inside - pianeia magazine/winfmay_12final.pdfthe program back decades to a time of inefficiencies,...
TRANSCRIPT
May 2012 | Published Monthly
A Head’s Up — Insurance Premium Tax Payments Up | 8
Don’t Turn the Clock Back on Crop Insurance | 10
INSIDE
A Taste of PIA | 20
Cover © Some rights reserved by cfourcalvin
Did youknow?
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents400 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2353www.pianet.com | [email protected] | (703) 836-9340
Did you know that PIA is working on agents’ behalf to clear up several issues surrounding certificates of insurance?
As part of this effort, PIA National recently held a webinar with ACORD that was made available to PIA members free of charge. A panel of experts from PIA, ACORD and the carrier ranks provided an overview of certificates of insurance, what they mean, what they do not mean and things independent agents should know before issuing certificates.
This PIA-ACORD webinar is now available online to all agents. To view the webinar, please visit www.pianet.com/IssuesOfFocus/HotIssues/InsuranceBusinessPractices
This is just one way PIA looks out for professional, independent insurance agents. To learn about other ways that PIA fights for agents please visit our website. Better yet, join the fight by becoming a PIA member. Members receive regular communications from PIA, keeping them plugged in so they can operate their agencies better.
To learn more about membership in PIA, please give us a call or visit us online at www.pianet.com/AboutUs/joinpia.
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 4
Care Act passed The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) said fewer employers are offering healthcare coverage and few employees are taking coverage when offered.
Pre-Existing Conditions — Lots of Them | 17As more information becomes known about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and as the federal government continues to implement the law, more surprises pop up.
The Housing Market — Costco & the Proverbial Bottom | 17Zillow’s Home Value Forecast has predicted the bottom for the housing crisis.
Still in Recession? A Poll | 17Still in a Recession?
A Head’s Up — Insurance Premium Tax Payments Up | 8As you read this story, PIA National says you need to keep a couple of things in mind. Number one, this story indicates the insurance business is recovering from the big economic downturn.
Don’t Turn the ClockBack on Crop Insurance | 10Congress is currently working on legislation that could lead to big changes to federal crop insurance and have major effects on America’s farmers.
Crop Insurance & Farm Subsidies | 12Even more changes are coming to the nation’s crop subsidy program.
FEMA to Congress: NFIP Expires at the End of May | 13The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is set to expire on May 31. Again.
Tax Break Extensions for Business | 14Whether you’re small business or large, tax reform is on your mind.
What if the Supreme Court Tosses ObamaCare? | 15Unwinding the law — if found unconstitutional — will be complex for everyone and not just Congress and the administration.
ObamaCare & Employer Benefits | 16Since the Patient Protection and Affordable
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Calendar of evenTS
Upcoming Events Calendar 2012 | 19
adverTiSeMenTS
Wanted, For Sale and Opportunities | 20Contact us to place a classified ad.
A Taste of PIA | 18
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 5
Main Street Industry News format is done in an ultra high quality style that makes your ad stand out.
Main Street Industry News is issued electronically to over 8,000 Professional Insurance Agents throughout NE & IA, PIA state and national associations and other organizations that provide products or services to insurance agencies.
To advertise contact PIA of Nebrask and Iowa – Executive Director, Cathy Klasi at (402) 392-1611.
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Information also available on-line at www.piatrust.com.*PIA National membership, when required, must be current at all times.
**Only available if 100% employer paid and if the employer and 100% of the employees enroll. No medical underwriting necessary up to guaranteed issue limits.
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Professional Insurance Agents NE IAAttention: EditorialMain Street Industry News920 S 107 Avenue, Ste. 305Omaha, NE 68114
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PIA Association for Nebraska and Iowa is committed to focusing its resources in ways that cast the most favorable light on its constituents. We are dedicated to providing the type of programs, the level of advocacy, and the dissemination of information that best supports the perpetuation and prosperity of our members. We pledge to always conduct ourselves in a manner that enhances the public image of PIA and adds real value to our members.
