17 minute read

Thank you to our Exclusive Company Members!

from Wisconsin Independent Agent | October 2020 Magazine

by Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin

from Wisconsin Independent Agent | October 2020 Magazine, page 39

Article from: Wisconsin Independent Agent | October 2020 Magazine

Food for Thought

introducing

our 2020-2021 Exclusive Company Members

4 | OCTOBER 2020 |

wisconsin INDEPENDENT AGENT AGENT

For more information on AAA Products and Services visit aaa.com or to become a AAA Independent Agent Contact Leo Plese at (630) 328-7076 or lmplese@acg.aaa.com

OPEN SEMCI

Single-entry, multiple-company interface (SEMCI) is like magic!

Acuity, long recognized as a leader in agency interface technology, is committed to supporting SEMCI in commercial lines. SEMCI drives efficiency in the quote and application process and allows you to choose how you want to do business with Acuity.

Acuity currently partners with several of the leading commercial lines insurtechs. We are building, exploring partnerships, or expanding with numerous other independent agency technology solutions. And Acuity is on the forefront of integration technology, continually building the connections necessary to be ready to connect to new insurtechs as they emerge.

IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT DIFFERENTIATE US FROM OUR COMPETITORS.

We are a strong Midwest regional carrier that values our relationships with independent insurance agents.

PRODUCT LINES IMT Insurance offers personal and commercial insurance products to help protect families, homes and businesses. We strive to offer great insurance products and exceptional service for a competitive price. These products include car insurance, home insurance, business insurance, farm liability, umbrella insurance and surety/fidelity bonds.

INDEPENDENT AGENTS People buy their insurance from independent agents because they know them, like them, and trust them. That is exactly the reason independent agents do business with IMT. We use our strong partnership with Wisconsin Independent Agencies to meet and exceed the needs of our personal and commercial lines clients.

TECHNOLOGY IS OUR STRONG SUIT Technology is a vital part of our business at IMT and have won awards for our innovative technology. We develop and maintain our own policy systems – all from our home office. Our systems are companytested and agent-approved. In addition, we are committed to helping our agents succeed with resources and content for social media, video and digital advertising.

ABOUT IMT IMT is proud of our heritage and will never forget where our roots are firmly planted. Locally run from our home office in West Des Moines, Iowa, IMT has been a Midwest company since it was founded in Wadena, Iowa in 1884. That’s more than 130 years!

Today, IMT continues to offer the strong line of personal and commercial insurance products for which it has always been known through Independent Agents throughout our six-state territory – Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Are you a local independent agent interested in learning more about IMT products and services? Contact Troy Neil at 800-274-3531, x730.

imtins.com | 800-274-3531

BOUTIQUE.INTENTIONAL.RELATIONSHIPS.

It’s the meaningful relationships and investment in innovativesolutions that make it easy for agents to do business with us.

Come grow with us:

Contact Sales Director Cathy Colón at 920.968.9326 or ccolon@imico.com

You understand your clients.

Liberty Mutual Insurance and Safeco Insurance understands how to support them.

We know your clients’ needs are unique. That’s why we work with you to customize coverage exclusively for them. Talk to your territory manager or visit LibertyMutualGroup.com/Business or Safeco.comto learn more.

Partner with us if you are seeking:

• A mutual carrier solely focused on agents and policyholders

• Local managers who understand your operating territory

• Access to an executive management team eager to get to know you

• The ability to have merit-based conversations about decisions impacting your agency

• Consistency in underwriting approach

• A claims team that dependably earns high service marks

• A carrier always seeking ways to make the experience better for agents and policyholders

Better and stronger together

We offer the strength, product portfolio and automation efficiencies of a super-regional-size, 11-state carrier, combined with the agentfocused, customer-first priorities of a mutual company.

Agents know us as:

• Vibrant

• Innovative

• Resilient

• Personable

• Bold

• Persistent

Creating effortless, personal, respectful and responsive customer experiences

Who We Are

In 1919, a Pennsylvania farmer’s association founded Penn National Insurance to provide farm-related workers’ compensation insurance to its members. Today, we do business in 11 states, including a broad variety of business insurance and personal auto and homeowners insurance. And, we changed from an agricultural focus to a service-economy focus. In 2012, we affiliated with Wisconsinbased Partners Mutual Insurance, and continued our tradition of delivering personal attention with a local presence in Wisconsin and Iowa and the regional strength and services of a super-regional carrier.

