Tennessee Insuror May-June 2023

Phone 615.385.1898

Toll Free: 1.800.264.1898

Email: marketing@insurors.org

Editor: Ron Travis Publisher: MarketWise, Inc

INSURORS OFFICERS

President ..............................................Matt Swallows, CIC, CRM

IIABA National Director ........................John McInturff III, ARM

VP Region I ...................................................................Bobby Sain

VP Region II .........................................Battle Bagley, III, CIC, CPA

VP Region III, President-elect .............Kym Clevenger, CPCU

Treasurer ....................................................Richard Whitley, CIC

Secretary ..................................................................Kevin Ownby

Director, Region I ....................................Eric Collison, CIC, CRM

Director, Region I ............................................Pam Lofton-Wells

Director, Region I ........................................................... Cy Young

Director, Region II .....................................Cameron Winterburn

Director, Region II ......................................................... Chip Piper

Director, Region II ...................................... Paul Steele, CIC, CRM

Director, Region III .................................................... Tim Goss, CIC

Director, Region III .......................................... Bill Oldham III, CIC

Director, Region III ...................................................Josh Gibbons

Director, Young Agents .................................John Brock, CAWC

Immediate Past President ......................... Norfleet Anthony III

Avenue South, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37212, calling 615.385.1898, e-mailing marketing@insurors.org or online at www.insurors.org

Advocacy Update: From Nashville

It was another successful session for the Insurors of Tennessee’s efforts to protect the livelihoods of Tennessee’s independent insurance agencies and communities across the state that you serve. Although the legislature had not yet adjourned when the previous issue of the Tennessee Insuror went to print, we highlighted a couple bills of interest, including Governor Lee’s “Tennessee Works Tax Act.” Below is a brief overview of bills relative to insurance that passed this session.

Public Chapter 145 – Workers Compensation

Makes various changes to the Workers' Compensation Law including award timeframes, attorney's fees, payment of medical expenses, and benefits of settlements. Clarifies that a judge of a court of workers' compensation may review and approve an injured employee's attorney's fee as to reasonableness up to the statutory maximum allowed for attorney's fees. Extends the timeline, from June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2025, in which injuries occur and an employer wrongfully denies an employee's claim or fails to provide certain entitled benefits, the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims may subsequently award reasonable attorneys' fees and reasonable costs, including, but not limited to, reasonable and necessary court reporter expenses and expert witness fees for depositions and trials. Authorizes the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) to utilize funds in the Uninsured Employers Fund (UEF) to provide death benefits to eligible employees who suffered an injury arising primarily within the course and scope of the employee's employment with an employer who failed to provide workers' compensation coverage at the time of the eligible employee's death. Authorizes a death benefit award of $20,000 to an eligible employee claimant, payable from the UEF, when the employer has failefd to provide workers' compensation

coverage. Increases the maximum amount, from $40,000 to $60,000, that may be awarded from the UEF to an eligible, injured employee or the employees' dependent, having won a workers' compensation claim and subsequently requested benefits from the BWC. Clarifies that total temporary and medical benefits payable by the BWC to an injured employee cannot exceed $40,000, exclusive of death benefits. Authorizes the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) to establish by rule a voluntary physician education program which provides additional reimbursement under the comprehensive medical fee schedule set by the BWC. Requires the Commissioner to determine in rule the education and quality improvement requirements to receive this additional reimbursement. Part of Administration Package. Effective April 13, 2023.

Public Chapter 57 – Producer Prelicensing Course

Tennessee joins a growing list of states (26+) and removes the requirement that an individual applying for an insurance producer license take a pre-licensing course of study for a line of authority. Requires that the examination must test the individual's knowledge related to the lines of authority for which the individual is applying as well as the duties and responsibilities of a producer and the state's insurance regulations and laws. Maintains requirement that a producer be at least age 18. Allows an individual licensed for the same lines of authority in another state to be exempt from examination under certain conditions.

An initiative of the American Council of Life Insurers. Does not impact continuing education requirements. Effective March 6, 2023.

Nashville to Washington

Public Chapter 23 – Insurance Holding Company Systems Act

Makes various changes to the "Insurance Holding Company System Act," including a requirement to file an annual group capital calculation, requirements regarding the use and filing of results of a liquidity stress test, and other related changes. Adds definitions for "group capital calculation instructions," "NAIC liquidity stress test framework," and "scope criteria" to the Act. Part of Administration Package. Effective July 1, 2023

Public Chapter 91 – Paid Family Leave Act

This bill enacts the "Tennessee Paid Family Leave Insurance Act," which creates a new line of insurance, known as paid family leave insurance, under which an insurer licensed to engage in the business of life insurance or disability income insurance in this state may issue policies covering against risk related to paid family leave in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner of commerce and insurance. The bill defines "family leave insurance" as an insurance policy issued to an employer related to a benefit program provided to an employee to pay for a percentage or portion of the employee's income loss due to (1) the birth or adoption of a child by the employee;

(2) placement of a

child with the employee for foster care; (3) Care of a family member of the employee who has a serious health condition, which the bill defines as an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition, including transplantation preparation and recovery from surgery related to organ or tissue donation, that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential healthcare facility, continuing treatment, or continuing supervision by a healthcare provider as defined in an issued insurance policy; or (4) The status of a family member of the employee who is a service member on active duty or who has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty.

Under the bill, such family leave insurance may be written as an amendment or rider to a group disability income policy or life insurance policy, included in a group disability income policy or life insurance policy or as a separate group insurance policy purchased by an employer. The bill was an initiative of Unum and is effective January 1, 2024.

Public Chapter 246 –Genetic Information and Life Insurers Prohibits a life insurance provider from canceling a life

Our visit with Senator Bill Hagerty

insurance policy based on genetic information, from requesting or requiring genetic testing as a condition of insurability, and from accessing the genetic data of an individual without consent. Effective July 1, 2023.

Public Chapter 104 – Electronic Delivery of Notices by Health Insurer

Authorizes a plan sponsor of a health benefit plan, on behalf of covered persons on the plan, to provide consent to the delivery of all communication related to the plan by electronic means, including the electronic delivery of a health insurance identification card. Requires the insurer for the health benefit plan to provide the insured with an opportunity to opt-out of delivery by electronic means and implement and adhere to a policy satisfying certain criteria before providing delivery by electronic means. Effective July 1, 2023.

Big “I” Legislative Conference

While we spend most of our time advocating at the State Capitol in Nashville, more than a dozen agents and representatives from the Insurors traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 2023 Big “I” Legislative Conference to do our part at the federal level.

This year we were successful in meeting with Tennessee’s elected representatives from Tennessee providing critical input on legislation and public policy matters important to Insuror members across the state. The participation and engagement by Insurors of Tennessee each year is vital in maintaining relationships and lines of communications with our elected leaders in Washington.

Following (page 8) is a rundown of the issues and messaging developed by our colleagues at Big “I” and delivered by Insurors to our Tennessee delegation in Washington.

Marsha Blackburn and Arch Trimble IV

Maintain Small Business Tax Fairness & Incentivize Mitigation Through Tax Credits

Insurors supported legislation which would make permanent the 20% small business deduction (Section 199A) passed as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. The deduction, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, is heavily relied upon by many Big “I” members and their clients to expand their small businesses, hire more employees, and better serve their communities. Pass-through entities have factored this deduction into their operations so its expiration would result in a tax increase on many small businesses. Such an increase would create an unlevel playing field and put passthroughs at a disadvantage to those businesses filing taxes at the corporate rate. Additionally, we ask Congress to support legislation that encourages risk mitigation by providing targeted tax credits to individuals and businesses that proactively strengthen their homes and buildings against damages caused by natural disasters, such as wildfire, flood, and wind.

