GREEN MOUNTAIN AGENT VERMONT INSURANCE AGENTS ASSOCIATION | SEPTEMBER 2019
All Roads Lead to EVOLVE 2019 Register Now
Vermont Insurance Agents Association is a statewide trade association representing nearly 100 independent insurance agencies in Vermont, with more than 900 employees. VIAA member independent insurance agents represent more than one insurance company, and as a result, can offer clients a wider choice of auto, home, business, life and employee benefits.t
Green Mountain Agent is a publication of
CONTENT ________________ September 2019
04 Letter from the President
600 Blair Park Road, Suite 100 Williston, VT 05495 Phone: 802-229-5884 Fax: 802-876-7912 www.viaa.org VIAA Officers President Paul Plunkett, CIC Vice President Alan Kinney Secretary/Treasurer Dan Rodliff National Director Ron Bixby Directors Chip Ams Michael Barrett Erin Odell, CIC
06 Evolve19 11 Feature: Sales & Marketing 14 On the Hill 18 E&O Corner 23 Feature: Knowledge 29 Insurance Commentary 35 Company & Agency News
Staff Executive Director Mary Eversole mary@viaa.org
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT ______________________________ September 2019 It’s hard to believe that my time as President of VIAA is ending. With the support of the board and our Executive Director, Mary Eversole, I have made it through this year much wiser about the association and the role it plays for members of VIAA. Thank you to the Board of Directors and staff. Without this dedicated group of individuals, we would not be able move forward with initiatives to benefit our members. The Board committed time to moving the organization forward, leaving behind old thinking and embracing strategic, actionable plans to meet member needs. We implemented new programs to do that and support the financial well-being of the association. In addition to our ongoing programs, this year we: Entered into an agreement with ProAg and look forward to launching this new crop insurance access point for you. Launched a new education program focused on farming and agriculture, the Accredited Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) designation program. Battled hard in the legislature and won against non-compete agreements and strict liability. These were critical issues for agency members and I am very proud that were we able to stand tall and fight for you. We’ve retooled and rebuilt the VIAA convention to focus squarely on your needs. Evolve 2019 will take place later this month, so be sure to register!
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Paul E. Plunkett, CIC VIAA President The Board is focused on keeping the momentum that we achieved this year. We are committed to keeping a level playing field in the marketplace and ask our regulators to respond to changes in the marketplace driven by technology. My goal was to make VIAA your ‘go to’ resource. I hope that these new initiatives have made a difference in meeting that goal for the association. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the President of VIAA. The Association will be in great hands under Alan Kinney’s leadership and I look forward to what is ahead for the association.
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Schedule of Events Wednesday, September 18 11:00 am - Annual Golf Tournament 5:30 pm - Company Partners & Sponsors Welcome Reception (By Invitation Only) 6:30 pm - Open time for Company/Agent Dinners or Events Offsite
Featured Speakers Industry experts Zack Gould and Matt Naimoli of Bobbleon will help you stand out in the market. They will bring you the energy to change how you tune in to current consumers. They will show you how referral marketing works and help you understand what makes your agency unique.
Thursday, September 19
Zack Gould
7:30 am - Registration
Co-Founder of G&N Insurance & BobbleOn
7:30 am - Networking Breakfast 8:30 am - Personal Lines Issues Today, Tomorrow & Beyond (CE Seminar) 9:00 am - VIAA Annual Business Meeting & Board Installation
Matt Naimoli
10:00 am - Break, Vendor Hall Open
Co-Founder of G&N Insurance & BobbleOn
11:30 am - Grab & Go Lunch, Vendor Hall Open 12:45 - EVOLVE Opening Ceremonies 1:30 pm - BITES, 15 Minutes Each - 1 Idea to Implement 2:30 pm - Break, Vendor Hall Open 3:15 pm - Breakouts Breakout #1 Ways to Win with Your Underwriter Breakout #2 Amp Up Your Digital Presence
All Principals that register by August 9 are entered into a drawing for a Power Session with Matt and Zack immediately following the Opening Ceremonies! Register Now!
