Saturday, April 27, 2013

E&S Joint Working Group to Offer Webinar on April 30 on Workflows & Standards

The E&S Joint Working Group (ESJWG) will present a live webinar for retail and general agents, wholesale brokers and E&S and specialty carriers titled "Best Practice Workflows in the E&S Industry and the Critical Role that Standards Play" on Tuesday, April 30.

The E&S Joint Working Group is an insurance industry coalition pushing standards-based electronic exchange of information in the E&S market by facilitating discussion and interaction among carriers, agents and vendors.

The webinar will feature best practice workflows that retail agents would like to see from their general agents and wholesalers within the next one to two years and review current efforts to standardize reporting that coverholders provide their London brokers. He said it will also look at how E&S carriers are developing ACORD standards for the E&S industry to automate general agent quoting with multiple carriers.

The April 30th webinar will run from 2:00 p.m-3:00 p.m. EDT; 1:00-2:00 p.m. CDT; 12:00-1:00 p.m. MDT; and 11:00 a.m-12:00 p.m. PDT. Participants must pre-register online at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/224393769.

The E&S Workgroup is an alliance of carriers, agents and vendors working with AAMGA, ACORD, ACT and NAPSLO. Its mission is to improve the efficiencies for retail agents, general agents, wholesale brokers and carriers by promoting use of ACORD standards, best-practice workflows and the electronic exchange of data among each of the business partners. The group comprises retail agent/general agent, carrier and Lloyd's subgroups.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

E&S School Registration Deadline is May 3

The registration deadline for the 2013 NAPSLO E&S School, June 2-5 in St. Louis, MO, is only a few weeks away and approximately 50 of the 80 spaces have been reserved.

The registration deadline is May 3 and the registration materials are available to download.

The NAPSLO E&S School is designed for insurance professionals with one to five years of experience in the surplus lines industry and it open to employees of NAPSLO and AAMGA member firms. Individuals with more than five years surplus lines experience are encouraged to attend the NAPSLO Marcus Payne Advanced School, offered each fall.

The E&S School's curriculum will focus on nine segments:

* Cops - Regulation and oversight of the E&S industry.
Distribution System - An overview of the complexity, purpose and variations in the E&S distribution system.
E&S Marketing - A foundational understanding of the dynamics of relationships between surplus lines brokers and carriers.
Market Dynamics - The study of changing environments in the E&S marketplace, and the dynamics of successful carrier leadership.
GAs and Brokers - How MGAs and Brokers maintain, market and manage business in today’s environment.
Risk Takers - The characteristics of surplus lines insurers and an overview of the risk analysis process.
The Language of the Business - Definitions, acronyms and professionalism in the E&S market.
The Lloyd’s Market - An overview of the role and practices of Lloyd's in the marketplace.
Where’s The Money? - An overview of carrier and broker financial statements, accounting procedures and potential financial challenges facing these firms.

In addition, the school will offer an Executive Panel featuring: Tom Dillon, Executive Vice President, AmWINS; Clint Nokes, Senior Vice President, RSUI; and Jill Truitt, Senior Vice President, Westrope. Students also will have the opportunity to network with the excellent faculty, comprised of industry leaders.

The school takes place at the Eric P. Newman Education Center in St. Louis, MO and attendees stay at The Parkway Hotel. Both facilities are located on the campus of Washington University Medical Center. All sessions take place within walking distance of the hotel. The cost of the program is $1,200 and includes housing at The Parkway Hotel.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

NAPSLO Marketing Award Campaign Deadline Extended to April 5th


The deadline for the 2013 NAPSLO Marketing Campaign Award competition, which is conducted in partnership with the Insurance Marketing and Communications Association's Showcase Awards Program, has been extended to April 5th.

The 2013 NAPSLO Marketing Awards, conducted in partnership with IMCA's Showcase Awards Program, is a separate category specifically for NAPSLO members.

To be judged, materials must have been publicly circulated between Jan. 1, 2012, and March 15, 2013. Campaign entries must include a minimum of two communication vehicles (non-electronic and/or electronic) that share a common campaign theme.

The IMCA’s creative team will be judging the competition, and awards will be presented at the 2013 NAPSLO Annual Convention in San Diego, Sept. 30 – Oct. 3. Entry fees are $100 per entry.

Members can find more information about the contest or find a link to enter the contest through the IMCA and NAPSLO websites.