TWFG Rolling Strong Issue 1 - August 2015

CONTENTS

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BRINGING HOME THE GREEN INSIDE SALES & SERVICE DEPARTMENT Meet your Inside Sales & Service Team

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GENERAL AGENCY Find out what’s new with TWFG GA

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ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR COO Katherine Nolan accepted the award on behalf of President & CEO Gordy Bunch

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WELCOME TO T WFG!

New employees at TWFG, plus welcoming back another.

COMMERCIAL MARKET ACCESS Kim Taylor Commercial Business Development Manager Dear Branch Agents, TWFG is currently #1 in Texas and #8 in the US on the list of Personal Lines Agencies. Our goal is to be the #1 insurance distributor in the nation in the very near future. What an exciting time to be part of the TWFG family!

In the spirit of growth, we would also like to help you grow your Commercial book of business. Agents who can provide Commercial Insurance along with Personal lines offer a one stop shopping solution for their customer. This helps you build stronger relationships, retain business and diversify your book of business.

To assist our branch agents with growing their Commercial book, we are introducing a new program called Commercial Market Access.

This program provides Commercial product training, market appetite support and access to quote online with top commercial carriers.

(Travelers and Hartford are confirmed, others to be named.)

TWFG Commercial Lines Training Package The Commercial product training courses are offered through Web CE and have been co-branded specifically for TWFG. It includes the following CE courses: Commercial Lines 101 Commercial General Liability Commercial Property Insurance Introduction to Business Auto Policy The package also includes an Ethics course based on your state CE requirements.

DID YOU KNOW? Agents who are interested will follow a simple process to qualify as follows:

ERISA Bond - Required by Federal Law

Complete a Commercial Market Access Request Form, send to Kim Taylor ktaylor@twfg.com Kim will review and call the agent to discuss the program and whether it will be a good fit for your needs.

If so, she will explain the process and send you the link for the CE package. (The CE package is free to our branch agents, paid by TWFG).

Agent will complete the CE package classes and submit the CE certificates and a Commercial Marketing Plan (template available) to Kim for review.

Attention Employers: Are you safeguarding your employees benefit and retirement plans?

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Upon acceptance, this program will provide you with access to quote commercial, one-on-one quote training and market appetite guides so you will know which classes of businesses are desired and which ones to target.

When you are ready to bind a policy, Kim will review your quote and required documents and bind the business for you. All business bound through this program will be a 60/40 commission split, however once you have demonstrated commercial knowledge you may be eligible to get a direct appointment with the carrier through TWFG. Once you get your own codes the commissions will revert to the standard 80/20 commission split.

Please note that eligibility will depend on the carrier’s appointment availability and will be decided by the carrier.

So let’s think about this. An opportunity to bridge over to writing Commercial business, no cost to you-free CE courses for Commercial training, an opportunity to earn a direct appointment with top commercial carriers and hands on quote training and assistance with binding. YES! You asked for Commercial help and we are delivering. Please contact Kim for more details/questions.

ERISA Bonds are required by federal law. Every person who handles or controls plan funds must be bonded to protect the plan assets from fraud or dishonesty. 401(k), Pension Plan, Profit Sharing Plan, health and welfare plans, etc.

The plan is required to have a bond for at least 10% of the amount of the plan assets. The annual premium for the bond is very low, averaging approximately $200 per year. (Example: a 401(k) plan with $200,000 in assets can cost as little as $200 per year) Additional Information: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/erisa_enforcement.html Agents, please log into www.twfg.com to issue ERISA Bonds through Liberty Mutual.

If you have questions, please contact Kim Taylor.

Kim Taylor

Commercial Business Development Manager

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ktaylor@twfg.com 281-466-1192 Direct

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INSIDE SALES & SERVICE DEPARTMENT Judy Rush Retail Agency Relationship Director We are pleased to introduce ourselves as the Inside Sales & Service Team. We are available M-F from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Central Time. Our unit was formed so that you don’t have to send a ticket to get information or answers to a question. You can just call at 281-466-1741 and someone on our team will assist you.