Ensure State Implementation of Federal Data Privacy Standards

Congress established data privacy standards for insurance agencies, insurers, and other financial institutions with the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) in 1999. That statute requires financial entities to disclose informationsharing policies and inform consumers of their ability to stop the sharing of protected information with certain third parties. GLBA adopted a framework based upon functional regulation that appropriately empowered state insurance commissioners to implement and enforce these privacy protections for the insurance market. Congress is now considering significant revisions to these requirements, and it is critically important to leave implementation and enforcement of federal privacy standards in our industry to state insurance regulators and not cede authority to federal regulators. Additionally, federal privacy legislation must not include a private right of action, which would allow trial lawyers and judges to become de facto regulators and enforce the law through litigation. Finally, any new mandates must be clear, reasonable, and workable as well as recognize the differences between large and small businesses.

Extend & Reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

With the NFIP extended through September 30 of 2023, Insurors called on policymakers to pass a long-term reauthorization of a modernized NFIP that would increase take-up rates, both in the NFIP and the private market. Specifically, the Big “I” supports H.R. 900, which would allow for private flood insurance to satisfy continuous coverage requirements and ensures that if consumers leave the NFIP for the private market and later must return, they can do so without penalty. The Big “I” also supports allowing refunds for unearned premiums for the mid-term cancelation of NFIP policies if a consumer elects to purchase a policy from the private flood insurance market. The Big “I” opposes any policies that would harm the Write-Your-Own (WYO) Program (including WYO reimbursement reductions) and undercut the valuable and trusted role that independent agents play in the sale and servicing of flood insurance. Finally, with Risk Rating 2.0 now implemented, it is essential for FEMA to clearly communicate with agents so they can explain rate setting and changes in premiums to their customers.

Protecting the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP)

The current Farm Bill expires on September 30 of 2023. As Congress negotiates a new 5-year bill, it is critical to support policies strengthening the stability and effectiveness of the FCIP. Over the past several years, crop insurance has helped farmers navigate the challenges posed by weather disasters, supply chain disruptions, and uncertain markets. The Big “I” supports a strong and robust FCIP that provides certainty for our farmers and communities and will continue to oppose legislative and regulatory efforts to weaken the efficient and effective private sector delivery of crop insurance. Specifically, the Big “I” asks Congress to oppose any cuts to crop insurance.

Oppose Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Non-Compete Proposal

The FTC has proposed a national prohibition on the use of most non-compete agreements. Although this proposal is targeted at employment agreements that block workers from securing employment or starting a competing business

Our visit with Congressman Mark Green

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and is not intended to apply to other restrictive covenants utilized by many insurance agencies, the FTC’s actions are concerning. This sweeping proposal is unprecedented and would preempt the laws of nearly every state. The FTC is asserting it has the power to issue this and similar rules regulating competition, but only Congress can enact such significant changes in the law and never empowered the FTC in this manner. The Big “I” urges Congress to use its oversight authority to closely examine FTC’s proposed rulemaking and guard against unauthorized regulatory overreach.

About the Author—Trey Moore is the government and legal consultant for Insurors. He operates Trey Moore Consulting in Nashville and formerly served as senior public policy counsel for one of Nashville’s largest law firms. Trey has over a decade of experience in representing clients before the Tennessee General Assembly and state government. u

Help Us Help You! There’s no better time to help make sure InsurPacTN has the resources it needs to support candidates that support independent agents. Doing so is easy: just visit www. insurors.org/donate-to-insurpactn/. Of course, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any of the staff at Insurors with questions. For those that have already contributed, we greatly appreciate your support!

Matt Swallows with Congressman John Rose

We’re right here to do more.

To help support both your physical and mental health while giving back to our communities is to go beyond what is expected from a health insurance company. And that’s exactly why we do it.

© 2022 BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

See "Washington D.C. In Photos" on page 50 for more trip photographs.

How Climate Change Is Affecting Flood Insurance

Climate change is making natural disasters more intense and more frequent, especially floods. Floods are caused by storm surge, extreme rainfall, and river overflow, and they can damage homes, businesses, and infrastructure. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods are the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States.

To protect themselves from flood losses, many Americans rely on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a federal program that provides affordable flood coverage to homeowners and renters in participating communities. However, the NFIP is facing big challenges as climate change increases the flood risk and the cost of claims. The NFIP is also under pressure to reform its pricing system to reflect the true risk of each property and to encourage risk reduction measures. In this article, we will explore how climate change is affecting flood insurance, what changes are being made to the NFIP, and what implications these changes have for homeowners and the real estate market.

How Climate Change Is Affecting Flood Risk

Climate change is altering the frequency, intensity, duration, and location of floods in various ways:

Sea level rise: As the oceans warm and expand, and as glaciers and ice sheets melt, sea levels are rising globally. This increases the risk of coastal flooding from storm surge and high tides, especially during hurricanes and nor’easters. Sea level rise also exacerbates saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers and wetlands, affecting water quality and ecosystems.

Extreme precipitation: As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more moisture, leading to more intense and longer-lasting rainfall events. This increases the risk of inland flooding from overflowing rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as urban flooding from overwhelmed drainage systems.

Drought and wildfires: As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns shift, some regions may experience more frequent and severe droughts and wildfires. This reduces the vegetation cover and soil moisture that help absorb rainfall, increasing the risk of flash floods and mudslides.

These climate impacts are already being felt across the country. For example:

In 2022, Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s Sanibel Island hard, causing widespread flooding and damage. The estimated total insured losses from Hurricane Ian range from $53 to $74 billion, with flood-based losses projected to be another $10 billion.

In 2021, a series of storms dumped record-breaking rainfall on parts of Kentucky and Missouri, triggering devastating floods that killed at least 10 people and displaced thousands more.

The Tennessee Insuror

In 2020, wildfires ravaged California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, destroying millions of land acres and thousands of homes. The fires also increased the risk of post-fire flooding and debris flows that could threaten lives and property.

These events among many others illustrate the need for better flood preparedness and protection in a changing climate.

The Impact on Flood Insurance

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIB) was created in 1968 to provide affordable flood insurance to homeowners and renters in exchange for local floodplain management regulations. The NFIP also aims to reduce flood risk by mapping flood zones, promoting mitigation measures, and providing disaster assistance.

However, the NFIP has been struggling to keep up with the rising costs of flood claims due to climate change and other factors. The NFIP operates on a cash basis, meaning that it pays claims from the premiums it collects each year. When claims exceed premiums, as they often do after major disasters, the NFIP borrows money from the U.S. Treasury to cover the shortfall. This frequently resulted in the need for Congress to authorize funding to continue the program.

Another challenge the NFIP faced was an outdated pricing system. Previously the NFIP set its rates based on historical flood data and average nationwide costs. This means that

some properties were overcharged while others were undercharged for their actual flood risk. The NFIP also offered subsidies and discounts to certain properties that were built before flood maps were available or updated.

These practices were criticized by some constituencies as being unfair, inefficient, and unsustainable. They also created perverse incentives for people to build or stay in high-risk areas without taking adequate mitigation measures.

To address these challenges, FEMA has announced a major overhaul of its pricing system called Risk Rating 2.0. This new system uses more sophisticated data and models to estimate the flood risk for each individual property based on its location, elevation, structure, and other factors. It contemplates the size of a home, the cost of rebuilding, and different types of flooding sources. The goal of Risk Rating 2.0 is to make flood insurance more accurate, fair, transparent, and equitable for financial stability of the National Flood Insurance Program.

What Implications Do These Changes Have?

As of April 1, 2023, FEMA has fully implemented the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Risk Rating 2.0 pricing methodology. The methodology leverages industry best practices and cutting-edge technology to enable FEMA to deliver rates that are actuarially sound, equitable, easier to understand and better reflect a property’s flood risk.

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Risk Rating 2.0 does have significant implications for individual homeowners and the real estate market. According to FEMA’s estimates, about 77% of existing policyholders will see their rates increase, while 23% will see their rates decrease. The changes were phased in gradually, starting from October 1, 2021, for new policies and April 1, 2022, for renewing policies. Annual rate increases in most cases have been capped at 18% for most policyholders, but some could face higher caps or no caps at all.

