THE TORCH | OCTOBER 2020 i

OCTOBER 2020

T H E V O I C E O F I N D E P E N D E N T I N S U R A N C E A G E N T S

CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE

CELEBRANDO LA HERENCIA HISPANA

PHOTO CREDIT: CNN

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The Latin AmericanAssociation of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA), founded in 1969, is an association of insurance professionals whose purpose is to protect the rights of its member for the benefit of the consumer through education, information, networking & active participation in the political environment and community service.

www.laaia.comwww.blaaia.comwww.atlantalaaia.comPUBLISHER Maribel RamirezEDITOR Janet Lorenzo-GarciaCynthia ScottCONTRIBUTOR Alessandra Ramirez

Become a member of our social networks!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGELissette Perez, CPIA

Greetings/ Hola!

With a slight breeze in the air (wishful thinking) and fall decorations be-ginning to pop up, we welcome the third quarter of the year and Hispanic Heritage Month. I have so much to share with you!

October brings with it the opportunity to celebrate our Latin traditions, especially those that bolster cultural understanding. Please join us on Octo-ber 7, at our virtual monthly meeting for a journey through the sounds and libations of Cuba. You will hear a remarkable personal story from Ramon A. (Tony) Perez, PH. D, CPCU, CLU CEO of Grupo Optima, the father of our Atlanta Chapter President, and of his induction to the Insurance Hall of Fame. Our rich cultural diversity will be on full display while we network and celebrate our dynamic Hispanic Heritage. Later this month, we ea-gerly anticipate the release of the collaborative study between Marsh, HOLA and the LAAIA - Building a Future for Hispanic Professionals in the Insurance Industry as we work on developing more Hispanic insurance leaders. Stay tuned!

Our board continues to work diligently to provide you with classes and forums to build knowledge and grow your business. They have prepared Free CE classes, forthcoming designation classes, first ever sales training classes in SPANISH, and many new member benefits to save you money on products and services.

Last but certainly not least, our 50th Grand Celebration has gone live! Registration is open and ready for you to register to network with company partners, watch our board installation, and dance the night away. There has never been a more exciting time than now to become a member and get involved!

I told you I had a lot to share!Until next month, con mucho cariño,

Lissette Pérez President

NATIONAL BROWARD ATLANTA Like & Follow - Click on the icons!

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UPCOMING NATIONAL Wednesday, Oct. 7th, 2020LAAIA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage MonthJoin LAAIA National and Atlanta Chapter as we celebrate His-

panic Heritage Month. You will be able to watch a live musical

performance, learn how to make a great Bacaradi inspired

drink, listen to Ramon Antonio Perez Dominguez, as he re-

counts his journey in the insurance industry and induction

into the Insurance Hall of Fame as a Latin insurance profes-

sional. Don’t forget to make your best latino inspired zoom

background and win recognition for your company on social

media!

5:30 pm - 6:30 pmTo Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

Tuesday, Oct. 20th, 2020CPIA ClassAdvanced Commercial Lines Risk Analysis for E&O Loss PreventionThis one-day seminar will combine two distinct topics to en-

hance the professionalism and sales excellence of today’s com-

mercial lines producers and customer service personnel.

9:00 am - 5:00 pmCost Member: $184.00Non-Member: $199.00To Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

Wednesday, Oct. 14th, 2020Cold Brew with the LAAIA NextGenCreating Your Own Normal: Work-Life Balance in a Post Pan-

demic World

9:00 am - 10:00 amTo Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

Wednesday, Oct. 21st, 2020Safelite CE Credit Courses Insurance Fraud: How to prevent it 10AM-12PM - 2 CE Credits

Free

To Register: https://cvent.me/vv92aeThe Future is Now 1PM-3PM- 2 CE Credits Free

To Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

BROWARD Wednesday, Oct. 21st, 2020SAVE THE DATE! @ 5:00pm

Wednesday, Oct. 28th, 2020Cafecito with the LAAIASocial Selling: Reviews, Referrals & Social Media

Social Selling is and why it’s so important...