On the occasion you do send in a ticket we may respond with a phone call. We realize that sometimes it’s just easier and more effective to pick up the phone and call. This will greatly reduce the number of emails going back and forth to resolve your problem or answer your questions.

We are cross-training our team so that each member can provide support across a number of different areas, thus increasing our response time.

For those of you utilizing the Market Access program we have re-vamped the process so that you get accurate quotes faster. We know it’s important that you get back with your clients and prospects as quickly as possible.

We have also begun using new software that makes web and phone based training hands-on.

This technology allows you to be actively engaged in the learning process and should increase your level of understanding.

We will schedule AMP and EZLynx training for producers and CSRs at regular intervals. Our schedule will be posted on the branch site so that you and your staff can plan accordingly.

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Jorge Lopez-Garcia Zori Bartusek

Chrystal Thigpen

We are very excited about the changes we are making and believe these changes will greatly improve our level of service to you. While you can still send tickets and emails we certainly welcome and encourage you to call us. The Inside Sales & Service Team is here to help you grow your agency!

Mark Glaug

Available Monday - Friday from 8 AM - 6 PM CT 281-466-1741

Kim Taylor

T WFG GENERAL AGENCY Yolanda Crombie General Agency Director Confident

Passionate

Enthusiastic

PRESENCE

Comfortable

Authentic

Captivating

PRESENCE, from passionate to comfortable, or authentic to captivating. Customers often perceive our presence on a spectrum, based on their experience with other companies, or agents. Most often the customer’s response to our presence is nonverbal but our impression on them is usually memorable.

Continued on page 5

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T WFG GENERAL AGENCY Cont. from page 4

TWFG General Agency continues to contribute to the corporate growth by focusing on communication to agents, and training opportunities for agents and our marketing team. Over the past year we launched a new website www.twfgga.com. The General Agency is also represented by ARMS (Marketing Reps) in Texas, and an Inside Telephone Sales Team.

“So what’s happening at TWFG”? That’s a question frequently asked by agents; we are happy to respond with the following: TWFG continues to grow and we are pleased to bring you certain programs and carriers that can help you grow business.

The General Agency’s ARMS and Inside Sales Telephone Team work with roughly 3,000 independent agents, mostly in Texas; however we have appointed agents in 39 states.

Opportunities

Webinars with USLI

If it’s been awhile since you’ve considered TWFG General Agency, here are some of the opportunities where we can help you grow:

This year we launched a series of small commercial webinars with USLI; on average we host 3 to 4 USLI webinars per month. August’s webinars are: 8/11 Liquor Liability, 8/18 Home Based Businesses, and 8/25 Churches and other Houses of Worship. We have the following in September: 9/8 Apartments; 9/15 Personal Lines and 9/29 Condo Units Owners & Renters. We send invitations & timely reminders for each webinar.

Coastal personal lines property: TWICO, Lexington, Conifer & German American High Value property: Chubb, AIG, Lexington & TWICO Small commercial: USLI Farms & rural properties: German American Brokered commercial: various carriers In addition to these, we offer other carrier appointments to independent agents. TWFG General Agency also offers a referral program to agents that are unable to obtain carrier appointments for various reasons including contractual obligations.

Houses of Worship

Apartments

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Personal Lines

Condo Units

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Getting to know TWFG General Agency is easy. When we meet a prospective agent our goal is to introduce ourselves and the company, explore opportunities with the agent, and take action to successfully appoint the new agent. If you haven’t looked us up lately, please do; you can get a quote at www.twfgga.com.

Our team members are: Karla Samora, Clinton Stover, Russell Matthews, Chelsi Nelson, Nicole Harris and Claudia Mendez.

Yolanda Crombie General Agency Director

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ycrombie@twfg.com 281-466-1160 Direct

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ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD Congratulations to our President & CEO Gordy Bunch, who was named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 for the Gulf Coast Area in June. Gordy was announced as the winner in the Products and Services category at a gala event in downtown Houston in which our COO Katherine Nolan accepted the award on his behalf. The Gulf Coast awards recognize the Entrepreneur Of The Year® for the geographic area covered by all of Houston, South Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is considered the world’s most prestigious business award with a lifelong network of gravity-defying entrepreneurs. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year national awards, which will be announced at a gala in Palm Springs, California, on November. 15, 2015. The Entrepreneur of the Year National Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

HAPPY 1S T BIRTHDAY T WICO!