4:00 pm - YACS Brew Tasting + Corn Hole Tournament 5:00 pm - President's Reception 7:00 pm - YAC Fiesta
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SALES & MARKETING
R E N SHARKS WANTED! R CO
E
&O
By Chris Burand
As agencies grow, eventually they require a producer and bringing in a nonowner producer seems to be the Achilles heal of so many very successful agency owners. But, there are two important things you can do: (1) hire a good sales person, and (2) provide sales training. In this article, I'll give you some tips on how and why to do this. "We don't want the people who swim with the sharks. We want the sharks." -Employment add from the Orange County Register (as printed in Readers Digest)
For many decades, the independent agency has been an entrepreneurial success story. The agency founder was a remarkable person. He or she started their business from scratch and served as the CEO, producer, CSR, bookkeeper, and janitor. And they succeeded! With greater success, they hired CSRs, a bookkeeper, and a janitor. As agencies grow, eventually they require a producer and bringing in a nonowner producer seems to be the Achilles heal of so many very successful agency owners. These are people I admire, they are great salespeople, fantastic individuals, and people who cannot seem to hire a good salesperson. Let me play Freud for a moment and ask, "Why do these owners succeed at so much but so often fail at hiring a good producer?" Maybe they do not subconsciously want the competition. They like being the best salesperson in the agency. This certainly is true in some
cases where agency owners have capped, fired, or otherwise stifled good producers when the producer started making more money than the owner. One agency owner actually declared, "No one will make more than me no matter how much they sell!" Other owners just hire bad producers to begin with so they never have to worry about the competition. In other cases it may simply be that having the talent to sell does not translate into a talent for identifying other people who can sell. Whatever the reason for past poor hires, the number one problem in many agencies is the lack of production. So, if you really want to hire a good producer, do two things. First, hire a good salesperson! Easier said than done, obviously. Here are a few suggestions: Hire a good salesperson. Be realistic and objective. Do not rely on inspired hopes. Hire a good salesperson even if they do not know insurance. Teaching insurance to a good salesperson is easier than teaching sales skills to most people that know insurance.
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Hire a good salesperson without a lot of former agency employers on their resume. Frequent job hopping may be acceptable in the high-tech field today but for most producers in our business it is usually a sign of failure. A good salesperson most likely would have stayed with one of their former employers, built a big book, and set a course for eventual agency ownership. As the old saying goes, "If a tree had apples last year, don't expect pears this year." Hire a good salesperson by using personality tests as filters. Since so many agency owners have proven themselves to be poor judges of future talent, these test are not perfect but they are better than nothing. Hire a good salesperson by being patient. Good salespeople are not a dime a dozen. You will be better off waiting another six months to find the right producer than hiring the wrong one too soon! Hire a good salesperson and have a plan to do so. Planning to hire a good salesperson is subtly, but critically different from talking about it. Many agency owners just wait for good fortune to intervene and drop a great producer in their lap. Second, provide sales training! Provide sales training. Unfortunately, agency owners are very reluctant to offer training. According to Jack Fries of Fries & Fries Consulting, less than one half of 1% of agency revenues are spent on sales training. Even though sales is an agency's number one goal, agencies spend less on sales training than on postage, agency repairs, attorneys & accountants, or bad debts! Provide sales training. I believe many agency owners do not train producers because they themselves did not need 12
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training to succeed. They think, "Hey, I didn't have any sales training and I succeeded, so why should my producers need training." Or maybe training is so far removed from their needs that they do not even think of it as being necessary. It is necessary though. For example, a friend of mine built a $90,000 book at his first agency and then stalled. He and his employer became frustrated with each other and eventually parted ways. His new employer provided sales training. He produced $100,000 in ten months and his book is still growing strong. Provide sales training. The old dictum, "Those who can, do, and those who can't, teach," holds true. Because most agency owners can sell, they do not make great teachers. Most owners should stick with providing direction and goals and send their producers to a good sales training program. Provide sales training. It does cost money, but even $5,000 is a cheap investment. Consider what thousands of agencies spend every year on failed and failing producers. Suppose a new producer is paid an average of $30,000 to $50,000 per year. If after three years that producer's book only equals $50,000, the agency has lost at least $50,000 over three years. Training is cheap compared with failure. Bottom line: Find the best sharks and train them to be even better sharks! Chris Burand is president of Burand & Associates, LLC, an insurance agency consulting firm. Readers may contact Chris at (719) 485-3868 or by e-mail at chris@burandassociates.com. NOTE: None of the materials in this article should be construed as offering legal advice, and the specific advice of legal counsel is recommended before acting on any matter discussed in this article. Regulated individuals/entities should also ensure that they comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
ON THE HILL:
Cannabis Safe Harbor Legislation Introduced in Senate By Joseph Cortina
Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate to provide a comprehensive federal safe harbor for insurers—including independent agents and brokers—to protect them from criminal and civil liability when offering insurance coverage to statelegalized cannabis businesses. S.2201, the Clarifying Law Around Insurance Marijuana (CLAIM) Act, sponsored by Senators Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Rand Paul (RKentucky), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), would prevent federal criminal prosecution of insurers and civil liability for agents, brokers, and insurers, their officers, directors or employees. This legislation would help those consumers who may have direct or indirect contact with state-legalized cannabis businesses to access insurance products and services and utilize the protections they offer. Finally, the legislation would enable agents and brokers to comply with state statutory and regulatory requirements.
