GIAA says AGENTS FIRST!

GIAA invites All Agents to IE2003

Georgia Insurance Agents Alliance, a state member of National Auto Agents Alliance, will host GIAA Day on August 14^th at IE2003 in midtown Atlanta and extends an invitation to all insurance agents including its neighboring states of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.

GIAA has found that the only difference between the Insurance Industry of different states is the ZIP Code! We have the same struggles maintaining a successful operation with rising expenses, commissions being cut, and state compliance, just to name a few.

To Fee or not to Fee

Charging fees for agency services that are not “usual & customary” is a gray area in Georgia’s DOI Rules & Regulations. We want to know more about how an agent’s organization was influential in passing a Producer Fee bill in Alabama. Florida’s Specialty Agent’s organization, a charter member of NAAA, spearheaded the successful $10 Agent’s Fee several years ago. GIAA plans to do the same for its members in early 2004 through the DOI and, if necessary, the Georgia Legislature.

Electronic Fund Transfers are a boon to our Direct Bill carriers but have brought about an unexpected crisis for the Independent Agent. We hear horror stories of carriers mistakenly sweeping agent’s bank accounts with the agency not being aware until reconciling their bank statement. These same carriers used to prohibit agencies from taking payments before EFT was introduced but now encourage policyholders to take their payments to the agency with little regard for our increased expenses without compensation. I personally think this is not a “usual & customary” service and a reasonable agent fee should be approved by the DOI.  GIAA will also examine methods to inexpensively reconcile the EFTs on a daily basis during the seminar.

GIAA was second to none in its successful legislative efforts that resulted in the passage of SB 69, the creation of a state-of-the-art computer database to ferret out uninsured vehicles. Every agent I have spoken with had a 25% - 30% increase in January – February. That meant thousands more net income for the struggling auto insurance agencies across Georgia.

And it’ll happen again in January 2004 when GEICS kicks into high gear! Here’s your early Christmas present from GIAA!

GIAA is sponsoring 4 different 2-hour CE seminars on Thursday afternoon and invites everyone in the insurance industry to attend for FREE. Luncheon with DMVS Commissioner Neal Childers is $25.00 per person. The “To Fee or not to Fee” seminar is for GIAA / NAAA members only.

GA DMVS will present a 3-hour CE seminar on its recent changes from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and Atlanta Latino newspaper will present a panel discussion on marketing to the ever-growing Latino population from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. All employees of GIAA / NAAA members may attend for FREE. Non-GIAA / NAAA members may attend for only $69.00 per person which includes lunch.

Georgia agents who are not GIAA members may join for the remainder of 2003 for only $75.00 and enjoy a 10% discount on Insurance Expo 2003 registration. Membership Form and Details are included in this special mailing.

Agents from our neighboring states who are members of a NAAA affiliate are also welcome to attend at a 10% discount.

If there is not one in your state, or if you’re not sure, contact NAAA President Tom Sorrels at tsorrels@insuremyauto.com for more information or check the NAAA website at www.national-auto-agents.com

We wish to learn from each other. And the best way to do that is to attend Insurance Expo 2003.