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May 2012 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 8
As you read this story, PIA National says you need to keep a couple of things in mind. Number one, this story indicates the insurance business is recovering from the big economic downturn. Second, this story illustrates part of the motivation behind efforts to bring about federal insurance regulation.
As you will note in this article, state insurance premium taxes account for three times as much as general sales tax revenue received by the states. That is a very big and tempting target for the federal government.
A report from the U.S. Census Bureau notes that insurance premium tax payments are
A Head’s UpInsurance Premium Tax Payments Up
increasing. The overall increase — to all states — jumped $55.7 billion in 2011 to $757.2 billion.
This is for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011.
Revenue on taxes imposed distinctively on insurance companies and measured by gross or adjusted gross premiums (insurance premium sales tax) increased $593.8 million — a 3.8% increase. For fiscal 2010, insurance premium sales taxes rose 5.3%.
The 2011 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections contains
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May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 9
statistics on the fiscal year tax collections of all 50 state governments and that includes receipts from licenses and compulsory fees. It shows the largest increases in insurance premium sales tax revenue in the Northeast and South. Corporate net income tax revenue hit $40.2 billion — a 9.4% increase. Tax revenue on individual income was at $259.1 billion — up 9.8%.
Insurance premium taxes were three times as much as general sales tax revenue of $234.5 billion. That’s an increase of 5.4%. Corporate net income tax revenue, individual income tax revenue and general sales tax revenue comprised 70.5% of all state government tax collections nationally.
What It Means to Agents: As mentioned at the beginning of the story, this income is a very big and tempting target for the federal government. Something to keep in mind when the Treasury Department starts saying how “efficient” federal regulation of insurance would be. Efficient for them, if they manage to get their hands on all or part of this very large pot of money. Devastating for the states, who would lose big-time. Most disputes about public policy are about money — especially when those going after money say, “It’s not about the money.”
Guess what? It is about the money. n
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May 2012 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 10
Congress is currently working on legislation that could lead to big changes to federal crop insurance and have major effects on America’s farmers. As part of this process, our federal legislators are listening intently to the views of their constituents on how to make this program more efficient and better serving to the country. However, if one group has its way, they would take the program back decades to a time of inefficiencies, overspending, and near failure by replacing, in part or in whole, professional private-sector crop insurance agents with federal government employees. The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National) is strongly opposed to this effort because it would be detrimental to the federal crop insurance program and the farmers that the program serves.
DOn’T TURn THE ClOCk BACk On CROP InSURAnCE
The National Association of Farm Service Agency County Office Employees (NASCOE) is an organization that represents employees of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). NASCOE has been engaging in an active lobbying campaign urging federal regulators and legislators to remove private-sector insurance agents from crop insurance and replace them with FSA employees, which would be a terrible move. But don’t take my word for it; history speaks for itself.
The federal government sold crop insurance until nearly 30 years ago. Because the program was unsuccessful under direct federal involvement, Congress decided to partner with the private sector. Farmers were given a choice of dealing with a
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May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 11
government employee, or a private sector crop insurance agent. Farmers at the time nearly abandoned the federal government option and purchased their crop insurance through the private sector. The federal option was quickly phased out.
Since then, crop insurance has enjoyed extensive growth. Insurance agents have been a key to this growth and the increasing success of the program, including being instrumental in insuring a record breaking 264 million acres in the 2011 crop year, during which well over $10 billion of indemnity payments were made to farmers. This level of success would have been unfathomable 30 years ago when the federal government was delivering this coverage, and not doing it well.
Arguments that turning the clock back three decades to a time when federal government employees were in charge would lead to greater efficiency and better customer service to farmers strain credibility. They are also in conflict with the historical facts.
Licensed crop insurance agents are highly skilled individuals who provide stellar performance by educating farmers on the program, comparing coverages, tailoring policies, as well as reviewing and updating unit structure, actual production history, yield and coverage levels. This just touches on the role of an agent and doesn’t even consider their full array of responsibilities and value brought to the ultimate customer, the farmer. Crop insurance has changed over the years and developed into a highly technical product and no one is better poised to handle these duties and respond to farmer’s needs than that of a professional insurance agent.
