Taking Stock

June 22, 2009

How to Help Your Career by Helping Your Industry

by Blake Stock, CEO

We take a lot of pride in supporting insurance industry associations with our time, talent and funds. It's not only important to our company, it's important to you, our clients.

There are many professional organizations that need our support, but I'd like to point out some we feel are especially important to keeping our industry strong. Each represents the interests of career agents at state and federal levels so we can serve out clients better. 

Texas Alliance Of Nonsubscribers is a nonprofit trade association comprised of responsible employers committed exclusively to protecting the right of Texas businesses to manage their occupational injury claims. The Alliance works to increase understanding of nonsubscription as a desirable alternative to traditional workers' compensation plans. 

Nonsubscription enables Texas employers to provide their employees access to quality health benefits that receive high satisfaction ratings from employees, while saving businesses millions of dollars each year. Employers then can use the savings to enhance the benefits and safety of their employees, expand operations and invest in their communities. For more information, see the Alliance Website.

Federation of Insurance Woman of Texas (FIWT) boasts more than 800 insurance professional members throughout the state of Texas and beyond. FIWT's objectives have not changed since its founding in 1944:

• Improve efficiency through study and practice
• Promote acquaintance among professional insurance women
• Participate in civic betterment
• Elevate the standards of the insurance profession

Known by its motto of "Federation for Education," FIWT promotes and provides education for members and the Texas Insurance industry. Its projects benefit various charitable organizations including Make a Wish Foundation, Special Olympics and others.

Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, founded in 1913, is the premier association for commercial insurance and employee benefits intermediaries in the United States and abroad. The Council represents leading commercial insurance agencies and brokerage firms from its Washington, D.C. headquarters, providing support, information and insights regarding our vast and complex industry.

The Council addresses critical concerns, such as the looming talent crisis, and workable solutions to them. It offers the best networking forums for industry leading producers and underwriters, and it advances the industry's state and national legislative interests. Only the top one percent of all agents and brokers qualify for membership, but that group places 80 percent - well over $90 billion - of all commercial property and casualty premiums in the United States.

Independent Insurance Agent of Texas (IIAT) draws its membership of 12,000 from 1,700 independent property and casualty insurance agencies and 250 associate members from insurance companies, MGAs and other agency product vendors. IIAT's mission is four-fold:

• Education - delivered by education professionals trained by IATT
• Government advocacy and political action - provides Texas legislators and policymakers timely and well-grounded analyses of insurance issues
• Providing insurance markets - has helped more than 100 agencies replace lost markets for personal auto and homeowners
• Technical resources - provides online resources, including coverage guides, Texas Insurance Agents Handbook and agency management materials

Combined Group wishes to express our greatest appreciation of the good work these associations do representing our industry. We also say a big Thank You to each Combined Group employee who takes an active role in them. We encourage you to be active in one or more professional associations. You will help yourself as you build a better insurance industry.

Thank you,

Blake