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News & Views: Annual NAPSLO Update

Newsletter – Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Meeting

I just returned from the NAPSLO Annual Meeting and I am convinced the world is shrinking. The ‘buzz’ if you will, is all about acquisitions – companies buying companies, companies re-branding companies, foreign markets buying domestic, and admitted markets buying E&S markets. I try not to over or under react to all this, sometimes a ‘wait and see’ approach works best.

In 60 seconds I can give you the NAPSLO highlights – Yes we have a market for snow plow operators but no – they are not cheap nor easy. We have markets writing tough bar & restaurant operations where there is lots of alcohol and little food. Excess and umbrella markets are open to writing tougher classes like liquor and trucks, and we are gaining some insight into their appetite. Our GL binding market contracts are looking to simplify writing business, and property markets are willing to expand both our authority and our territory.

After the meetings are over for the day, the best part of NAPSLO is socializing. In our profession, we are fortunate to meet a lot of good people both as customers and as peers. I value that a great deal and count myself lucky to have made so many friends in this business. But, to be honest with you, I have a ‘kitchen table’ standard that I use when I deem a relationship to be more than casual. I always imagine whether I could hang out in my kitchen with this person, and whether we would be comfortable doing so.

My accounting team has asked me to pass some good news along. You’ve been asking for a separate direct bill commission statement and after many years and much testing, we are ready to roll out this change. Starting with your September statement, if you write direct-billed business, the commission payable to you will be separate from your account current (what you owe us). Approximately 10 days after the end of the month, we will mail you your statement and a check for your direct bill commissions automatically.

I can’t stop myself from giving a big shout out to my hometown baseball team. Whether you choose a religious context or not, “All things are possible to those who believe” could have been coined by the Pittsburgh Pirates fans (though it was not). I try to stay away from politics and sports when writing this newsletter, but today I will break my self-imposed censorship to show my true black & gold colors. If the Pirates can manage to clinch the #1 spot in the National League you won’t be able to shut me up!

Let’s Go Bucs!

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