Do Independent Agents have a Brand Identity Crisis?

A few "blogs" back, I wrote about branding and queried whether you thought branding was important to insurance agencies. As a Kentucky independent insurance agent, we do not benefit from the national campaigns like lizards or cave men. We even have to battle our own carriers who sell against us on the direct side...all the time telling us how well the independent agents have built their (their being the big insurance company) brand. Ironic isn't it?

So what's in a brand?

Want a good laugh? See our brand ad.

Yesterday, I sat in on a web cast about how consumers use the web. A funny thing. The statistics showed that on Internet click-through mentioning the company brand was not as important as mentioning the product. Consumers do recognize national brands, and if they are "brand-oriented" in that they might be more inclined to do an online quote at a nationally branded site. However, initial searches are based on product.

Some independent agents join clusters and franchises which offer a "brand" of sorts. Our own organization, Independent Insurance Agents of America, charges a fee to use the Trusted Choice brand. But have consumers really heard of Trusted Choice Insurance?

Sam Friedman, over at the P & C National Underwriter blog, opined that perhaps independent insurance agents need an icon.   Sam's blog 
Look at the duck and the lizard. He may be right.

In My Opinion

When the Trusted Choice brand rolled out it was asserted the word "independent" did not test well with consumers, so the Big I logo was put on a back burner in favor of the Trusted Choice Insurance brand.


The "Big I" (Independent Insurance Agents) had a good idea with the Trusted Choice Insurance brand. However, ads to support that brand were chiefly placed in major markets. Mom and Pop agencies in outlying areas did not benefit from any "brand awareness." Truly, when was the last time you saw a Trusted Choice Insurance ad?

Call me "independent" a term I proudly wear. We spent money, time, and energy building our agency brand. I am not always a patient woman, and I just don't have the time to wait for some industry organization to do my branding for me. (I think that's why they call me "independent")

Independent insurance agents need to do a better job of branding and PR. When it comes right down to it, in small town Kentucky, it's still all about the agent...and the agent IS the brand.

Yes, if Big I or a franchise stepped up and really achieved "brand awareness" it would be a great day for all independent insurance agents. Until then, you the agent are in control. Build your brand. Service your clients. Don't take yourself too seriously. Make building a brand a game and have fun doing it.

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Joyce Pinson  is a Kentucky independent health insurance agent. (That's me) In addition to being an agent, I do marketing and public relations for Charlie Pinson Insurance. The posting above is my opinion, not our agency's. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Employers Underestimate Role of Benefits in Employee Loyalty Kentucky Small Businees

EMPLOYEES’ DESIRE FOR WORKPLACE ACCESS TO INSURANCE & SAVINGS PRODUCTS AND ADVICE GROWING, METLIFE STUDY SHOWS; EMPLOYERS UNDERESTIMATE ROLE OF BENEFITS IN EMPLOYEE LOYALTY


NEW YORK, April 7, 2008 – The workplace has become the dominant starting point for building a strong financial safety net. According to MetLife’s Sixth Annual Employee Benefits Trends Study, released today, more than half of working Americans (52%) are now obtaining the majority of their financial and retirement products through the workplace – up from 46% a year ago. Growing financial concerns among employees are creating a greater interest in advice and guidance at the workplace – 44% of employees would like access to general financial planning advice at work, up from 30% last year. Nearly half (49%) of all employees also want their employers to provide retirement advice.

"This increased employee appetite for advice at the workplace is a significant development. It presents a tremendous opportunity for U.S. employers to optimize the real and perceived value of their benefit plans. Having a benefit program that meets the diverse needs of their employees – and communicating more frequently about benefit offerings – can result in improved employee retention, which continues to dominate employers' minds as their top benefits objective," said Bill Mullaney, President, MetLife Institutional Business. For the second consecutive year, retention was rated by employers as their number one benefits objective.

Also among the study’s key findings:

• Benefits, Loyalty, & Retention – Employers underestimate how important benefits are to employee loyalty; benefits are increasingly important factors in employees’ decisions to remain with their employer.

• Growing Focus on Retirement and Aging Workforce issues – Employer focus and spending on retiree benefits is expected to increase; employees have strong interest in retirement benefits.

