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Nov. 4th, 2022 - A publication of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California
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Bob Teshima
President
IIABCal
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President's Message
Translating Vision Into Reality
American scholar and organizational consultant Warren Bennis once said, “leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” On Jan. 1, 2023, IIABCal’s new leadership will have the opportunity to translate a new vision of a vibrant California insurance marketplace into reality that benefits its members, insurance consumers, and our entire industry.
At the annual business meeting yesterday, IIABCal members approved the 2023 slate of association officers and directors. Led by incoming President Jonathan Schreter, executive vice president of Bolton & Co., the new Executive Committee and Board, taking office Jan. 1, 2023, will have the responsibility of challenging state leaders to find solutions to California’s current homeowners’ crisis. The new leadership will also be engaged in a comprehensive legal strategy, with regulatory, legislative, and potentially judicial components, in the fight to return the Golden State to a viable, competitive insurance marketplace.
I have the utmost confidence in our new leadership not only in translating vision into reality, but to exceed the goals your organization has set. You can help support their efforts by continuing your membership support in 2023, getting involved in grassroots advocacy efforts when called upon, and conveying your organization’s message to your policyholders - help is on the way.
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CEO Corner
Exercise Your Right To Vote!
It’s election season, and your vote counts! Yesterday, members participated in our Annual Membership Meeting and elected the 2023 IIABCal Board of Directors. Equally important is to remember to vote in California’s General Election on Nov. 8th.
With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to lead this organization. I have learned so much from our volunteers, our staff, and our members in my first few months and I am filled with optimism about where we go from here.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Jill Epstein
Chief Executive Officer
IIABCal
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Congratulations To The 2023 IIABCal Board of Directors!
IIABCal members at its Annual Membership Meeting Nov. 3rd elected its 2023 Board of Directors. Officers and directors will be installed at the Installation Celebration Nov. 10th in Burbank. Clockwise from left: President Jonathan Schreter, Bolton & Co., Pasadena; Vice President Martine Domingues, Morris & Garritano, San Luis Obispo; Secretary-Treasurer Dina Campana Smith, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., San Francisco; IIABA Director Brad Wilson, Wilson & Co., Coronado; Director Jon Oldfather, Diablo Valley Insurance, Walnut Creek: Director Brandon Okita, FIA Insurance, Torrance; Director Rene Swan, United Valley Insurance, Fresno; Director Sean Tsui, CoreMark Insurance, Sacramento; Director Greg Johansing, Arroyo Insurance, Glendale; and Director Derek Ross, Kulchin Ross Insurance, Tarzana.
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Grassroots Action Alert
Agents Encouraged To Contact Commissioner Lara on Auto Rates
IIABCal members are being asked to urge California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to consider insurers’ requests for auto insurance rate increases. Many auto insurers have stopped writing new business, or taken punitive action against sales agents in order to stem the flow of new and renewal auto policies—solely because CDI flatly refuses to consider rate increases.
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), a leading trade association of insurance companies with whom IIABCal works closely in Sacramento, has created a new website on the rating issue—along with sample letter-writing tools for agents. Visit: stopthecoveragecrisis.org.
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Ricardo Lara
Insurance Commissioner
California
MAKE YOUR
VOICES HEARD!
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Wildfires Should be California’s #1 Priority When it Comes to Climate Change
In a recent Op-Ed article, IIABCal Lobbyist John Norwood said California policyholders should focus their efforts and budget dollars on the prevention of catastrophic wildfires rather than doubling down on other climate change efforts.
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John Norwood
Legislative Advocate
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IIABCal Donates To Trusted Choice Relief Fund
IIABCal was one of 37 Big "I" state associations contributing more than $160,000 to the Trusted Choice Relief Fund to help insurance industry personnel impacted by Hurricane Ian.
The Trusted Choice Relief Fund is available to provide financial assistance for those within our industry impacted by catastrophic occurrences not covered by their own insurance or other grants and funding sources. Please Consider donating to this fund.
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New Agency-Company Appointment Contracts Guide Now Available
The Big “I" Office of General Counsel (OGC) has published a general guide to agency-company appointment contracts that is available at no cost to Big “I" members. The guide covers a wide range of the most important provisions commonly found in appointment contracts and provides key considerations and sample language developed by the OGC over many years. A few of the most notable provisions addressed in the guide include ownership of expirations, data security and post-termination rights.
Log in with your Big “I" credentials to access a complimentary copy of the new guide and the company-specific reviews that are currently available at Big “I" Legal Advocacy.
If you have any further questions about this or related topics, please contact Scott Kneeland or Eric Lipton.
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Got A Contract Question?
Contact:
Steve Young
SVP & General Counsel,
IIABCal
925-426-3314
syoung@iiabcal.org
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Agency Nation Radio
Election Preview for Independent Agents
Tune in as Big "I" EVP Charles Symington and Political Affairs VP Nathan Riedel give a preview of the 2022 election. Get an insider look at what's happening with the polls and dive into the fight for control of the House of Representatives.
The beltway insiders will also share their perspectives on competitive Senate races. Who's going to take control of the House and Senate? Will history repeat itself? Listen in and our experts will cut through the noise, dust off the crystal ball, and predict the most competitive seats.
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Member Question of the Month
Are Producer Numbers Required In Emails?
Q. Are we required to include producer license numbers in email messages?
A. Yes, but there's more. For the complete answer, click here.
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IIABCal’s “Member Question of the Month” features questions from agents & brokers.
IIABCal General Counsel Steve Young provides answers to your legal questions as part of your membership benefits.
Have a question? Email Steve Young at syoung@iiabcal.org.
