Perspectives | Good Insurance Broker Beatitudes

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Good Insurance Broker Beatitudes

Blessed are the good insurance brokers, for they will:

  • Assure that you get prompt service regarding automobile insurance ID cards, certificates of insurance, surety bonds and other administrative tasks essential to the conduct of your business.
  • Carefully explain each premium invoice and any policy endorsements, so that you know what you are paying for and so that you do not accept any undesirable reductions in your coverage.
  • Deliver your renewal insurance policies in a timely manner -- after carefully cross-checking them against the expired policies. (a delay in excess of 30 days is illegal in New Jersey)
  • Not play telephone tag -- and take the initiative by returning your voice mails or messages until contact is made.
  • Have people empowered to back each other in case of vacations and illnesses.
  • Discuss the strategy for the renewal no later than 90 days before each renewal.
  • Start collecting the payrolls, sales, vehicles and other underwriting data 90 days prior to expiration.
  • Continually bring to your attention new insurance product information and market developments that may impact your property/casualty insurance program.
  • Advise you immediately of any changes in the Ward's, Moody's, Standard & Poors and AM Best Ratings of your insurance company(ies).

 

 

  • Provide you an accurate estimate of your renewal premiums at least 45 days prior to expiration -- and advise you on alternative sources of insurance.
  • Firm up the renewal prices 30 days prior to expiration -- and advise you of any changes in deductibles, exclusions and other policy provisions.
  • Fully disclose the details of the underwriting specifications and information submitted to the insurance companies -- and the names of the insurance companies approached and whether they declined or quoted, and if quoting, what their prices were.
  • Prepare an annual stewardship report highlighting any changes in the program versus the prior year, summarizing what each insurance policy covers and listing the progress made regarding insurance administration, claims, loss control and other services. Click here to view a sample table of contents of a stewardship report.

In the course of managing insurance placements we use these criteria as benchmarks.