True to our roots, we are still a mutual insurance company, which means we operate for the benefit of our policyholders through providing superior customer service, and bringing innovative products and services to meet the ever-changing needs of the marketplace.

Diverse array of commercial and personal coverages

Penn National Insurance values the relationships we have with our agents as part of the underwriting process and placement of accounts with us. We offer a diverse portfolio of products and services to meet today’s customer needs.

In addition to the traditional Commercial and Personal insurance coverages, we offer a wide range of coverage-rich PennPac endorsements. PennPacs provide valuable coverage and limit enhancements on Business Auto, Businessowners, General Liability, Property, Workers’ Compensation and Inland Marine. Some additional endorsements we offer include: Cyber Security Insurance, Monoline Inland Marine, and Manufacturers’ Mechanics’ and Contractors’ Errors and Omissions Liability endorsement.

For our Home and Auto policyholders, we offer great coverage at an affordable price, plus many additional coverages you can add at an affordable price that will help you feel secure. For homeowners, we offer Underground Utility, Loss Assessment and Identity Theft coverage.

Interested in partnering with a thriving insurance carrier with superior customer experience? We are looking for select commercial lines-oriented agencies in Wisconsin. Contact Vicki Lentz at 262-432-3420, vlentz@pnat.com or Clayton Zogata at 262.432.3422, czogata@pnat.com.

Policies issued for domiciled businesses and individuals in Wisconsin and Iowa are underwritten under our affiliate, Partners Mutual Insurance Company. Some coverages are not available in all states.

Pictured left to right: Thomas Korber, vice president – Human Resources; Jacquelyn Anderson, senior vice president, CFO/treasurer; Robert Brandon, president; John Foster, senior vice president – Insurance Operations; and Karen Yarrish, esq., senior vice president, secretary & general counsel.

www.PennNationalInsurance.com

AGENTS OF invention

A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON UNLEASHING DATA

Independent agent Seth Zaremba has set his agency apart and up for continued growth by blending art and science. Using data sharing and artificial intelligence, he and his team create seamless customer journeys, from acquisition to renewal.

He values Progressive for its thought leadership, advanced technology, and consumer insights. Because, when it comes to strategy and innovation, “Progressive is playing chess while other carriers are playing checkers.”

AgentsofProgressive.com

SETH ZAREMBA ZINC | BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH

12 | OCTOBER 2020 |

wisconsin INDEPENDENT AGENT

Vehicle insurance is provided by Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affiliates. Home and renters policies are provided and serviced by affiliated and third-party insurers who are solely responsible for claims. Prices, coverages, and privacy policies vary among these insurers.

Making insurance genuine.

SECURA isn’t like other carriers, and we’reproud of that. We put the independentagent and your customers - first.

Dave Gross President & CEO

Our independent agents value the long-term partnerships they find with SECURA and our commitment to quality coverage and service. Here are just a few of the reasons they love to work with us.

• Genuine people – Passionate, experienced associates committed to excellence and service, both for our agents and policyholders

• Expansive product portfolio – Broad coverage for Commercial, Personal, Farm-Ag, and Specialty lines

• Easy to do business – Committed to agentfocused solutions to help you grow your business

• Highly rated – Recognized by A.M. Best as A (Excellent) and Ward’s 50, not to mention high marks from agents and policyholders

• Motivated by mutual success – We meet our policyholders’ needs best by partnering with experienced, independent agents

Competitive coverage options SECURA exceeded expectations in 2019 with $728 million in direct written premium, and we’re positioned to continue this trend of profitable growth for years to come.

• Commercial Lines is SECURA’s largest business unit. Our expanding appetite for contractors, retail, restaurants, and numerous other markets offer coverage to fit your clients’ needs.

• Personal Lines coverage options include our MILE-STONE® home and auto package policy, which offers the added security of Roadside Rescuer℠ and Travel Rescuer℠.

• Farm-Ag Lines taps the hands-on experience of former farm kids to underwrite farm-ag risks of all sizes.