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Senator Menendez spoke in favor of the legislation during a hearing on Tuesday titled, “Challenges for Cannabis and Banking: Outside Perspectives.” Of note, S.1200 the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking (SAFE) Act, which the Big “I” has worked on extensively, was also discussed. In the SAFE Act, the Big “I” successfully advocated for including independent agents and brokers in a safe harbor that would prevent criminal prosecution and civil liability for those who choose to engage in the business of insurance with cannabis-related legitimate businesses (CRLB). The Big “I” expects companion legislation to the CLAIM Act to be introduced in the House. The Big “I” was the largest independent agent and broker trade association advocating and working on the CLAIM Act and along with a group of other trade associations issued a letter supporting the legislation.
C E O & R O N ER
MISGUIDED Workers comp and the misclassification of employees By Cara Gates
The year is 1910. The ponderous William Howard Taft is President, the Boy Scouts of America is incorporated, the first (unofficial) Father’s Day is observed and the first workers compensation statute in the U.S. is enacted in New York—unleashing a pivotal change in the country’s insurance landscape. Such statutes, now legislated in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., provide essential medical, disability, rehabilitation and death benefits for employees’ job-related injuries and diseases, regardless of fault. They remove an employee’s ability to sue their employer in exchange for providing no-fault protection and specified payment—but only if the statute applies. Some statutes exempt employers with less than a specific number of employees. Others exempt employers of a certain type, such as farm labor and domestic workers. Failing to understand the details of employee classification can result in inaccurate reporting, which can lead to an assessment of additional premium after an audit. Typically, employers are not required to provide workers comp insurance to contractors who receive a 1099 form at the end of the year. However, disputes frequently arise over whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Employment status is a question of fact, not of law. Courts make determinations on a case-bycase basis and consider a number of factors, such as the duration of employment, the method of payment, the right to exercise control over the work, who supplies the tools and equipment necessary to complete tasks, and who sets the work schedule. Note that historically, courts interpret the definition of “employee” broadly, erring on the side of providing protection to injured workers. 18
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One real-life errors & omissions claim arose when an agency’s client had a written independent contractor agreement with an injured worker. Later, it surfaced that the injured party was actually an employee of the client. The injured party sued the client, which in turn filed a lawsuit against the agency asserting a general negligence claim. Beyond the additional premium, the client claimed damages including expenses paid to the injured worker, as well as business loss because the entity for whom they were completing the job canceled a future contract with the client. The lost business claim significantly increased the settlement value of the case. As this claim shows, if you fail to secure accurate information from a client at the time of the original application, the damages they may claim against your agency could amount to more than just the additional premium assessed at audit. Do your homework to avoid misclassification of employees and understatement of payroll. Ensure that the information your workers comp client reports on their application accurately describes their business operation, including proper classification and count of all employees. Cara Gates is an assistant vice president, claims specialist with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and works out of the office in Overland Park, Kansas. Insurance products underwritten by Westport Insurance Corporation, Overland Park, Kansas, a member of Swiss Re. This article is intended to be used for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Swiss Re shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained or referenced in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, accounting or professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Swiss Re Group ("Swiss Re") and/or its subsidiaries and/or anagement and/or shareholders. Copyright © 2017, Big “I” Advantage, Inc. and Westport Insurance Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be used or reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission from Big “I” Advantage. For permission or further information, contact Agency E&O Risk Manager, 127 South Peyton Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 or email at info@iiaba.net.