Katherine Nolan COO We are proud that The Woodlands Insurance Company (TWICO) celebrated its 1st Birthday last month. While TWICO received its certificate of authority to write business in Texas last summer it wasn’t until February of this year it began writing business. TWICO currently offers an admitted, direct bill HO3 homeowner program and is designed to provide it’s best rate by offering a vast array of discount options including a companion policy discount which gives credit for other policies (auto, life, flood, umbrella, specialty, etc.) written within your agency. As TWICO continues to grow, we will look to have it add more product options; such as a wind only product, as we have filed to participate in the TWIA depopulation this fall. More to come on that process soon.

T WFG BR ANCHES

June Class: Michael Crafts, Carri Proctor, Albert and Stephanie Rivera, Priscilla Wertenberger

Currently, TWICO is offering a Back to School Cash for Apps program so for those of you who haven’t quoted it in Texas please check it out. We look forward to TWICO continuing to grow profitably and having many more memorable birthdays!

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July Class: Tamra Galvan

August Class: Todd Lam, Julie Bach and Dan Farr

WELCOME TO T WFG! John Scully Vice President of IT

John comes to us with 15 years of insurance technology background.

John started as a developer in 2000 for Market Scout where he designed and implemented web-based business management, accounting, invoicing and reporting systems. He moved from there to CRC Insurance where he was VP of Architecture and Development and delivered web-based solutions for real time quoting, invoicing, policy issuance and agency management functions. Most recently he managed the integration of systems between Crump and CRC. John has strong management, programming and analysis skills coupled with a solid insurance background. We are excited to have John join our team and lead the charge in building out all our company systems.

John and his wife, Alison, have recently relocated to the area from McKinney, Texas with their three children. They are currently in the process of building a new house in Cypress.

Alex Bunch

Chief Creative & CMO

Alex is a Global Chief Creative and Marketing Officer who has worked extensively in over 24 markets, including the UK, France, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, India, and Mexico, to name a few.

His career began in Dallas 20 years ago working for The Richards Group (Chick-fil-A, Home Depot, Taco Cabana) as a Graphic Design Specialist, and since then went on to become the Executive Creative Director for Slingshot (Jack Daniels, Dr Pepper, Greyhound, Wyndham Hotels), and then to the storied Martin Agency (GEICO, UPS, Walmart, Discover Card, X-Games) as SVP, Creative Director.

An opportunity to live and work in London brought Alex to EF Education First as the Global Creative and Brand Director, and after 6 incredible years, has decided to return to the US and back to Texas. He is now fulfilling a life-long dream of working with his brother, Gordy, to help build what will be the most trusted and respected insurance and financial services brand in the country.

Alex has been married to his wife Christy for 19 years, and has 3 sons, Grant, Aidan and Jude. He loves traveling, writing, great food and wine, and spends his free time coaching others on how to be more powerful and creative in every aspect of their lives.

MEET YOUR NEW AGENCY REL ATIONSHIP MANAGER Kourtney Fox Branch ARM - West Texas We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Kourtney Fox back to the TWFG Family.

Kourtney began her journey with TWFG eight years ago, and has worked in various positions, starting as a Processor. She then got her insurance license to become a CSR and went on to be a Producer in Gordy’s branch, and then managed our Inside Sales and Service department.

Kourtney left TWFG briefly to pursue an opportunity outside the Insurance Industry, but after six months she discovered her real passion was helping agents, and we couldn’t be happier to have her back.

Her ability to absorb the increasing complexities of insurance, and what it takes to professionally market our products has been nothing but spectacular.

With her ever increasing knowledge of insurance and the internal mechanics, model, and culture of TWFG, she is certain to be an asset to the branches she will be helping to reach their goals.

Kourtney is taking Maureen Gomez’s territory, and will be out meeting with each of her branches in the coming weeks. Please help us welcome her home!

