TWFG Rolling Strong Issue 2 - December 2015

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THE GRAPE ESCAPE — THE PRESIDENT’S CLUB CELEBRATES SUCCESS IN NAPA

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WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT – MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES Leo Alonso shares his involvement with Special Olympics and the LIFE program at George Mason University.

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WELCOME TO TWFG!

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DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS!)

Join us in welcoming some new faces at the Home Office.

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BABY FACE Three new adorable babies join the TWFG Family.

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SAVE THE DATE! (SERIOUSLY, YOU TWFG’s Annual Agent Convention is coming up in June.

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DRAGON BOAT CHALLENGE TWFG gave it their all at the YMCA’s Team Dragon Boat Races this September.

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MIRACULOUS RECOVERY

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COMMITMENT TO CHARITY

Alex Bunch delves into TWFG’s cultural renaissance and the opportunity to learn about the Landmark Forum.

Donny Moore survived a fall off a cliff and Debi shares his miraculous story of recovery.

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Kelly Bettencourt shares our involvement with charities; the Monteiths share their commitment to helping Veterans.

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REDEFINE WHAT’S POSSIBLE

4TH QTR. BRANCH MEETINGS Judy Rush gives an overview of what happened during the 4th Quarter Branch meetings.

HALLOWEEN @ HOME OFFICE Photo spread of Home Office’s Halloween Celebration on October 30.

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GENERAL AGENCY UPDATE Yolanda Crombie lets us know what is happening with the General Agency program.

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WELCOME TO TWFG! Jerry Mackey Chief Underwriting Officer

Gwena Margolis Talent Acquisition Manager

This is a very exciting time at TWFG as we continue to build and grow and add staff. We are pleased to announce that Jerry Mackey has joined us as Chief Underwriting Officer.

Jerry has 30 years of underwriting insurance experience and most recently helped build the Texas IIAT’s commercial MGA. Prior to that, he was president of QBE’s MGA, Deep South.

Jerry will be responsible for building commercial programs for our MGA while also overseeing our personal lines programs and underwriting. We look forward to Jerry helping us build out our MGA and TWICO product offerings. Jerry and his wife have recently relocated back to Conroe. Please join us in welcoming Jerry to TWFG.

Gwena Margolis joins us on Monday, November 9th, as our new corporate recruiter. Gwena has 15+ years of professional recruiting experience across several industries and will assist with recruiting and hiring Home Office positions and finding new branch and GA agents. She will also be tasked with attending job fairs and expos to recruit interns to TWFG.

NEW ARRIVALS Kelly Bettencourt Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Three of the four Home Office babies have arrived!

KAIDEN ALEXANDER MERINO DATE OF BIRTH: November 23, 2015 MOTHER: Hannah Merino, one of our processors WEIGHT: 5 lbs., 14 oz.

LENGTH: 171/2 in.

ABRAHAM ETHAN RAZO DATE OF BIRTH: November 28, 2015 MOTHER: Elizabeth Razo, one of our commissions processors WEIGHT: 6 lbs., 4 oz.

LENGTH: 19 in.

NORA “SLOAN” VARGAS DATE OF BIRTH: December 1, 2015 MOTHER: Jennifer Vargas, one of our producers in Gordy’s branch WEIGHT: 6 lbs., 4 oz.

LENGTH: 181/2 in.

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HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES

SAVE THE DATE! The 2016 TWFG Agent Convention will be held at the brand new The Westin in The Woodlands June 9–12. With expectations of more than 300 attendees over 19 states we anticipate this to be our best convention yet!

CHRISTMAS Friday, December 25, 2015

NEW YEAR’S DAY

The Westin in The Woodlands is under construction overlooking The Woodlands Waterway. It is within walking distance of The Woodlands Mall, which is where TWFG Home Office is headquartered, and a new pedestrian bridge crossing the Waterway, offering access to Waterway Square and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The signature hotel features 302 rooms, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor pool, 150-seat restaurant, lobby bar, and second-level pool deck. It is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2016.

More details will be out soon but, for now, be sure to hold the date and make sure you can attend this spectacular event!

Friday, January 1, 2016

OAK RIDGE NORTH CHRISTMAS PARADE Gwena Margolis Talent Acquisition Manager

It was the 4th year the Woodlands, Spring, Conroe, Oak Ridge North & Willis area Girl Scout Troops came together to build a Christmas float for the Oak Ridge North Annual Hometown Christmas Parade. We won 1st place for Theme Adherence. We built this together with girls from kindergarten up to seniors in high school that are active Girl Scouts.