The impact of Risk Rating 2.0 will vary depending on the location, value, and risk level of each property. For example:

• Coastal properties with high-value homes and low elevations will likely see the biggest rate hikes, as they face higher exposure to storm surge and sea level rise.

• Inland properties with low-value homes and high elevations will likely see rate reductions, as they face lower exposure to extreme rainfall and river flooding.

• Properties that are not currently in designated FEMA flood zones but face substantial flood risk will likely see rate increases, as they will no longer benefit from lower rates based on outdated maps.

These rate changes could affect home values, affordability, and demand in different ways:

• Home values could decline in areas with high flood risk and high insurance costs, as buyers may be deterred by higher premiums or stricter lending requirements. Some homeowners may also face negative equity if their mortgage balance exceeds their home value.

• Affordability could decrease for low- and moderate-income households in high-risk areas, as they may struggle to pay higher premiums or find alternative coverage options. Some homeowners may also face foreclosure or displacement if they cannot afford their mortgage payments or repairs after a flood.

• Demand could shift to areas with low flood risk and low insurance costs, as buyers may seek safer locations or cheaper housing options. Some homeowners may also relocate or sell their properties to avoid higher premiums or potential losses.

• The implications could have broader economic and social consequences for communities across the country. As is the case with significant change in the insurance industry, the NFIB changes are being met with a variety of opinions and responses from the public and private sector. Nevertheless, the program had to adapt and react to continue to be sustainable going forward. As we all know in the insurance business, we do not have the luxury of ignoring data, statistical trends and actuarial science in making business decisions relative to insurance products.

Conclusion

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of floods in the United States, posing significant challenges for homeowners and insurers alike. The NFIP is undergoing major reforms to better reflect and manage the flood risk facing each property. These reforms will have important implications for home values, affordability, and demand in different regions. Homeowners should be aware of these changes and take steps to protect themselves from flood losses.

In Tennessee, independent insurance agencies and agents should help their communities and individual property owners across the state carefully and objectively evaluate their exposure to risk. Just because a property has not experienced flooding over the years is no guarantee that it will not happen in the future. This is especially true against the macro and micro weather patterns we have been seeing over the past ten years or so. Many times, across the state, communities in rural areas, small towns, suburbs and urban areas have encountered major flooding events with severe consequences. We encourage you to have conversations with your insured clients about their exposure and the solutions available to them via the National Flood Insurance Program. u

See You In Scruffy City

Insurefest 2023 is just around the corner! We cannot wait to bring our Annual Convention back to Knoxville for the first time since 2015. Knoxville has been a great host for us in the past and we know that it will continue this year! It is our honor to be celebrating 130 years of the Insurors of Tennessee! This year we encourage all members to gather with us and recollect your best moments and memories of our association.

Our schedule has shaped up to provide a variety of programming for our attendees. We will kick things off with a Saturday watch party for the Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide game. Coming off the heels of an exciting matchup in 2022, the Third Saturday in October Rivalry is gearing up to provide a great opportunity to fellowship and root on our favorite teams! College football in the south is important to many people and we are thankful to include it as a part of our convention. Our host venue will also allow us to showcase other football games during our party.

The outlook for Sunday is tried and true to what we have done in previous iterations of our convention. Our Board of Directors will hold their 4th quarter meeting before the event hits its stride. Our WINS: Women In Insurance group will convene for a session that features team trivia – which was a huge hit last year!

Our trade show will fill up the afternoon on Sunday with many opportunities for our agents and associate members to connect and discuss new developments from the companies and vendors. We will conclude Sunday night with a dinner featuring a special guest speaker – US Representative Dr. Mark Green.

As we turn to Monday, attendees will have the opportunity to grab breakfast and browse the trade show floor before turning their attention to the breakout sessions. Our first breakout session features industry expert Bill Wilson, CPCU, ARM, AIM, AAM who will be giving his presentation titled “When Words Collide: Resolving Insurance Coverage and Claims Disputes.” Bill Wilson is a longtime insurance professional and was awarded the Jeff Yates Lifetime Achievement Award by the Big I in 2016 as a recognition for his work in the independent agency system. Following the first session, our next breakout session features a panel discussion about cur-

rent and upcoming insuretech tools and trends. We encourage all attendees who are looking to dive into insuretech to attend this interactive panel discussion. Lastly, our third breakout session is presented by our friends at Martin & Zerfoss and Chubb. This session will feature an informative presentation about recreational marine and will provide 1-hour of continuing education credit. Those who register for this

session will be invited to join Martin & Zerfoss for an exclusive fall foliage yacht cruise on the Tennessee River. Note: Any spouses or guests looking to attend the river cruise but are not needing CE credit will need their accompanying agent or company representative to attend the breakout session to get their yacht ticket.

Monday afternoon opens up for attendees to utilize their free time to explore the many unique aspects of Knoxville. Travelers will be hosting a TopGolf outing for attendees who are looking to swing a golf club and have some fun! This outing will feature some competitive opportunities and prizes! Monday evening will be open for ‘Company Night’ allowing company representatives and agents to dine out on their own.

Our event will conclude with our Association Day Breakfast and Annual Business Meeting where we will take time to review the 130th year of Insurors of Tennessee. It will be a great opportunity to reflect on the wonderful year we’ve had together as well as recognize a few of our member agents and pass out some highly coveted door prizes (like the esteemed company representative Lava Lamp!).

We look forward to seeing members in Knoxville! Register now at www.insurors. org/annual-convention/ or scan the QR code for a direct link. u

Welcome New Members and Partners!

As the Insurors of Tennessee celebrates its 130th Anniversary, we welcome our newest members and associate members to the association. We encourage our membership to reach out and welcome them to our family of insurance professionals. We appreciate the trust these new agencies and organizations have placed in the Insurors of Tennessee. We work hard to create real value for our members throughout the year. We encourage each of you to become familiar with all the Insurors of Tennessee has to offer members including resources, products and events designed to enhance the capabilities of your agency or company. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Jake Smith, Director of Operations for the association at jsmith@insurors.org.

As a reminder, earlier this year we introduced the “30 in 130” initiative in a “grassroots” effort by members and associate members to identify and recruit 30 new members to the association on this historic 130th anniversary of the association. We encourage you to think about worthy professional independent agencies you can refer to the association office for potential membership. We will then contact those agencies and extend an invitation to join the association based on your referral. Let’s do our best to grow our association together this year!

New Members for 2023 (* indicates Associate Member):

John Lawrence Agency

McKinney-Green Insurance LLC

Nikki Carter Insurance Agency

The Cason Group*

Cornerstone National Insurance Company*

Bodley Insurance

Homeowners of America Insurance Company*

Barger Group LLC

Agents Alliance Services*

Ryan Specialty Group*

SFM Mutual Insurance Company*

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Meet the Newport Agency – Murfreesboro

The Newport Agency located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee has deep roots in the Middle Tennessee market providing a wide range of insurance and risk management solutions to businesses and families across the region. The Newport Agency traces its beginnings to 1993 when it first began as a Nationwide affiliated agency and then became an independent agency in 2005. Today, the agency represents Erie Insurance Group in addition to several of the nation’s leading insurance carriers to round out its mix of carriers. This carefully curated group of insurance companies enables the agency to meet even the most complex personal and business insurance needs of its clients while providing the best possible value. The agency is very happy to be celebrating its 30th year in business serving their clients and the community.

The agency was founded by Terry Newport who serves as the President and is the primary producer for the firm. For a number of years, his wife Laura assisted with various duties as part of the team and has since stepped back from those responsibilities. Terry works with a group of dedicated insurance professionals who work to consistently provide exceptional customer service to customers. Terry and his team focus on providing clients with the right insurance solutions tuned to their specific needs as opposed to the “once size fits all” insurance products being offered by some in the marketplace today. Instead, he and his staff work to fully develop and understand the risk clients may be exposed to and seek to create smart solutions to counter the exposure. The agency always seeks to lower the total cost of risk to clients using intelligent strategies. Terry states, “we are proud that the average tenure of our staff exceeds twenty years of service”. As is the case in many industries, there is simply no substitute for experience.

