FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Madison, WI [September 26, 2023] – The Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (IIAW) is proud to announce they will celebrate 125 years of excellence, innovation and growth in the insurance industry in 2024. To celebrate this significant milestone, the IIAW is thrilled to open registration for its grand celebratory event, InsurCon2024.

Founded in 1899, the IIAW has been a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s insurance landscape, dedicated to serving its members and advancing the industry. Over the years, the organization has consistently delivered exceptional value to its members, enabling them to thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing insurance landscape.

InsurCon2024: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Celebration

InsurCon2024, set to take place on May 15-16, 2024, is more than just a convention; it’s a historic celebration of the IIAW’s 125-year legacy. The event will be hosted at the iconic Lambeau Field, offering attendees a unique and unforgettable experience.

This celebration will feature renowned special guests:

·      Charles Woodson: Former NFL Defensive MVP for the Green Bay Packers

·      Matt LaFleur: Green Bay Packers Head Coach

This is a rare opportunity for insurance professionals to gain valuable knowledge, network with industry leaders and be a part of an event that honors the past, embraces the present and looks forward to a promising future.

Registration Now Open

Registration for InsurCon2024 is officially open. To secure your spot and take advantage of early bird pricing, visit iiaw.com/insurcon.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of an event that will go down in history. Join us at InsurCon2024 and help us write the next chapter of success.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact Kaylyn Staudt, IIAW Marketing & Communications Director (kaylyn@iiaw.com).

About the IIAW | The Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (IIAW) is one of the largest and most influential insurance agent associations in the state representing over 5,000 member agents. Founded in 1899, the IIAW is one of the oldest associations in the state of Wisconsin. Now led by Matt Banaszynski, the IIAW has 125 years of experience and knowledge in the industry.

Happy Wednesday! In this week's Big I Buzz, we are sharing session details for our November "How to Succeed in a Hard Market" event and a reminder to get involved with the IIAW. 

"How to Succeed in a Hard Market" Featuring MarshBerry & Networking

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on November 2, 2023

5 to 6:30 p.m. for Happy Hour

Park Hotel - Top of the Park Room (8th Floor)

22 S Carroll Street

Madison, WI 53703

Starting at 1 p.m. at the Top of the Park Room in Park Hotel in Madison, WI, Eric Kuhen and Aaron Forbes from MarshBerry will guide us through a series of sessions to help improve our strategies and skills in a hard market. 

Here are the sessions you can look forward to: 

How to Communicate Your Value in a Hard Market
It's rarely easy to get prospects and customers to understand the immense value you bring to the table (until there's a claim). Add on carrier capacity and restrictions, rising premium costs and team members with less hard-market experience and the task becomes more challenging. Join MarshBerry Vice President, Eric Kuhen, as he shares the language and strategy you need to communicate and grow, how to understand the importance of an association or network partner to achieve growth goals, and creating a strategy and succession plan for your firm to move forward in the current market.

Strategy for Growing Organically
Take a deep dive into organic growth practices for insurance agencies and what you should be focusing on to remain viable and competitive in today’s marketplace. This session discusses the keys to creating a vision and setting goals that are challenging but attainable, how to develop strategies for objective achievement, and how innovation and competitive differentiation are the keys to profitable development.

Keys to Assessing Your Sales Culture
Yes. Sales culture can be assessed! In this session, learn how MarshBerry enables you to gain perspective on what's working and what needs to improve to help drive predictable, profitable organic growth in your organization. Specifically, you’ll understand how a sales culture assessment can provide perspective on the inner workings of your firm, the four focal points of a sales culture assessment and how to use results to drive change. Attendees will have access to a complimentary Sales Culture assessment for their agency.

Solidifying Your Carrier Partnerships
Are you working with the right carriers? Do you have the right partnerships in place? These relationships can help you fuel growth. During this session, MarshBerry helps you generate ideas on building a carrier strategy that can advance your growth

AND MORE!

Interested in registering for this event? Register here. Registration is $25 for IIAW members and $149 for non-members.

Volunteer to Serve: Get Involved with the IIAW

We're looking for volunteers to serve on the IIAW's councils and task forces. Your participation is invaluable, and your input and feedback will help drive the work we do in the coming year and beyond. 

