July 25, 2017
INDUSTRY NEWS

Auto Insurance Market To Shrink 70% By 2050 - KPMG
Autonomous vehicle technology, a rise in on-demand transportation, and a shifting of liability to manufacturers will shrink the auto insurance sector by more than 70 percent or $137 billion by 2050, according to updated research by KPMG.   Read  more . . .

Source:  Insurance Journal

Independent Agents Hold Tight To Market Share
Independent agents continue to dominate commercial lines while rivaling direct response writers and captive carriers in personal lines business, according to the 21st Market Share Report from IIABA.
Source:  IA Magazine
Impact of Legalized Marijuana On Driving - No Surprises Here  
Legalizing recreational marijuana use in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington has resulted in higher collision claim frequencies, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).  Colorado saw the biggest estimated increase in claim frequency compared to "control states" - 14% higher than in Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming.   Washington state's estimated increase was 6% higher than Montana and Idaho, and Oregon's was 4% higher.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Elite Force Sales Class of 2017 Graduates!
IIAN is pleased to announce that we have 12 new graduates of the 2016-17 Midwest Elite Force Sales Training School.  These graduates attended all twelve days of Elite classroom instruction, and demonstrated the sales attributes of discipline, consistency, and persistence throughout the year. They earned the Associate in Insurance Production professional designation (AIP), conferred by IIABA, after reporting their sales results to IIAN on a monthly basis.

Congratulations to - Back Row:   Marty Schaefer - Central States Agency, Buffalo Center, IA;
Ben Anderson - AmFirst Insurance, Benkelmann, NE; Jon Hongsermeier -  Western Insurors, North Platte, NE; Jake Goodin - Goodin Insurance, Sloan, IA; Nolan Staley - Hoffman Agency, Charter Oak, IA; Jeffrey Goodell - Town & Country Insurance, Humboldt, IA; Tyler Lichty - Suhr & Lichty Insurance, Seward, NE; Jaime Hopkins - Hopkins Insurance, Pocahontas, IA.
Front Row:  Cheryl Ellis - AgCom Insurance, Holstein, IA; Michelle Murk - Davidson Agency, Delphos, KS; Michael Luna - Chasatin Insurance, Omaha, NE; Kylee TenEyck - Hoffman Agency, Denison, IA.
Not Pictured:  Greg Mendoza - Mittelstadt Agency, Lincoln, NE.
    Special congratulations to Jon Hongsermeier from North Platte, who was awarded   "Top of Class" for the 2016-17 School! The class's average production for the year was $30,000, with the top producer bringing in $113,300!  The 2018-19 Elite Force Sales Training School will begin in May, 2018 at the IIAN Learning Center in Lincoln.
Three Nebraska Members Appointed To IIABA Posts
Three IIAN members have been appointed to serve on national committees and boards by IIABA Chairman-Elect Vaughn Graham, effective September 1. 

Todd Anderson of McCool Junction will represent Nebraska on the IIABA Crop Insurance Task Force.
 Bob Hoppe of Columbus has been appointed to the national InsurPac Board.
  Mark Lisko  of Omaha will be serve on two of IIABA's for-profit Boards - Big "I" Advantage, and as the Chairman of Agency Administrative Services , Inc., as well as IIABA's Professional Liability Committee.   Lisko also serves as National Director from Nebraska on the IIABA Board of Directors.
Nominate Someone Deserving An IIAN  Award
Each year IIAN recognizes the contributions of outstanding individuals who have given service and support to the Independent Agency System in Nebraska. This year's awards will be presented during the 110th Annual Convention, October 11-13, at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln.
Please take a few minutes to nominate your choices in the following categories: 