The agency was originally located in the Hickory Hollow area of Nashville and moved to Murfreesboro in 2005 to better position the agency for the future in a town that was enjoying steady growth at that time. The move proved to be prescient as the agency was positioned early for what would become one of the most significant economic growth stories in Tennessee over the past twenty years. Terry states, “We knew Murfreesboro would be healthy market for us when we moved, but we never anticipated the rapid growth Murfreesboro has experienced in recent years.” He explains further, “We are grateful for the success being part of this community has provided to us over the years.”

Before starting his insurance career Terry served in the United States Army as a Helicopter Maintenance Specialist from 1979 to 1982 stationed at Fort Hood, Texas keeping U.S. Army aviation assets ready to go on the flight line for the 1st Cavalry Division and other units. After his service to the nation, Terry enrolled in college at Middle Tennessee State University and earned his bachelor’s degree majoring in finance.

Upon graduation he went to work for Chrysler Credit managing finance services to Chrysler dealerships across the region. He was then recruited by Allstate Insurance Company and joined the company as part of a management development program working in sales and underwriting. While at Allstate he had the opportunity to learn a considerable amount about the insurance business and developed a strong foundation for future development. It was at this point when he decided he wanted to become an insurance agent and own an agency, ultimately landing at Nationwide representing them as an agent.

Terry’s unique path to becoming a successful professional independent agency owner was informed by his diverse experience and his ability to adapt to changes in the marketplace. The sum of these experiences certainly strengthened his ability to weather the inevitable challenges of owning and operating an agency in a rapidly changing world.

When Terry and his wife Laura are not working in the agency, they enjoy spending time with their son Evan who is working on earning his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Software with a minor in Entrepreneurship at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. It is interesting to note that Evan is studying for his insurance exam this Summer and will be taking the exam soon. They also enjoy travelling together and mountain biking at locations across the country. In fact, they are just returning from a mountain bike trip in Maine. u

Reach new heights.

You have invested time and energy into your firm, and you’re still passionate about the insurance business, your clients and your employees. If you’re interested in taking your business to the next level, while enjoying the fruits of your labor, let’s explore a possible partnership.

Why insurance firms choose to partner with Higginbotham:

• Ten-year average return of 30% IRR

• Ten-year average annual shareholder distribution of 25%

• Insurance Business America, 2022 Top Insurance Employer

• Privately-held and run by insurance professionals

• Majority ownership held by employee shareholders

• Leverage Higginbotham’s consistent 20% compound annual growth rate

• Broad risk management and benefit plan services add client value to support your growth

• Maintain your leadership role

• $5 million donated to nonprofits through the Higginbotham Community Fund

Are you ready to soar?

Contact David Fishel | (817) 349-2260 | dfishel@higginbotham.com higginbotham.com

Our Tennessee-based Partners

See what our agency partners are saying

We answer to main street, not Wall Street.

As a mutual company, we are owned by our policyholders. We focus our time, attention, and resources on delivering superior financial strength and stability, a comprehensive product portfolio, and most of all, on doing what’s right for policyholders. To us, policyholders are much more than insurance consumers. And because of that, all of our business decisions are made with a policyholder-first focus.

For more information about our products, please contact one of our territory managers at 615-889-2740.

Brent Potts ext 7514

Jane Kinard ext 7518

Andy Wilder ext 7545

From Your President

Matt Swallows presented by

Spring 2023 Update

I hope you all are enjoying this time of the year and getting the chance to go outside and get some fresh air. We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful state with so many opportunities to enjoy our spectacular state and national parks whether you live in the mountains of East Tennessee, the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee or the Mississippi delta of West Tennessee. In our family, we are big believers in taking breaks from the rigors of the insurance business from time to time, to relax, recharge and reflect so that we are better able to be our best in service of our clients, staff, and industry colleagues. So, this Spring and Summer “get out there” and enjoy all the natural beauty our state has to offer.

At the end of April, a contingent of your colleagues visited Washington D.C. to take part in the Big I Legislative Conference to attend informative sessions about legislative trends, pending legislation, and the advocacy objectives of the association this year at the national level. We also had the opportunity to supply input and discuss issues of particular concern for Big I members in Tennessee. We then met with our elected leaders and their staff at the Capitol to build relationships, open communication channels and speak about topics of importance with our members of the House of Representatives and Senate. The trip was productive, and our advocacy efforts were of great value. We will provide you with more details in other sections of the magazine. The one key takeaway from this trip is that advocacy at the state and national level is essential to the ongoing success of our industry. The work of the Insurors of Tennessee’s Legislative Affairs Committee, State National Director, John McInturff and our Government Affairs Consultant, Trey Moore is central to our success.

Now is a good time to mark your calendars for upcoming Young Agents and Women in Insurance (WINS) events coming up this Summer to help build professional relationships and establish connections with your peers in the industry that can last a lifetime. See the Insurors of Tennessee calendar of events found in this issue of the magazine for more details. In addition, it is not too early to save the date on your calendars to attend the Insuors of Tennessee Annual Conference, also known as Insurefest, on October 21-24, 2023, in Knoxville this year. We are already hard at work planning a great event for 2023 to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of this historic organization.

One important observation I have made attending various events as President of our association, is the impressive young talent joining the insurance industry in independent agencies and brokers, insurance companies and other business organizations that serve the insurance industry. I am excited to see what the next generation of talent brings to our industry and how they will transform our business in the years to come. As we often hear in the Future Leader Spotlight columns of this magazine, the importance of mentoring and guiding young people in our industry is time well spent. Young agents are quick to acknowledge those who invest their time, knowledge and experience supporting them in the early phases of their career. Mentoring coupled with a commitment to strong insurance education for young agents greatly enhances the competence and capabilities of people early in their insurance careers. We encourage agency principals and company leaders to take advantage of the many professional insurance education programs offered through this association to augment the mentoring efforts in your organization. It's imperative

that we equip the future leaders of our industry with knowledge and ability to navigate the inevitable change and transformation that is on the horizon.

By the time you read this article, we will have commemorated Memorial Day. Nevertheless, I would like to make a few comments about this important date. While Memorial Day is a day off from work for most people in observance of the holiday, it is also a time to gather with family for cookouts, go boating on one of the state’s many lakes or hiking in one of Tennessee’s beautiful parks. Most importantly, it is also a time for quiet reflection and reverence for members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy who gave their lives defending this country at home and abroad.

Since the end of the American Revolution, 646,596 American troops have died in battle and more than 539,000 died from other, non-combat related causes such as disease and injuries in those wars. Beyond the terrible direct loss of a service member comes the ripple effect that changes the arc of an entire family’s life for generations to come and in turn the future of our nation. So, while we pay special tribute to those who gave all for our nation on Memorial Day, we should remember them throughout the course of the year and honor them by our actions and behavior as responsible citizens, political representatives, and business leaders to indeed build a more perfect union. u

Big I “Grassroots Efforts” Why Should You Get Involved?

Estimates have the number of registered lobbyists in Washington alone at more than 35,000. That is more than 65 lobbyists for each of the 535 Members of Congress! Yet a Member of Congress places a premium on what is best for constituents like you. After all, it is your vote that puts that legislator in office, and it’s your vote that can remove them from office. Members of Congress must be made aware that their actions are being closely monitored by the voters back home. That is why citizens like you are such a powerful force.

There are many ways you can get involved at the grassroots level:

• Participate in ACTION ALERTS when you receive them from your state executive and/or IIABA.

• Attend town hall meetings.

• Attend fundraisers.

• Participate in the Big "I" Legislative Conference.

• Be a Key Contact. Let the Big I national office know if you have a personal relationship with a Member of Congress.

• Be active with federal political action committee (PAC), InsurPac.

What Are the Benefits of Getting Involved?