This year, we used hay bales for seating, cardboard for wheels, leftover vinyl table covers for the siding; and old soap barrels for the smoke stack, ‘gas’ tanks, and nose of our train. In previous years, we have used sign company cardboard centers of their vinyl to make a log cabin and milk jugs to form an igloo! This is the fifth time we have won first place for our Girl Scouts floats.

With no budget, we rely solely on donations from our girls.

Planning starts in September and with a lot of elbow grease and glitter; we pull it together to give all the girls an experience to remember! Each year, we ensure to incorporate a project that recycles or repurposes items.

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LANDMARK AND TWFG REDEFINE WHAT IS POSSIBLE Alex Bunch Chief Creative and CMO TWFG has grown leaps and bounds since it was founded nearly 15 years ago, and it’s been due to the blood, sweat, and some might even say tears, of everyone who has been part of The TWFG Family. Continued successful growth is entirely dependent on continued successful evolution, and not just for our company, our practices, and our brand, but for ourselves as individuals as well. If you’re not evolving and growing, you are dying.

Reaching our goal might seem like science fiction to some of you, and that’s okay. Maybe you’ve been with TWFG for 15 years and you’re pretty sure how the next 15 are going to go too. Perhaps you were a captive agent for 10, 15, 20 years and heard all this kind of rhetoric before, and will adopt a “wait and see” approach to this declaration. And if that is where you are with this at the moment, that’s okay too.

Our vision for the future is that TWFG will be the Number One Independent Distributor of Insurance Services and Products in the United States, and getting there is going to take something from us all. We are also declaring that we will be the best company to work for, and it’s distinct from our business goal in that it’s about creating a place we all love being a part of. Not just a sense of, but a reality that we are part of a great family that is determined to make a difference in our communities. It will take Tenacity, Commitment, Integrity, Grit, Creativity, Passion, and an unwavering stand that we have each other’s backs. Always.

What I will ask you all now to do is put your thoughts, considerations, and cynicism aside, and really get that this evolution, this reaching for our goal isn’t going to happen “over there.” This isn’t a “Gordy’s going to do this” or “The Home Office is changing things up” or an “I’m just a small agency and I can’t make a difference” conversation anymore. It is going to take every single one of us all over the TWFG world. Big agencies, small agencies, senior agents and the newest-of-the-new. From our high school interns, all the way to Gordy himself. We’re headed for the moon, and we need all hands on deck.

To put a man on the moon, we had first to believe that it was possible.

Not kinda-sorta-maybe-one-day we can, but honest-to-goodness we are going to lock arms and make this happen now. And what once seemed like science fiction, is now history.

The first step to getting there is to declare our goal and create that it is possible. In order for everyone to get to a place where we authentically believe it is possible, we need to do a little spring cleaning of what the past has told us is possible. We have to put

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aside our “I’m not good enough” our “I don’t know what I’m doing” our “Who are we to think we could be Number One?” our “Yeah, right” and our “Yeah, buts” and for sure the “I’ll believe it when I see it.” It is imperative that we begin from a place where our past experiences and constraints are left firmly in the past, so we can powerfully create the future we want for ourselves and our company.

There are many sophisticated training and development programs out there which help people do just that, and one such organization is Landmark Worldwide operating in over 22 countries. At this point the entire Executive Team and the majority of the Home Office have all participated in the Landmark’s flagship course, the Landmark Forum, and it has had a profound impact in bringing us all together to co-create what we want to build for TWFG’s future. It has had a tremendous impact on opening up communication, creating satisfaction in the workplace, and in freeing us from constraints that were keeping us from reaching our full potential. Think, before Landmark “state-of-the-art rocket,” and after Landmark, “state-of-the-art rocket with rocket fuel and a clearly defined destination.”

In addition to the Home Office, over 90 branches have already signed

on to participate in the Landmark Forum in the coming months, as well as sending office management, producers, agents and business partners. Because TWFG has built a strong relationship with Landmark Worldwide, the three-day and one evening course is being offered at a discount to all TWFG affiliates and their families, as well as any business partners or alliances we may have. And the best part of all, Gordy has committed to allowing all branches to use their co-op funds to pay for the program with a 100% reimbursement after completion. The cost for TWFG is $499.

