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| January 2021 | ||||||
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Top 3 Articles
Welcome
From the Desk of the President & CEO
IIAV Member Resources
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Did you spend some time over the holidays working “on” your business? Do you think the leaders of some of your top client companies and prospects did as well? For many leaders the holidays provide a great opportunity for focused thinking, and then January 4th arrives, and they are ready to hit the ground running. The first week of January presents a great opportunity to reach out to clients and prospects to see what is important to them – right now. Ask about their 2021 goals and discuss how you can align with them. Look for ways to add value and differentiate. Focus on building a stronger relationship, and business results often follow. Agency value is a function of cash flow and risk. You can improve both factors by strengthening client relationships, adding value to the proposition and differentiating from competition. Your efforts to support clients in their goal achievement will contribute to increased cash flow and reduced risk. David J. Dillon, Principal     The Big "I" has had members' backs this year in many ways, and one major benefit for agencies with less than $50 million in annual property-casualty revenue is covering the annual ACORD Forms license fee.
Obtaining this license through ACORD is an annual renewal. If you haven't already completed the ACORD Forms license renewal, do it today! The Big “I" ACORD License FAQ page covers everything members need to know. For information on obtaining a complimentary license, see FAQ #5. Members who need help with the licensing process can call ACORD Support at 845-620-1700. (Photo Source: Pexels.com)
 The Big “I" has reviewed the revised CNA Producer Agreement, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2021. As with past Big “I" reviews, this review focuses on insurance-related provisions and issues and is intended to assist members with understanding the terms of the agreement.
The Big “I" commends CNA for making many of the improvements that were suggested in the Big “I" review of the prior version of the agreement. We also thank CNA for reaching out to the Big “I" Office of General Counsel to go through the agreement and discuss possible improvements for future updates. The Big “I" is pleased to make this and other company contract reviews available as a free benefit to all Big “I" members. To access a copy, log in to the Big “I" website and select Legal Advocacy & Governance in the Services drop-down menu, and then click on Contract Reviews. The review is titled: “CNA Producer Agreement (effective Jan. 1, 2021) – Reviewed December 2020." (Photo Source: Pexels.com)
State & National News
 Beginning January 1, 2021, fingerprinting is among the requirements for individuals living in Virginia who are interested in becoming licensed insurance agents in the Commonwealth. Fingerprinting will be conducted using “live scan” technology, which digitally captures and transmits the fingerprints to the Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for background checks.
(Photo Source: Canva.com)
.png) Angela L. Navarro was sworn in on Jan. 5, 2021, as the 37th commissioner of the State Corporation Commission (SCC). Navarro was appointed by Governor Ralph S. Northam to complete the unexpired term of Mark C. Christie who became a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on January 4, 2021.
(Photo Source: Pexels.com)
 AAA Mid-Atlantic is advising drivers to be cautious on roads this winter, as weather and the COVID-19 pandemic can combine to make more dangerous conditions for travelers and rescue crews.
“Getting stuck or stranded in a car during a winter storm can prove life-threatening, even while you are waiting to be rescued,” a recent AAA news release said. But that danger has increased this winter as road crews prepare to assist people who might be stranded and also spread the virus. (Photo Source: Pexels.com)  The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season may be over, but the State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance (Bureau) cautions Virginians not to let their guard down when it comes to the threat of floods. Heavy rains, saturated soil, melting snow and ice, broken dams and a lack of vegetation due to wildfires, development or other causes are just a few factors that can contribute to flooding.
(Photo Source: Pexels.com)
 Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill in July focused on improving the safety of drivers in the state. Drivers will be pulled over for holding a handheld communications device such as cellphone while driving, regardless of what they are doing on the device.
Sgt. Katie Shifflett from the Staunton Police Department clarifies that although the law uses the words "Virginia highway," the law will be enforced on all public roads. (Photo Source: Pexels.com)
Education
 Note: If there's someone else on your team who would benefit from this event (IT, HR, etc) please forward this information their way!
We’ll kick off the day with a 1-hour CE course focused on the importance of data privacy and just what can happen when it’s not taken seriously.
Following the course, we have a series of 1-hour sessions scheduled, offering resources that deliver the solutions you need to enhance your processes around data security, which will help
both you AND your clients.
Did we mention? It's FREE!
(Photo Source: Canva.com)
 Join DocuSign on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 12 p.m. ET to learn The New Rules of Customer Experience: What Small Businesses Need to Know.
DocuSign's panel of small business leaders and industry experts will provide a crash course in improving customer service. They'll focus on how to evaluate and improve your current customer experience, along with how to finetune your listening skills to understand emerging customer needs. Panelists include: • Jeannie Walters: CEO and founder, Experience Investigators
• Petrushka Bazin Larsen: Co-founder and co-owner, Sugar Hill Creamery
• Rakia Reynolds: CEO and founder, Skai Blue Media • Tammy Aguillon: Assistant vice president of commercial sales, DocuSign Members who can't make the live webinar can still register to receive a copy of the recording. As a reminder, as a member you receive discounted pricing on DocuSign e-signature solutions. Visit our partner portal for more information or contact Brett Sutch. (Photo Source: Docusign.com)
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