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May 2011
FEATURES

Marketing Agency of the Month:
Building a world-class agency
Costello and Sons has "something really special".

Specialty Lines:
Supporting social service organizations
Less funding and a hardening insurance market loom.

Marketing:
Trucking specialists adapt to changes
Economy-sensitive trucking business confronts new safety rules,
tech innovations and higher fuel costs.

Technology:
The logical next step
Applied Systems sets its sights on enriching the online connection
consumers have with agents.

Benefits Agency:
Armed with information
Biennial survey equips this South Carolina agency
with local employee benefits trends

Other Feature Stories:  
Van Gilder Insurance is Agency of the Year
Traditional values plus next-gen savvy power
Denver agency into its second century.

Partnering with an MGA
Do your homework.

Rough Notes Company presents
12th annual Community Service Awar
d
Recipient Chris Paradiso provides creative and passionate
support for children's hospital.

Real estate risks: Weathering the storm
Distinguished Programs brings high-tech savvy to
a variety of real estate niches.

Kidnapping for ransom
A fateful international growth industry.

Medical marijuana: A burning question
Legalization in more states will lead to insurance questions.

Bank on it
Created by agents for agents, InsurBanc delivers services tailored to their needs.

Insurance Marketplace updates online format
Format allows for continual updates of information.

RRGs and states clash on oversight
RRG association hopes GAO study will strengthen its case..

 

COLUMNS
Winning Strategies—Out with the old
By Roger Sitkins

Critical Issue Report—Contingent business interruption
By Donald S. Malecki, CPCU

Public Policy Analysis & Opinion—Consensus on flood insurance reform
swells like rivers in spring

By Kevin P. Hennosy

Simply Tech—Spread the word
By Doug Johnston

Internet Marketing—Barriers to digital success
By Tim Sawyer

Customer Service Focus—Stand out with amazing service!
By Nicole Coty, CISR

Social Media—Eat your broccoli, or how not to create great content
By Tom Wetzel

Beyond Insurance—Brand identity
By F. Scott Addis, CPCU, CRA

Benefits Business—Wellness programs and the bottom line
By Len Strazewski

Management By Coaching—What's your EQ?
By Kimberly Paterson, CEC

Producer Self-Management—What's your buyer's preferred learning style?
By John Edward Love, CPCU

Benefits Products & Services—From start-up to stalwart in 15 years
By Thomas A. McCoy, CLU

Building Equity Value—Institutional buyers don't deserve "slash and burn" label
By Chris Darst

Lessons in leadership—The marshmallow gene
By Robert L. Bailey

Enterprise Risk Management—COSO framework proves efficacious
By Michael J. Moody, MBA, ARM

Strengthening the Front Line—Rate your value to your agency
By Emily Huling, CIC, CMC

Agents E&O Loss Prevention—Looking to insure social services agencies?
By Curtis M. Pearsall, CPCU, AIAF, ARM,CPIA

Risk Management—The perils of liquor
By Donald S. Malecki, CPCU

 

DEPARTMENTS
Court Decisions
Centuries of Rough Notes (PDF)
Rough Notes Staff
Reprints

ADVERTISERS INDEX & PRODUCTS PAGE (PDF)