9:00 am - 10:00 amTo Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

Friday, Oct. 30th, 2020El Nuevo Enfoque del Vendedor de SegurosThis event will be presented in Spanish

12:00 pm - 1:30 pmTo Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

Saturday, Oct. 31st, 2020Virtual 5K Walk for Holtz Children’s HospitalJoin the virtual 5K!L isten to a live DJ, win prizes & get to

walking in your neighborhood, park or even on your at home

treadmill. Don’t forget to dress up in your best costume and tag

us on social media!

9:00 am - Kick Off / $30 fee to enter

To Register: https://cvent.me/vv92ae

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CHARITY CORNER

The LAAIA is proud and extremely excited to announce its latest initiative. The LAAIA Response & Recovery, 501C charitable non-profit organization became official in July

and we couldn’t be prouder of our mission and dedication to providing the highest level of support to the LAAIA members and their communities in overcoming hardships through response and

recovery efforts. Our charitable 501C was created as direct response to COVID 19. The concept is remarkably simple. Company partners have set aside money to help with agencies that might be experiencing financial difficulties during unprecedented times, now and in the future. We would

like to recognize Nat Gen Flood, A division of National General, as the first company to come on board with a sizable donation while other companies like Progressive have also offered to step in. The long-term goal is to assist agents and their communities during times of crisis. Although founded here in Florida, we can help wherever an LAAIA chapter exists. What difficulties have you had that our new 501C organization, Response & Recovery, can help with, such as receiving a gift card,

reimbursement for CE credits or discount on membership fees?

Let us know here https://conta.cc/349U9iB survey link!

The goal of our charitable organization is to give back to members of the LAAIA!

Proven claims service - nationwide

Technology designed for ease of use, accuracy, and NFIP compliance

Personalized customer service to meet your needs online via chat or by phone (8:00 a.m. – 8:00p.m. EST)

Training, sales, and marketing support to grow your business

Excess flood coverage options to insure up to replacement cost*

*Subject to underwriting guidelines

FLOOD INSURANCE CHANGES EVERYTHING

Call us for flood choices. Wright Flood Marketing at 866-373-5663 or floodmarketing@weareflood.com

2019 Wright Flood®. All rights reserved.

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50 YEARS OF THE LAAIA IN PICT U R E S

Can you recognize anybody?

Looking back...

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BROWARD HIGHLIGHTSPlease meet your newly installed 2020-2021 Board members:

President ~Andy Pappas, Synergy Insurance GroupPresident Elect~Nicole Marcus-Douma, The Marcus GroupVice President~Mark Introcaso, Independent AgentTreasurer~Nikki Sciacca, Synergy Insurance GroupSecretary~Mariano Demarin, Home Port InsuranceDirector~Jeremiah Perez, Absolute Choice InsuranceDirector~Deborah Echeverria, State Auto Tag and InsuranceDirector~Robin Lewis, Robin Lewis InsuranceDirector~Stephanie Fortune, Fortune Business Consulting Director~Andrew Friedman, Pallant Insurance AgencyImmediate Past President~Barry Sanders, Knight InsuranceHistorian~Al Mendez, Mendez & Associates InsuranceCompany Liaison~Martha Getsee, Florida PeninsulaCompany Liaison~Mariella Gonzalez, Florida Peninsula

In case you missed it, we had a fantastic meeting on Sept 16th – “Members Helping Members” We heard from several members and com-

pany representatives tell their story on how the BLAAIA has helped them with their agencies and company to agent relationships.Our newest

board member Blair, askblair@blaaia.com was introduced at this meeting. Our very own Broward Latin Agents Insurance Representative,

comes to us from the University of Insurance and boasts a degree in Risk Management with a minor in Consumer Relations. As our newest

board member, Blair will put her expertise to work by leading our Mentorship Committee. Unique to this organization, advice from BLAIR

is included with your membership and is sourced from someone who understands the issues and concerns agents face in today’s insurance

environment and has overcome them successfully.

Be sure to mark your calendar for our next meeting via Zoom on Wednesday October 21st @ 5pm. Please refer to your email for more

information. We hope to see you there!

Thank you,

Andy Pappas

President

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This year, 95% of engaged couples with spring weddings decided to postpone or reschedule their nuptials, according to The Knot. As the new coronavirus continues to spread, some couples have opted for intimate backyard weddings that take place at their home or another residence.