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Warren Buffett Champions an Inferior Product
KNOWLEDGE
By Christopher Boggs Warren Buffett, often ahead of the curve, sounded like a disrupter 15 years ago. In a 2004 shareholder letter Buffett wrote, "Insurers have generally earned poor returns for a single reason: They sell a commodity-like product. Policy forms are standard, and the product is available from many suppliers, some of whom are mutual companies ('owned' by their policyholders rather than stockholders) with profit goals that are limited. Moreover, most insureds don't care from whom they buy. Customers by the millions say, 'I need some Gillette blades' or 'I'll have a Coke,' but we wait in vain for 'I'd like a National Indemnity policy, please.' Consequently, price competition in insurance is usually fierce." Although his statements contain fundamental flaws, Buffett thinks he has found the answer to the perceived problem and has joined the Disrupter League" (yes, this is a made-up term). Berkshire Hathaway recently announced the launch of THREE, a dangerous attempt to simplify and combine multiple insurance contracts for small business owners. Buffett introduced THREE stating, "Insurance is important protection for any business, but few small businesses have
the time to actually read through the policy forms that are supposed to protect them. With THREE a small business can be confident in the protection it is getting, because the whole policy can be read in a few moments. Every day, America's small businesses prove that great things come in small packages. Now they can get insurance on the same basis." THREE, as its name foreshadows, is a three-page small-business policy Berkshire Hathaway insists is easy to read, understand and apply. Buffett's intent is to replace multiple policies and endorsements with one, three-page policy. The seven coverages included in this policy are: Property coverage; General liability coverage; Auto coverage; Errors and omissions coverage; Directors and officers liability coverage; Cyber coverage; and Workers' compensation coverage. Following is THREE's "easy-to-read" policy language for your review. Let's see if Buffett's team accomplished the goal of meeting all the insured's needs in one policy.
Read Our Policy ======================================================================= Page 1 of 3 The coverage we provide your business under this policy: This policy only covers your business for loss caused by occurrences during the policy period. An occurrence" means an accident, including continuous or repeated exposure to substantially the same general harmful conditions that begin during the policy period. Occurrence" also includes an error or omission by your business. Should any part of this policy, on its effective date, conflict with the laws of the state where your business is based, then that part of this policy will be automatically amended to meet the minimum requirements of those laws. www.viaa.org
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KNOWLEDGE
For your business' property: We cover your business for theft of and physical damage to property your business owns or leases. As a direct result of a loss this policy covers, your business may have increased operating expenses or lose net income. After the Waiting Period on the Summary, we will cover these amounts until your business resumes normal operations (or until either Business Interruption limit on the Summary is reached). Net income" means (i) net profit or loss before income taxes that would have applied and (ii) the continuing normal operating expenses, including payroll for employees who are not officers, executives, department managers or employees under contract. For your business' liability to others: We cover your business for amounts it is legally required to pay others as the result of an occurrence. We will provide legal counsel to defend any such claims. When listed Additional Insureds or employees of your business act on its behalf, they are also covered. We also cover (i) claims of negligence, errors, or omissions in providing professional services, and (ii) claims against directors or officers of your business arising from their actions taken on behalf of your business. For these kinds of claims, if your business first learns about the claim during this policy, and previously had continuous insurance coverage that would have covered the claim, we will cover that claim even though it is not the result of an occurrence during this policy. For Auto: We cover damage to or accidents involving vehicles on the Summary the same way we cover property and liability claims, but with the Auto limits listed on the Summary. For Cyber: We provide your business with crisis management, data and system review and recovery services, breach notification, and credit monitoring, following a data breach or computer system hack. Workers' compensation insurance: Every state has workers' compensation laws that provide benefits for injured employees. We cover your business for and will promptly pay amounts required by state workers' compensation law. We will pay all installments of the compensation that may be awarded or agreed upon in connection with those injuries. Page 2 of 3 If Something Goes Wrong: If your business has a property loss from an occurrence, we will pay to repair the damaged property if possible, or replace it with something of similar capabilities. We only pay for buildings or vehicles that are on the Summary, up to the Limit or Listed Limit for each. For all other property (other than a building or a vehicle) that is damaged by an occurrence, we will pay up to the amount listed for Other Property on the Summary. We will also pay necessary costs to keep your business going or to minimize the time it is out of business after a loss that we cover. We will pay these expenses until listed vehicles are repaired or replaced (or until the Listed Limit for that damage vehicle is reached) or your business has resumed at a new permanent location (or until either limit for Business Interruption has been reached). For liability claims, we will have the right to decide how to prepare for and defend any potential claim, and to decide if a claim should be settled. For cyber claims, we provide cyber incident response and breach coach services through our selected vendors. If your business runs out of money (it is insolvent or in bankruptcy) or otherwise defaults after a person is injured by an occurrence, our obligation to pay will not be affected.
