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InsuranceJournal.com Reader Poll
Do you think P/C insurers, rating agencies and regulators place too much emphasis on computerized catastrophe models?

Yes (146 votes)	68.87%
No (39 votes)	18.4%
Not sure (27 votes)	12.74%
Total Votes: 212

Video Highlights

Spring Flooding Renews Federal Flood Program Anxiety

Charles Symington and Spencer Houldin of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America speaks with IJ‘s Kenneth St. Onge about what will happen in September when the most recent extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) expires. On the wish list for a future program: A longer term solution to flood coverage that includes better protections – like business interruption – for property owners.

Podcast Highlights

Texas Insurance Veteran Seeks to Tap into Growing Hispanic Market

Inspired in part by the 2010 census that shows a dramatic growth in the Hispanic population throughout Texas and the United States, industry veteran Tony Gonzalez has created Dallas-based Hispanic Affiliates General Agency (HAGA), with the intention of providing Hispanic retail agents with products and services, and access to admitted insurance markets, with which they in turn can serve their Hispanic customers. In an interview with IJ‘s Stephanie Jones he explains the idea and plans for implementation have been on the drawing board for some time.

Happy Meals

The most commented on story in the past couple weeks was one on a lawsuit seeking fast food giant McDonald’s Corp. from offering toys with Happy Meals. The lawsuit accuses McDonald’s of unfairly using toys to attract children to its restaurant, but the food chain says the lawsuit should be dismissed because parents can always choose not to buy the meals for their children. The use of toys in Happy Meals and other fast food children’s meals has been a recent target of discussion as the nation’s rates for childhood obesity skyrocket.

(McDonald’s Not Smiling Over Happy Meals Lawsuit)

Matt said:

This suit certainly seems like a stretch. I agree with McD’s on this one. That being said, marketing does have a significant impact on consumer behavior especially in children, and I think we do ask an important question when we consider whether or not it’s a good idea to use the lure of toys to sell kids cheap processed food. Raise your hand if you know that the new “healthy” breakfast option oatmeal with brown sugar at McD’s has as many calories as an egg mcmuffin and as much sugar as a Snickers bar. They don’t mention that in the commercial.

Hamburgler said:

Whatever happened to a parent just saying “no”? Poor parenting, not McDonald’s, is to blame here. Too bad that a suit like this is allowed to further clog the court system.

Young Agents

From Come Along for the Ride Blog by Donna Chiaperrino:

“It is nothing new that the insurance industry is an older group overall… we know that already. Now we have the younger generations, specifically Gen Y, coming into the offices as producers. So why is this a problem… is it a problem?

“I don’t know if problem is the right word… maybe dilemma… for many agency owners.

“Gen Y likes structure. The insurance industry has structure if you really look at it. There are rules, there are guidelines, there are right and wrong ways to do things.

“Gen Y likes projects and working with people. Well, our industry definitely has all of that, and then some!

“Gen Y works best when managed efficiently. Well… well… this is where we may be falling a little short. Ok, a lot short.”

Topics Agencies Flood

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