Posted On: October 10, 2008, 1:21 pm CDT

Posted By: Bill Rabel

Mr. Boggs is right, of course. During the course of my career I have headed two life industry professional designation programs, CLU and FLMI. Over the years, starting in the early nineties, I have watched many companies reduce their emphasis on education and ethics--the two cornerstones of professionalism. Support for education and life industry professional organizations has shrunk enormously. I understand that the same is true in the property/casualty business. Boggs used the term "calling," which at one time was in common use among life insurance agents (i.e.,financial planners) and other insurance people. To the best of my knowledge this term was first applied to insurance by Dr. Solomon S. Huebner, the legendary Wharton professor who was the inspiration for both The American College and The American Institute of CPCU. Over they years it has been sadly neglected. While true professionals can still be found in both home office and field, in far too many companies they get little support from management and in some they are actively discouraged from promoting professionalism. The only way to make insurance a true "calling" is for the leadership of the industry to make professionalism a major corporate goal. It is not likely that a new leaf will be turned over any time soon, however. The good guys who might potentially lead this campaign are trying to save their companies, which have been hammered along with the rest of the industry; the others have no clue as to what Boggs is talking about.