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What we do not cover: We do not cover any occurrence(s) that start or take place outside the policy period on the Summary. To be covered by any of this policy's Coverages, the damage, liability, or injury must be caused by or arise from an occurrence during the policy period on the Summary. For any claims that we do not cover, we will not provide legal counsel to defend those claims. We do not cover any company other than those named on the Summary, and we do not provide cover that is personal to you (or anyone) independent of your business. We do not cover damage to any building that is not listed on the Summary. We do not cover damage to, or accidents involving, any vehicle owned or leased by your business that is not listed on the Summary. We do not cover any Additional Insured for any claims that are unrelated to your business. We do not cover any claims between your business and any Additional Insured. We do not cover any damage to property (or Business Interruption), nor any claim made against your business, that is caused by pollution, asbestos, or a nuclear event. Pollution means damage caused by the spreading or escape or presence of any contaminant (whether it is solid, liquid or gas), including chemicals and waste. Asbestos means the presence or escape of any asbestos at all. Nuclear means nuclear reaction or radiation or radioactive contamination, however caused. For property claims, we do not cover, (i) lost or misplaced property, money, securities, or stock certificates; (ii) any property that is illegal or damaged during illegal transportation; (iii) land or water or things growing on or in them like crops; (iv) animals; or (v); any costs or damage to property caused by a law or ordinance or other legal requirement, which includes any zoning change or government action. We also do not cover (i) ordinary wear and tear; or (ii) deterioration that happens because the property is old or not maintained properly, or (iii) equipment, machinery, or listed vehicles that stop working without being involved in an accident as these are not occurrences. For liability claims, we do not cover claims based on (i) damage or occurrences that were expected or intended (in other words, it was not accidental); (ii) a contract; (iii) warranty claims, or (iv) any promise of financial performance or return. Page 3 of 3 Deductibles and Limits: Except for workers' compensation, which is governed by your business' state's laws, your business will be responsible for a portion of each loss, commonly known as a deductible, and we will be responsible for the amounts of loss above the deductible, up to the limit of what we will pay under this policy. The type of loss will determine how much the deductible will be, and when it is paid. The amounts of the deductible for each loss are listed on the Summary. For liability claims, we will pay the deductible portion and bill your business for it later, since we need to appoint counsel right away in order to protect your business.
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Swimply Uninsured!
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Recently, Sue West, CPCU, a Tennessee insurance agent brought an article to my attention: “This New App Lets You Rent Your Neighbor’s Pool, Starting at $30/Hour“ So, does this present any problems for the pool owner? For example, might this impact coverage under the owner’s homeowners policy and umbrella policy? The includes this: 6. Insurance
Swimply recommends that Hosts obtain appropriate insurance for their Accommodations. Please review any insurance policy that you may have for your Accommodation carefully, and in particular, please make sure that you are familiar with and understand any exclusions to, and any deductibles that may apply for, such insurance policy, including, but not limited to, whether your insurance policy will cover the actions or inactions of or relating to Guests (and the individuals the Guest invites to the Accommodation, if applicable) while at your Accommodation. As a Host, you understand and agree that Swimply does not act as an insurer. If a Guest requests a Booking of your Accommodation and stays at your Accommodation, any agreement you enter into with such Guest is between you and the Guest, and Swimply is not a party to it. I didn’t look any further at disclaimers, hold harmless agreements, etc. on their web site. We know that there’s no liability coverage under ISO HO policies for “business” activities like renting a structure or otherwise
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engaging in something for monetary gain. Likewise, under an HO policy like the ISO HO 00 03, there is likely no coverage for damage to the pool if insured under Coverage B because of this business use. I live on a lake and someone posted on our neighborhood NextDoor app that they were looking to rent a slip at someone’s dock for their boat. Several people responded and I posted that they’d better check on their homeowners insurance for this serious exposure. In fact, in addition to the obvious and potentially catastrophic liability exposure, I suggested they ask if they even have any coverage TO the dock to begin with since these docks are on Army Corps of Engineers property and not on their “residence premises” as required for Coverage B. My covered dock would cost about $40K to replace…I have it insured by endorsement but I’d be willing to bet that there are thousands of lake homeowners that don’t. Many of them may have umbrella policies that, in addition to their homeowners policies, likely won’t provide coverage for this business exposure. There’s another startup like this that has a phone app that facilitates renting personal property (e.g., chain saws and skill saws) that are unused 99.9% of the time. Imagine the liability exposure for that beyond the business property limitations that are triggered. People don’t think about the seriousness of their exposures to loss, possibly in part because 90% of the insurance TV ads they see multiple times every day focus on how hilarious and cheap insurance can be. Copyright 2016-2019 by InsuranceCommentary.com. Reprinted with permission.