Loyalty & Retention

When asked about the importance of benefits in retention and workplace loyalty, employees ranked retirement benefits and advancement opportunities as tied for the third most critical factor, behind salary/wages (number one) and health benefits (number two). A loyalty gap can be seen clearly with this example – 72% of employees say retirement benefits are an important factor in loyalty, whereas only 41% of employers say the same.

Benefits are playing an increasingly important role in employees’ decisions to remain with their employer. Significantly, 45% percent of employees say benefits are an important reason why they remain with their current employer, up from 33% a year ago. An additional one-third (33%) say benefits were an important factor attracting them to their current job, up from 28% last year.

More employers are recognizing that benefits drive satisfaction. A majority, 58%, believe that benefits play a very important role in employee retention. That percentage climbs to 65% for employers with 500 or more employees.

However, the study also reveals a significant gap between how loyal employers believe they are to employees and employees’ perception of that loyalty. For example, 55% of surveyed employers say they feel a strong sense of loyalty to their workers, whereas only 41% of employees feel that their employers have a strong sense of loyalty to them. As employers look to use benefits strategically to help improve workforce loyalty and retention, it is essential to find ways to close this gap and better understand how benefits are most impacting feelings of loyalty.

The study also indicates that despite rising benefits costs, employees seem willing to accept paying a larger part of those costs themselves in order to access a portfolio of benefits offerings. In spite of the fact that more than half (56%) of employees say they are paying more now for their medical coverage than last year, benefits satisfaction among employees is up. This year 44% of surveyed employees, compared to 39% last year, say they are satisfied with their workplace benefits. Employees are indicating a willingness to pay more to get more. In fact, 44% of employees are interested in their employer offering a wider array of voluntary benefits – up from 31% last year.

"With retention a key business concern, employers are looking to improve employee loyalty more than ever. This year’s data on benefits behaviors show a gap between what employers think will help drive improved loyalty and satisfaction, and what employees are actually looking for. By better understanding what ways benefits drive employee loyalty in an increasingly diverse workforce, employers have an untapped opportunity to maximize the effectiveness of their benefits plans," said Ronald Leopold, M.D., vice president, MetLife Institutional Business.

Growing Focus on Retirement and Aging Workforce Issues
With a significant number of employees approaching retirement, companies can do more to address the needs of an aging workforce. As the Baby Boomers begin to retire and/or approach retirement, employers need to re-evaluate their benefits offerings. The study reveals that nearly three-quarters (73%) of employers that currently offer retiree benefits expect the dollar amount of these benefits to increase in the next five years, compared to 63% last year.

Employers are implementing a range of programs and accommodations. Large companies outpace smaller employers when it comes to offering retirement guides/information and training. About one-third of companies with 500 or more employees offer resources and programs for an aging workforce. However, smaller employers provide greater flexibility for working part-time in retirement. Among companies that provide resources/programs for an aging workforce, 44% with 2 to 499 employees provide part-time employment to retirees, compared to 35% with 500 or more employees.

Smaller employers are less likely to anticipate being affected by the aging workforce. Only 35% of employers with 2 to 499 employees think they will be greatly impacted, compared to 50% with 500 or more employees. One reason could be that employees at smaller companies expect to work until an older age. While the average employee at companies with 500 or more employees is anticipating retiring from full-time work at age 63, the average employee at smaller employers is planning to retire at age 65.

Call to Action
The study suggests that there are three primary strategies that employers can consider to optimize the value of their benefits plan:

Personalization. A one-size-fits-all approach to benefits is no longer effective. Employers should tailor benefits to different employee segments, including older workers, retirees, and other life-stage groups.

Breadth of Benefits. Employers should provide a broad, cost-efficient benefits offering with a wide range of options to meet the increasingly diverse needs of the workforce. This offering can include voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs, work/life balance programs, resources for aging workers, and retirement plans.

Decision Support and Communications. When asked about the importance of benefits strategies to their companies, over half (55%) of employers indicate that "providing better decision support tools" is very important — up from 47% in 2005. Such tools could include product calculators as well as rules of thumb on what products and coverage levels are appropriate. Also, employers should communicate more frequently to employees about their benefits offerings and how to take advantage of them.