Pandemic restrictions dictate social gatherings must be small, but even the tiniest of weddings arelikely to see as many or more event mishaps as a large, venue-hosted wedding. What’s more, anyhost of such an event must worry about whether their insurance will cover the house and its guests ifsomething goes wrong.

Unlike professional event venues that carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in liability coverage — orevent planners who often sell policies that cover damage or cancellation — the host of a backyardwedding now retains all the potential risks.

Time to consult an insurance agent! Some clients may be rightfully nervous about managing the unexpected during a backyard wedding. Insurance agents can help. When reviewing client and prospect insurance needs, agents should inquire about any events, weddings or parties planned on their property and discuss what their home insurance policy may or may not cover.

Couples and their families may be surprised by the level of protection (or lack thereof) they have with their existing home insurance policy. Agents might consider proposing additional coverage options to help protect clients from backyard nuptial calamities as well as special event riders and standalone policies to boost their client’s existing liability insurance and protection from cancellations.

To help clients plan for a backyard pandemic wedding, agents should review which disasters couldhappen and talk about the coverage options they have or might need to add to their existing homeinsurance policy to ensure they’re protected.

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2y3ZIDy

IN THE NEWS

Insurance considerations for backyard pandemic weddings

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(Miss this week’s The Leadership Brief? This interview above was delivered to the inbox of Leadership Brief subscribers on Sunday morning, Aug. 16; to receive weekly emails of conversations with the world’s top CEOs and business decisionmakers, click here.)

One of the best indicators of economic activity is how many miles Americans drive, and as CEO of Progres-sive Corp., one of the largest U.S. auto insurers, Tri-cia Griffith keeps a careful eye on the nation’s coming and goings. Since the pandemic began, people are both driving less—miles driven plummeted by 40% in April—and getting into fewer accidents.

Griffith has spent her career at Progressive, starting as a claims rep, and is a rare CEO who previously served as her company’s head of HR, a background that she credits with helping make Progressive the top-rated corporation for diversity and inclusion, according to a ranking by the Wall Street Journal.

Griffith, 55, joined TIME for a video conversation from her home outside of Cleveland. Griffith shared her views on humor in insurance advertising (comedian Stephanie Courtney has been appearing in Progressive ads as Flo since 2008), the “sophomoric” state of the nation’s leadership, and how to build a diverse and inclusive corporate culture.

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2y3ZIDy

INDUSTRY INSIDER

SOURCE: time.com, August 2020 | Reprinted with sincere thanks BY EBEN SHAPIRO

Progressive CEO Tricia Griffith on the Nation’s ‘Sophomoric’ Political Leaders

and the Durability of Flo

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El curso virtual de Dinámicas de Ventas de The National Alliance le enseña a los productores un proceso de ventas probado y especifico a seguros que puede aumentar la confianza y los cierres. Esta capacitación de 3 días y altamente interactiva, facilitada por expertos en la venta de seguros del país mejorará las habilidades de comunicación y negociación de los productores, les enseñará a como desarrollar perspectivas sólidas y a superar las objeciones de los clientes. Todo esto, sin tener que salir de su casa u oficina, y ¡será en español!

DYNAMICS SERIES

DINÁMICAS DE VENTASEN LÍNEA

-Dillon Hawkins, CLCS, MBA

"Este fue el mejor y más realista curso de ventas que he tomado. ¡Muy emocionado de poner esto a trabajar!”

Fecha del curso: Octubre 28 al 30, 2020

¡REGÍSTRESE HOY!

VENDA MÁS QUE SU COMPETENCIA

¡NUEVO y en español- 3 días de instrucción en vivo en un salón virtual¡

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OIR Receives Annual Workers’ Compensation Rate FilingTuesday, September 1, 2020 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has received the 2021 Florida workers’ compensation rate filing by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), which proposes a statewide average premium decrease of -5.7%. The new rates would become effective January 1, 2021.

As always, OIR will review the filing to ensure the proposed changes are not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory and evaluate its potential effects on the insurance marketplace and employers, who are required by law to carry this insurance on their employees.