Participating at the grassroots level provides benefits for YOU and your agency. As a grassroots activist, you will become more knowledgeable about the issues affecting your industry, acquire a more thorough understanding of the political and legislative process and develop a commitment to action. Most importantly, your participation will help protect the future of independent insurance agents and brokers.

Grassroot Efforts at the State Level – Insurors of Tennessee

While this article was written by the “Big I” staff about the grassroots efforts at the national level, the same actions and principles hold true at the state level. We depend on these same “grassroots efforts” on Capitol Hill in Nashville to ensure our elected leaders across the state hear us and understand the issues that may arise out of proposed legislation. Throughout history legislation has created unintended collateral damage or consequences when people simply don’t speak out and communicate with their elected representatives.

In addition, since 2024 is an election year, it is not too soon to start building financial resources for InsurPACTN. You can make a contribution at the state and national level PACs by visiting the Insurors of Tennessee website at https://www. insurors.org/donate-to-insurpactn/ . u

Scan for direct link to donate .

From Your CEO

Ron Travis

presented by

Save the Date - Oct. 21-24, 2023 - Insurefest

It is difficult to believe we are already nearing the halfway point of 2023. As is often the case in the first and second quarters of the year for the association, we spent quite a bit of time and effort on legislative affairs and advocacy work at both the state and national levels. This year was no different.

In the Tennessee General Assembly, there were over 1,400 bills introduced for consideration this year. Admittedly, many of them did not intersect with areas where the insurance industry had an interest. However, there were several legislative matters we needed to weigh in on to make sure the insurance industry did not suffer collateral damage or unintended consequences from the legislation. We also advocated for legislative measures that were in the best interests of the industry and independent insurance agents across Tennessee. Trey Moore will provide more insight into the details of this session in an article he is preparing for this edition of the Tennessee Insuror. Thank you to all who worked on legislative affairs and advocacy efforts related to this session of the General Assembly.

As most of you know, Governor Bill Lee has called for a special session to be held in August to address public safety as it relates to gun violence. We are not expecting insurance-related measures to be part of this special session. However, we will be following the proceedings in the event any issues arise. One of the most fundamental parts of effective legislative affairs work is to always be watchful and engaged. In the arena of governmental affairs at any level, unfortunate outcomes are the result of complacency and lack of attention to detail. So, we will be paying attention in August during the special session.

In the last week of April, we traveled to Washington, D.C. with a total of 14 members of the Insurors of Tennessee to participate in the Big I Legislative Conference attending briefings, education sessions and gatherings to share our input and concerns relative to legislation being considered in Congress. We were pleased to have members of the Young Agents join the delegation to gain exposure and understanding about government at the Federal level and the advocacy process as it relates to the nation’s Capitol. We were pleased to be able to meet with both of our United States Senators and eight of nine members of U.S. House of Representatives representing districts in Tennessee. The meetings with our elected leaders and their staff were insightful, informative, and productive. We were able to share our input and concerns with each office and will be tracking legislation on Capitol Hill along with our partners at the Big I to measure the results of our meetings.

While on the subject of governmental affairs, since next year is an election year now is a good time to begin building our InsurpacTN and InsurPac financial resources. Now more than ever, we need to be able to support the campaigns of quality candidates who will hear our concerns and be receptive to meeting with us to discuss pending legislation. You can learn more and make those contributions by going to the Insurors of Tennessee website at https:// www.insurors.org/donate-to-insurpactn/ where you can find guidance about making a contribution. Alternatively, you can contact the Insurors of Tennessee office by phone if you prefer and ask to speak with Jake Smith.

Moving on to things not having to do with government, we are now working

on the details of putting on an exceptional InsureFest annual conference in Knoxville this year worthy of celebrating the 130th anniversary of this association. Be sure to save the date for October 21-24, 2023 and make your plans to attend. We will be providing you with more details in the coming weeks and months. I often wonder about what those folks from that first convention would think about where we are today as an association and how the insurance industry has changed. I am sure they would be astonished at the size and sophistication of our industry. I am sure the technology we employ today alone, as it relates to our industry, would be mind blowing for those folks. One thing is for certain, the success of this organization has been built on the shoulders of generations of insurance professionals in Tennessee. We continue that effort today through the dedication and hard work of the members of our Board of Directors, staff, corporate partners and our members. Thank you to you all and we look forward to seeing you in Knoxville this Fall.

As a friendly reminder, we are seeking new members and partners to join the association. As part of our 30 on our 130th Anniversary initiative, we are seeking to add 30 new members by the end of 2023. If you know of an agency or company that is not currently a member, please invite them to join via the website at www.insurors.org under the Membership tab or have them contact Jake Smith at the Insurors of Tennessee office. We know there are agencies and companies out there who are not yet members, let’s welcome them into the family this year. We look forward to hearing from your referrals soon!

Tennessee Young Agents '23 Future Leaders Spotlight

presented by John James • Carnal Roberts Agency • Lexington

John James is one of the youngest subjects of the Future Leaders Spotlight. His is a compelling story and points to the many opportunities available to young people in our business. While some insurance professionals take a more circuitous route through college or employment in other industries before landing in the industry, John James is taking a more direct path to a career in insurance. This story underscores the reality that there are multiple ways to create a rewarding career in the world of insurance.

Before John James even graduated from high school, he ran for public office at eighteen years old as a candidate for County Court Clerk of Henderson County where his hometown of Lexington, Tennessee is located. While John did not win the 2022 election, he did place third out of a field of six candidates as an eighteen-year-old in his first attempt at elected office in a county-wide race. It should be noted he did have some experience with elected office serving on his high school’s student council as secretary for three years. John’s interest in service to members of his community attracted the attention of a key figure in the Lexington business community.

In the Summer of 2022, after John graduated from Lexington High School, Tim Roberts, principal of Carnal Roberts Insurance Agency, Lexington, offered John a position for the Summer doing various jobs around the agency. By the end of the summer, John had become quite interested in the insurance industry and the career prospects it offered. At the same time, Tim Roberts saw real potential in John and offered him a permanent job leading to his current position as a producer with the agency. While John was considering going to college, he determined that he could get a head start on a career by going straight into the insurance industry via the path offered to him by the Carnal Roberts Agency.

After John earned the requisite licenses to become a licensed producer in Tennessee, he started work on the CISR curriculum to further enhance his professional development. He quickly understood that beyond the product, price, and service he can deliver to clients as an insurance professional, his insurance and risk management knowledge is his most powerful competitive advantage. It is good to see John getting an early start on the path of continuous education that is one of the hallmarks of most successful careers.

At present, John focuses on working with clients to provide personal insurance and life insurance. In time, he plans to

expand his portfolio to include small business and commercial insurance. John is quick to point out that Tim Roberts is a great mentor and is always available to answer questions or provide guidance. He also emphasizes that his colleagues, including two with over 40 years of industry experience with the agency, are supportive and helpful.

When asked about the most significant thing he has learned since starting his insurance career, he states “How you treat people will take you a long way.” He knows being kind, respectful and delivering on your promises is a big part of being successful in business and in life. He has already established himself as a person who seeks to serve others through public service and in business. After all, the insurance business is about protecting the interests of people and businesses and being there for them when disaster strikes.

John has very diverse talents and interests. For instance, he plays the piano at his church and even for other churches when they need a piano player. His interest in music originated from members of his family playing bluegrass music. While John had a couple of years of piano instruction, much of what he learned is self-taught.

John and his family also enjoy drag racing at a local drag strip in Jackson and other regional drag strips. He mentioned that a drag strip in Memphis recently closed leaving them with one less track to race his modified Chevrolet. Consistent with the car theme, John and his family enjoy restoring classic cars bringing them back to life to be enjoyed by another generation. Through his interest in drag racing and classic car restoration he has developed solid mechanic skills over the years learning from his dad and other members of his family.

