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re: To Insurance Agents: Captive or Independent?
Posted on 1/27/16 at 1:17 pm to donRANDOMnumbers
Posted on 1/27/16 at 1:17 pm to donRANDOMnumbers
No. It has been in existence since the 50's. As a benefit with IIABA we get best practices. Sometimes we plug in numbers so we get revenue per CSR and other independent agency accounting measures.
Automation and human resources are my biggest headaches. I recently changed the management system to cloud based, but licensing fees, 800 numbers etc drive me nuts. I try to never get too deep in either area, but out of necessity, I have to occasionally.
Automation and human resources are my biggest headaches. I recently changed the management system to cloud based, but licensing fees, 800 numbers etc drive me nuts. I try to never get too deep in either area, but out of necessity, I have to occasionally.
1
Posted on 1/27/16 at 2:10 pm to Iowa Golfer
Same issues here. Struggling to go online with management software or single server. The cost is rediculous.
Eta: we are 60 years this year, but some fine tuning is needed. Which is why I was probing.
Eta: we are 60 years this year, but some fine tuning is needed. Which is why I was probing.
This post was edited on 1/27/16 at 2:11 pm
Posted on 1/27/16 at 2:25 pm to donRANDOMnumbers
I don't know how big you are. I'm small enough that the resources provided by IIABA, which are extensive, is enough.
Also, unless the business consultant is specific to the AA system, I can't imagine they'd be of huge benefit to me. If you go to a bank and try to get financed to acquire an agency. The banker won't usually lend on a stream of revenue. There are some that specialize in this, and do lend, but that's not the norm. My analogy is this, if a good commercial banker doesn't understand your business, how would a general business consultant?
We used the latest version of Applied, and had our own server. I moved to TAM Online, which is Applied, but on their cloud. Two cloud system for backup. Applied isn't perfect. Neither is AMS. There are a ton of other agency automation systems out there, but really, Applied and AMS are the only two viable alternatives for this. We upload/download everything we can. Great for accounting etc, but does tend to history, or wipe out uw info. The balancing act here again. Being a producer versus running your business. The benefit of accounting and less data entry outweighs the partial loss of uw info. Everyone is different. If your agency is constantly rewriting, or remarketing accounts, the benefit analysis might be different for you.
Also, unless the business consultant is specific to the AA system, I can't imagine they'd be of huge benefit to me. If you go to a bank and try to get financed to acquire an agency. The banker won't usually lend on a stream of revenue. There are some that specialize in this, and do lend, but that's not the norm. My analogy is this, if a good commercial banker doesn't understand your business, how would a general business consultant?
We used the latest version of Applied, and had our own server. I moved to TAM Online, which is Applied, but on their cloud. Two cloud system for backup. Applied isn't perfect. Neither is AMS. There are a ton of other agency automation systems out there, but really, Applied and AMS are the only two viable alternatives for this. We upload/download everything we can. Great for accounting etc, but does tend to history, or wipe out uw info. The balancing act here again. Being a producer versus running your business. The benefit of accounting and less data entry outweighs the partial loss of uw info. Everyone is different. If your agency is constantly rewriting, or remarketing accounts, the benefit analysis might be different for you.
Posted on 1/27/16 at 3:44 pm to Iowa Golfer
we are on TAM applied in 2 offices, applied online in 2 others, and an older software in another.
however we were looking to do a single housed server in one location and switch them all to regular applied. the cost savings would pay for the server, service, and transition in about 1-2 years. however are we then just running into having to make changes on the server for additional cost.
we've also had issues with applied online linking with outlook (i think it's something like that, and they haven't done much to be helpful)
also shopping EPIC and AMS as options.
eta: unfortunately marketing of commercial business is a way of life down here. you might have a customer forever, but still have to defend yourself from time to time.
however we were looking to do a single housed server in one location and switch them all to regular applied. the cost savings would pay for the server, service, and transition in about 1-2 years. however are we then just running into having to make changes on the server for additional cost.
we've also had issues with applied online linking with outlook (i think it's something like that, and they haven't done much to be helpful)
also shopping EPIC and AMS as options.
eta: unfortunately marketing of commercial business is a way of life down here. you might have a customer forever, but still have to defend yourself from time to time.
This post was edited on 1/27/16 at 3:46 pm
Posted on 1/27/16 at 3:59 pm to donRANDOMnumbers
I won't rely on a in house server again. Long story. Applied hosts our email, so we haven't had that issue. But Applied, AMS etc have us by the nuts. But better than having to hire an IT person.
We have a server. To make the network function is my understanding of what it's for. But I back up the server off site.
Challenge of a cloud environment is some things are easier on workstations. But the management system on the cloud is fine. But I worry about our financial information out there as all of this is done on Applied on the cloud.
And the staff wonders why I go home everyday after lunch.
I need to hire a producer. Our economy up here is full employment, so I'm going to wait for a downturn. I'm going to turn over some of my stuff, and part of his pay will be service until he succeeds. Their I should say. It could be a female. And if it doesn't work out, I'll at least have some service work in return for the base salary. I'm going to take salary out of cash flow. No carrier financing, nothing along those lines. I don't even know which carriers finance new producer salaries anymore.
We have a server. To make the network function is my understanding of what it's for. But I back up the server off site.
Challenge of a cloud environment is some things are easier on workstations. But the management system on the cloud is fine. But I worry about our financial information out there as all of this is done on Applied on the cloud.
And the staff wonders why I go home everyday after lunch.
I need to hire a producer. Our economy up here is full employment, so I'm going to wait for a downturn. I'm going to turn over some of my stuff, and part of his pay will be service until he succeeds. Their I should say. It could be a female. And if it doesn't work out, I'll at least have some service work in return for the base salary. I'm going to take salary out of cash flow. No carrier financing, nothing along those lines. I don't even know which carriers finance new producer salaries anymore.
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