PIA National and our member agents from across the country highly discourage any move toward replacing the professional insurance agent, in whole or in part, with federal employees. Doing so would undermine the current success of the crop insurance program and put it on a path back to a time of proven inefficiency, failure and near collapse.
Congress has a clear choice: preserve the current success of the crop insurance program, or plot a course back to the proven failures of the past. It is critical that Congress reject this ill-advised attempt to expel private sector crop insurance agents from the critical role they play in delivering crop insurance to America’s farmers. n
By Mike Becker, AVP, Federal Affairs, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
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May 2012 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 12
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Even more changes are coming to the nation’s crop subsidy program. They seem inevitable. Republicans want them. Democrats want them. The current administration wants them.
All that is unknown is how deep and devastating the cuts will end up being.
What hasn’t changed in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s 2012 farm bill is the subsidizing of 60% of the cost of crop insurance for farmers wanting to purchase such insurance.
PIA supports a Federal Crop Insurance Program that provides much needed insurance coverage to America’s farmers in a fair and equitable manner. PIA:
Supports a 2012 Farm Bill that continues • to utilize the expertise and professional guidance of independent insurance agents.
Supports just compensation for • independent insurance agents, the key sales force for the FCIP.
Opposes any additional cuts to the • Federal Crop Insurance Program.
Supports comprehensive enforcement of • anti-rebating and control of business schemes.
That’s PIA’s opinion on crop insurance.
The bill being considered in the Senate and another in the House will radically change things. How insurance shakes out in them
CROP InSURAnCE & FARM SUBSIDIES
is still up in the air. Crop insurance program cuts are being discussed.
The Senate Agriculture Committee took a big step last week and wants to completely change traditional support for farmers. If passed the $5 billion a year direct payment subsidy that is paid out regardless of cost is gone. Proponents contend the changes will save $23 billion over 10-years.
The bill sets up a maximum payment $50,000 insurance program for grain and soybean growers when crop revenues drop 11% to 21% below the five year average. Growers of other crops will stay with the federally subsidized crop insurance system.
The committee chair Michigan Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow and committee Republican Leader Pat Roberts of Kansas agree the changes are good. “The era of direct payments is over. We are moving to risk management with additional support to farmers who need it,” Stabenow said.
The five-year bill runs $480 billion and three-quarters of the cost is public nutrition programs.
If farmers think the Senate bill is Draconian, the House wants even more cuts — $180 billion more. The bill also limits who gets subsidized. Those with an adjusted gross income over $750,00 a year are not eligible. That’s down from the current $1.25 million.
Only one person per farm can make a claim.
Under the Senate bill farmers have to practice better stewardship of their land to qualify for the program which is now called Agricultural Risk Coverage. n
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 13
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The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is set to expire on May 31. Again. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — who oversees the NFIP — does not want the program to expire. It has sent a letter to Congress asking for at least a two-year extension before the May 31 expiration date.
FEMA — like the PIA and other insurance associations and congressional watchers — think the lack of a permanent extension to the NFIP has gone on long enough. The full House and the Senate Banking Committee have passed a comprehensive reform bill (H.R. 1309). The bill includes a five-year reauthorization.
All that remains is for the full Senate to pass it — and most believe the Senate will pass the bill if given the chance. At that point a conference would be needed to resolve differences.
So far Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hasn’t indicated whether he will call the bill up before the flood insurance program expires. That he hasn’t flabbergasts PIA Assistant Vice President of Federal Affairs Mike Becker.
“PIA continues to advocate that the Senate move a comprehensive flood insurance reform bill with a five-year reauthorization, however avoiding another lapse by securing a multi-year extension becomes
FEMA to Congress: NFIP Expires at the End of May
even more critical as the scheduled May 31 expiration of the flood insurance program draws closer.”