John intends to pursue his career in insurance and risk management over the long-haul and looks forward to serving the people of Lexington and across the region. He and his family have deep roots in the Lexington area and he greatly enjoys the town, its people and the way of life. He loves living in a place where you know most everyone and the sense of community. He very much appreciates the opportunity offered to him by Tim Roberts and the Carnal Roberts Agency. u

YA

Meet Rebecca Darden- MTSU

Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Rebecca Darden, MTSU's new Program Coordinator for Risk Management & Insurance, here to embark on an exciting journey of knowledge and success. One of my goals is to work as a liaison between students and insurance professional to offer opportunities for hands on learning in the insurance industry.

Before joining the incredible team at MTSU, I spent eight adventurous years in the insurance sales industry. As I worked alongside incredible individuals like you, my passion for helping others protect their most valuable assets grew exponentially. I've had the privilege of working in various sales roles, from earning $8 per hour to hitting the $100k mark. Through these experiences, I learned an invaluable lesson: you truly reap what you sow. Now, I'm here to assist MTSU students in putting their best effort forward, ensuring they land those amazing jobs and internships in the industry!

When I'm not at the office, you can find me in the lovely town of Christiana, TN, where I reside with my wonderful husband, David. My life outside of work revolves around a little something called homesteading. I'm all about embracing my creative side through sewing and knitting. But that's not all—I also proudly tend to my lively flock of chickens, nurture my flourishing garden, and passionately can and store the bountiful harvest from the garden. One of my long-term goals is to establish Darden's Gardens—a generous and plentiful source of fresh produce that can help feed those in need.

I also enjoy frisbee golf, reading, traveling, bad (but enthusiastic) dancing, and all things MTSU!

As the new MTSU Program Coordinator, I'm committed to fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment where students can thrive and excel. I would love to talk to industry people about opportunities you might like to offer our students. Together, we can help them embark on an incredible journey, exploring the captivating world of risk management and insurance.

You may get in touch with me by emailing rebecca.darden@ mtsu.edu. u

Mid-Year Reflections and Looking Ahead

By Jake Smith, Director of Operations, Insurors of Tennessee

It is hard to believe that July is just around the corner. Summertime seems to come and go so quickly as we enjoy the many activities that fill our weekends on these long, hot summer days. For myself, I always try to take advantage of a long day by spending time in quiet reflection of the year that has been.

This year, we have been celebrating 130 years of the Insurors of Tennessee. A history that spans generations, our membership has shown such tremendous support for the mission of this association and its future. Our office lobby features a photograph of the Annual Convention that took place in 1922 – over 100 years ago! It is hard not to look at that photo and wonder “What would these agents think about the association today?” If I had the chance, I’d bend their ears with all of the current developments that we have seen amongst this tridecacentennial anniversary. (Who knew it had a name?)

This year our association has been able to utilize new technology to expand our education opportunities beyond what we have seen in the past. Late last fall, our classroom received a hefty technological upgrade with respect to our educational operation. If you’ve attended a class in person at our office this year, you may have noticed that our allotment of students spans beyond the four walls of the classroom. With a mounted PTZ camera, omni-directional microphone, and hidden control center, we are able to broadcast high-definition continuing education classes to attendees all over the country. In this new era of education, our association has received extremely positive feedback from many agents watching online. This new avenue allows for unlimited educational offerings in the future.

Along with our upgrades in education, we have been active with a variety of events this year. In February, the Insurance Industry Legislative Reception kicked off the year as we were able to gather up other industry personnel together with members of the Tennessee General Assembly to connect and advocate for our industry. In March, we hosted our Annual Agency Growth Conference with great success in Chattanooga where we saw agency members from across the state join in for an opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with our association. In April, our association sent a collective of members and staff to Washington DC for the annual Big I Legislative Conference. This was my first visit to our nations capitol. It was a great learning experience for myself to see how much work is being done and how our representatives made time to meet with our group to discuss the current issues pertaining to our industry.

The month of May allowed us to shift our focus on final preparations for Insurefest 2023 as we led up to the opening of registration. We cannot wait to see everyone for our crown jewel event in Knoxville! In the meantime, we will be working diligently to build upon the 130-year legacy of this association. Our staff, Board of Directors, committees and partners are always discussing new ideas and improvements that can be implemented as we pave the way towards the next 130 years of this association. We have committed ourselves to see beyond today and plan for tomorrow with new ideas regarding membership development, events, Young Agents, WINS, Technology, and education.

We will be promoting many opportunities to members in the back half of the calendar. I encourage you to stay tuned for upcoming information about Young Agents, WINS, an exclusive new education program and member events. u

Association Update

Donate Blood - Save a Life

RSS Insurance believes in community service as a core value. Recently they had the opportunity to participate in a Blood Drive for an insured who had passed away due to a blood illness. Our Director of Strategic Relationships, Arch Trimble IV, CIC, was one of many who did his part to help. Donate Blood, save a life. You never know when it could impact your family.

MTSU Risk Management 39th Annual Golf Tournament

Insurors is very grateful to have been able to be part of the golf tournament in April to support the Risk Management Program at MTSU. Students from the Gamma Iota Sigma society were welcoming and helpful to all attendees and made sure all participants were enjoying their day on the course at College Grove. We were also delighted to see our members from Amwins and Erie out and supporting the students while letting them know about the many opportunities available with

them. Once attendees were checked in we were served lunch while getting to network with the students and other industry professionals. After lunch, attendees gathered on the golf carts to hear a few words from MTSU Risk Management Program Director, Dave Wood. We greatly appreciate how the teams were created to allow student and industry professionals to network and ask questions about future opportunities. It was a beautiful day and we look forward to supporting the next tournament!

BBSi Young Agents TopGolf Networking Event

This May was the second year that BBSi graciously hosted our Young Agents at a TopGolf networking event. We were happy to see some returning faces from last year’s event and some folks who were brand new to our industry. This event kicked off with some food, drinks, and roundtable discussions. Afterwards, everyone was able to enjoy a relaxing evening networking and practicing their drives. Insurors would like to offer a special thanks to BBSi for constantly striving to uplift and grow our Tennessee Young Agents. If you would like to stay updated on when the next young agents networking event will occur, be sure to join our Linkedin group!

Welcome Baby Grayton Luke Smith

The Insurors of Tennessee staff recently held a baby shower for Director of Operations, Jake Smith and his wife Blaike, to celebrate the birth of their baby. Everyone had a great time enjoying good food and good company honoring this special event.

We are pleased to report that Grayton Luke Smith was born at 3:54 am on Friday, May 19. Mother and baby are healthy and doing well. Jake reports that while they are getting adjusted to getting a little less sleep these days, the family is adapting well and getting into a new rhythm with the arrival of Grayton.

Cindi Gresham Retires from Boyle Insurance Agency

Cindi Gresham who served as State National Director for several years and on the Board of the Insurors of Tennessee retired as President of Boyle Insurance of Memphis in May. At a retirement gathering, she was honored by the agency for her 35 years of service to the agency in a myriad of roles including serving as President. Cindi learned the insurance business from the ground up which gave her unique insight as she successfully led the agency for more than ten years as President. Members of the Boyle leadership team including her successor as President Steve Peay, Senior -Vice President Ron Gant, Ron Travis and Jake Smith of the Insurors of Tennessee attended the retirement event to celebrate and acknowledge Cindi’s service to Boyle Insurance Agency, her community and the Insurors of Tennessee. Cindi’s contributions of time and talent to the Insurors of Tennessee will be missed. u

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Company Briefs

Harford Mutual Insurance Group Releases 2022 Annual Statement

Harford Mutual Insurance Group has announced the release of its 2022 Annual Statement. The statement highlights the year’s accomplishments, strategic initiatives, and continuing commitment to our policyholders, agency partners, employees, and community partners.

The Annual Statement details the company’s financial strength. New business, direct written premium, and revenue growth exceeded plan. Harford Mutual Insurance Group (HMIG) was named to Best’s Review of Top 200 U.S. Property/ Casualty Writers, appeared for the 12th year on the Insurance Journal list of super regional P/C carriers, and included on the Ward’s 50 list of top performers for the second year in a row.

