Big I Virginia E-News - February 2019

From the Desk of the President & CEO

IIAV provides financial support to our friends through the Virginia Agents Political Affairs Committee – VAPAC. We are non-partisan! We don’t give money to just Rs or Ds. Frankly, there are members on both sides of the aisle that it wouldn’t break our heart if they lost their re-election. There are others who are friends and are highly vulnerable. And while there are also some seats where we would remain neutral ... there are a couple where I believe that VAPAC should be obligated to give money to the opponent.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544240&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

IIAV Member Resources

Health Care Corner: Tips by Monty Dise

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544243&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

Tech Tip: By Steve Anderson

Why You Should Update Your Fax Right Now

I thought that by now fax machines would be long gone. We don’t give much thought to the security threat these machines might pose to your organization. Thanks to Internet Scambusters for allowing me to reprint this excellent article on the problem and solution.

Visit https://steveanderson.com/2019/02/07/why-you-should-update-your-fax-right-now/ to view the full article online.

The Security You Need. The Name You Trust

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies are rated A+ “Superior” by A.M. Best (as of July 26, 2023) and backed by the financial strength of our ultimate parent, Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. In Virginia, we offer a full product suite for your commercial clients that includes a Businessowner’s Policy, Commercial Auto, Commercial Umbrella, Professional Liability, and Workers’ Compensation. “Pay-as-you-go” billing options are also featured.

Learn More

State & National News

TrustedChoice.com Recommends Qualified Buyers to Your Agency.

TrustedChoice.com now recommends over 3,500 Advantage subscriber agencies every day to
insurance buyers, and those recommendations help agencies write business. When an insurance buyer clicks the "Request a Quote" button, the TrustedChoice.com Agency Recommendation Engine evaluates agencies in the buyer’s area and presents a list of agencies who have indicated that they want to work that type of prospect.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/pdf/Recommendation_Engine.pdf to view the full article online.

Rockingham Insurance Celebrates 150th Anniversary by Giving Back to the Community

Unless you have a time machine, you probably don’t remember 1869. But Rockingham Insurance reflects on the year fondly, because it was 150 years ago when several property owners met at a small church in Port Republic, Va., in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Community members became members of the mutual company and had fire policies that covered whatever structures they owned, such as mills, silos, barns and homes. Over the years, Rockingham Insurance has experienced continued growth through mergers with Virginia mutual companies.

Visit https://rockingham.insure/news/rockingham-insurance-celebrates-150-anniversary/ to view the full article online.

New York Cybersecurity Regulation

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/pdf/New_York_Cyber_Reg_3rd_Party_Provisions.pdf to view the full article online.

The Alliance to Fight The 40 Applauds Reintroduction of Bipartisan Legislation

The Alliance to Fight the 40 | Don’t Tax My Health Care, a broad-based coalition committed to repealing the 40 percent tax on employer-sponsored health benefits — the so-called “Cadillac Tax” — applauds Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), for their bipartisan reintroduction of legislation to protect the health benefits of workers by repealing the onerous 40 percent “Cadillac Tax.”

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544271&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

Big "I" Commends Final Pass-through Tax Regulation

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) commends the Trump Administration for finalizing an IRS regulation making clear that owners and shareholders of insurance agencies and brokerages organized as pass-through entities can fully benefit from a new tax deduction.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544273&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

Jackson Sumner & Associates Announces New President & CEO, Chairman of the Board

Jackson Sumner & Associates (JSA) Board of Directors recently announced that Danielle Wade was elected as President & Chief Executive Officer, with Wayne Sumner to move to Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544280&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544571&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

Venus Joins Iroquois

Charles Venus recently joined The Iroquois Group as its Vice President, Middle Market & Specialty. The former Commercial Lines Leader for Brown & Brown of Virginia is a seasoned insurance professional who will help Iroquois members further develop their Middle Market and Specialty Insurance business. Prior to working for Brown & Brown, Venus served in varying leadership roles with Travelers and The Hartford.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/pdf/Venus_Joins_Iroquois.pdf to view the full article online.

IIAV News

IIAV in the News!

Along with two other organization lobbyists, IIAV's President & CEO Bob Bradshaw was interviewed this past weekend for the "This Week In Richmond" show on the Public Broadcasting Stations aired across the Commonwealth. They discussed the 2019 General Assembly as a whole: highlighted bills that have made it through Crossover or not, their favorite bills, and some insight into the "behind the scenes" of the legislature. Click Learn More to watch Bob in action!

Visit https://ideastations.org/week-richmond-megan-rhyne-andrew-smith-bob-bradshaw-cindy-hosmer-patti-dempsey-abbey-philips to view the full article online.

Trusted Choice IIA Week in Virginia

IIAV's Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia week is formally adopted by the House of Delegates Rules Committee introduced by Delegate Buddy Fowler of Ashland. The resolution recognizes Trusted Choice IIAV week as the first full week of March in 2019 and in each succeeding year, which is right before Flood Awareness Week, and of course ... shortly before hurricane season.

IIAV will send out press releases but encourages member agencies to use this week to promote flood insurance to their clients. Statewide, only 3 percent of Virginians have flood insurance ... and 68 percent in high flood areas of the Commonwealth do not have flood insurance. We should take a lesson from our friends in the Carolinas who found themselves without flood insurance last year in the devastating hurricanes.

IIAV endorses the Selective flood program and for additional details on this program, contact Annette Winston at annette.winston@selective.com.

Visit https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+ful+HJ703+pdf to view the full article online.

Affinity HR Group Q&A

Q: Is it possible for us to hire an HR generalist on a temporary basis? We've had mis-hires before and want to try her before we hire her.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/via-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=544241&issueID=63641 to view the full article online.

Upcoming Events

VAIA Annual Fundraiser

Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Hermitage Country Club | 11:30am-2:00pm

There's great power in learning from others who have found success when facing the same challenges.

So, we're bringing a few of those people directly to you on March 20. They're on a road similar to yours and they have solutions to share with you.

And when we say that you'll be impressed with what they're willing to tell you, that's an understatement.

These experts bring a wide variety of expertise from the following industries:
Real Estate
Banking
Auto Sales
Payroll

As promised, we're doing the heavy lifting. But in order for your agency to benefit, you need to be there.

Visit https://www.iiaba.net/education/preview.aspx?evt=34389 to view the full article online.