He made that comment to National Underwriter. Becker said PIA has joined the American Insurance Association (AIA) and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) in voicing support for more certainty.
More certainty means a five-year extension. “If the Senate is unable to pass a five-year extension with the many needed reforms in the time remaining prior to May 31, PIA would support FEMA’s request to extend the current program for two years. Such a move could avert a serious disruption in the market and provide a measure of stability for the millions of Americans who rely on the continued availability of flood insurance coverage.”
What It Means to Agents: Rather than risk expiration, FEMA decided it is better to act early to secure a multi-year extension for the NFIP. PIA still supports enactment of H.R. 1309 but if the legislative calendar precludes passage, a multi-year extension is preferable to a short extension or allowing the flood program to lapse again. n
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 14
Tax Break Extensions for
Business
Whether you’re small business or large, tax reform is on your mind. It’s on the mind of Congress and the administration, too. But will their idea of reform match yours? Time will tell.
Plans by Republicans, Democrats and the administration are for reducing tax rates but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. What business wants now — says National Retail Federation (NRF) spokeswoman Rachelle Bernstein — is to keep the breaks they have. “These provisions need to be extended as expeditiously as possible to eliminate business uncertainty that is causing delays in investment and hiring.”
Her group and The Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and International Franchise Association attended a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the reforms. This is the list of five that will expire at the end of this year or that have already expired and that the groups want reauthorized or maintained:
n The research and development tax credit. It has already expired. President Obama wants to strengthen this one.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants the credit restored — now. “The failure to, at the very least, simply maintain our current credit increases the risk that the jobs, capital investment, and intangible property developed in the R&D process will move outside our borders.”
n The production tax credit for wind energy. It ends this year and if not extended 37,000 wind workers will be laid off.
n The 15-year depreciation period for leasehold improvements, restaurant construction and retail remodeling. It has already expired.
The NRF said retailers are putting off improving their buildings until Congress decides whether or not it will renew.
n Section 179 expensing. It allows small business to get their breaks for new equipment up front. This year the limit fell from $500,000 to $139,000. Next year it drops to $25,000 if no changes are made.
n The Work Opportunity Tax Credit. It is now expired.
This tax break, which expired at the end of 2011, encourages employers to hire welfare recipients, handicapped individuals or unemployed veterans. NRF’s Bernstein said this incentive has “proven results” in encouraging retailers to hire people who “might otherwise face difficulty in gaining employment.” n
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May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 15
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Unwinding the law — if found unconstitutional — will be complex for everyone and not just Congress and the administration. Insurance companies and employers will have to respond as well. Last week Towers Watson, Aon, Lockton and others peered into their crystal balls and prophesied.
All agree that business does not have the resources to make sure 50-million uninsured are covered. Tom Billet of Towers Watson suggests:
Workers will bear more of their health • insurance costs.
Employers will increase deductibles and • the amount employees pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in.
Traditional insurance will be replaced by • tax-free medical expense accounts.
Smokers and those that are obese will be • tagged as health risks.
What if the Supreme Court Tosses ObamaCare?
Some insurance companies will keep the • benefit of children being able to stay on a plan until age 26.
Employers and insurers will steer • employees to doctors and facilities proven to give excellent care at less cost.
The exchanges established in the • Affordable Care Act may be kept in some states and individuals and small businesses could pick plans from them.
The bottom-line — Billet said — “Employers had been the major force driving health care change in this country up until the passage of health reform. If Obamacare disappears … we go back to square one. We still have a major problem in this country with very expensive health care.”
Senior health care consultant Tracy Watts of the large employer advisor Mercer agreed. “With or without health care reform, employers are committed to offering health care benefits and want to manage costs.The health care reform law itself has driven employers, as well as the provider community, to advance some bolder strategies for cost containment.”
Watts agrees that employees will have to pay more of the cost of their insurance going forward — and even more if ObamaCare is found unconstitutional. Mercer’s study noted large employers can save $1,800 per worker per year going with a higher deductible and requiring workers to set up a health care account.
