Archives for James Dickey

Easter Week – Fun and Much More

April 2, 2015

More Fun

Colorful Easter EggsThis weekend people all across Texas, the U.S. and the world will celebrate.

There will be bright colors, fun and games, egg hunts, time with family, good meals, new clothes and the joy that comes with the arrival of Spring.

Being Texas, there may be a Spring storm, but we can sure use the rain and even that won’t dampen our spirits or our time together.

More Meaning

Passover MealFor those celebrating Easter and Passover, though, this weekend is also the chance to pause and be grateful for our lives and our history and the sacrifices made on our behalf.

Several thousand years ago the people of Israel were freed from slavery in Egypt. That freedom was won over the opposition of their rulers whose minds were only changed after a series of plagues.

The Israelites were spared the worst of those plagues on Passover because of the blood of sacrificial lambs marking their homes. The impact of that experience was so great on the people that they remember it to this day with the elements of the Passover Seder, which will be commemorated in millions of homes this Friday night.

Empty TombOne of those Passover Seders hundreds of years later was what is now known as the Last Supper, when Jesus Christ and his disciples shared their final meal together before he was captured, tried and crucified as a common criminal.

This weekend Christians all around the globe will remember His life, teachings, and that ultimate sacrifice – and celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The Best of Both

Fortunately we don’t have to choose – we can do both this week:

  • Celebrate life, our families, our friends and our good fortune, and
  • Remember the sacrifices made to give us those blessings.

Here’s to hoping we all do more of both not just this week but always.

Happy Passover and a Blessed Easter to all!

Categories: General Tags: ,

Remember the Alamo!

March 6, 2015

The AlamoOn the morning of March 6, 1836  General Antonio López de Santa Anna‘s overwhelming Mexican army force of around 2000 attacked the 200 or so Texians holding the Alamo. None of the Texians survived – including Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett and William B. Travis.

It was a pyrrhic victory for Santa Anna, though. Not only did he lose a reported 600 of his 2,000 soldiers in the battle, he fired up the resolve of the Texas settlers, causing volunteers to flock to the Texan army.

Less than two months later Sam Houston would command the forces at the Battle of San Jacinto that would decimate the Mexican army and lead to the capture Santa Anna.

Prominent among the battle cries at the Battle of San Jacinto was “Remember the Alamo!”.

Two weeks earlier, Lt. Colonel William B. Travis at just 26 years old, had written asking for reinforcements. The letter said:

Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836

To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World-

Fellow Citizens & compatriots-

I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna – I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man – The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken – I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls – I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch – The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days.  If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country – 

Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis.

Lt. Col.comdt.

P. S.  The Lord is on our side – When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn – We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.

Travis

Travis Letter

 

For an extra special experience, listen to this 1968 recording of Willie Nelson reading the Travis letter.

 

 

Victory is Seldom Predictable

And success rarely comes in a straight line.  Even after their losses the Mexican army outnumbered the Texian forces by almost six to one. Santa Ana assumed those numbers and the defeat at the Alamo would quash the rebellion. We now know it had the opposite effect. But at the time things had to look very bleak.

The Texians had no guarantee of victory, but if they’d given up then they’d have had a guarantee of failure. Thank God they didn’t give up.

The next time things seem bleak and you’ve been beaten down and the odds seem impossibly stacked against you – Remember the Alamo!

Categories: Politics Tags: , ,

New Claims Administrator

February 27, 2015

Contact MethodsWe are proud to announce McLarens Norcross as our new Claims administrator.

If you or your iMGA clients need to report a claim:

Please make sure you have all this information correct in your systems as well.

We know that handling claims well is critical and are excited about the great service our mutual clients will receive from McLarens Norcross.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: ,

A Cause for Celebration – and Continued Dedication

February 6, 2015

Five Birthday CandlesThis week marks the five-year anniversary of the first policy issued by iMGA.

Over the past half decade we’ve provided:

  • Protection for tens of thousands of Texas homeowners
  • A market for hundreds of agents
  • New jobs in Austin
  • Funds that repaired damages to thousands of homes caused by hail, water, fire – and even a stray truck!