"Set against a backdrop of an aging workforce, escalating healthcare costs and an era of personal responsibility, benefits have become increasingly important to both employers and employees. Employees are looking to secure their financial futures and are primed for action. Providing and promoting a robust suite of benefits offerings represents a win-win for employers and employees alike," adds Mr. Mullaney.

The 6th annual MetLife Study of Employee Benefits Trends is available at
whymetlife.com/trendspr along with a wealth of other related resources, including interactive polls on the latest benefits issues and access to other MetLife research.

Study Methodology

The 6th annual MetLife Study of Employee Benefits Trends was conducted during the third quarter of 2007 and consisted of two distinct studies fielded by GfK NOP. The employee survey polled 1,380 full-time employees, age 21 and over, at companies with at least two employees. The employer survey consisted of 1,652 interviews with benefits decision-makers at companies with a minimum of two employees, representing a mix of industries and geographic regions.

Celebrating 140 years, MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its domestic and international subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.



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MetLife Media Contacts:
Karen Eldred (212) 578-9561
Joe Madden (212) 578-3021
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Charlie Pinson Insurance was recently awarded the 2007 Outstanding Productivity and Profitablility Award in Kentucky by MetLife (for Kentucky Auto Insurance). Through our sister agencies, Triple B Insurance and C & B Insurance, Charlie Pinson offers a variety of insurance products for  Kentucky Small Business.

New See it at Thunder Over Louisville KY UPS Boeing 747-400

Thunder Newsroom By: KDF Press OfficePosted: 4/8/2008 12:20:15 PM

For More Louisville Kentucky Derby Festival News visit www.kdf.org

The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that the 2008 Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville – will feature UPS’ new Boeing 747-400 Freighter in its first-ever Air Show appearance. This is the largest aircraft in the UPS fleet.

“Be sure to look up in the sky during this year’s Thunder Air Show. UPS is excited to share our newest and largest addition to an already efficient and quiet fleet during this year’s show,” said Bob Lekites, President of UPS Airlines. “It’s a beautiful airplane and will be vital to Louisville’s presence as an international player for many years to come.”

UPS has purchased eight new and six converted Boeing 747-400 freighters to add to its fleet. The first jumbo freighter, which is large enough to fill up three quarters of a football field, was delivered to the company’s global air hub in Louisville in July 2007. The one appearing at this year’s Thunder is brand new. The 747-400’s are used on global trunk routes between North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Since purchasing its first aircraft in 1981, UPS has become the world’s 9th largest airline with 268 jets. UPS aircraft fly into more than 800 airports, serving customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. In keeping with the Kentucky Derby Festival’s “Go Green!” initiative, all UPS aircraft meet strict noise requirements both domestically and abroad.
UPS is a longtime supporter of the Kentucky Derby Festival. 2008 marks the airline’s 18th consecutive year as a presenting sponsor of Thunder. UPS also provides ground support for the Festival’s Marathon and miniMarathon with its fleet of vans and tractor-trailers, delivering water and Powerade to all the stops along the route.

This year’s Thunder Air Show kicks-off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12th, followed by a 30-minute fireworks show starting at 9:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s show is “Out Of This World,” and will include fireworks shells from different countries around the world, European military aircraft – including a German Tornado - as well as another impressive lineup of American military and civilian airplanes and demonstration teams. The show is sponsored by Caesars Indiana, E.ON U.S., Meijer and UPS.

747-400 Fun Facts:

• 747-400 tail height is 63 feet 8 inches, equivalent to a six-story building.


• The 747-400 wing measures 5,600 square feet, an area large enough to hold 45 medium-sized automobiles.


• The Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., could have been performed within the cargo hold of a 747-400.


• At an overall length of 231 feet, the 747-400 is nearly twice the length of the space shuttle orbiter.


• The 747-400 range is 4,445 nautical miles, which is roughly the distance between Anchorage and Hong Kong.


• The 747-400 has 171 miles of wiring, that's roughly the distance between Louisville and Nashville.

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Charlie Pinson Insurance does business throughout The Bluegrass State, including Louisville KY.

Planning for Disasters- Impacting KY Small Business

Charlie says I am a worrier; and I guess he is right. I want to plan for the positive, but in the back of my mind the "worst case scenario" is doing an irritating tap dance.

