This month seems to have been a whirlwind of travel.  Last week I did a special visit to the south central region to visit agencies and remind them of upcoming convention activities that are close by.  Everyone that I visited was so gracious to talk with me for a few minutes and seemed to have already planned to attend.  I’m so excited to go to convention and hear some of the nations top speakers talk about their specialty’s in the industry. 

This month I have also been able to do several new membership presentations.  I am constantly faced with the membership dues question, and here’s how I look at it.  I must give you a small background story for this… so excuse me while I digress.  Last year I was able to attend a company sales seminar in Florida.  The seminar was quite extensive; it included a personality profile and sales technique seminar.  The speaker was constantly driving home the thought that agents could no longer compete based on price.  “Don’t make yourself a Commodity, to be sold at any Wal-Mart.  Your best selling point is yourself and what your company offers to the client.”  I have carried that thought into my position at the association.  I can’t compete on price nor will I.  We offer a better product with more benefits, including myself at an email or phone call away. 

One of my favorite marketing campaigns has been the MasterCard Priceless campaign.  Lets try this out with the association….

Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska Association Membership Benefits-

The Unicameral-The IIAN represents independent agents members or not by proactively influencing legislation on issues affecting our industry. -this one could be priceless but we will say $100

Congress-IIABA our national partner is recognized as one of Washington’s top lobbying groups and has played a role in shaping all sorts of legislation-this could also be priceless but we can put $100

www.iian.org – our website offering national and state news, Industry newsletters, Agency Human resources page (where you can post job listings), online registration, and a million other links to useful industry websites all located in one place.  = $100

Members only access- To member roster, company members, Insurance Law updates, Big I markets, and virtual university= $100 

Virtual University- If there was an insurance University this would be it!! VU offers 24hr ask an expert hotline, research libraries, online CE classes, and other office training classes.  $395 per person that isn’t a member of the Big I

ACT- Agents Counsel on Technology is a team of agents working to better the technology for the entire independent insurance agency system.  Working on issues like real-time interface, workflows, agency management systems, Web 2.0, Internet selling and purchasing.  Phil Harr is our state representative for this national committee.  $100

Continuing Education- 12 free CE hours per year for every member of your office (which means you get your entire CE for license renewal 24 hrs for FREE).  12 CE offered at both annual and rural conferences that you must pay to attend.  $100 per licensed individual

CSR training and designation- IIAN offers the CISR program throughout the state, which is 1day courses leading to the CISR designation and 8 hours of CEU per class. = this is a agency pay benefit 

Pre-licensing- Members receive a 5% discount on self-study education materials in all lines of insurance. =$5 discount…every little bit counts.

New Employee Training- We offer a new to insurance training class for all of your new employees.  This is for those with no insurance background.  =Agency pay benefit

Midwest Elite Force Training School- This is a year long training school designed by independent agents for independent agents.  This class lasts a full year and helps to train your newest agents that are looking to increase sales goals. =Agency Pay Benefit

E&O-The best E&O coverage available exclusively for IIAN members at competitive rates.  Loss Control/experience credits provide up to 30% savings in premium!  Automatic and free coverage for many “extras” not available in other programs.  =$2500 premium and 30% discount $750

Premium Financing-offered through PFS your source of commercial and personal lines of financing.=worth at least $100 in agency kick back

RLI pup- a stand alone umbrella market =worth at least $100 is agency kick back

IIAN Committees and foundation- we offer scholarships to high school and college students, conventions, conferences, golf outings. -$100

Hopefully my math is right but those numbers equal $1950.  That’s not including if you have multiple staff members that attend our free CE classes. 

So here is my offer to you, member or not, use our programs solidly for a full year.  Use the association, call me, and use your benefits.  If after a year of doing that if you want to leave I will let you.  Flex those membership muscles people!!  I promise you that the agency will gain priceless information and membership benefits that I can’t even list here. 

Best,

Liz