Now you are ready to start off the New Year with more power, freedom, self-expression and peace-of-mind, and have your business explode (in a good way) and it’s time to get registered. You can email me at alex@twfg.com, and I will send you the details you need or have the appropriate Landmark Center give you a call, and/or you can go on to their website www.landmarkworldwide.com to find the center nearest you and give them a call directly. If you do call directly, please remember to let them know you have a corporate discount for TWFG upfront.

It’s going to take all of us to become the Number One Independent Distributor of Insurance Services and Products in the United States, and I’m grateful for all of you taking yourselves on so we can achieve this with velocity.

Thank you and Happy Holidays to all, Alex.

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THE GRAPE ESCAPE – THE PRESIDENT’S CLUB CELEB Alex Bunch Chief Creative and CMO 01

There is no sweeter way to celebrate the success of a year than to descend into Napa for three amazing days of wine tasting and team building.

Gordy and Kelly Bettencourt planned an itinerary that had everyone floating from cloud-to-cloud, beginning with couples’ treatments at Spa Terra, and followed by a romantic dinner for two at the Meritage Resort Siena Restaurant.

On the second day, the team visited three vineyards, O’Brien Estate Winery, Silver Oak, and the renowned Inglenook Estates owned and operated by Francis Ford Coppola. Some preferred O’Brien’s Passion, Seduction, and Unrestrained Reserve, while others cherished every drop of Silver Oak’s 2008 Alexander Valley and Inglenook’s Rubicon.

01. President’s Club group photo 02. Russell Knapp & Christy Bunch 03. Carlton & Vanessa Kon 04. Grapes from one of the vineyards 05. Stephen & Janis Lovecchio

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On the third day, everyone on the trip headed to the Franciscan Estate for an unprecedented event of winemaking and team building. The group was broken up into teams of six to eight, mixed their own blend of red wine and created their own customized wine label, original name and wine story. Although we had creative entries like “Baby’s Butt” that promised a “smooth finish,” ultimately it was Team Judy’s “Possibility” that stole the top prize. Regardless of who won, it was definitely a memory none of us will soon forget.

We’d love for you to join us in the Million Dollar Club or the President’s Club, so focus on your growth goals for 2016 and beyond then we can celebrate your success with you, too.

06. Lovecchios, Lees, Voirons, Knapp & Loyer 07. At Inglenook Estates 08. Betty & Phil Loick 09. O’Brien Estates 10. Buffy Hooper & husband

11. Wine labels created at Franciscan Winery 12. Group who won the wine label contest 13. Darren & Natania Monteith 14. Another group with their wine label design 15. Carlton Kon with “Baby’s Butt”

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WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT – MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN Leo Alonso Branch Owner - Maryland Last week, I attended the annual meeting of TWFG agents in the mid-Atlantic region. Yes, we do have several offices on the East Coast! Alex was a breath of fresh air with his enthusiasm, knowledge, experience and devotion to bringing TWFG to the next level.

As he spoke on the six things we should strive for, I thought how in my life and at our TWFG Silver Spring, Maryland office, we already follow all of these requisites for our customers: commitment, tenacity, persistence, loyalty, integrity and “Whoa, I gotcha.” I do a weekly half-hour call-in radio show to bring in business for TWFG and the other four successful companies I own or oversee: A title insurance company; a mortgage business; and an Allstate insurance shop and Maryland State Tag and Title with my daughter, Marisa. Most importantly, we create “time for everything.” That phrase is the most difficult for everyone.

The general excuse is, “I don’t have enough time.” If we Leo Alonso and his daughter, Vivian.

Special Olympians performed the best when they practiced and care enough about something, we create the time. Alex scrimmaged together with peers of the same age. As Vivian moved discovered I make the time for a whole lot of things in support of up to middle school, a difficult time in an adolescent’s life, we also the intellectually disabled. began a Special Olympics program at Thoreau Middle School, providing opportunities to participate in many competitive events.