Each council and task force will act as a sounding board for the IIAW and will only have four virtual meetings per year - two planning sessions and two webinars. Participation in the IIAW Task Forces and Councils give you access to industry experts, exclusive networking events and free CE opportunities during virtual meetings when content allows. 

Learn more about the opportunities available this year (including our newest Task Forces and Councils), and sign up to serve. Click here to sign up to serve and to receive communications regarding our task forces and councils.

Don't forget if you haven't already updated your information to head back to this week's Big I Buzz email so you can receive our monthly email curated for you and your role. 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.

Happy Wednesday! We hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend and enjoyed some much-deserved time off. In this week's email, we are outlining a member benefit that you should take advantage of today and the global variations in navigating the post-pandemic workplace.

Activate Your CareerPlug Account

Finding and hiring the right staff is crucial to your success, which is why the IIAW has partnered with CareerPlug to support your hiring operations. CareerPlug designed their hiring software for non-HR people so every owner, operator and hiring manager can make the right hires for their team. 

Every IIAW member receives a free CareerPlug account that comes with a branded careers page to showcase your jobs, pre-built job templates, a configured hiring process to help evaluate your applicants and access to a team of Hiring Experts. 

You also have the option to upgrade your free account to a paid Pro subscription at an exclusive partnership rate.  A Pro subscription includes unlimited job postings to top job boards (Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Google for Jobs, LinkedIn, etc.), 2-way applicant text messaging and the use of evaluation tools like personality assessments. You'll also have access to free one-on-one coaching within the first 30 days of upgrading. 

Click here to learn more and get started.

Return-to-Office is $1.3 Trillion Problem Few Have Figured Out

In the post-pandemic world, the landscape of work remains uncertain and diverse across continents and cultures. While Asian and European workers have largely returned to offices more quickly due to better pandemic control and flexible work laws, the situation in the Americas is more varied, with some companies pushing for three days in the office and others aiming for five. This ongoing debate on the role of offices, work-life balance, productivity, and pay carries significant economic consequences, including the potential erasure of up to $1.3 trillion in real estate value by 2030. Legislative efforts in Europe and elsewhere are promoting more flexible work arrangements, but the workplace is fundamentally different now, with the notion of work no longer tied to a specific location. As we move forward, the future of work remains uncertain, shaped by culture, legislation, and industry practices. Read the full article here. 

Don't forget if you haven't already updated your information to head back to this week's Big I Buzz email so you can receive our monthly email curated for you and your role. 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.

Happy Wednesday! In this week's Big I Buzz, we are sharing details about an upcoming IIAW Emerging Leaders event that you should register for now, how to make sure you're the first to receive InsurCon updates and the test facing private flood insurance. 

TAPCO Risk Management Tour (2 WI CE Credits)

Join the IIAW and Emerging Leaders Group on September 14th, 2023, for the TAPCO Risk Management Tour, an educational event approved for 2 WI CE Credits. Explore one of the nation's premier traffic safety and highway system solution providers, TAPCO, at their Brown Deer, WI corporate office. From 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, embark on a guided tour of TAPCO's facility, delving into various stations that illustrate their hands-on safety and compliance approach. Stops include an examination of unique 24/7 work cell solutions, digital control of SDS and secondary labeling in the Sign Shop, the Metal Fabrication area's VLOC painting process, and warehouse techniques to prevent injuries. From 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, engage in a Risk Management Discussion led by a panel of TAPCO's Legal and Compliance leaders. The event concludes with a Happy Hour and Networking session. TAPCO, dedicated to enhancing roadway safety through innovative solutions, invites you to this enriching event, and limited space is available. For inquiries, contact Evan@iiaw.com. Register today here. 

Get InsurCon2024 Updates

This year's annual convention is a special celebration as we're celebrating the IIAW's 125th anniversary at Lambeau Field!This is a once-in-a-lifetime extravaganza set against the breathtaking backdrop of Lambeau Field. As Lambeau Field opens its doors exclusiely for our anniversary celebration, you'll experience its legendary aura like never before. With cheers of the past, the energy of the present and the promise of the future - all converge in this unforgettable celebration. Want to be the first to receive all exciting InsurCon updates? Click here and add your email to our email list! You'll receive real-time updates as we release more information like our in-depth schedule, as registration opens and as we announce our special guests joining us for the event! Click here to add your email to our email ist. 

