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Below is a listing of the documents that are available. Simply click on the document title to select that documents. The index is updated on a regular basis.
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Agency management
When the insured fires the producer
Outlines the proper use of the ACORD 35 and 36 forms when a producer and insured dissolve their business relationship. 3 pages
Your site planning—your office set-up is more important than it seems
This document walks you through the importance of office layout in customer service and common areas that should be considered in how your agency is set up. 4 pages
Get your staff working together—plan and hold productive meetings
Meeting planning tips offered on who needs to be involved, when a meeting is truly needed, importance of an agenda and how to increase staff participation. 2 pages
Agency diversification—working with financial planners
Overviews the benefits of financial planners and what to look for in choosing one. 2 pages
Importance of New Year’s resolutions for agency owners
Discusses three key items your agency should consider for starting off the new year on the right foot. 2 pages
Opposing forces—five tips for managing your sales and service teams
Sales and service employees are different from one another. This resource kit gives you knowledge to know the difference between the two and offers tips on getting them to work together as a team. 2 pages
Business pandemic influenza planning checklist
A comprehensive checklist for a business to proactively plan for a pandemic or epidemic that could affect their businesses. 2 pages
Keep control of your agency
Helpful tips to keep agency principals in control of the issues that arise in everyday agency life. 2 pages
Choosing between an S corporation and an LLC
A comprehensive review of the difference between these two types of corporations to assist you in making this important choice. 3 pages
What members are asking about the Spitzer contingent commission notices
A question-and-answer kit that addresses some of the commonly asked questions being handled by PIA’s Industry Resource Center on the Spitzer contingent commission notices. 2 pages
Interns: to pay or not to pay
This resource kit discusses the facts and circumstances surrounding internships and will assist you in determining whether an intern is a paid employee. 3 pages
What can you do when a client files bankruptcy?
An in-depth look at the steps an agency can take in a client bankruptcy situation along with a glossary of commonly used terms. 3 pages
The seven information management questions every organization should ask
Disorganization creates inefficiency. To help increase agency efficiency, this resource kit covers the four essential questions regarding agency business information. 3 pages
Stronger together—Reinforce the agent, carrier, client bond
A discussion on the five elements that could help grow your relationship with insurance carriers. 3 pages
The language barrier: meeting the requirements of insureds who are not proficient in the English language
Provides a number of court cases to help illustrate the complexity of the agent’s/broker’s responsibility to ensure their insureds understand their policy coverages when there is a language barrier. 4 pages
An entrepreneurship to a professionally managed firm
A four-part series that discusses the journey from a small business into a larger organization. 9 pages
Planning for the incapacity of a key employee
This resource kit discusses how to plan for the sudden incapacity or death of a key employee. 2 pages
The big questions for agency owners
Answering and acting on these important questions can help you enhance your agency’s overall performance. 4 pages
Distinguishing yourself from the competition—be a consultant, not a commodity
Offers strategies that could help you set your agency apart from the competition. 3 pages
Effectively wearing the three hats—how agency owners can thrive as CEO, sales manager and producer
This resource kit outlines how agency owners can thrive as a CEO, sales manager and producer by spending 80% of their time on jobs that are going to bring the most return to the agency. 3 pages
Putting a priority on your time
This resource document gives you helpful tips on how to prioritize and manage your time effectively. 2 pages
Underwriting: A collaboration toward profitability
An in-depth review of how front-line underwriting can increase agency profits. 2 pages
The ‘other’ BI
Offers opportunities for agency owners to mine the data they have within their agencies to plan for the future based on where they have been in the past. 2 pages
Insurance agency moving checklist—planning before, during and after
This resource kit offers a handy guide along with helpful checklists to help make your agency’s move a smooth process. 6 pages
How to break up with a client in under 200 words
A discussion of terminating a relationship with a client, including a sample letter. 2 pages
Update your disaster plan
This resource kit offers three drills you can put into place to ensure your disaster plan is up-to-date. 2 pages
COVID-19 preparedness checklist
A comprehensive checklist for an agency to record their preventative measures associated with the COVID-19 virus. 2 pages
Best practices: terminating remote employees
Offers information regarding remote workers and their return to the office. 3 pages
Hiring: Looking forward can mean looking back
A discussion about the benefits of hiring mid-career professionals who could be looking for a career change. 2 pages