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BRINGING HOME THE GREEN Stephen Lovecchio Branch Owner - Southeast LA

It feels like yesterday when I left American National in 2009 to start with TWFG. It was also the third time I left a captive company to start over again with zero renewal dollars and I vowed that I would only work for a company where I owned my renewals.

Seven years later, we have 5 different locations in Southeast Louisiana, 29 full-time employees and we just eclipsed my personal agency goal of twenty million dollars of written premium. This was made possible by TWFG’s business model, the support of the home office, and dedication and efforts of my producers, CSR’s and office staff. Our agency staff just goes to work every day (many times 6 days a week and sometimes 7 days a week) and just tries to help people. I am truly blessed that the partnership has worked out so well between myself and TWFG and look forward to continued profitable growth.

Janis & Stephen Lovecchio at 2015 TWFG Agent Convention

DR AGON BOAT R ACES Kelly Bettencourt Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Hello everyone, It’s time to get ready for this year’s Dragon Boat Challenge here in The Woodlands! The event will be held at Northshore Park on Saturday, September 26th from 8 AM - 12 PM. It is a great opportunity to spend time with your TWFG family and to unleash your competitive spirit…we will win! For those of you that have never done the Dragon Boat races or the YMCA event we did last year, it is suitable for all ages and will be a mixture of events such as: Human Foosball, Minute to Win it games, Dodgeball, Volleyball and Obstacle Course. We need 30 participants, with at least 10 being female and all participants must be 18 years or older. Family members may come along to cheer on TWFG as well.

Please RSVP with Kelly ASAP for shirt orders.

Thank you and we look forward to this fun event!

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Kelly Bettencourt

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

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kelly@twfg.com 281-466-1164 Direct

2015 T WFG AGENT CONVENTION - MAY 28 TH - 30 TH To view or download pictures from the Agent Convention, click on the page.

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MY Z Y WAVE EXPERIENCE Mark Bartlett Branch Owner and Field Manager - Northern CA On Tuesday, July 21st at 2:30 AM, the city that I live in, Fremont, California was jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake which sent me flying out of my bed. Not a huge quake, but when you’re ½ a mile from the epicenter you can sure feel them. I immediately

began to assess the damage and wonder if my clients were okay. When I arrived at work that morning with the thought of “Our Policy is Caring” in my mind, I opened up my computer and went straight to Zywave. In the Broker Briefcase, I searched for something on earthquakes and found an excellent article titled “Everything you need to know about earthquakes.” I downloaded my personal lines clients in AMP and sent out an email through Zywave.

Much to my surprise, the responses were immediate! Clients were emailing back thanking me for the information and many clients were asking for a quote on an earthquake policy. Within one day, we wrote over $6,000 in premium and continued to quote others. And all I wanted to do was show my clients that we are an agency who cares about them.

To give you some statistics we sent 1,842 emails, 94.08% were delivered and 70.96% were opened. Unique opens were at 40.45% and unique clicks at 4.99%. This is over double the average statistics in an email campaign. From an E&O standpoint, this was a great way to protect myself, by making sure all clients were given the opportunity to discuss earthquake insurance with me or my staff.

The two big things I got out of this experience - I had the opportunity to be an agent to my clients and demonstrate our slogan, “Our Policy is Caring” and I was able to experience firsthand what a great tool Zywave can be for our branch.

Cindy & Mark Bartlett at 2015 TWFG Agent Convention

CELEBR ATING 10 YEARS WITH T WFG JENNIFER VARGAS Betty Loick Branch Manager We are incredibly happy to announce that Jennifer is celebrating her 10th Anniversary with TWFG, and want to acknowledge her for extraordinary contribution to our team.

Integrity is her middle name, and her commitment to exceptional customer service is only surpassed by her willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done well.

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I personally don’t know what we’d do without her, and look forward to another 10 great years. Thank you, Jennifer, for all you do!

HENRY HICKFORD Kelly Bettencourt Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Henry is every bit the team player, and always takes on a challenge with a can-do attitude. He has been an integral part of the last 10 years of growth here at TWFG, and undoubtedly be a big part of our future. Henry, we can’t thank you enough for all you do.

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