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News | www.pianeia.com | 16
Since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) said fewer employers are offering healthcare coverage and few employees are taking coverage when offered.
The conclusion plays directly into the hands of Republicans who have contended all along that employers will drop employees and let the federal government insure them through the exchanges once the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — ObamaCare — goes into full effect at the first of the year 2014.
However, EBRI said that may not be totally true. Employers have been downsizing their health insurance commitment to employees for years.
ObamaCare and Employer Benefits
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Lockton’s Dr. Ian Chaung also agrees with Towers Watson’s Billet that unhealthy employees will be targeted. “As important as it is to manage the cost of medical services and products, and eliminate wasteful utilization, there has been a strong recognition that ultimately healthier populations cost less.”
A survey from Towers Watson shows:
35% of large employers are now using • penalties and awards to get people to stop smoking.
17% will do that next year. •
The penalties being considered range from • $10 to $80 per month.
One large retailer is looking at a surcharge of • $178 a month to smoke — or $2,100 a year.
Some businesses are exploring private exchanges to save money.
Aon Hewitt and Mercer have been deeply involved in that idea and Aon is moving forward. Ken Sperling of Aon Hewitt said one is set to open next January that has 19 companies and 600,000 employees and dependents. “The concept of an exchange does not belong to Obamacare. We’re borrowing a concept that was central to the health care law and bringing it into the private sector. Whether the law survives or not, the concept is still valid.” n
Through 2010 — 70% of all workers had • access to health insurance through their jobs.
In 2010 that figure dropped to 67.5%. •
57% of workers opted to get that • insurance via their employer in 2010.
That’s down 3% since 1997. •
The study concludes that employers provide the lion’s share of health insurance coverage in the U.S. Medicare and Medicaid account for just 5% and just 3% of workers choose to get their own insurance in spite of it being offered by their employer. n
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 17
Zillow’s Home Value Forecast has predicted the bottom for the housing crisis. It’s just not very specific. Zillow’s report thinks we’ll clunk to the bottom at the end of 2012 or early 2013. The report notes 30 of the metropolitan areas it tracks have already arrived at the bottom.
Here’s the list: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Tampa. Too uncertain to call but getting close are Portland, Las Vegas, New York City, San Diego and Riverside, California.
By the time everybody hits bottom your home’s value — on average — will have dipped 24.6% from the May 2007 high. Home values are now at the level they were in 2003.
The Housing Market Costco & the Proverbial Bottom
Summing it up, Zillow’s news release said: “The recovery in most areas will be a hyper-local process, where individual ZIP codes will start to recover before the metro area as a whole.”
While the housing market is at the bottom and in semi-recovery — depending on the source, of course — it’s still very hard to get a bank to lend you money to buy a home. Costco may have a solution to that problem.
Costco?
Yep. After a year of testing the waters, your everything-in-bulk and at-a-discount favorite will now be offering home mortgages. The firm is using 11 lenders for the full service program that claims to have closing costs at 1/3 of what you’d pay through traditional sources.
Costco has already done 10,000 mortgages in the test phase and will now market to millions of members. The firm’s financial service division is also looking at auto and student loans as an offering in the future. n
Source: Puget Sound Business Journal, CNN Money
Still in a Recession? A Fox News poll says 83% of us think we’re still there. When asked what best describes the nation’s economy the answers were:
35% “In recession, it can get worse.”
48% “In recession, it’s getting better.”
9% “Recession over. Another one could be coming.”
6% “The recession is completely over.”
Still in Recession?A Poll
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As more information becomes known about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and as the federal government continues to implement the law, more surprises pop up. The latest comes from the General Accounting Office (GAO).
The law requires insurers to insure individuals with pre-existing conditions. That figure — it appears — is staggering. The GAO estimates its 36 million at the low end and 112 million at the high end.