NCCI is a licensed rating organization authorized to make rate filings on behalf of workers’ compensation insurance companies in Florida. For more information about the filing, read the NCCI 2021 Filing Summary.

Contact Info: Karen Kees(850) 413-2515Press@floir.com

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/2y3ZIDy

IN THE NEWS

Office Statement

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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF FINANICAL OFFICER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DIRECTIVE 2020-08WHEREAS, The Executive Office of the Governor issued Executive Order 20-52, granting agency heads certain authority to waive statutory and administrative provisions to the extent strict compliance with such

provisions would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the ongoing emergency.

WHEREAS, Florida communities continue to be affected by the COIVD-19 virus, and the Center for Disease Control has issued certain guidance to employers related to the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus Disease

2019 (COVID- 19), recommending the implementation of social distancing strategies.

WHEREAS, Florida Statutes generally prohibits insurance licensees from transacting insurance outside the offices of a licensed agent or agency.

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, I issued Chief Financial Officer Directive 2020-01 suspending enforce-ment of sections 626.7352 and 626.7354(4), Florida Statutes in order to afford flexibility to licensees

whose offices are subject to closure due to COVID-19.

WHEREAS, Chief Financial Officer Directive 2020-01 is set to expire on May 8, 2020.

WHEREAS, Governor DeSantis issued Executive order 20-112, granting Phase 1 of the re-opening of Flor-ida’s economy with the intention of promoting business operation and economic recovery while maintaining

focus on core safety principles.

WHEREAS, enabling insurance licensees to telework from home would promote core safety principles.THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, JIMMY PATRONIS, as Chief Financial Officer of Florida, by virtue of the authorities delegated to me by the Governor pursuant to his powers under Chapter 252, Florida

Statutes, promulgate the following Directive to take immediate effect:

Section 1. In order to promote Executive Order 20-112’s core safety principals and to afford flexibility to licensees, Chief Financial Officer Directive 2020-01 shall remain in effect during the effective period of

Executive Order 20-52 and any extensions thereof.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-213(Emergency Management -Extwsion of Executive0rder20-52-COVID-19)

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52, declaring a state of emergency for the entire state due to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, President Donald J. Trump approved my request and declared a Major Disaster due to COVID-19 in Florida; and

WHEREAS, on June 3, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-139, implementing Phase 2 of my Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery; and

WHEREAS, I, as Governor of Florida, am committed to providing all available resources and assisting all Floridians and our local communities with their efforts; and

WHEREAS, no state of emergency declared pursuant to the Florida Emergency Management Act may continue for more than 60 days unless renewed by the Governor; and

WHEREAS, the impact of COVID-19 poses a continuing threat to the health, safety and welfare of the State of Florida and its residents.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1 (a) of the Florida Constitution and by the Florida Emergency Management Act, as amended, and all other applicable laws, promul-

gate the following

Executive Order, to take immediate effect: Section 1. The state of emergency declared in Executive Order 20-52, as extended by

Executive Orders 20-114 and 20-166 will be extended for 60 days following the issuance of thisorder for the entire State of Florida.

Section 2. All actions taken by the Director of the Division of Emergency Management as the State Coordinating Officer with respect to this emergency before the issuance of this Executive Order are ratified, and he is directed to continue to execute the State’s

Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery , and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency.

Section 3. Except as amended herein, Executive Order 20-52, extended by Executive Orders 20-114 and 20-166, and as amended by Executive Order 20-192, is ratified andreaffirmed.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

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WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR NEWSLETTER

SPONSORS!

INSPIRATIONAL CORNERBy Barry Sanders

Life is in front of you. Keep looking and moving forward. Your past is how you got to this point, don’t let it define your future!

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NATIONALGuillermo Luis, J. Johnson InsuranceMiguel Taveras, Hoopis Performance Network

LAAIAWelcomes Our Newest Members!

NEW MEMBERS

*** During this special time we are making sure our members are getting valuable resources to be informed and get the necessary tools to navigate these difficult times. Remember the LAAIA is providing you :Free webinars . Virtual networking . Providing you with Covid resources . Providing charitable donations . Engaging in legislative efforts

Remember your feedback is always welcomed and we would love to hear from all of you!