Over lunch, as Alex and I spoke, he asked me to tell him a bit about myself. I began by telling him how I had been employed As we approached Vivian’s high school years, we were not happy

by Lucky Stores; working my way up to a store manager position with the education provided by the public school system. Betty and over a twelve-year period. Lucky Stores was closing its MEMCO I, along with a core group of parents from our Special Olympics stores and pulling out of the Washington metropolitan area and, team, searched for alternatives to public education. We found it although I was offered a transfer, I did not want to move away at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia. They were from my large family. I saw this as an opportunity to strike out on willing to model a program of inclusive education, with our pledge my own and in 1983 I opened an independent supermarket in to provide financial support through fundraising.

Reston, Virginia, which grew to a chain of seven stores and 200 employees doing $45 million per year by 1991. I joined the local In 1998, the Options program opened with six students with Optimist Club and became involved with Special Olympics as a intellectual disabilities. Every year at Paul VI, over 200 regular volunteer at basketball tournaments and track and field events. I education peer mentors give up their Study Hall periods to help loved interacting with these special athletes who most definitely out as tutors in the Options classroom. They also volunteer to help displayed commitment, tenacity and persistence. at after-school activities such as football, basketball games and dances. The Options students are part of the everyday life of the A year and a half later, Betty and I were blessed to deliver a school and their self-esteem is second to none. At the time of its beautiful baby girl, Vivian, who was born with Down syndrome. opening, the Options program was only the second program of its I continued volunteering until Vivian turned eight years old, type in the nation. It is now a model throughout the United States the age at which you can begin participating as an athlete and is in over 80 Catholic schools. in Special Olympics events. I founded the Vienna Elementary School Special Olympics program and we competed in soccer, The same year we launched the basketball, and track and field through sixth grade. I brought Options program, I was recruited peer mentors on board from my older daughter’s private school to serve with Porto 104 of the to provide competition during weekly practice sessions. My 12

OUR COMMUNITIES International Order of Alhambra, a Catholic men’s organization dedicated to raising funds to improve the lives of those with special needs. I became its Grand Commander in 2000. In 2008, I set up an offshoot of Porto 104, Porto Charities, Inc. as a 501 (c) (3) organization to allow non-Catholics to participate in the mission of Porto 104. We have over 100 member families and raise over $100,000 yearly in our Special Kids/Special Needs collection.

As we graduated the first three students from Paul VI in 2002, we set up a pilot program at George Mason University called LIFE, Learning Into Future Environments. Our young adults attend LIFE program classes, they audit regular classes and live on campus and in off-campus houses. They shop and take transportation on their own. The program’s instructors are GMU students majoring in special education. There are also Master’s degree students and others completing their PhDs. They are provided with free tuition and stipends to continue this career path. This program is now in its 13th year. Fifty-five students are enrolled, and programs such as this are in over 100 U.S. colleges and universities.

have purchased ten homes next to GMU. In some cases, four LIFE students with a Residential Assistant live in a house. In others, alumni graduating from the LIFE program support themselves independently. We are creating a community in a normal neighborhood close to transportation, shopping, restaurants and the University. At any time, our young adults can be seen walking to their activities, traveling to Washington, D.C. and Arlington to work and to attend Redskins, Nationals, Wizards and Capitals games. They are living A LIFE LIKE YOURS! I am now 64 years old and working on the final piece: Providing employment opportunities for the intellectually disabled, a very special need for this exceptional community. THERE IS TIME FOR EVERYTHING. I wake up each morning with joy, confidence, and enthusiasm because I know I’m making a difference!

How could we have a GMU LIFE program without Special Olympics being a part of it? I now provide supervision and direction to fifteen volunteer coaches all in their 20s and early 30s, including my nephew, Emilio, and my son-in-law, A.J. They have brought on friends to be coaches or assistants with GMU LIFE students and alumni. We practice every weekend for two hours. I guess you could say I am the Athletic Director of the GMU LIFE Special Olympics program.

This year, 32 years after I began as a volunteer with Special Olympics, we have seven GMU teams with 76 athletes competing in soccer, basketball and track and field from September 1– April 30 of each year. We have six soccer tournaments per year, six basketball competitions and one track and field event. Since One of the GMU teams that competed on November 8–9.

36 athletes live on campus or in off-campus housing, we have to work out a carpool schedule to provide transportation for all of these young adults to tournaments and competitions. This weekend, November 8th and 9th, three teams with 32 athletes will be competing in soccer at State Championship Games being held in Virginia Beach, VA. This entails coordinating eleven drivers and chaperons, coaches and many families that will meet us there for the two-day event.