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Pioneering Changes In Workers' Comp
In this month's IIABCal Voices podcast, host James Lott, Jr. sat down with Kinetic Insurance Chief Executive Officer Haytham Elhawary to discuss the pioneering changes in worker's compensation insurance with the first product-led Insurtech offering in the market.
Kinetic Insurance, a new IIABCal Associate Member, offers a smart wearable technology to reduce the incidence of workplace injuries. By automatically detecting unsafe postures, Kinetic wearables provide workers with feedback whenever a high-risk motion occurs, resulting in fewer injuries, reduced claims, missed days, and safer work environment.
In the podcast, Elhawary discusses how the new technology gives its limited broker distribution network a differentiating and proven risk mitigation strategy to bring to their clients.
Click here to access the podcast.
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Haytham Elhawary
CEO
Kinetic Insurance
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IA Magazine Seeks Agents
Know Any Expert Agents in Hiring, Surety & More?
Do you know any member agencies making a name for themselves with outstanding hiring and retention practices?
The No. 1 challenge for independent agencies in 2022 was finding and screening job candidates with strong potential, according to the 2022 Agency Universe Study. Independent Agent magazine is seeking agents to discuss how their agency is tackling this challenging issue. If you know any agencies going above and beyond to recruit and retain talent, email AnneMarie McPherson Spears, with your recommendations.
Independent Agent is also seeking agents for our "From
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the Front Lines" series to talk about their experiences in the surety, crop and environmental insurance markets. Email Will Jones, with your recommendations.
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You + IRMI AgriCon = Two Days of Must-Hear Sessions
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Don’t miss the IRMI Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference (AgriCon), the premier event for insurance and risk management professionals who serve farm and agribusiness clients.
Set for Feb. 5-7 in Sacramento, this year's event has only 100 Early Bird seats available. They’re going fast, so
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don’t wait to register!
Choose from 14 Breakout sessions including:
- Parametric Insurance: A New Way To Manage Weather-Related Risks.
- Lessons We Can Learn from Actual Boarding Stable Lawsuits
- Top 5 Challenges in Workers' Comp for the Agri Industry.
To view full agenda and to register, click here.
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Webinar Highlights Program To Help Policyholders
Agents and brokers last month attended a member webinar on how a California Earthquake Authority program can help their policyholders fund the retrofitting of their homes.
Earthquake Brace + Bolt: Funds to Strengthen Your Foundation is an incentive program that offers grants of up to $3,000 to qualified homeowners with eligible houses in a select
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number of higher-earthquake-risk ZIP Codes.
To access the IIABCal webinar recording on the CEA program, click here. Deadline to submit applications is Nov. 29th. Visit the EBB website to learn more about the program.
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Member Spotlight
What Are The Most Important Issues Facing The Industry Today?
In a member spotlight story published this week, Samuel Hale Sales Vice President Justin Danz identified three important issues facing the insurance industry today:
A Hardening Market: Lingering effects from COVID-19 and a workers’ comp market that may appear steady today, but it has hit bottom and the market is hardening. 2023 will be telltale.
Illegitimate Comp Programs: Due to the high costs of California workers’ comp coverage, clients consider moving into illegitimate programs that put their business at risk. For those who move into such programs, stability is lost and potentially, any single claim could bankrupt a business overnight.
Move to Temp Staffing: It’s become common business for California companies to move to a temp staffing workforce environment. When this happens it takes money out of the brokers' pockets and businesses discover lack of loyalty, and the high-cost of turnover and training.
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IIABCal is excited to announce its newest associate member, Samuel Hale, a California workers’ compensation Employer Carve-out Organization (ECO) that helps protect California employers from the unpredictable and high employment cost due to fraud and litigation in workers’ compensation claims.
To read the complete story, click here.
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Water Buffalo Charity Event Set For Nov. 19th
The IIABA Los Angeles will hold its Water Buffalo Club Thanksgiving Charity event Nov. 19th to help families at underserved local elementary schools. Each year the Los Angeles association partners with the Water Buffalo Club to give $100 gift cards to 100 families. Local leaders are looking for event sponsors and to expand the reach of families that will get to benefit. If you would like to get involved and help sponsor families, please email Jennifer Schreter at jennifer@iiaba-la.com.
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IIABA-LA member agents and brokers supporting their charity event.
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Big Agent Turnout For Sacramento I-Day, Oct. 4th
The IIAB Sacramento hosted its 42nd Annual Big I Day Oct. 4th at the newly renovated Safe Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Sacramento. More than 700 attended with 105 Exhibitors and four CE Seminars were also provided. This year's keynote speaker was Mike Pereira, Fox NFL & College Football Rules Analyst.
Highlights include the award winners:
- Agency Professional of the Year: Sallie Knighten, Bender Insurance Solutions
- Associate Member of the Year: Bev Hoeft, Central Valley Community Bank
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- Rose M. Kaerth Lifetime Achievement Award: Tabb Randolph, Wraith, Scarlett & Randolph Insurance Services.
Retiring Executive Director Rose Kaerth, received special recognition for her 35 years of service.
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IIAB San Diego Charity Events Help Those In Need
Independent agents and brokers turned out in large numbers Oct. 25th for the IIAB San Diego Charity Golf Classic benefitting Healing Wave Aquatics. Maderas Golf Club hosted 144 golfers and 22 sponsors. Special shout out to The Hartford for supporting the event this year!
The 32nd Annual Celebrity Waiters Holiday Party for Charity is set for Dec. 2 at the Bahia Resort Hotel. Money raised will go to The Burn Institute and for collecting toy and food donations for The Interfaith Shelter Network. Event emcee will once again be Mark Grant.
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IIABCal's Jill Epstein and Jenn Pouey join local leaders in the festivities at the IIAB San Diego Charity Golf Classic
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