Does your Kentucky Small Business have a plan for disasters?

Have you ever thought about how your business would survive if there was a disaster like a flood, tornado, or God forbid something on the lines of Hurricane Katrina? Truth be told, we had not I am embarrassed to say.

Ask yourself

• How quickly can I reopen if the electric goes out for more than 2 days?



• Does your inventory require refrigeration? How can you quickly "power up?"



• If my building where destroyed, how quickly could I set up a temporary office to service my clients?



• How could you recover your computer data, acquire new servers etc?



• If there were a major disaster in your area, do you have a plan in place to be able to contact your employees?



• What would it take to get you up and running quickly?

A few days back, I sat in on a webinar sponsored by a trade publication, and presented by a company called Agility. Agility is an emergency response team for your business. They presented how they had helped an large insurance agency in Louisiana quickly regroup literally hours after Katrina hit. Agility secured modular offices, satellite phones, air conditioners, and numerous other "business essentials" to get the office back in business. (There's an article about the agency in the current edition of Powerful Connections.)

They also recounted situations where they had helped secure refrigeration units and the like, for industries that need such things like meat packers, wholesalers, and grocery stores. Very interesting concepts.

The Agility website has tips for Fire, Flood, Hurricane, Tornado and Earthquake preparedness for business continuity.

Now of course Agility is selling it's services. Living in an area prone to flooding, it surely made me think. We are a family business, and our logistics for re-opening would not be as complex as a company with hundreds of employees. For now, we will forgo outside help. Nevertheless, we need a plan.

If you already have a disaster plan review it. Especially if you have a high dependency on Internet to keep your business open. Establish protocol for your employees to check-in and get in touch. Think about power generators. (Remember a few years back when Lexington KY was under snow and without power?)

We all think it "will never happen to us." But it could. Are you ready?

I'll always be a worrier, but with a new plan in place I will worry a little less about business, and a little more about what hat to wear to the Derby! BIG SMILES

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Charlie Pinson Insurance is a family owned Kentucky Independent Insurance Agency. The above post does not constitute endorsement of a product or service. Charlie Pinson Insurance, and our sister agencies, Triple B Insurance and C & B Insurance, offer Kentucky Workers Compensation, BOP's Business Owners Policies, and a number of employee benefit products including Kentucky health insurance. Call us at 606.433.0031 or check out our website at www.pinsoninsurance.com

New Magazine for Independent Insurance Agents

If you are like me, and hundreds of other Kentucky Independent Insurance Agents, you recieve tons and tons of industry magazines. I dutifully go through most of the articles, sticking post-its on various items for each of our agents. Guess you could say I am the designated "reader" for the agency. Maybe just "PHD" for "Piled High and Deeper" desk????

Well, today a new magazine called Powerful Connections happened into my office. I did not pay a subscription fee, so I assume it is being offered free of charge. Produced by Agency Specialty Product Network Insurance Agency, Inc. the magazine comes out twice a year.

We do not currently do business with the agency, so please don't think I am endorsing them. However, I can tell you the magazine is a dandy. Cover stories include Advice to give your clients to plan for a disaster, Subprime Mortgages, and Alternatives to Health Insurance.

Oddly enough, or maybe not so oddly if you know me, the articles I enjoyed most were not the cover leads. I liked the profile of Gillis, Ellis, and Baker a Louisiana insurance agency, the article on "Going Green" and an article on "Deskercise." There was a terrific piece on phone etiquette and another directed at young agents that was well worth the read.

The layout of the magazine makes it easy to browse, and the sidebars give you more information if you want to do more than just breeze through a topic. It's fun, it's hip...and you just don't get to say that too much about an insurance industry magazine.

Check out www.askaspn.com to see about subscribing to this new magazine for independent insurance agents.

Remember I don't know this company, but I do know a cool magazine when I see it!

Please slow down! My daddy works here!

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Press Release Date: Monday, April 07, 2008

Contact Information: Chuck Wolfe 502-564-3419

National Work Zone Safety Week Observed in Kentucky

Read the Top 10 Work Zone Safety Tips

FRANKFORT, Ky. ­(April 7, 2008) — A reminder for those driving through highway work zones this year: Be careful! That’s someone’s mom or dad working out there! National Work Zone Safety Week is being recognized throughout Kentucky, with a salute to those who keep our highways in good order and risk their lives doing it.