Over the past three years, the semi-final piece in our quest for independence for these young adults is falling into place. Families 13

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17TH ANNUAL DRAGON BOAT TEAM CHALLENGE Yolanda Crombie General Agency Director Our Agents and Staff support the YMCA! Agents and staff of TWFG recently participated in the 17th Annual YMCA Dragon Boat Team Challenge, held September 24—27, 2015 at Northshore Park and Lake Woodlands. The Woodlands Township is the venue sponsor, and teams from various companies and organizations rose to the challenge for a great cause: to benefit the Montgomery County YMCA! Six team activities were featured at the event; a team is usually composed of 20 members and we had a robust group representing TWFG. The YMCA Dragon Boat Team Challenge races were the main event; our team was comprised of enthusiastic men, women and teens. A much larger group of TWFG’s agents and staff cheered them on. The boats are owned by The American Dragon Boat Association and are transported to The Woodlands annually from Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the event.

01. TWFG Tent Crew 02. Team TWFG on the Dragon Boat 03. Kelly and her dog Charlie, showing his support with a TWFG mascot sweater

Other highlights of the event included the creatively decorated tents; each of the participating teams had one. TWFG’s agents and staff took pride in the tent decoration; an actual dragon was made and displayed to enhance our creativity. TWFG won first prize for tent decoration!

Although the event is held annually to build community spirit among corporations, community organizations and civic groups, it is held for a charitable cause that benefits the Y’s Annual Campaign. Funds raised support the YMCA’s programs, and provide financial assistance to families in need.

You can read more about this fun, competitive charity event at: www.ymcadragonboat.org/17th-annual-ymca-dragon-boatteam-challenge/

04. Alex Bunch and Judith Wighaman having fun with “Gordita” 05. Sumo Soccer 06. Team TWFG

BUILDING “GORDITA” FOR DRAGON BOAT RACES Judith Wighaman Book Transfer Coordinator/Operations Support Associate 07

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TWFG had won the tent decorating for the last five years, and last year we swept all categories.

This year’s team wanted to go with a different theme — several wanting a fierce-looking dragon with spikes and gnarling teeth.

In 2013 at the event, an idea was made to have the dragon breath smoke in the future — it didn’t materialize for 2014 — the dragon developed was a replica of the dragon boat to sit on top of the tent.

For 2015, I brought back the idea to have an actual smoking dragon. I developed a design and approached Gordy for approval — he liked the idea and suggested the shirts to match (unity).

I began creating the dragon with chicken wire Continued on pg. 16

07. Judith and Angela working on “Gordita” 08. Dragon Builders: Angela, Dan, Judith, Gina, and JoeAnn 09. Angela and Dan painting the wings of “Gordita”

10. Gina spray painting “Gordita” 11. LED lights shown for Gordita’s eyes and mouth

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and PVC piping — stuffing paper and layers of newspaper to create paper maché. There were several times of tearing it down and starting over, for it did not fit in the transformation. Next, the team of dragon builders worked on the weekends bringing forth the beast, in the beginning, many did not see the vision and had doubt. For some of us, it was the first time working with “crafts” — we had many laughs. Finding out what a glue gun was and what were glue sticks; never having had worked with paper maché, mixing the celluclay and paper maché getting our hands pasty.

Building wings out of a hula-hoop and sheets for the webbing — painting on the “Stiff.” In the beginning, the head appeared to replicate a “tigger” more than a horse. When the shirt design was received from Alex Bunch, the face of the dragon was given its identity, and this is where the colors for the dragon was also birthed.

When it was decided to add LED lights for the eyes and inside the mouth (Annalise Wighaman-Wyatt and Graeme Wyatt) the dragon needed to be opened in several spots and cable wires pulled from the head to the tail the night before painting. Priming and painting the dragon was a joy in itself as “Gordita” came to life. When we first lit up the eyes and made her smoke – the

vision came to be, and everyone hugged and our chests stood out proud.

The base for the dragon developed from our little warrior – Jake Hickford (honorary builder) this is where the Excalibur sword and Jake’s picture on a medal came about – originally Jake’s picture was to be the heart of our dragon, but the texture did not allow it. (Jake loved dragons and dinosaurs and this was our tribute to him.)

For the tent, our theme was rowing together, building together.

