Search found 37 matches

by AlstonCPCU
Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:22 pm
Forum: Opinions
Topic: cpcu woes
Replies: 3
Views: 5373

Re: cpcu woes

The best way to think of the CPCU is an investment in knowledge and your career. When you invest time in your knowledge, you are never cheated. There are some who may poke fun at the CPCU or CIC or other designations. Those people do not value formal education and reading. The best and most well rou...
by AlstonCPCU
Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:58 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: CPCU 510 woes
Replies: 19
Views: 44029

Re: CPCU 510 woes

I started the CPCU in fall 2002 and finished in spring 2006. I spent 4-6 months on each book. I suggest using the course guide and chapter objectives. The flash cards make you focus too much on definitions, which is not what the CPCU is about. The CPCU is very applied: "read material, answer qu...
by AlstonCPCU
Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:36 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: Attorney considering CPCU- thoughts?
Replies: 27
Views: 122277

Re: Attorney considering CPCU- thoughts?

What you'll find with designations such as the CPCU, ARM, and other legitimate ones is that you are viewed as someone who has spent time to earn and learn a little more than others about what you're doing or want to do. Some here call it "alphabet soup" and I'm guess those same individuals...
by AlstonCPCU
Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:58 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: How Often to Bid
Replies: 18
Views: 16250

Re: How Often to Bid

Let's say you send your insurance out for "multi-bid" strategy to Agents X, Y and Z and the incumbent Agent X has contracts with every company under the sun and immediately sends applications to every market imaginable for quotes. Agents Y and Z then attempt to obtain quotes but receive me...
by AlstonCPCU
Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:44 am
Forum: Hard-to-Place Accounts
Topic: Hired and non-owned auto
Replies: 5
Views: 4006

Re: Hired and non-owned auto

Have your information prepared regarding the company's policy on enforcing the employees' own insurance coverage, proper limits, and proof of coverage. There are some hefty minimum premiums for this coverage.
by AlstonCPCU
Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:04 am
Forum: Hard-to-Place Accounts
Topic: CGL Exclusions
Replies: 5
Views: 7364

Re: CGL Exclusions

Care, Custody, and Control is excluded but can be bought back. It is a standard exclusion. Personal Property of Others can either be covered by a buyback of Care Custody and Control or by adding Personal Property of Others on the Property form. Both of these coverages are subject to provisions of th...
by AlstonCPCU
Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:52 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: CPCU - complete 12-18 months?
Replies: 28
Views: 35938

Re: CPCU - complete 12-18 months?

I was also in Denver for the CPCU meetings. I was in line for tour tickets at the US Mint. The lady who passed the CPCU in 4 months was in line with me. Let's just say she had the energy and motivation to do it, based on my 5 minute reading of her personality. I applaud those who can pass the tests ...
by AlstonCPCU
Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:01 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: Looking to buy used CPCU study materials
Replies: 22
Views: 19218

Re: Looking to buy used CPCU study materials

Perhaps it would promote people taking the tests if the material was not in book form and downloaded instead, thus making it more affordable and encouraging more people to enter the program. CPCU is in the process of trying to update and of course their new slogan for the national meetings this year...
by AlstonCPCU
Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:31 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: CPCU - Worth it right now?
Replies: 17
Views: 141895

Re: CPCU - Worth it right now?

I will order them in order of difficulty - most to least (in my opinion)

1. Commercial Property
2. 540
3. Commercial Liability
4. 530
5. 510
6. Personal Lines Survey
7. 520
8. 560
by AlstonCPCU
Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:32 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: CPCU 510 woes
Replies: 19
Views: 44029

Re: CPCU 510 woes

My key to passing all of the CPCU exams was actually filling out the answers in the course study guide. There is no substitute for finding the answers on your own and having to read the material to find the answers. In later courses such as 540, there is no way to pass the course without doing the p...
by AlstonCPCU
Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:02 am
Forum: Hard-to-Place Accounts
Topic: Salary- CPCU
Replies: 29
Views: 155187

Re: Salary- CPCU

I got my CPCU because I wanted to know more, not to make money. Having a CPCU is much like a college degree. On its own it will not make you a cent. When I first got my college degree in business from a big name public university, I was unloading trucks in the middle of the night at Wal-Mart. I had ...
by AlstonCPCU
Thu May 28, 2009 10:41 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: CPCU - Need specfic study advice
Replies: 15
Views: 34528

Re: CPCU - Need specfic study advice

In general, on the CPCU tests, follow the instructions of the question and you'll be fine. You'll have some that say "List," "Compare," "Name" or "Explain" and you will do just fine by following the instructions.
by AlstonCPCU
Wed May 27, 2009 10:24 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: CPCU - Need specfic study advice
Replies: 15
Views: 34528

Re: CPCU - Need specfic study advice

The CPCU is simple to do. Get the book, study guide, and CD-Rom. Work through the entire study guide and answer everything. Take some practice tests - the one in the back of the book and the CD-ROM. The key to doing it is commitment. Doing the CPCU is all about making it known to everybody that you'...
by AlstonCPCU
Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:28 am
Forum: Hard-to-Place Accounts
Topic: Internet Seach Company
Replies: 6
Views: 6241

Re: Internet Seach Company

Check these guys out:

www.slapmarketing.com

They specialize in SEO or "Search Engine Optimization" and they're affordable.
by AlstonCPCU
Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:59 am
Forum: Opinions
Topic: American Family
Replies: 11
Views: 14265

Re: American Family

My best friend is a big agent for one of the direct writers. He has a huge book but they still hassle him to sell a bunch of financial products that he is not really qualified to sell. He is not comfortable with those products. About once a year their upper management herds all of the agents into a ...