As a physician, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo has seen and treated numerous victims of highway crashes. “This is not just a job-site issue. It’s a very serious human health and safety issue. Everyone can make a positive difference by following a few, simple rules when approaching a work zone.”

More than 40,000 people are injured yearly in work zones and thousands are killed. The majority of those, 85 percent, are motorists. According to police records, six people were killed in Kentucky highway work zones in 2007.

Family members of victims, along with traffic safety groups, the federal highway administration, law enforcement, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Labor Department are all taking part in events throughout the state, paying tribute to victims and raising consciousness about work zone safety.

“By talking about the issues, and taking a few minutes to reflect and remember, we hope we can save lives in the future,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Joe Prather at an event in Louisville. “These people risk their life every single day so we can go to work, school or the grocery store. It is our responsibility to make highway work zones as safe as possible by slowing down and being alert when driving through them.”

Transportation safety representatives, including law enforcement, reiterated their role in work zone safety as well. “If our presence in work zones can help slow down drivers and prevent a deadly crash, you can guarantee we’ll be there,” said Boyd Sigler, Director of Highway Safety Program for KYTC.

The Transportation Cabinet is expected to invest in hundreds of highway projects again this year. Traditionally, the highway construction “season” kicks off in April. Cabinet engineers and contractors work cooperatively to design projects and work schedules that minimize delays and crashes.

“Our priority is the safety of our contract employees out there working on road projects,” added Charles Lovorn, of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors. “We vary work hours and consider other options to ensure quality road projects and a safe working environment within the work zone.”

Here are the “top 10” work zone safety tips.

• Expect the unexpected.



• Slow down.



• Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you.



• Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the construction workers and equipment.



• Pay attention to the signs.



• Obey road crew flaggers.



• Stay alert and minimize distractions.



• Keep up with the traffic flow.



• Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to www.511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.



• Be patient and stay calm.

This week’s work zone awareness events coincide with “National Work Zone Awareness Week.” Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has signed a proclamation recognizing work zone safety week in Kentucky, April 7-11.

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Charlie Pinson Insurance offers Kentucky Auto Insurance quotes online. Through an arrangement with Safeco Insurance, Kentucky Safeco Insurance may be purchased instantly online. Visit Charlie Pinson Insurance

Humana Health Insurance KY Named One of Nation's Best Corporate Citizens

April 02, 2008 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Humana Ranks #7 Among CRO Magazine’s Top 100 Companies

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today that it has been recognized by Corporate Responsibility Officer Magazine as one of 2008’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens.”

Humana ranked seventh on this prestigious list, which included such well-known corporate citizens as Intel Corp., Starbucks Corp. and PepsiCo Inc. Humana was the only health services company to rank in the list’s top 20.

“We are honored to be named one of the best corporate citizens in America,” said Mike McCallister, Humana’s president and chief executive officer. “At Humana our brand promise of ‘guidance when you need it most’ embodies a pledge to act in the highest ethical manner and to participate meaningfully in the communities where we do business. In this way we strive to be full partners with our consumers, our customers and the general public.”

CRO, in affiliation with IW Financial, a research and consulting firm, ranked the corporate responsibility efforts of large-cap companies from the Russell 1000 index based on their efforts in the areas of climate change, employee relations, environment, financial performance, governance, human rights, lobbying and philanthropy.

CRO gave especially high marks to Humana’s governance, ranking the company sixth in that area. In addition, Humana ranked number 52 in the financial category.

In addition to this year’s CRO ranking, in 2007 Humana was included in CRO’s top ten list of corporate citizens by industry, ranking first in health services and second in financial services, and was named as one of only 99 U.S. companies on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

About Humana Health Insurance

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 11.5 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.

Over its 47-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

Contacts
Humana Inc.  Chris Curran, Humana Corporate Communications
502-580-1084ccurran@humana.com

Charlie Pinson and Joyce Pinson offer Kentucky Health Insurance through a number of companies including Humana. Charlie Pinson represents Triple B Insurance, an independent Kentucky Health Insurance Agency.

Kentucky Health Insurance Quote-Humana Health Insurance Agent

Charlie Pinson