Happy Wednesday! In this week's Big I Buzz, we are discussing a member benefit that you should be taking advantage of in 2023 and states with the biggest auto insurance rate changes. Plus, as a bonus, we are sharing two upcoming opportunities to earn CE. 

HR Solutions for Your Agency

Planning to hire in 2023? Selecting the right team member is critical to. your agency's success and the IIAW is here to help! Through your IIAW membership, you can access many staffing solutions to help you ensure that you're finding the perfect candidate for your agency. We know that hiring can feel like a daunting task, so we have options to help whether you prefer to do it yourself, need a little help or just want to outsource the entire process. 

Additionally, the IIAW offers the following HR solutions:

• Agency Hiring - The partnership with CareerPlug, gives our members the opportunity to create their own careers page and the opportunity to post available job opportunities on a site that enables them to get better candidates to fill any vacancies. Members have the option to upgrade their subscriptions with CareerPlug at an annual, deeply discounted rate that will allow them to cross-list their open job position on popular job sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, etc. 

• Employee Handbook and Other Templates - There's no better time to update your Employee Handbook than the start of the new year. Establishing policies and procedures is one of the best ways to improve workplace communication, set employee expectations and promote fairness, leading to a more productive workplace. Whether it's providing policy updates or creating a handbook for the first time, the IIAW will work with you to craft and brand your employee handbook to your agency. 

• New Hire Training - Start your new hires off right with our classroom and self-study prelicensing courses and online training in insurance essentials, coverages, business skills and more. 

• Remote Staffing with WAHVE - Hire an experienced and qualified remote employee for full-time, part-time or project-based work through our partnership with WAHVE. WAHVE bridges the gap between an employer's need for highly skilled professional talent and seasoned professionals desiring to extend their career working from home. From screening to placement, WAHVE is a comprehensive solution to qualifying, hiring and managing experienced remote talent. 

• Internships & Talent Pipeline - Promote internship and job opportunities with your agency at college RMI Career Fairs with the help of the IIAW. 

Learn more about the IIAW's HR Solutions here. 

States with the Biggest Auto Insurance Rate Changes

ValuePenguin.com has narrowed down the the states that are expected to see the biggest year-over-year rate increase for car insurance. Here's what their study found: 

10. Virginia - year-on-year increase is 12.6% with an average annual cost of $1,416

9. Kansas & New Mexico (Tied) - year -on-year rate increase is 12.9%. The average cost for Kansas is $1,656 and for New Mexico is $1,668. 

8. Delaware - year-on-year rate increase is 13.3% with an average annual cost of $2,052. 

7. Utah - year-on-year increase: 13.4% with an average annual cost of $1,656.

6. South Carolina - year-on-year rate increase is 13.5% with an average annual cost of $1,632. 

5. New Hampshire - year-on-year rate increase is 13.6% with an average annual cost of $1,560.

4. Georgia - year-on-year rate increase is 13.8% with an average annual cost of $1,500. 

3. Pennsylvania - year-on-year rate increase is 14.4% with an average annual cost of $1,488. 

2. Arizona - year-on-year rate increase is 15.6% with an average annual cost of $1,920. 

1. Illinois - year-on-year rate increase is 17.1% with an average annual cost of $1,720. 

You can read more about this study and its findings here. 

Two Upcoming CE Opportunities 

1. E&O Risk Management and Ethics: Less Risk. More Reward.

1 to 4 p.m. (Happy Hour: 4 to 5 p.m.)

February 28th

SECURA Insurance in Neenah, WI

Cost: $24

3 WI Ethics CE Credits

Join us on February 28th at SECURA Insurance in Neenah, WI for this interactive seminar that looks at the risks of E&O claims for an independent insurance agency. This course serves as an educational opportunity for insurance professionals to consider their ethical obligations from both a legal perspective and how it can affect their exposure to E&O claims and allegations. 

This course has been approved for E&O risk management premium credits for Swiss Re policyholders and approved for 3 Ethics CE. 

2. Claims Handling: 2023 The Year of the Customer

9 a.m. on March 2 - 1 WI CE Approved

This webinar will review claim handling do's and don'ts for an independent agency. The session reminds an agency of the E&O risks of providing too much guidance to customers on how to handle a claim and whether there is coverage. The presenter, Jim Redeker, will utilize case examples, storytelling and data from one of the largest E&O carriers in the United States, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. 

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here  to add your email to our emailing list. Additionally, we send out monthly newsletters with content curated just for you and your role. Make sure you're on the list to receive our communications by heading to bit.ly/industrynewsforyou to stay in the loop!