Five Star Company of the Year
Company Representative of the Year
Young Agent of the Year
Spirit of Nebraska Award
Trusted Choice® Agency of the Year.
Nominations are due September 1  -
download nomination form here. 
IIAN Wins National Excellence In Education Award 
The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America has announced that IIAN has earned a Diamond Level Excellence in Insurance Education Award this year - for  the 5th year in a row!
    Nancy Robeson, IIAN's Director of Operations, manages all of IIAN's education programs, and will be presented with the award at the Big "I" Fall Leadership Conference in Chicago in September. 
Trusted Choice® Featured In Consumer Reports
Trusted Choice® was recently praised by Consumer Reports as being the best solution for homeowners insurance.  Published in the August, 2017 issue of Consumer Reports, the article -"What you don't know about homeowners insurance could cost you"  - states:   "We recommend working with an independent agent who can compare premiums and isn't beholden to just one company.  Direct-to-consumer sellers, such as GEICO and USAA, and captive-agent companies, such as Allstate, Farmers, and State Farm offer only their own  brand.  You can find an independent agent at Trusted Choice, a website run by the Independent Agents and brokers of America, a trade association."
     Will consumers who are looking for insurance online at trustedchoice.com see the national Big "I" Trusted Choice®  brand on your agency web site and correspondence?  Find out how to co-brand your agency with Trusted Choice®
and take advantage of marketing expense reimbursements now available
- contact Jeremiah Gudding, IIAN Marketing Director - [email protected] .    Read more . . .
And share the Consumer Reports article on your social media pages and newsletter!      





The Big "I" has many resources to help you protect your agency's data, cover your agency,  and offer basic cyber coverage to your clients at a very competitive price!   Cyber For Small Business
Click here for IIABA Cyber Resources page.    Click here for information on IIAN's low-cost, high-value cyber liability program for your agency.
Improving Cyber Security In 4 Easy Steps:   Free recorded 1-hour webinar
NEW!  Free Agency Cyber  Guide 101
UPCOMING EVENTS

AUG 25 - YA DAY
Register Online Here   

SEPT 7-LUNCH & LEARN
Register Online Here
 
SEPT 19 - GOLF AWARII
Register Online Here
OKTOBERFEST!  IIAN'S 110TH ANNUAL CONVENTION-LINCOLN 
October 11-13, 2017
Network & Have Fun :   Join over 50 exhibitors at the trade fair, golf at 5-star Eagle Hills, meet up at Happy Hour in the Haymarket, and enjoy the "Oktoberfest" Taproom  and Awards dinner!
Learn:   Earn up to 19 CEU's*  - Falling Through The CGL Cracks - D&O/Fiduciary/EPL/Malpractice/Cbyer, Personal Lines Hot Topics - Ride & Home Sharing + Liability Exposures, Becoming A Risk Manager, E&O Loss Control - Policy Analysis & Sales/Retention *approval pending by Nebraska Dept of Insurance
 
PLUS!   Sponsored by ne xtgen - IIAN's Young Agents: Creating the agency of the future - managing for increased sales and outstanding customer service, boosting your online marketing, and strategies for marketing and sales success. 
 
Register online by September 13 for discount!
Click here for online registration, all the details, and link to nextgen Young Agent scholarship form
Reserve your hotel room by September 18!
Call Embassy Suites, 402-474-111
22ND ANNUAL BIG "I" FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT OCTOBER 11 AT WOODLAND HILLS
To Support New Talent Network
We invite you to join us to raise funds for the new IIAN Talent Network program and the IIAN Foundation's college scholarships for Nebraska students.   Read more . . .
Woodland Hills, located near Eagle, is Nebraska's only 5-star course (Golf Digest). Fun contests and games are planned, along with a great day of golf!    Tournament details
Online registration - Earlybird foursome discount until September 1 - save $50!
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to our newest Big "I" members!
Plains Insurance Brokers, LLC
Matt Haas - Scottsbluff
US Central Corporation
Melisa Salter - Grand Island
Keiser Wealth Management
Ryan Keiser - Omaha
IIAN PARTNER OF THE MONTH
Thank You!
Their support enables IIAN to present affordable, high-quality member programs.


Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska
(402) 476-2951
[email protected]
http://www.iian.org