The three most common pre-existing conditions are hypertension, mental health problems and diabetes. n
Pre-Existing Conditions Lots of Them
The morning starts out with...Golf Outing at Eagle Hills Golf Course - www.eaglehills.org
Eagle Hills Golf Course501 Eagle Hills Drive Papillion, NE 68133 (402) 592-7788
Eagle Hills is a challenging 18 hole, 6500 yard facility that was opened in 2000. The golf course meanders through open hills, wetlands, and wooded areas presenting unique vistas and shot making decisions.
Registration begins at 9:30 amShot Gun Start is at 10:30am – $70 Members $80 Non-MembersIncludes lunch at the turn and two drink tickets.Join us back at the club house for the prize giveaways.Once again the Trade Fair will be combined with golf hole sponsors and exhibitors at the course, so bring your business cards and plan to network with exhibitors who will be available to visit with you while you wait to tee off at each hole.
The evening brings…Soaring Wings Vineyard & Recognition of Past Presidents 17111 South 138th Street, Springfield, NE 402-253-2479 begins at 5:30pm – 8:30pm.Discover your next favorite wine! Relax in the ambience of a beautiful vine-yard right in our own back yard. Soaring Wings is a charming family run vineyard that enjoys mak-ing high quality wine & beer that competes on an international level. Come take pleasure in tasting wines coupled with the finest gourmet hors d’oeuvres and receive your own souvenir wine glass! While relaxing with your wine of choice, savor the “Velvet Voice” of Michael Walker. Let Michael transport you back to the crooner era with songs by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darrin and Bing Crosby.
$35 Members $40 Non-Members
Who Let the Data Out? 8:30 am 3 P/C CE hrs “Do you know what kind of information your clients collect and where it’s at? Do they have a web-site, laptop, smart phone, data backup tapes, or even boxes of files with customer information? Small businesses are not immune because hackers are looking at them as potential sources of mon-ey. ANYONE who owns any type of website is vulnerable as well.The Internet can be dangerous for you and your clients because there are hackers, viruses, and all types of malware that tries to steal your information, destroy your computers, or breach the security of your network whether you have one computer or twenty!
Chris Christian, CIC, RPLU - Milton, TN Chris joined US Risk Brokers in November of 2005 as Vice President and Senior Broker, specializing in professional liability. She has earned her Certified Insurance Counselor and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter designations, is a frequent industry speaker and author, and is active in industry associations.
Achievers Luncheon 11:45am - 1:15pmPIA National Director of Federal Affairs Mike Becker will be fresh off of Capitol Hill with the latest news about insurance issues affecting you and your agency! Not to mention great stories and gossip from the Hill!
Afternoon Session$50 Members $60 Non-Members (Includes Achievers Luncheon) Utica E&O Seminar - E&O Hot Spots! 3 P/C CE hrs Afternoon session 1:30 – 4:30 pmE&O Hot Spots change frequently! Find out from Curt the latest statistics and trends that are cur-rently causing significant E&O claim activity. You will take a look at current issues with certificates of insurance, additional insureds, client divorce, dogs, carriers suing agents and excess/surplus lines issues. Knowing these hotspots and what can be done to prevent them from causing you an E&O claim is vital to the success of today’s agencies.Curtis Pearsall, CPIA, CPCU, AIAF, ARM, AU - Utica, NY Curt is Presi-dent and Founder of Pearsall Associates Inc., a Risk Management Consulting firm specializing in helping agents protect themselves. He is the former SVP of Utica National’s Agents E&O program where he oversaw their Underwriting, Marketing Services and Claims divisions from 1987 to 2009. Curt regularly provides free E&O tips for agents on his blog www.agentseotips.com Every agency wants to save money.Earn a 5% credit—up to a maximum of 10% credit applied to your Utica premium by attending this seminar! There is no minimum premium threshold for an account to be eligible for the credit, which will be applied after the application of any schedule rating modifiers.