Decorations consisted of mesh photo picture banners of last year’s participants hung on the top of the tent and our dragon, waves around the top, dragons on top of the tent, and an oar; which every participant signed. The dragon smoked and lit up in the event – all teams, individuals of all ages wanted their picture taken with her. Our trophy even matched our “Gordita” as a smaller version.

Gordy always likes for us to have fun together and thanks for the opportunity. Many thanks to all who participated – our minds are working for next year!

THE MIRACULOUS RECOVERY OF DONNY MOORE Debi Moore Branch Owner - Illinois In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to thank everyone with TWFG for their love and prayers.

It was exactly 16 weeks ago this past Sunday that while being houseguests at our friends’ home in Missouri over the fourth of July, roughly 11:45 AM Sunday the 5th, my husband Donny was flung into the air from his ATV and fell 22 stories from a cliff at Mark Twain Lake. Gravel, rock and shrubbery tore him up all the way down. He was with four other friends sightseeing the beauty of the 148 acres and they witnessed his life-threatening dive. We really aren’t sure how it happened, but he grabbed the hand brake and somehow accelerated and he flew off the cliff in reverse. While they could see it happen, they couldn’t get to him quickly but called 911 immediately for help. They said they honestly didn’t think he’d be alive when they found him. The call drew about 75 first responders from three different counties along with state troopers, fireman and two helicopters who together located his body. They airlifted him to a Trauma Center a few hours away.

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From the moment I first heard the sirens I knew Donny was hurt and I was comforted by prayer. My friend insisted on driving me to the hospital and seeing him in the emergency room in such pain was heart wrenching. I immediately started texting family and friends asking for prayers.

Donny Moore in the hospital.

Over the next 36 hours, it was determined his pelvis was crushed, his arm was broken, his ribs and back were broken. He had several gashes and incisions, and his skin was a raw scraped up mess. His eyes were black and blue, and his ears looked as though they were about to fall off. His hands were very swollen, his fingers couldn’t move and he didn’t have the energy to even try to talk. He was in critical condition in the Trauma ICU wing.

After 48 hours they performed surgery. A very long surgery. But doctors repeatedly told me and our children they had no idea why he was still alive. While in surgery for his arm and pelvis, I was in a consultation to prepare me for a husband with Traumatic Brain Injury. If all went well, he might be out of there in a month or six weeks followed by another six weeks in a rehab center. With lots still unknown, 17 broken bones, internal bleeding and his previous health issues, it was encouraged to set the expectation of a long, slow recovery.

Since then quite a few folks have asked me to elaborate on the accident a bit more, and that’s something I had wanted to do, but was waiting for all the relevant insurance pieces to settle out first. I’ve been in the insurance field for a long, long time. I know insurance is trading the known for the unknown. My personal claims have repeatedly been my greatest source of education over the years, and this accident wasn’t any different.

I will start with the blessing of an accident policy I purchased from Colonial Life. I was very familiar with other voluntary indemnity policies. For the I can’t thank Judy Rush enough, not only cost of a pizza delivered to our home each for encouraging me to take a close look month, I had the comfort of knowing, if we were at the Colonial Products during our Vegas ever in an accident, we would be compensated.

Convention but also for insisting I focus on Not only for broken bones and x-rays but also Donny and his recovery. Both Donny and I for days hospitalized and for a hotel stay for were agents in our agency with two other our family. Actually, I’m almost embarrassed agents that are still pretty green. Judy said at how much we were compensated. We were she would see to it our agency incoming paid for the helicopter ride to the hospital, for calls and any servicing for our clients would the blood he was given, for stitches, for rehab be handled. She and everyone in the Home for medical equipment and even mileage since Office did just that. She gave me a number it was several hours from home. Follow-up visits and all our calls were forwarded. They did were also included and the claim process was On the road to recovery now. a mass email campaign sharing Donny’s unbelievable. I just needed to supply a copy condition and encouraging any calls if needed. Just two weeks of the hospital bill that had the medical diagnosis codes and later, on July 13, a State of Disaster was issued for our hometown my hotel bill. It was that easy, really! No doctor’s statement, no after a major storm with winds of 80 miles an hour. Thousands of special reoccurring forms just one statement from us and we kept residents were without power for several days. Many area roads faxing our hospital billing statement with the medical diagnosis were blocked to traffic, piled with debris and uprooted trees. code. Checks started rolling in.