“Throughout 2022, we concentrated on the strategic initiatives that would make doing business with Harford Mutual Insurance Group easier,” said Steve Linkous, President & CEO of Harford Mutual Insurance Group. "Working to remain competitive in a constricting labor market, we implemented changes and benefits to continue helping us position HMIG as an employer of choice.”

The company was awarded a 2022 Top Workplaces honor by Baltimore Sun Top Workplaces, named to the RISE Elite 50 Internships list for the third year in a row, and received the Silver Healthy Workforce designation from our benefits provider, Cigna.

Harford Mutual’s charitable support totaled nearly $490,000. Employees also volunteered nearly 500 hours at numerous community organizations and non-profits.

Builders Mutual Receives 24th Consecutive ‘A’ Rating from A.M. Best

Builders Mutual is thrilled to announce that our Financial strength Rating of A (Excellent) was once again reaffirmed by A.M. Best Company, the world-wide leading source for information on the financial condition and operating performance of insurance companies, on May 2, 2023. This marks the 24th consecutive time Builders Mutual has earned this rating.

In A.M. Best’s Rating Rationale Summary, Builders Mutual’s balance sheet was categorized as “Strongest”, highlighting the consistent, organic surplus growth over the last ten years. It also highlighted operating performance as “Strong”, noting significant net premiums in written growth over the last five years across all lines of business. A.M. Best describes

the outlook for Builders Mutual as “Stable”, which reflects expectations that the company will maintain a balance sheet strength assessment in the strongest range over the immediate term while continuing to report favorable operating results.

“We are proud to once again receive this important designation from A.M. Best,” said Mike Gerber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Builders Mutual. “Our team works tirelessly to maintain our operating performance and financial strength and this recognition reinforces our ability to continue to support our policyholders and agents.”

FSB Insurance Acquires Redman Davis

FSB Insurance in Jackson, Tennessee recently announced its acquisition of the Redman-Davis Insurance agency in Columbia, Tennessee. FSB President and CEO, Andy Gaddie, said, “We couldn’t be more excited about the Redman-Davis agency and its rich history and service to the Columbia, TN area. They complement our Middle Tennessee footprint well relative to our growth strategy. Moreover, they share our values and commitment to provide clients with intelligent insurance and risk management solutions supported by exceptional service."

FSB has four West Tennessee locations and two in Middle Tennessee. FSB is part of Sunstar Insurance Group based in Memphis, Tennessee further extending the capabilities of our organization.

Redman-Davis Insurance Agency, formed in 1894, offers personal, commercial, life, health and employee benefits insurance and is led by veteran agents Chad Williams and Sonny Shackelford.

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company Leader in Top Workplaces

WEST BEND, WI (May 19, 2023) – West Bend Mutual Insurance Company was announced as the first-place winner in the large company category for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplaces in Southeast Wisconsin. It is the twelfth consecutive year in which West Bend has placed in the top four among a prestigious list of 160 companies named to the 2023 Top Workplaces list.

Rankings are based entirely on employee feedback. Top Workplace companies are measured on company leadership, career opportunities, workplace flexibility, compensation, benefits, and the impact company policies have on innovation and morale. This announcement

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Company Briefs continued

follows recent recognition as the sixth-place winner for Top Workplace in the USA. Also, West Bend's Madison location received Dane County's Top Workplace award for the third consecutive year.

At the same ceremony, Kevin Steiner, CEO of West Bend, was honored with a special Leadership Award as the result of the top workplace survey. Leadership award recipients were chosen based on scores from employee responses to a survey statement: "I have confidence in the leader of this company." According to one statement, Steiner "leads the organization by example and places high value on relationships, excellence, integrity, and responsibility."

"Our vision remains to be the company of choice for our associates, agency partners, and policyholders," stated President Rob Jacques. "This award is evidence that we are succeeding at creating a positive and motivating environment."

"The recognition we receive as a top workplace is significant," says Kevin Steiner. "It helps us attract and retain talented individuals who want to be part of our company. Congratulations to our more than 1,500 associates who work daily to make West Bend a special place."

CIA Founder Johnny Thompson Retires

After a distinguished career spanning 45 years, Johnny Thompson, a co-founder of Commercial Insurance Associates (CIA) has retired. Thompson was a former University of Tennessee football player and graduate of the university. After obtaining his CPA designation, Thompson accepted the position of chief financial officer at the old Corroon & Black of Nashville. Upon joining the firm, he was reunited with Don Denbo who was his old teammate from the University of Tennessee. Don would also become a co-founder of CIA. While at Corroon & Black, Thompson reported to Frank White who would ultimately be Thompson's associate at CIA when it was founded in 2002. Corroon & Black was subsequently purchased by the company known today as Willis Towers Watson.

During Johnny Thompson's endeavors at CIA, the firm grew to be one of the largest and most successful professional independent agencies in Tennessee and one of the top 100 agencies in the United States of America. Although he is retired now, Johnny Thompson has agreed to stay on the board at CIA for the time being as his institutional knowledge and experience will continue to inform his associates as they continue to reach for greater achievements as a firm.

Celebrating 75 Years Of Providing Competitive, Affordable Insurance.

National Security has provided competitive, affordable insurance to policyholders for 75 years. We also provide our agents with competitive commissions, excellent customer service and experienced company adjusters.

As a Southeastern based regional company, National Security prides itself on fast, efficient service from a friendly small town company. Our agent website provides fast quotes, online policy issuance, and real-time policy information. Find out more about our products by calling 1-800798-2294 or visiting nationalsecuritygroup.com.

Company Briefs Continued

Harford Mutual Insurance Group is a Ward’s 50® top-performing property-casualty insurance company for the second consecutive year.

2022 & 2021

We partner with independent agents to insure restaurants, contractors, mercantile, and other commercial entities.

Company Briefs continued

Jay Weber Named President of Berkley Southeast Insurance Group

W. R. Berkley Corporation announced the appointment of Jay Weber as president of Berkley Southeast Insurance Group. Mr. Weber succeeds Dennis Barger, who has been named chairman of the business. Mr. Weber is a strategic leader with 30 years of commercial property and casualty insurance experience focused on small to mid-sized businesses. He most recently served as the business development leader for North America at a leading global insurance group. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Mr. Barger joined Berkley Southeast as president upon its formation in 2013. As chairman, he will continue to support the Berkley Southeast team through the transition, and he will remain a key member of the W. R. Berkley Corporation team.

W. Robert Berkley, Jr., president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, commented on the appointment, "Dennis was instrumental in founding and developing Berkley Southeast over its first decade. We thank him for

his outstanding contributions to our organization and we are extremely grateful that he will be continuing as Berkley Southeast’s chairman. Additionally, we are very pleased to welcome Jay as president of Berkley Southeast. We are confident his background, knowledge and expertise will be a great addition to the leadership team as they continue to serve their market. We are delighted to welcome him."

ERIE Ranks #414 on 2023 Fortune 500 List

Erie Insurance is ranked number 414 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list of largest American corporations, based on total revenue for the 2022 fiscal year. The 2023 ranking marks the 20th year ERIE has been included on the Fortune 500 list. ERIE first debuted at #454 in 2003. “At ERIE, our unique culture of service—which began with our founding in 1925—remains the cornerstone of our company,” said Tim NeCastro, president and chief executive officer of Erie Insurance. “We’re pleased to earn Fortune’s continued recognition, understanding that it’s our enduring commitment to always doing the right thing for our agents, customers, employees and communities that has contributed to our company’s growth and success.” u

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Agents in the Community

Join the Charitable GIVE Movement

The original GIVE Movement was launched in 2018 by the Big 'I' National Young Agents Committee. The event highlighted a national platform of our Trusted Choice independent agents' hometown acts of community service. But this does not need to be an event of the past. Find a local charity or community need where you can make a positive difference and get involved. We can't wait to see you in action!

