in this issue >>> -Young Agents Conference -20% Off -We Want You - Volunteer Today! -In Memory of . . . and more. . .

Agent Newsletter March 28, 2022

We’re Back! It’s been a long two years, and we are excited to announce that the Young Agents Conference is back May 3rd & 4th with a great line up of speakers, CE opportunities, and networking with our fellow young agents! Get a wide rage of topics and education with sales and marketing, perpetuation/agency purchasing for young agents, cyber security, fellow young agents/agency owners panels, and much more. We are excited to see all of our fellow young agents again, and get back to what has made this group great for many years! Come be apart of the future leaders of the IIAI and continue to support our young agents and association! To all of our agency principals and leaders, please consider sending your young agents to this exciting event, and encouraging their continuing education and involvement with the IIAI. Register today! We will see you all in May!

Take Two Minutes to See if Your Agency is Eagle Material! Need markets? We have options! Eagle Agency provides Big "I" members with direct access to preferred personal lines in 49 states and the District of Columbia (not available in HI) with minimal volume commitment. The program strives to fit Big "I" members' personal lines needs by incubating until qualifying for a direct appointment.  Eagle Agency company partners include the following*: Foremost Signature Safeco Travelers Openly How has Eagle Agency worked for other Big “I" Members? Jody Entrekin, Mississippi independent agent and Big "I" member commented, “Nancy, Kim and Jodie are exceptional people. It was a genuine pleasure to meet and do business with professionals who genuinely care about doing the right thing, not just their jobs. The program is such an exciting find. It gives an agency like mine greater access to carriers with no delay. Eagle is going to open many more doors than what I have right now.  I got access on Christmas Eve. Within a few weeks I sold eight policies that I wouldn't have received without Eagle. By month-end I expect to have 12 policies. I wish I'd joined right away, who knows how much I'd have sold?" Is your agency in need of personal lines markets? Is Eagle Agency the solution? Take our quick eligibility quiz today! To learn more about Eagle Agency's newest partner, Openly, click here. Feel free to visit www.independentagent.com/Eagle for more information. *Availability varies. Check Big “I" Markets for a list of Eagle Agency carriers and state where available. Territorial and geographic underwriting restrictions may apply.

Need CE's?

*note this is only for ABEN classes - click on image to view what is available.

NFIP Legislation Introduced as Risk Rating 2.0 Deadline Approaches Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) introduced S. 3829, the “Flood Insurance Pricing Transparency Act." The bill requires FEMA to publish the formulas used to calculate mitigation credits for policyholders under Risk Rating 2.0. The legislation also requires FEMA to release a toolkit that could be used to estimate the cost of insurance for new construction under Risk Rating 2.0, without compromising proprietary information. Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA's new pricing methodology for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), went into effect Oct. 1, 2021, for all new policies and offered insureds the option to renew under Risk Rating 2.0 or the existing NFIP framework. However, the NFIP has now moved into Phase II of Risk Rating 2.0, which focuses on transitioning all existing policies. Beginning April 1, 2022, all policies must be priced under Risk Rating 2.0 at renewal. With April 1 just around the corner, FEMA is currently offering new webinars for agents that will focus on the renewal process under Risk Rating 2.0. As FEMA continues to provide more information regarding Risk Rating 2.0, the Big “I" will continue to provide members with updates in the weekly News & Views e-newsletter.

ACT Tech Summit Quick Facts: Brings together industry experts to discuss and provide takeaways on the latest insurance technology trends. Offered virtually the afternoons of April 19 & 20. FREE and open to all carriers, technology vendors and independent agents. Sessions include: Carrier Strategies for Agency Tech Enablement Agencies & APIs The State of CL Automation Cyber Spotlights MFA Town Hall Digital Tools: Optimizing Agency Workflow & Beyond Evolving Roles in the Insurance Lifecycle This year’s ACT Tech Summit will be a more interactive and engaging experience for our attendees. While it WILL be virtual – it WON’T be the same old virtual insurance conference REGISTER NOW

Legislative Update

As the 2022 legislative sessions winds down, we are still monitoring several bills which are still alive. One in particular is SF 2372 which involves Franchise, Insurance & Sales Taxes. Passage of this bill would affect independent agents across the state by removing the sales tax exemption for the purchase of computers and equipment to insurance agents. The purpose of removing the exemption is to help offset the income tax reductions passed earlier this session. We are opposed to this language as written and have asked for an exception to this language. We will keep you posted as this bill develops. To read the entire bill please click here. 