When clients started calling, they felt confident that claims or a service issue would be well cared for.

I learned many things from this accident. I learned the impact health insurance has over your care. I learned the power of health Prayers and support were flooding in and it’s a miracle. Donny care and power of attorney is vital. I realized in a perfect world and I were released from the hospital and the rehab center in five everyone hospitalized would have an advocate. I vowed to short weeks. He’s alive, walking, driving, fishing, and tomorrow quote higher limits of liability and require a declination statement is opening day of duck hunting! That’s been the carrot that has if an umbrella policy is declined. Donny’s medical expenses have been vital to his recovery. I am not sure he will be able to shoot, exceeded a million dollars. I’ve learned as a result of Obama but he can physically get in the duck blind and call for the ducks Care, group health insurance carriers have increased their efforts with his brother and son. He has massive rotator cuff tear in his to subrogate on accidents dramatically. I’ve learned that being right shoulder that will need surgery in mid-December. But that part of the TWFG family is not only a comfort and blessing to me needed to be postponed till he could use his other limbs and but to my clients as well. I feel such a need to tell everyone what feel confident walking with balance. The doctors just shake their I’ve learned. Thanks again for everything, Happy Thanksgiving. heads they can’t believe he’s doing so well.

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COMMITMENT TO CHARITY Kelly Bettencourt Executive Assistant to the President & CEO The TWFG Home Office has come together over the past several months to support causes that are close to our hearts. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to show our support for victims and advocates, on October 13, we participated in “Wear Purple Day.” For a minimum $2 donation we were able to purchase a “No Excuse for Abuse” purple silicone bracelet. In total, we raised $1,050.00, all of which went to The Montgomery County Women’s Center.

TWFG is a huge supporter of our Veterans and this Veterans Day was no exception. On Veterans Day we dropped off a collection box of items we assembled to send to our soldiers. In all, we helped to raise a total of $870 for Operation Military Embrace,

which split the items between the San Antonio Military Medical Center and the Care Package Mission.

Lastly, the Christmas season is a wonderful time to give back to those in need. This year, TWFG has partnered with the South Montgomery County YMCA to be a part of their Community Angel Program, helping to meet the needs of children and families living in our community. If you are local and would like to participate in this collection, the Home Office will have a box in our lobby collecting unwrapped toys for children ages birth to 15. Deadline for this collection is Monday, December 14.

TWFG PARTNERS WITH PROGRESSIVE KEYS FOR SUCCESS Natania and Darren Monteith Branch Owners - Florida

This year on Veterans Day we partnered with Progressive Keys to Success, that donates cars to Veterans and their families who need them.

This year it was Firaz and Christina. Firaz got a Jeep Cherokee and Christina a Honda Odyssey since she has two boys. We donated a month supply of gas for both recipients. It was amazing to see how much they appreciated them especially since Firaz was walking six miles to his part-time job every day. We are looking forward to making an even greater contribution next year, as we say “Thank you for your Service to our Freedom.”

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2015 4TH QUARTER BRANCH MEETINGS Judy Rush Retail Agency Relationship Director We ended 2015 with a bang. There were six branch meetings held in the 4th quarter. Northern California, Maryland, Beaumont, DFW, Houston, and Louisiana. 70% of our branch owners attended these meetings. I hope in 2016 we increase this number to 100%.

Gordy started the meetings by reviewing current events and upcoming changes for 2016. Items reviewed included: The creation of a lending facility that will provide reasonably priced terms for book/agency purchases.

The hiring of Jerry Mackey to build commercial programs for our General Agency, and to reduce the number of MGAs we write with, to improve response time and commissions.

Evaluating our technology including reviewing best in class agency management systems to determine what’s best for us going forward.

Setting up a fifth company – a technology company to house our systems and source code apart from the other companies.

Reviewing the interest rates charged by TWFG Premium Finance Company to better utilize our premium finance company and reduce agency bill processing issues.

Several meetings included various carriers that outlined developments and/or changes to their products. They also made themselves available to field questions and concerns from the participants. This was a great opportunity for Branch Agents to have an open and candid discussion with these carrier representatives.

Here at the Home Office we intend to offer insight into information that will benefit all agents, regardless of tenure with TWFG. We received several requests from the participants asking us to discuss hiring practices, using both conventional and new technology, to find the right candidate for the various positions that become available as their business grows.