COMPANY & AGENCY NEWS
Titus Insurance Agency looking for a Personal Lines Customer Service Representative Titus Insurance Agency in Shelburne is looking for a Personal Lines Customer Service Representative to join our team Candidates should demonstrate enthusiasm, a positive attitude, be a team-player, and have strong work ethics, communication and problem solving skills. You will be responsible for building relationships with our clients and carriers by delivering exceptional customer service, perform coverage reviews, look for opportunities to provide relationship value, process endorsements and payments for existing clients. Primary Expectations: Respond to and resolve account related inquires, policy changes, handle complex customer calls in a timely and professional manner and take ownership to resolve customer issues that will foster long-term relationships within the agency. This person must understand the carrier’s capabilities and systems, possess strong knowledge of our companies underwriting appetites in order to remarket clients, round accounts, and write new business. We pride ourselves on providing the ultimate customer experience in the independent agency system that enhances value and increases retention. Requirements: Three years’ minimum experience preferred. Licensing will be required to perform duties as described. Offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. Please send resume to Donna Wagner via email Donna@titusinsurance.net or Annette Hannah at Annette@titusinsurance.net or mail to Titus Insurance Agency, PO Box 476, Shelburne, VT 05482. All inquiries will be strictly confidential.
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Shannon Prescott of The Richards Group Earns WorkComp Advisor Certification The Richards Group is pleased to announce that Shannon Prescott recently earned the Certified WorkComp Advisor designation, conferred by the Institute of WorkComp Professionals. The Asheville, North Carolina based organization trains insurance professionals to locate costly errors in Workers’ Compensation coverage. The certification training provided by the Institute is essential in reviewing Workers’ Compensation insurance reports. Designation holders must commit to continuing education and recertification every three years. In the eight years since the first advisors were certified, Certified WorkComp Advisors have saved business owners millions of dollars in Workers’ Compensation overcharges. “Companies are often unaware that they are paying too much for Workers’ Compensation,” commented Shannon Prescott. “With the training I received from the Institute, I have the knowledge to detect errors, and can be more effective in saving money for our clients.” “We are excited that Shannon continues to expand her expertise in areas that benefit our clients,” added Peter Richards, VP of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management. “Shannon has an outstanding knowledge of a wide range of safety topics which are now complimented by her workers compensation training. Her efforts exemplify our approach of going beyond the use of insurance products to provide value for clients of The Richards Group.” In addition to analyzing workers compensation plans, Shannon assists clients with compliance and safety program evaluation and implementation, helping them achieve compliance with OSHA, DOT and DOL regulations. Shannon has a Property and Casualty insurance license, is an Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer for General Industry and Construction courses and a National Safety Council First Aid/CPR Instructor. Shannon is the current Board Chair of the United Way of Windham County and Vice Chair of the Franklin County Young Professionals.
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Ohio Mutual’s Continued Financial Strength Reaffirmed by A.M. Best Insurance rating organization A.M. Best has issued its annual rating of Ohio Mutual’s financial strength, reaffirming its issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+”, as well as the company’s financial strength rating (FSR) of “A” (Excellent) for the 27th consecutive year. The ratings include the three companies that represent Ohio Mutual’s intercompany pool: Ohio-domiciled Ohio Mutual Insurance Company, its wholly owned subsidiary United Ohio Insurance Company, and Mainedomiciled Casco Indemnity Company. In its rating rationale, A.M. Best offered its most positive analysis of Ohio Mutual’s balance sheet and favorable operating performance, citing Ohio Mutual’s “strongest level of riskadjusted capitalization and strong operating performance.” “We are pleased to continue to receive such positive ratings from A.M. Best,” said Ohio Mutual President & CEO Mark C. Russell. “Maintaining this level of financial strength and operating performance reflects the continuous improvement and collective effort put forth by our agent partners, business partners, and associates – for the benefit of our policyholders.” Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. More information is available at www.ambest.com.
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