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| Word Search Contest! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Play our online word search contest for your chance to win a $25 gift card!
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| Congratulations Pigskin Pick 'Em Winners! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 1st - Bob Hallman - Hallman Insurance Agency - Apple iPad2 2nd - Holly Levin - O'Neill Insurance Agency - $100 3rd - Kelly Binkley - Swenson Insurance Agency - $50 |
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| March Madness Bracket Contest! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The NCAA's March Madness tournament is fast approaching! Sign up for our online Bracket Contest today for your chance to compete and win great prizes! |
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| • Continuing Education Credit Courses • | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Agent Spotlight - William "Bill" Kristoff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bill is the President of Kristoff Agency Inc, an insurance and real estate agency located on Pittsburgh’s north side since 1903. His grandfather, then father preceded him as founders of the business.Bill started in the agency, working with his father, right out of high school at age 18 but really grew up in the business. Bill credits his father as the man he most looked up to and admired growing up, instilling honesty, fairness and community service. He is the father of two grown daughters. Bill's hobbies include being an amateur radio operator, photography, following Indy car racing and Hydroplane racing. He is also one of the few people trained to be a teacher of Morse code. Bill has been very involved with the North Hills Amateur Radio Club, having held many positions of leadership. He has been an avid ham radio operator for over 30 years, talking to people all over the world. As an operator, he assists the community in emergency services and civil defense activities. The Pittsburgh Marathon and Grand Prix events are two examples of local community activities he has been involved with as part of his amateur radio work. After spending over 50 years in the insurance business, Bill still believes in working hard, working smart, and “showing up” every day. |
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| • Customer Testimonials • | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"I was extremely pleased with your prompt response to my water disaster. Your technicians were very professional and experts in dealing with water claims. I appreciated that they were able to set up the drying equipment with as little disruption to my home as possible. I certainly hope I never have another homeowner's claim, water or otherwise, but I would definitely use your company." - Ann Imes "We called at 1:30 AM!!! Someone answered and was immediately working on our water damage. Over the next few days they always called first to make sure we were home and came to monitor the equipment." - Mike Schubert "Professional people on the phone and in person took care of the work. It was quick and easy on our end." - Seth Gernot |
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| How Insurance Distribution is Changing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Insurance distribution is changing, and agents and brokers—retailers and wholesalers—have to define the value they offer and what type of relationships they will have with carriers and customers in the years ahead. “Over the last several years, we’ve seen a drastic change in the distribution space, in that the traditional rules have sort of broken down, that the role of a retail agent, the role of a wholesaler, those have all changed,” Glenn Hargrove said in an interview with Insurance Journal. Hargrove is president of MarketScout Wholesale. “There are no longer circumstances where a surplus lines company is represented just by a wholesale broker or a surplus lines broker. They can go directly to retail agents,” he said. “You have direct line products that are happening within the space that circumvent retailers and wholesalers, in some cases. So it’s changed the value propositions of the firms in that space.” Hargrove believes the changes are being driven in part by regulation and by technology, but another major driver is insurers looking to deliver their products and services in the most efficient manner possible. There’s the aggregation effect of those people in the distribution chain being able to access a multitude of markets. Or if you look at it in the reverse sense, from the carrier, their ability to deliver to a carrier, a multitude of clients and customers that that carrier probably couldn’t efficiently reach on their own. Thus agents and brokers bring a combination of expertise, talent and access to the equation. In addition, agents and brokers provide an opportunity for insurers to outsource services. He said he believes that going forward there will be distribution businesses that are hybrids and some that are much more tailored towards specific operations “but maybe don’t look, necessarily, like the traditional form of either a retailer or a wholesaler as we’ve known it.” Going forward, distributors are going to have to explain more than that they are in the middle of the equation, but also “why they are there,” he said. He advises agents and brokers to reshape their own box and own value proposition so that the market is convinced they are an important player in the distribution chain. |
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| Mission Statement & Brand Promises | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mission Statement: To be a dynamic vehicle that works in a variety of marketplaces delivering an outstanding level of value and service to it’s clients. We strive to provide a work environment that provide ongoing employment, growth and security for its employees as well as adequate return on investment for it’s owners. We wish to be recognized as the hardest working, easiest to work with company in our industry. We strive to do all of our work “As Unto the Lord” as he is our constant guide and partner in our business venture. Brand Promises: What they want, when they want it, flawless execution each time. Create the WOW experience with each customer encounter everyday and every level. |
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