Madelyn Flannagan, Big ‘I’ Vice President of Agent Development, Education and Research, to Retire

The Big “I” announces that Madelyn Flannagan, Big “I” vice president of agent development, education and research, will retire March 31. Flannagan has dedicated her 26-year career to providing crucial data insights to the insurance industry and independent agents, leading education and advocacy programs, and offering outstanding service and commitment to the independent agency channel in general. During her tenure, Flannagan has led the association’s advocacy programs for education, Best Practices, technology, diversity & inclusion, talent recruitment, development and young agents, as well as the Trusted Choice® Disaster Relief Fund and the Trusted Choice COVID-19 Relief Fund. Her research of ongoing industry trends included the biennial Agency Universe Study, considered the most definitive picture of the independent agency system, as well as the annual Market Share Report and other notable studies with various carrier partners. Flannagan was an independent insurance agent for 15 years before joining the Big “I” in 1995. “Madelyn’s unparalleled leadership and expertise have equipped the independent agency channel with key resources and insights to strengthen agencies across the country,” says Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “We are grateful for her long-standing and extensive service to independent agencies as she’s shared her innovative creativity and dedication to excellence with us for more than two decades. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”   Flannagan has been a sought-after speaker in the insurance education and research arena and has been quoted frequently in the media. She was also recently named one of the Elite Women in Insurance by Insurance Business America.

What is involved? Each year we have the IIAI Annual Planning meeting where all of our committees meet and brainstorm. You will spend the day in West Des Moines meeting with fellow agents discussing issues assigned to the committee you will serve on. Not only will you provide input which helps your Association do a better job of serving your needs, but you will have a chance to network with other agents during the process. Some of our committees will meet by conference call a time or two during the balance of the year or have one additional meeting in Des Moines. SIGN UP TODAY

Reps. Clark and Feenstra Announced as 2022 Legislative Conference Speakers

Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Massachusetts), Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) will address the 2022 Big “I” Legislative Conference. Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Massachusetts), Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will address the Big “I" Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, April 28 during the 2022 Big “I" Legislative Conference, which will take place April 27-29 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel. Rep. Clark is one of the most influential and thoughtful voices in Congress. First elected to Congress in 2013, she represents Massachusetts's 5th Congressional District. Rep. Clark also sits on the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. At the Emerging Leaders Lunch on Wednesday, April 27, Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) will address attendees. Rep. Feenstra, a former independent insurance agent, is a freshmen member of Congress but has already established himself as an influential legislator. Most prominently, Rep. Feenstra serves on the House Agriculture Committee and is called upon for his tax expertise. Previously, he chaired the Ways and Means Committee in the Iowa State Senate before being elected to Iowa's 4th Congressional District. The Big “I" Legislative Conference is the premier event for independent agents and offers an opportunity for agents to speak to their federal legislators with a unified voice. Here are seven issues that will be a focus at this year's conference. In February, the Big “I" announced that Jesse Watters, host of Fox News Channel's “Jesse Watters Primetime," co-host of “The Five", and author of the No. 1 New York Times Best Seller, “How I Saved the World," will be a featured speaker at the 2022 Big “I" Legislative Conference. Watters will chat with Big “I" president & CEO Bob Rusbuldt on Friday, April 29 about the latest headlines, current events, insights on issues affecting small businesses, and his anecdotes from his experiences rising through the ranks of Fox News.

In Memory of Roger Bang Roger Bang of Mason City passed away earlier this week. Roger is a former owner of First Insurance Agency in Mason City and a long time Big “I” member. Our condolences to his family, friends and co-workers.

Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa 4000 Westown Parkway, Suite 200 West Des Moines, IA 50266 515.223.6060 | 800.272.9312 www.iiaiowa.org

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