We’ve been able to do things most companies couldn’t, like offer a wide range of creative coverage options for:

  • Dwellings
  • Roofs
  • Contents
  • Other Structures
  • Loss of Use
  • Deductibles
  • Pools
  • Trampolines
  • Pets
  • Farms and Ranches
  • Home Based Businesses

To all our staff, agents, and clients we say “Thank You!” for five great years. We can’t wait to see what the next five bring, and we’re already working on more great options – including ones that will truly be the first of their kind in our industry.

To Texas Independent Insurance Agents who have not already worked with us, we say “what are you waiting for?” – getting started with us is as easy as doing business with us is!

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags:

Do You Offer the Coverages Your Clients Need?

January 23, 2015

When Shirlene entered Don’s agency and asked for a homeowners policy it seemed like a straightforward request.

She didn’t need a lot of optional coverages, so she passed on many of those we offer, such as:

  • Increased Contents
  • Increased Other Structures
  • Increased Loss of Use
  • Business Personal Property
  • Home Based Business Liability
  • Increased Loss Assessment
  • Increased Liability and Medical Payments
  • Scheduled Residence Glass, Guns, and Personal Property

House Hit by TruckThankfully, though, the iMGA Texas Elite Homeowners policy automatically includes coverages many insureds wouldn’t think to request but sometimes really need, like*:

  • $5,000 for Building Laws and Ordinances
  • Up to $5,000 for Mold
  • Up to $5,000 for Water Back-up (on selected forms)
  • $2,500 Business Personal Property
  • $2,500 Firearms Theft
  • $1,000 Loss Assessment
  • $500 Bullion/Valuable Papers

In Shirlene’s case her house was hit by a truck and pushed out of alignment with the foundation. To make matters worse, a law was passed after her home was built requiring all homes have a larger crawlspace than hers has. Fortunately the $5,000 Building Laws coverage in the iMGA policy will help cover the extra cost caused by that new building code.

It just goes to show that you never know what might happen, and it’s important to place your clients with markets that care about providing the right coverage. Who knows when or why your clients will need it – but if you’ve provided it for them they’ll be very glad they trusted you.

Shirlene sure is.

 

If you are a Texas Independent Insurance Agent who doesn’t already do business with iMGA and you’d like the extra

 

*Of course like all insurance coverages, these may vary and are subject to the terms, conditions and limitations in the policy.

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , ,

Two Key Steps to Making a Difference

January 16, 2015

Martin Luther King Jr. at March on Washington
You can make a difference. No matter what obstacles you face and no matter how humble your beginnings.

Monday we remember and celebrate the life of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

He was never elected to public office, never wealthy or powerful, but the impact he made was incredible. We are grateful for the changes he helped bring about as a result of his actions, and we can all learn from a few principles reflected in his life:

Present a Clear Vision

“I have a dream.” There are few more well known phrases in US history than this one. That phrase and the way he, as an experienced public speaker, delivered it played a part in how well it was received.

But its impact came from not just the words and how they were delivered – it came from the crystal clear vision he shared when he said them. He wasn’t just looking for general improvement – he looked “to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”.

That kind of clarity has a significant impact – both in life and in business. Are you clear about your goals and vision? Do the people around you know what those are? There are people who want to – and will – help you reach them if you are clear about your vision.

Do the Right Thing

No one is perfect, but King got the big things right – in spite of plenty of reason to retaliate.

When he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest, his house was bombed. He was arrested on capricious charges. He was stabbed in the chest. His phones were tapped by the FBI.

Through it all, though, he remained focused on nonviolent responses to each threat, attack, and challenge. When many might have taken the temporarily easier way out he did not.

Doing the right thing is not always easy. It matters the most – and shows the most about your character – when it’s not. Right now at iMGA we’re expending a lot of resources to fix a problem we found. Our agents and their clients had no knowledge of the problem, but fixing it is the right thing to do even though it has and will cost us a lot of time and money.

But how much trouble it is in the short run is not what matters. Doing the right thing is what makes for a lasting impact.

