PIANJ president keynotes NJ CPCU Conferment

PIANJ President Glenn Tippy, CPCU, CLU, keynoted the 46^th Annual NJ CPCU I-Day presented by the New Jersey and Central Jersey Chapters CPCU Society in Somerset last week. Seventeen professionals received their Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designations and were conferred by Eric Nordman, CPCU, of the CPCU Society Leadership Council. More … PHOTO: PIANJ President Glenn Tippy, CPCU, CLU (at podium), keynoted the 46^th Annual NJ CPCU I-Day, at which 17 designees were conferred.   

PIANJ’s Fall Advisory Councils keep your association in tune with your concerns

PIANJ’s 2014 Fall Advisory Councils began today in the Northern and Northwest parts of the state. Council members engaged in informal discussions on market conditions; company and industry relations; and legislative issues; as well issues specific to PIANJ, including PIANJ products and education. An important and growing segment of the independent agency system is entrepreneurs serving diverse communities. Your association is holding a special Diversity Advisory Council to hear the unique needs and concerns of members from this multicultural group. The PIANJ Advisory Council program is designed to get valuable input from our members, which is critical to the development of PIANJ policies, products and services. If you are interested in participating in the Advisory Council program, please contact PIANJ Executive Director Kelly Norris, CAE, at knorris@pia.org. PHOTO: PIANJ officers and Advisory Council members at Advisory Council meeting.   

Home elevation law in effect

Legislation that Gov. Chris Christie signed into law in August, which requires all home elevation contractors to carry a minimum level of insurance coverage and to register with the state and certify that they have the requisite amount of experience in the elevation of homes has gone into effect. More …   

CCIIO to fix broker tracking, commission issue on federal health exchange

According to an agency official at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, the organization is addressing an issue that currently is preventing agents and brokers to identify themselves and receive commissions for their work on the federally facilitated marketplace. The fix should be in place by Nov. 15. More …   

Click for more information.

FEMA updates April 2015 changes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued Bulletin W-14055 to provide additional guidance and clarifications to Oct. 1, 2014 Bulletin W-14053 with regard to the changes that the National Flood Insurance Program will implement effective April 1, 2015. The procedures described below for Property Newly Mapped into the Special Flood Hazard Area, in accordance with the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, are intended to clarify the eligibility criteria and describe how this "Newly Mapped" procedure applies in the first year of eligibility.   

National General address agents’ concerns about merger with Tower

PIA participated at a meeting in which National General Insurance Co. addressed its recent merger with Tower Insurance. Topics discussed at the meeting ranged from commissions to technology platforms to in-shoring work. National General stressed it is a much stronger company and that the transition of policies from Tower will be as seamless as possible. As to the commission structure, which everyone was concerned about, National General reiterated the fact that there will be no change to the current commission structures. National General is holding meetings across the U.S., including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire.   

Pandemic coverage

Recent events and coverage on the Ebola outbreak may raise the question: Is there any type of insurance available that covers a business in the event of a widespread pandemic? A. When we start talking about outbreaks or pandemics, the first thought should be about the safety of the employees. A great resource is at flu.gov/pandemic/. Secondly, we will want to look at the business interruption coverage. Business interruption coverage is designed to protect businesses from losses that they may suffer unexpectedly due to unavoidable interruptions in their daily operations. Generally, this coverage is triggered by an actual physical loss. For a comprehensive answer to this question, click here. For more information on facts and perspectives on the current Ebola outbreak, click here and here. To access our entire Ask PIA library of frequently asked questions and expert answers by PIA’s technical staff, click here.   

Click for more information.

PIA members receive discount on online CE courses

Looking for online education courses? Think PIA first. PIANJ has partnered with CEU.com—a provider of online continuing-education courses—to offer PIA members a 35-percent discount on online insurance CE courses. To take advantage of this discount, PIA members must access CEU.com via the pia.org website, by clicking the "Education" tab and then clicking "Online from CEU.com (off-site)" link under "Insurance licensing."   

PIANJ’s 15^th Annual OktoberEdfest, Oct. 29-30

PIANJ’s 15^th Annual OktoberEdfest will take place Oct. 29-30, 2014, at the Crowne Plaza, Edison. During this event, participants can choose from seven classes, earn up to 17 credits and catch up on what’s hot in the insurance industry. Courses include: Certificates and Additional Insureds: Navigating the Maze; Personal and Commercial Lines Claims—Covered or Not?; Exploring Cyber Liability Exposures and Traditional Insurance; Ethical Issues in E&O^{^FF^UM}; Current Trends and Evolving Risks: Cyber Liability, Product Recall, Construction Defect and Environmental Contamination; Executive Liability Insurance; and Advanced Umbrella/Excess Liability. This event is made possible by our sponsors. Platinum sponsors: Harleysville and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Gold sponsor: Franklin Mutual Insurance. Silver sponsor: Selective. Don’t forget to save money with PIA’s package pricing. To view the schedule or to register, click here. ^{^FF ^UM}—This course has been approved for E&O loss-prevention credit by Fireman’s Fund and Utica Mutual. Call the PIA E&O Department for details: (800) 424-4244.   

Webinar on social media and smartphones

Agents are reaching a digital tipping point and must accelerate, take control of and link their efforts in social media and mobile technology to stay competitive. Join PIA National and social media/insurance marketing guru Tom Wetzel for a free PIA-member webinar, Taking Control of Social Media and the Smartphone, Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, at 2 p.m. This webinar will help agents: leverage the power of the smartphone in your agency’s social media; understand how carriers’ strategies affect your agency; understand the effect that carrier apps have on your clients and your agency; learn the keys to successful social media content; and walk away with immediate action steps and best practices. For more information, or to register, click here.   

Life, health and long-term disability

Your agency is a priority to PIA ... let us do your shopping. PIA aims to reduce your premiums and customize your employee benefits. Let us take care of your group medical, group term life insurance, group long-term disability and group dental. Take advantage of PIA Members’ Choice employee benefit programs. Get your no-obligation quote today. Call (800) 424-4244 or click here.   

Upcoming PIANJ-YIP holiday events

This year the New Jersey Young Insurance Professionals has moved its Fall Networking Reception to a new location—Miller’s Ale House in Mt. Laurel. Join us, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event includes two drinks and appetizers. To register, click here. Plans are underway for the 11^th Annual NJYIP Industry Wide Holiday Social on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, at the Grain House restaurant in Basking Ridge. Each year, this event is attended by more than 100 industry professionals. This is the premier holiday event of the season you won’t want to miss. For more details, click here.   

Is it CAIP private passenger or private passenger type?

It is not uncommon for PIANJ members to have some difficulty distinguishing between vehicles eligible as private passenger autos and those eligible as private passenger-type autos in the Commercial Automobile Insurance Plan. PIANJ Director of Research Dan Corbin, CPCU, CIC, LUTC, has compiled an analysis of this issue, along with a comprehensive chart to help you determine proper eligibility. For more information, access QS29064 in the PIA QuickSource library.   

Click for more information.

This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. If you prefer not to receive ANY email communication from PIA click here.