Tennessee Agents! Volunteer, host a fundraiser, give to a collection site for a local charity. This movement is all about small things making a big difference. Then share your stories with us. Email cvance@ insurors.org and post your event on social media usng #TNagentsGIVE. u

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Infinite Possibilities

All the products you need to protect your customers

As an agent, the more you have to offer, the more opportunities you have to customize coverage for your customers. That’s why we equip you with a full suite of products—including auto, home, motorcycle, boat, RV, and more—so you can give your customers peace of mind knowing that whatever they need, you’ve got it covered.

Plus, as a Progressive agent, you have access to our industry-leading commercial coverage to round out your offerings and meet all your customers’ needs.

TO LEARN MORE

Search for us online at Agents of Progressive, Progressive Connect, or Progressive Appointment.

Education Calendar

The Insurors of Tennessee offers education opportunities to member agents across a wide range of insurance specialties that satisfy individuals at many different experience levels. If you are looking to further your career, seeking a professional designation, or need to satisfy continuing education requirements, check out the variety of courses available. Additional course options and details of each class can be found online or by contacting Teresa Durham at tdurham@insurors.org or 615.515.2607.

Register for CISR & CIC at www.insurors.org under education. Classes with (*) have option for in person or webinar event.

CISR

9/13 CISR Insuring Personal Auto *Nashville

12/5 CISR Commercial Casualty I Kingsport

12/6 CISR Commercial Casualty I

12/7 CISR Commercial Casualty I Chattanooga

CIC

8/9-10 CIC Commercial Casualty *Nashville 9/6-7 CIC Commercial Multiline *Nashville 9/27-28 CIC Commercial Property Knoxville

Additional courses for designation programs are offered on-demand at your own pace and as live webinars.

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org. Advanced Curriculum Rating = 20 CPE Credits. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaint and refund, please contact our offices at 800-633-2165.

Additional Courses

Additional courses are available On-Demand and as Live webinars at the IIABA Virtual University *check the VU site for course offerings, CE and pricing (independentagent.com/vu)

From The National Alliance (www.scic.com)

Choose from the following programs CIC, CRM, CISR, CPRM, CSRM, Dynamics, RGS, MEGA, PROFOCUS, WTH, Intro, Producer School, Ethics, Flood and other. Choose by topic, location, delivery method and/or date.

From The Institutes (ceu.com/customer/insurors-tn )

Insurors of Tennessee has partnered with CEU, powered by The Institutes, to provide you with relevant and convenient online insurance continuing education (CE) courses. Through our partnership with CEU, you will enjoy a 35% discount on any of CEU’s relevant, practical courses when you log in. More than 150 course topics

ABEN Webcasts (insurors.aben.tv)

To the right is a partial listing of upcoming webcasts. Please view the website for additional webcasts.

ABEN Webcasts (insurors.aben.tv)

The below are examples of the webcast classes that are available at insurors.aben.tv. each month.

Active Shooter/Workplace Violence Ins. CE: 2 $56

Contracts Agents Should Read CE :2 $56

Flood Program Overview - NFIP Then/Now

Washington D.C. in Photos

The Insurors of Tennessee's delegation to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in April was a great success. Members of our group were able to meet almost every member of the Tennessee Congressional delegation. The conferences with our elected representatives were constructive and enabled us to communicate items of interest relative to our association and the insurance industry overall. We greatly appreciate our elected leaders taking the time out of their busy schedules to meet with our members. We also thank members for taking time to travel to D.C.

Arch Trimble, IV with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann

Our visit with Congressman John Rose

Our visit with Congressman Scott DesJarlais

Our visit with Congressman David Kustoff

Our visit with Congressman John Rose

Our visit with Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger

Meetings- Mark Your Calendars

Big I Education Convocation

September 6-8, 2023

Grand Rapids, MI

Big I Fall Leadership Conference

September 6-10, 2023

Grand Rapid, MI

130th Annual Insurors of Tennessee Convention

October 21-24, 2023

Knoxville, TN

YA

Young Agents Events

Our Young Agents events are a great way to connect with fellow industry associates. We encourage all qualifying agents, CSRs, and company reps to attend and engage with the Young Agents program!

Want to see a Young Agents event in your area?

Email marketing@insurors.org to let us know!

Save the Date!

Next year's Big "I" Education Convocation is at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

Register NOW!

Hotel reservations are open as well!

Knoxville Downtown Marriott.

June

13 - WINS Committee Meeting

Our WINS committee met to discuss the exciting developments in store for 2024 and our plans for this year’s Insurefest breakout session. Our networking Tennessee trivia event was such a hit among attendees last year that we opted to bring it back for 2023! It was such a fun way to meet new people who you may not have gotten the chance to meet before while testing your knowledge on all things Tennessee and compete for the coveted prizes.

Be sure to sign up for our WINS breakout session when you register for Insurefest this year!

We will be announcing our newly established WINS committee for 2024 at this year’s convention and meet to discuss the outline of roles and nominations for the committee going forward.

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

Your Big "I"

How To Keep Your Social Media Accounts Secure From Hackers

Cybercriminals like to target small businesses’ social media accounts—here’s how to keep your accounts safe.

BY BURTON KELSO

If you own a business, you're using social media in some form or another to market your business because it's hard to resist the allure of free marketing or advertising that social media brings.

However, it's important to be aware that cybercriminals know that individuals and smaller businesses don't have systems in place to keep their accounts safe, so it's important to secure your social media pages.

Why Do Hackers Attack Social Media Accounts?

Cybercriminals like to target your online accounts because you're unlikely to update the passwords. If they gain access, there are several ways they can profit. Initially, a cybercriminal might make a fake account using your picture and duplicate some of your posts. Then they will send friend requests to your network, to see if they can lure your connections into connecting. Once they gain some traction, they will send phishing messages to your connections to see if they think it's you sending the message—making it more likely your friends will fall for a scam that's designed to trick them out of money or personal information.

Another tactic crooks use is to outright hack into your social media account. Once in, they can use credit cards that are associated with your account to run up charges and can use your account to send out phishing emails to your connections.

If your account is hacked, there is no way to regain access because criminals will change the password and any multifactor authentication (MFA) you activated on the account. You will also lose access to any business pages that are connected to your personal account.

How Do You Stop Social Media Hackers?

The best defense is a great offense, right? The first step is

to find out what information of yours is floating on the dark web. Data breaches occur all the time all over the world and from companies that you normally do business with and share information with.

One great resource is the “';--have i been pwned?" website, which will tell you if your e-mail and password information is floating around in the dark web. If you discover it is, you need to identify which online account was breached and change the password for that online account, as well as any other accounts that were using the same password. Cybercriminals love it when people use the same passwords for more than one online account.

Speaking of passwords—generating unique, unguessable passwords can be a pain in the butt, but they are one of the most important things to keep your online accounts safe. Remember, social media account login screens are accessible to anyone in the world with a device.

A password that is only a common word, like “december" takes about 18 milliseconds for a computer to crack, according to Use A Passphrase. Simply upgrading to a passphrase of four or more randomly chosen words—for example, “mergers decade labeled manager"—can take 6,000,126 centuries.

MFA is also a critical factor to keep your social media safe. If someone tries to access your account with your password, you'll get an alert via text or email to verify you're trying to log in. If you're not, you're given the opportunity to deny the log in attempt and change your password.

In today's digital age, it's almost impossible for you to remember every password and passphrase for all of your online accounts. Your best bet is to use a password manager to store them. There are many password keepers on the market, but it's probably best and more convenient for you to use the password keepers built into your favorite web browser.

Burton Kelso is a TEDx speaker and keynote speaker on technology and cybersecurity and is the owner and chief tech expert at Integral. u

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2023 CONTINUING EDUCATION

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Workers’ Compensation Insuran C e For tH ose W H o Build o ur Communities

MidSouth Mutual partners with wholesale entities and select retail agencies across its service footprint. The company is always seeking opportunities to grow in ways that are sustainable and mutually beneficial.

+ Serving clients across sixteen states with expansion into additional states planned.

+ Common sense underwriting, exceptional service, responsive and fair claims settlement.

+ A Exceptional Financial Stability Rating® from Demotech, Inc.