And a commitment to doing the right thing along with a clear vision of a great goal? That’s a combination that changed the world – and can change yours too.

Enjoy your MLK Day – and make a difference in your world.

 

If you’re a Texas independent insurance agent and would like some help making a difference in the lives of your personal property clients, contact us.

Categories: General Tags: ,

Top New Years Resolutions for Insurance Agents

January 9, 2015

Calendar-January2015The start of each year is a great time to take a moment and commit to taking your agency to the next level.

If you have not already done so, we suggest you seriously consider these top resolutions for this year. Committing to and pursuing them can make this year your best and most successful yet.

Know Your Numbers

There are a few critical numbers that drive the growth and profitability of your agency. Do you know those numbers on an annual/quarterly/monthly basis? If not, put in a system or process that ensures you will see them at least monthly. Your critical numbers may vary slightly, but they likely include:

  • Total Number of Clients
  • Average Premium per Client
  • Average Commission Rate
  • Quote-To-Close Ratio
  • Retention Ratio

If you know these numbers and take steps each month to consistently keep them at or above the prior month’s level, you’ll be amazed at the compounded impact over the course of the year.

Know Your Customers

If you’re like many of agents you probably take this one for granted. You know your clients well. You probably know the names of their children – they are likely even neighbors of yours. But it’s critical that you resolve to take this to the next level.

Spend some time this year getting to really know your customers’

  • Pain Points – If you’ve addressed their need for a home or auto insurance policy, what pain points still remain? Knowing that could lead you to offer other products, look for markets that offer other coverage options, or could lead you to offer other services or change your services. Banks have started offering the ability to deposit a check via a smartphone app so customers don’t have to drive to the bank. Even without an app, what pain points can you address by providing different hours, more payment options, or some other process change that really smooths out a current pain point?
  • Needs –  Is cost most important to them? You might be surprised how for most people that’s not the most important factor – and when you start to doubt that just look around for someone carrying or buying bottled water! Even if cost is a need – is it total cost or monthly cost? Can you offer alternatives that address that? If not cost, is it coverage? What coverages do they really need that you can help them get at an affordable price? Finally, is what they really need more or better advice? Is there a scalable way for you to offer more, and more tailored, advice to all your clients? Really knowing these needs – and reviewing them frequently – will help you improve your agency significantly in the eyes of your clients.

Know Your Markets

Whether you are considering entering into a relationship with a new carrier or evaluating your options with a market that you’ve known and worked with for decades, take some time this year with each one to be sure you really understand the options they have available on:

  • Products – You’d be surprised how many agents work with us that focus so much on just one of our products that they don’t take advantage of all of the ones we offer (Renters, Dwelling, MobileHome, Homeowners and Vacant).  Don’t assume you’re familiar with all they offer – make sure.
  • Coverages – Even within each of our products there are a wide range of coverages available. Whether it’s the ability to tailor coverage to be able to provide a place for an older, lower value home or optional coverages for home based businesses or small farms and ranches – there is a lot available to help you. Make sure you and your staff are familiar with those options. If you’d like a refresher on all iMGA has to offer – just call. We’ll be happy to help.
  • Compensation – Different markets offer wildly different commission rates for similar products at similar price points. Are you sure you know how much your being paid by each of your carriers and why? At iMGA we offer different commission levels depending on volume, so just a little more production with us could mean a big increase in pay for you. Some markets, like iMGA, also make it easy for you to charge and collect an agency fee when appropriate, which can make a significant difference in your agency income. Make sure you understand the details with all your markets.

 

These are just three resolutions – with some suggestions on how you can dig into each. But if you make them this year – and stick to them – you’ll see a dramatic improvement in your agency.

At iMGA we’re thrilled to work with agents who are constantly improving – and we’re happy to be a key part of helping them do that. If you are a Texas personal property insurance agent who doesn’t already work with iMGA and would like that kind of support, contact us.

Categories: Agencies Tags: , , , ,

Change is Hard – But Important

December 15, 2014

New Office Front DoorLast month we had to change. For the first time in over five years we had to change our address.

