellaneous
Agency Management
Certificates of Insurance
Compensation
Contracts
Customer Service
E&O
Human Resources
Management
Marketing
Miscellaneous
Perpetuation
Procedures
Professional Development
Currently selected
Regulation
Sales
Valuation
Ask an Expert
Talent Recruitment and Development
Online Learning Resources
ABEN Continuing Education
ABEN Webinars
default
OTHER PAGE
Professional Development
Time management, presentation skills, communications, ethics. These are just some of the topics addressed by articles in this section of the VU research library designed to improve your professional competency.
Filter:
Five Areas the Best Practices Program Can Help Any Agency
Virtually every industry has a model for comparing results to other businesses in the same field. For the independent agency system, that model is the Big “I” Best Practices program.
[more]
Insurance CE and “Micro Learning”
According to research the average person has a total of 24 minutes a week to dedicate to learning. Our current insurance education system doesn’t cater to this reality. The industry needs to adopt “micro learning” as an alternative to the current multi-hour sessions. State DOIs tend to have issues with this concept; this article addresses these issues and how they really are non-issues.
[more]
Is Insurance Knowledge Important?
What does an agency sell? One might say an agency sells price. Fair enough. But what are they selling for price? An insurance policy? Any policy? Is whether or not the policy provides the coverages the insured needs secondary, to be discovered in court together? Is an agency selling insurance I.D. cards and evidences of insurance for a price? That is all some insureds want so it makes sense to only sell them what they effectively want, right? They really do not care about coverage, just proof of insurance. Do these particular insureds then even need an agent? What value does an agent selling pure price really provide that software cannot provide?
[more]
Looking for Learning in All the Wrong Places: The State of Insurance CE Today
Seen on an insurance discussion board: “I use XXXXX.com. About $35 for 21 hours credit. Takes a few hours (maybe two) to finish and is open book.” What do you think about online CE programs where people literally spend minutes to get HOURS of CE credit? Is continuing education in our industry actually being regulated?
[more]
Carriers Cheating Agents? Probably Not
Insurers often adjust loss ratios and reserves near the end of the calendar year. One agent asks if this is done to reduce profit sharing bonuses paid to agencies or if there is some legitimate reason for the adjustments. The VU faculty point out that it is much more likely than not that the latter is the case.
[more]
false,false,1