Total Staff Size and Who Needs to Attend 1-3 staff size > 1 principal/office manager or CSR need to attend 4-10 staff size > 1 principal/office manager and 1 CSR need to attend 11-20 staff size > 1 principal/office manager and 2 CSRs need to attend 21+ > 20% of staff need to attend
Morning Session & Achievers Luncheon$50 Members $60 Non-Members (Includes Achievers Luncheon) Registration with coffee and rolls begins at 8:00 am
Thursday, June 7th
Friday, June 8th
A Taste of
Sponsorship Opportunites
A Taste ofSponsorship Opportunites
Hole Exhibitor $250Exhibit on the hole & enjoy time with the players!Wine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (2)Pre & Post event recognition
Cart Sponsor $250Name & Logo on all Tournament CartsWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (2)Pre & Post event recognition
Flag Prize Sheets $250Name & Logo on all Pin Prize SheetsWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (2)Pre & Post event recognition
Refreshment Sponsor $250Name & Logo on Refreshment CartWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (2)Pre & Post event recognition
Lunch Sponsor $250Exhibit on the hole & enjoy time with the players!Wine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (2)Pre & Post event recognition
Don’t Be Left Out!
Friday Morning CE Seminar $500Name & logo on Refreshment TableWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (1)Pre & Post event recognition
Morning CE Coffee Break $250Name & logo on Refreshment TableWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (1)Pre & Post event recognition
Achievers/Awards Luncheon $1000Name & logo on all Tables & Other SignageWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (1)Pre & Post event recognition
Friday Afternoon CE Seminar $500Name & logo on Refreshment TableWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (1)Pre & Post event recognition
Afternoon CE Coffee Break $250Name & logo on Refreshment TableWine/Beer Tasting at Soaring Wings Winery (1)Pre & Post event recognition
Sold Out!!
Sold Out!!
Sold Out!!
Thursday, June 7th Friday, June 8th
Eagle Hills Golf Course501 Eagle Hills Drive Papillion, NE 68133
(402) 592-7788Eagle Hills is a challenging 18 hole, 6500 yard facility that was opened in 2000. The golf course meanders through open hills, wetlands, and wooded areas pre-senting unique vistas and shot making decisions.
Once again the Trade Fair will be combined with golf hole sponsors and exhibitors at the course, so bring your business cards and plan to net-work with exhibitors who will be available to visit with you while you wait to tee off at each hole.
Embassy Suites Omaha-LaVistaHotel Conference Center
12520 Westport Parkway, La Vista, NE, 68128 1-800-EMBASSY You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations by contacting the Embassy Suites Omaha-LaVista/Hotel & Conference Center at 1-800-EMBASSY, and requesting either the group name “Professional Insurance Agents” or group code “PI1” for our special rate of $119.00. A block of rooms have been reserved for June 4, 2012 - June 10, 2012. The special room rate will be available until May 9th or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. Go to this link for reservations: http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/O/OMAESES-PI1-20120604/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Sold Out!!
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Voting Form for Company of the Year
$1000.00 College Scholarship Application
Click Here to Register On-Line For All Events!
Every Agency Wants to SAVE MONEY!Earn a 5% credit—up to a maximum of 10% credit applied to your Utica premium by attending this seminar! There is no minimum premium threshold for an account to be eligible for the credit, which will be applied after the application of any schedule rating modifiers.
Total Staff Size and Who Needs to Attend1-3 staff size > 1 principal/office manager or CSR4-10 staff size > 1 principal/office manager and 1 CSR11-20 staff size > 1 principal/office manager and 2 CSRs21+ > 20% of staff
On Thursday, June 7th …Golf Outing at Eagle Hills Golf Course Registration begins at 9:30 am | Shot Gun 10:30am $70 Members $80 Non-Members www.eaglehills.org
The Evening Brings …Soaring Wings Vineyard & Recognition of Past Presidents5:30pm – 8:30pm
On Friday, June 8th …Who Let the Data Out? 3 P/C CE hrs - 8:30-11:30 AM
Achievers Luncheon 11:45am - 1:15pm$1000.00 College Scholarship given Away!
Afternoon Session – Utica E&O Seminar - E&O Hot Spots!