We have also included additional benefits, such as how using this same technology can provide branches the opportunity to enhance their brand.

Looking ahead, we will soon be sending out a survey to poll all branches on topics you would like to see discussed at future meetings. Please make sure to complete the survey so we can continue to offer information that is relevant and of value to you.

See everyone in 2016.

Building out our executive team – the addition of Jerry Mackey and our new CFO, Anthony Pascente to assist us in growing and building TWFG to hit #1.

Gordy introduced his brother, Alex, who reviewed the cultural transformation our company is going through. Alex presented an overview of The Landmark Forum, a program that guides you to new possibilities that will transform your life on both professional and personal levels. Many of our Branch agents made a commitment to attend The Landmark Forum so that we can continue, and at the same time enhance, the dynamic transformation going on at TWFG.

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GENERAL AGENCY UPDATE Yolanda Crombie General Agency Director We took the General Agency on the road in October and kicked off a series of small group meetings. The first was held in Humble, TX; we refer to these as coffee meetings and will continue to hold these meetings throughout Texas in 2016.

Our timing to roll out these meetings fits well for the General Agency to maintain a strong presence in the crowded marketplace that we are experiencing with the soft insurance market. The primary objectives of these meetings are to maintain strong relationships with appointed agents, discuss other opportunities that TWFG offers including technology and the exclusive independent model, and present the company’s direction for 2016 and beyond. Gordy joined us at The Woodlands meeting, and agents were very engaged during the entire meeting.

In December, we are wrapping up a year of webinars on small commercial products; USLI moderated these webinars, and we successfully grew business with them even in a soft market. This year we strategically targeted specific products that grew with USLI in Texas and nationally; you may consider the approach we took to grow small commercial.

For example, in February we targeted houses of worship because many of these organizations renew or look for new insurance in

the first quarter. In April, we targeted weddings and special events; this is a great opportunity to educate customers about the need for coverage. In July, we pursued residential condo unit owners and renters; many families move over the summer months and Texas continues to be a primary state for relocation. Home-based business was our target in October and will continue throughout the fourth quarter; one in every eight homeowners owns a home-based business and the holiday season is a great time to educate them on the exposures that an endorsed homeowner policy does not cover. USLI offers a small BOP that is designed to cover home-based business.

TWFG General Agency provided stable markets in 2015 including TWICO, German-American Farm Mutual, Conifer, Lexington, Chubb, AIG, and several standard and preferred carriers.

Stability is particularly important to agents in a soft market; the entrance of many new carriers in the market is disruptive to agents and us.

Naturally the disruption to us is increased competition; the disruption to agents includes the use of additional resources and time necessary to meet customers’ demands for new quotes, decline in retention, and the risk of a decrease in revenue due to cuts in commission.

When we meet with agents at coffee meetings or account visits, the options that TWFG bring represent more value than most of their other relationships with wholesalers.

My team and I are looking forward to 2016 and taking TWFG’s message of strength, growth opportunities, options and other resources to agents appointed by the General Agency.

TWFG Headquarters

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SCARING IT UP FOR HALLOWEEN 2015 01

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01. “Sad Texan Fan” (Oz) 02. Witch & Deviled Egg

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(Judy & Katherine)

03. Underwriting as M&Ms 04. Accounting as TMNT characters

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05. Flo & Slash (Tonya & Alex) 06. Ops as Shark Week 07. One of the desserts 08. Appetizers 09. Appetizers for Pot Luck

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10. Apprillé, Charlie, Jeff, and Alex 11. One of the main course dishes 12. Flo (Tonya) 13. “Broken Doll” (Kyndra) 14. Starbucks Latte (Kelly)

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15. “Evil Queen” (Chrystal) 16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Clinton)

17. Scarlet Witch (Lindsay)

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01. Judith, Angela, Gina and Kim S. 02. Gordy judging the costume contest 03. Leslie & Kris 04. Chip the Seal taking a coffee break

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05. Commissions as 101 Dalmatians 06. Gordy’s Branch - Cell Block Theme 07. Gordy’s Branch as inmates 08. Gordy’s Branch - Bones

11. Warden & inmate (Tim & Jen) 12. “Death Chamber” (Client room) 13. Inside of “Death Chamber”

on “Death Row”

09. Betty’s office as the

Segregated Housing Unit

10. Kathy enjoying her “last” meal

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