2023 to Test Recent Growth in Private Flood Insurance Market

The growth of the private flood insurance market faces a crucial test in 2023, triggered by events like Tropical Storm Hilary in California and potential upcoming storms in the Atlantic hurricane season. The adoption of new data and technology in the federal National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Risk Rating 2.0 methodology has led to higher premiums reflecting true flood risk, propelling private insurers to greater competitiveness. The private flood insurance sector expanded from 47 to 198 providers between 2016 and 2022, with direct premiums written up 24% to approximately $1.2 billion in 2022. NFIP's financial troubles persist, while California's recent floods and the formation of Hurricane Idalia in the Gulf of Mexico pose significant challenges. The impact on the private flood insurance market remains uncertain, underlining the ongoing issue of low flood insurance uptake, even in disaster-prone regions like Vermont. The nascent nature of this sector is evident in AM Best's top 10 private flood insurers list, highlighting the ongoing evolution of this line of business.

Don't forget if you haven't already updated your information to head back to this week's Big I Buzz email so you can receive our monthly email curated for you and your role. 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.

Happy Wednesday! We're talking about the newest travel that you may want to start packing for trips and insurance concerns that come along with the summer's most popular activities. 

Travel Essentials: Passport, Money, Bluetooth Luggage Trackers? 

In the aftermath of last year's travel chaos and luggage pileups, airlines are still struggling to keep up with the demands of air travel. A recent incident involving Harley Hendrix, a traveler returning to New York from Oslo in late May, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by airlines in handling baggage. Hendrix discovered her suitcase, containing a cherished Alexander McQueen dress and packs of cheese, had been diverted to Copenhagen. Despite using an AirTag to track her bag, it took a week for Delta and KLM to locate and forward her suitcase, by which time the cheese had spoiled and the McQueen dress had to be discarded. The incident reflects the broader issues within the industry, including outdated baggage systems and the lack of interoperability between airlines and device manufacturers. While airlines are working on incorporating trackers into their existing systems, the pressure is on to improve the bag-handling system to meet customers' expectations. In the meantime, it may be wise to pick up a few AirTags before you travel. 

Summer Fun: Make Sure These Insurance Policies Are Up-to-Date

According to a recent study from the Outdoor Industry Association, roughly 55% of people in the U.S., ages 6 and up enjoy alfresco recreations. As temperatures continue to soar and vacation calendars are swelling with planned summer activities, it's a great time to follow-up with your clients. Here are some of the most popular summer activities along with the insurance concerns that come along with them, according to the consumer education and comparison-shopping website VIU by Hub.

• Boating - "If you own a boat, you may want to consider purchasing boater's insurance. Perhaps surprisingly, most states do not require this coverage. Check your state regulations to find out if you need it, but consider purchasing it even if they don't. It typically covers damage to your boat, liability for injuries or damages caused by your boat. It may also include coverage for personal property on board the boat. "
• Swimming pools - "If you have a backyard pool, your insurance company will need to know. You may want to consider adding liability coverage to your home insurance policy, or an umbrella policy, in case someone is injured in or around your pool."
• Cycling - "Your bicycle is likely covered by your homeowners or renters insurance policy in case of theft or damage, as well as liability coverage if you cause an accident while riding your bike."
• Backyard parties - "Grills, fireworks and swing sets are common sources of injuries in the backyard. You may want to check your liability coverage to be sure that you have enough sufficient financial protection if someone is hurt."
• Vacations - "Keeping your vacated home safe while you are away is important for any homeowner. If you're going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, have someone check in on the property and let you know if there are any possible claims that need to be made. For example, if a window is broken in a storm or by a baseball from the neighbors playing."
• Road trips - "Auto insurance is a must to cover any damage or injuries that occur while you're driving. If you're planning to cross borders during your road trip, check to make sure that you'll be covered in those countries as well. It's also a good idea to consider travel insurance to cover any unexpected expenses or emergencies that arise during your trip."
• ATVs - "Unlike a boat, an ATV does need insurance. ATV insurance typically covers damage to your ATV and liability for injuries or damages caused by it. Your homeowners or umbrella policies may offer some additional protection."
  

Read more here. 

Don't forget if you haven't already updated your information to head back to this week's Big I Buzz email so you can receive our monthly email curated for you and your role. 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.