Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma

Upcoming Events...	What's Hot...
CIC Commercial Casualty January 21-23, Tulsa E&O Risk Management January 29, Tulsa Young Agents Lunch Bunch February 11, Edmond CISR Agency Operations February 11, Tulsa February 12, Oklahoma City CISR Personal Residential March 11, Tulsa March 12, Oklahoma City Education Calendar Click here for a complete listing of IIAO classes.	LAST CHANCE! IIAO is taking applications for the 2009 Partner Program. Interested companies can download information here. Companies are listed in the order they are received, so respond quickly! The Young Agents Committee is seeking participants for the 2009 Future Insurance Leaders of Oklahoma program. You should be involved! Click here for more information! Are you on Facebook or LinkedIn? Join our groups on these sites. Send an email to info@iiaok.com and we will send you an invite to participate! State-by-state benchmarking now available at no charge from the Agency Consulting Group, Inc. Access the benchmarking site by clicking here. Floods happen. Agents can visit FloodSmart.gov or download a Claims Handbook for information on floods and selling flood policies.
Welcome New Members...	Quick Links...
Darren Rudd Agency Ardmore, OK ASSOCIATE MEMBER: First Guaranty Insurance Co. Searcy & Ashdown, AR AFFILIATE MEMBER: Phillips Securities Insurance Agency Oklahoma City, OK Harrison Agency, LLC Del City, OK Cleveland Insurance Agency Cleveland, OK Insurance Resource Group Oklahoma City, OK Horvath Insurance Services Bixby, OK Rick Wood Insurance Agency Oklahoma City, OK Safeguard Insurance Norman, OK	Are you receiving IIAO's e-newsletter? It is delivered straight to your mailbox and full of news you can put to use immediately. Download the latest issue here! Does your Membership Directory need updating? Update the agency section by itself or all sections by clicking on the "Member Resources" link above, then choosing Member Publications. IIAO now offers Academy Publications for sale at all CISR and CIC programs. If you know which book you are looking for download an order form here. IIAO has numerous education offerings for a wide range of topics. Visit our Education Calendar and sign up for the classes you want today! Need a new employee? Post your ad on IIAO website for free. Visit the Career Bank for the most up-to-date listings. Is your agency ready for the future? Do you lack a strategic plan? "Rent Dan for a Day" and get your agency on track for a successful future. Find out more information now - dates are limited and are going fast! A world of information is available and is waiting for you at the IIABA Virtual University "Ask the Expert." Pose your question to a panel of experts and receive an answer within 24 hours. Agility Recovery Solutions offers everything your business would need should disaster strike. Find out now about how this important service can protect your business!

The Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma association is all about YOU, the independent insurance agent. We exist to serve you by taking the lead in protection, education, legislation and reform. IIAO helps YOU on the front lines and behind the scenes by saving you time, energy and money.

Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma
PO Drawer 18428, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-0428
Email: info@iiaok.com
Phone: (405) 840-4426, Fax: (405) 840-4450*, Toll free: (800) 324-4426

*We do not give our consent to accept unsolicited fax advertisements. Violators will be reported to the FCC.

Street Address:
1000 NW 50th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118

NATIONAL: News

Study Shows Big "I" InVEST Program Key to the Future of Insurance Industry
(ALEXANDRIA, VA - Dec. 22, 2008) - Future One, a collaboration of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I") and leading independent agency companies, recently released key findings from their biennial "Agency Universe Study" which revealed the need for more young, female and minority professionals in the independent insurance agency system.

Retail Agent---E&S Market Initiative Gains Momentum
(ALEXANDRIA, VA - Dec. 19, 2008) - The Independent Agents & Brokers of America's Agents Council for Technology (ACT), the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) and the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO) formed a joint initiative to improve the efficiencies for retail agents interacting with managing general agents and wholesale brokers in the E&S market and to promote the electronic exchange of data between the parties.

New Survey Finds Bad Economy has Many Considering Changes to Insurance Policies
(Alexandria, VA - Dec. 11, 2008) - Many Americans are facing financial struggles and considering making changes to their insurance policies, according to a new national survey of homeowners by Trusted Choice® and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I"). Almost twenty-four percent of those surveyed, representing about 39 million homeowners, say they have made changes to their insurance coverage because of the troubled economy, leaving them vulnerable to serious financial loss.

Survey Finds Many Homeowners Unaware of the Risks and Responsibilities of Hosting a Holiday Party
(Alexandria, VA, Dec. 18, 2008) - As millions of Americans host and attend holiday parties across the street or across the country, many are unaware of the risks they may be taking or of their own responsibilities to ensure their guests don't hit the road drunk, according to a new national survey on homeowner's insurance issues by Trusted Choice® and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I").

Big "I" and Future One Release 2008 Agency Universe Findings
(ALEXANDRIA, VA, Dec. 4, 2008) - The number of independent agencies has stabilized---that's one of the key findings of the 2008 Agency Universe Study. Future One, a collaboration of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I")and leading independent agency companies, has released key findings from the recently completed study, hailed as the most comprehensive look at the independent agency system.

New Survey Finds Holiday Travelers Don't Know Travel Insurance Needs or Coverage
(Alexandria, VA - Nov. 25, 2008) - As millions of Americans hit the roads and log in flight miles at hundreds of airports to criss-cross the globe for the holiday, an alarming percentage don't fully understand key aspects of their insurance coverage, according to a new national survey on travel insurance issues by Trusted Choice and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I").

ALL IIABA NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES

Subscribe to Insurance News & Views
You can subscribe to Insurance News & Views, IIABA's weekly member email newsletter. This informative publication contains the latest industry and national association news and is delivered to your desktop every Thursday. You must be an owner or employee of an IIABA member agency to subscribe.