• Specialty Lines provides agents and prospects with an admitted carrier option for difficult-toplace business. Clients range from fitness centers to food trucks and special events to nonprofits.

secura.net

get out

It’s time to of the

‘Pool’

Class Code0006

Class Description

Farm products — raising, harvesting and preparing for the market including driving

0008 Farm gardening — market or truck and drivers

0042

Landscape gardening and drivers (no above ground tree trimming)

5022 Masonry NOC

5102

Door and window installation — all types — residential and commercial

5183 Plumbing NOC and drivers

5190

Electrical wiring — wiring — within buildings and drivers

5403 Carpentry NOC (no roofing)

5445

5474

5537

7219

7231

7600

Wallboard, sheetrock, drywall, plasterboard or cement board installation

Painting or paperhanging NOC and shop operations, drivers (no lead paint abatement)

Heating ventilation air-conditioning and refrigeration systems installation

Trucking — NOC (no log, munitions, or liquid propane haulers)

Mail, parcel or package delivery and courier or messenger service companies

Telecommunications companies — all other employees and drivers (no cell tower work)

7605 Burglar alarm installation or repair and drivers

8215

8279

Feed, fertilizer, hay or grain dealer and local managers, drivers (no manufacturing)

Stable or breeding farm and drivers (no race competitions, rodeos or sportsman events)

8381 Gasoline station — retail, self-service

8742

Salespersons, collectors — outside (no automobile repossession services)

8824 Retirement living centers health care employees

8835

Home, public and traveling health care — all employees

Class Code8842

8868

8869

9012

9014

9015

9016

9063

Class Description

Group homes — all employees, salespersons, and drivers

College professional employees and clerical (smaller institutions only, no sheltered workshops)

Child day care center professional employees, clerical and salespersons

Building or property management, property managers and leasing agents and clerical

Buildings and operations by contractors and drivers

Building or property management — all other employees

Amusement park or exhibition operations and drivers

Exercise or health institution — all employees and clerical (community centers acceptable, excluding YMCA clubs)

9082 Restaurant NOC

9180

Amusement device operation NOC — not traveling and drivers (no fireworks, racing, skiing, or zip line operations)

9403 Garbage, ashes or refuse collection and drivers

Delivering more by focusing on less. Small detail. Big difference.

Rather than attempt to be all things to every kind of business, we focus on the ones we know best—restaurantsand bars, supermarkets, convenience stores, hotels and motels, medical clinics, artisan contractors and auto serviceshops—to deliver outstanding property, casualty and workers compensation insurance. Deep niche expertise, withinsight into unique business risks, is how we cover the details that make the biggest difference to our policyholders.

To discuss an agency appointment,give us a call at 888-5-SOCIETYor visit societyinsurance.com.

16 | OCTOBER 2020 |

wisconsin INDEPENDENT AGENT

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company

Location of Company Headquarters: 1900 South 18th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095 Founded: April 1894 Company Web site: thesilverlining.com

What sets West Bend apart from other companies? There are many things that set our company apart, but these are the most important:

1. We develop and nurture strong relationships between agents and associates through personal contact, responsible actions, and a genuine concern for our valued partners. We use such means as agency performance programs, continuing education, and advisory boards to strengthen the bonds between agency and company and ensure our mutual success. With senior management, with the underwriting team, with billing, with claims, in fact with our entire company, you simply will not find a more dedicated, personal, community-oriented, and caring group of people.

2. With a broad personal lines coverage package, a full range of commercial products and services, insurance for specialty lines, and bonds, our robust product portfolio provides our independent agency partners with a market for a large percentage of the business they write.

3. Around this we wrap outstanding service. Our associates’ dedication and commitment to providing outstanding service to our policyholders and independent agent partners are the foundation of West Bend’s Silver Lining® brand, The Worst Brings Out Our Best®.

Our priorities for 2020 We pledge our commitment to distribute our products through independent insurance agencies. We will continue to work with them to find new ways to meet the ever-changing needs of our policyholders. We know we have to make it easier for our agents and policyholders to do business with us. Our agents can rest assured the focus of our priorities and initiatives are the needs of our customers and our associates.

At a time when other companies are paying less attention to relationships with their independent agency partners and choosing to distribute their products through multiple channels, West Bend remains dedicated exclusively to independent agents.

– Kevin Steiner, President and Chief Executive Officer