Moving is a pain. We had to deal with utility hookups and disconnects, setting up the new network, and transferring or establishing new services – and we were only moving a mile away!

But as a result of this change we now have a great new space with:

  • Room to grow,
  • Space designed for easier collaboration, and
  • Helpful new production areas.

What change(s) can you make that would take your agency to the next level?

Hopefully you won’t have to move any time soon, but don’t wait until you’re forced – go ahead and make some of those changes now. They won’t be easy, but if you are deliberate about them they could be the key to your next growth spurt.

Go for it!

If you’re a Texas Independent insurance agent who wants to work with a personal property market who is constantly looking to grow and improve, contact us.

Categories: Agencies, Marketing Tags: , ,

We Want to Say Thank You!

December 2, 2014

SmokedTurkeyThanksgiving is a special season. It’s full of great traditions like family time, delicious meals and good football games.

Even better, though, it’s a time when we count our blessings and give thanks.

At iMGA we are grateful for so much:

  • A fantastic team in the office. True friends who help each other at every opportunity and share more than a few good laughs.
  • The best agents in Texas. Every day we get to interact with professionals who really care about helping insureds get the protection they need at a reasonable price. Working with them teaches us what’s important to clients and makes it possible for us to provide even better products and services.
  • Families that support our effort and our dream. Without them we could not devote the time and energy we do to building iMGA into what we know it can be – and without them it wouldn’t be as worth doing.

We know we are incredibly blessed. Our wish is that everyone would have as much for which to be grateful, and that this season we would all take the time to appreciate what we have.

If you are a Texas insurance agent who would like to work with a Personal Property market that is truly appreciative – contact us.

Categories: General Tags: , , , ,

A Very Happy Texas Insurance Agent’s Story

November 13, 2014

Juanita The CSRI met Juanita* three weeks ago.

Juanita is new to the insurance business. Young – still in her mid-20s – it’s the first non-retail job she’s had.

She has a bubbly personality, loves taking good care of customers and did very well on her insurance license exam. The agency where she works is one of the top auto agencies in their small town so she has already learned enough to be very comfortable with auto insurance issues and questions.

But they’ve been losing customers.

They haven’t had a good home insurance market. So every time a customer asked for a quote for renters policy or homeowners policy they ended up referring her to an agency down the street. Inevitably over time they lost those customers as the home insurance agents asked for a chance to quote the auto.

Juanita’s manager Rafael* found out about iMGA through another agent. He visited our website and liked what he saw there. He completed our online interest form, our system notified us of his interest and we quickly reached out.

When Rafael and I talked it was obvious that there was an excellent fit between his customers’ needs and iMGA’s products. He was easily able to complete the online new agent application and we had him set up the same day.

Because they were located in central Texas, it was easy for us to do an in person visit and train the staff on our products and underwriting guidelines that week. Juanita was, frankly, worried. How hard would it be for her to understand these new products? What questions might customers have that she couldn’t answer? Would she get the support she needed? How hard would it be to issue a policy?

You should have seen the look on her face the first time she went through a quote. She said “Is this all there is to it?” when it took her less than two minutes to complete the whole process.

She – and Rafael – especially loved how the system and printed application clearly explained the primary coverages and limitations so that she didn’t have to worry about missing those. She called into iMGA and one of our friendly underwriters made sure she got the answer she needed and felt comfortable calling any time. She wrote her first homeowners policy while I was in her office.

As Juanita’s confidence has grown she’s steadily increased the number of auto customers who she’s able to offer Homeowners, MobileHome, Dwelling and Renters coverage and their agency no longer has to refer those customers down the street.

Would You Like a Story That Ends This Well?

Yes, the process for signing up with iMGA can be this easy.

The process for quoting and issuing business with iMGA is absolutely this easy.

If you’d like to add more Easy to your life – and a strong range of Texas personal property products for your agency staff to offer to your customers – contact us.

 

*We’ve changed the names in this story to protect the innocent. 🙂

Categories: Texas Personal Property Insurance Tags: , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »
↑ Top of Page