3 P/C CE hrs - 1:30–4:30 PM
Click here for full details.Click Here to Register On-Line For All Events!
Booking Your Room …A block of rooms have been reserved for June 4, 2012 - June 10, 2012. The special room rate will be available until May 9th or until the group block is soldout, whichever comes first. You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations by contacting the Embassy Suites Omaha-LaVista/Hotel & Conference Center at 1-800-EMBASSY, and requesting either the group name “Professional Insurance Agents” or group code”PI1” for our special rate of $119.00.
Click here to Book Your Room!
Sponsorship Opportunities are Available …
Don’t Miss Out on the Fun With Your Agents!
Click Here for Sponsor Flyer
May 2012 | Main Street Industry News |www.pianeia.com| 19
Calendar of evenTS
Start Date Class Type LocationMay 9, 2012 CISR Insuring Personal Residential Des Moines, IA
May 9 -11, 2012 CIC Life & Health Institute Cedar Rapids, IA
May 10, 2012 CISR Insuring Commercial Casualty Davenport, IA
May 16, 2012 CPSR Commercial Casualty Lincoln, NE
June 7-8, 2012 PIA NE IA Convention - Save the Date!! Omaha, NE
June 11, 2012 Online MERG: Delivering Quality Service (to the Customer and the Employer)
Online
June 20, 2012 CISR Insuring Commercial Property Des Moines, IA
June 21, 2012 CISR Agency Operations Cedar Rapids/Marion, IA
June 26, 2012 The 1752 Club 10th Annual golf Outing York, NE
June 28, 2012 FirstComp/Steve Linbo Golf Outing Ashland, NE
July 11, 2012 CISR Agency Operations Davenport, IA
July 18, 2012 CISR Insuring Commercial Casualty Des Moines, IA
July 18-20, 2012 CIC Commercial Property Institute Omaha, NE
July 19, 2012 CISR Insuring Commercial Casualty Cedar Rapids/Marion, IA
July 25, 2012 CISR William T. Hold Cedar Rapids/Marion, IA
July 25 -27, 2012 CIC Agency Management Institute Des Moines, IA
July 26, 2012 CPIA Implement for Success Des Moines, IA
July 26, 2012 CPSR Commercial Property North Platte, NE
August 16, 2012 CISR Insuring Personal Auto Des Moines, IA
August 22, 2012 CPIA Implement for Success Omaha, NE
August 22 -24, 2012 CIC Personal Lines Institute Lincoln, NE
August 28-30, 2012 CIC Commercial Property Institute Cedar Rapids, IA
For information and to register Click Hereor call (402) 392-1611.
UpcomingEvents Calendar 2012
September 12, 2012 CISR Insuring Commercial Property Davenport, IA
September 13, 2012 CISR Insuring Personal Auto Cedar Rapids/Marion, IA
September 18, 2012 Greater Omaha Committee Scholarship Golf Outing Ashland, NE
September 20, 2012 Rural & Town Agents Seminar TBA
October 10 -12, 2012 CIC Commercial Casualty Institute Omaha, NE
October 24, 2012 CISR Agency Operations Des Moines, IA
October 25, 2012 CISR Insuring Commercial Casualty Cedar Rapids/Marion, IA
November 7, 2012 CISR Insuring Personal Residential Davenport, IA
November 8, 2012 CISR Commercial Property Des Moines, IA
November 8, 2012 CPSR Residential Property NE
November 13, 2012 CISR Dynamics of Service Des Moines, IA
November 14 -16, 2012 CIC Personal Lines Institute Des Moines, IA
December 6, 2012 Greater Omaha Committee Christmas Party Omaha, NE
ADvERTISEMEnTSPost a classified ad!Your ad will stand out! Main Street Industry News is issued electronically to over 8,000 Professional Insurance Agents throughout NE & IA, PIA state and national associations and other organizations that provide products or services to insurance agencies.
To advertise contact PIA of Nebraska and Iowa – Executive Director, Cathy Klasi at (402) 392-1611.
Calendar of evenTS