News

February 14th, 2025

A couple weeks ago we celebrated Groundhog Day. Every February 2nd, the eyes of the world turn to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, hoping for a reprieve from winter’s icy grip. Legend has it that if Punxsutawney Phil (a semi-mythical groundhog) sees his shadow upon emerging from his burrow, we will have six more weeks of winter. If not, we will enjoy an early spring.

At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. I’ve since learned that Phil is not the only adorable animal charged with such weather prognostications. Apparently, Oregon relies on either Fufu the hedgehog or Stumptown Fil the beaver to let them know what to expect. Texas has Bob the armadillo, Connecticut uses Scramble the duck, North Carolina has a squirrel named Pisgah Penny, and New Yorkers get their prediction from Clucksatawney Henrietta the chicken.

I don’t know what Fufu, Scramble, and the rest are calling for, but according to Phil, you can expect six more weeks of winter. Personally, I’m OK with that. My family and I appreciate the good skiing and snowboarding that this season has provided, and I’m hoping for one or two more snowstorms this year! If you’re not a fan of winter, you can take heart in the fact that Punxsutawney Phil’s long-term accuracy is only around 39%. The odds are actually in your favor!

I watched the movie Groundhog Day for the first time this year. In the film, Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) is stuck in a time loop and relives Groundhog Day repeatedly. There are some problematic elements to the movie, particularly around the concept of consent, but overall I enjoyed it and thought it was funny. Also, it’s important to note that Groundhog Day originally came out over 30 years ago, and I think we’re all more enlightened today. The movie is essentially about personal growth and self-improvement. By the end of the film Bill Murray’s character redeems himself, and isn’t that what life is about, learning and growing from our experiences?

My problem with the movie has to do with its depiction of our industry. In Groundhog Day, the portrayal of insurance professionals—specifically Ned Ryerson—is an over-the-top caricature that reinforces negative stereotypes about the industry. Ned is depicted as an overly aggressive, obnoxious, and intrusive salesman, embodying the worst clichés about insurance agents being pushy and desperate to make a sale at any cost. This portrayal undermines the reality that most insurance professionals are dedicated to helping people safeguard their futures, navigate complex policies, and provide essential support in times of crisis. By turning Ned into a comical nuisance rather than a competent, ethical professional, the film unfairly ridicules an entire profession, reducing a critical industry to little more than a punchline (and in one scene Murray’s character uses Ned as a literal punching bag). Maybe the passionate way we talk about Business Interruption coverage doesn’t make us the life of the party, but that’s no excuse for the negative way we’re depicted in popular culture!

One way to push back against these stereotypes is to strive to be consummate professionals. To that end, our Specialty Brokerage team is presenting a webinar on March 4th at 11:00am titled “Building Bridges: Best Practices for Working with Insurance Brokers.” Spots are limited for this webinar. Complete your registration now to reserve your place!

While there’s no way to know when the warmer temperatures will arrive, one thing is for certain, and that is that spring will be here before we know it. With the better weather, your clients will be anxious to get their classic and collector cars out of storage and onto the road, and my Personal Lines team wanted me to remind you that they have a new market for collector vehicles. They’ll be running a contest in February and March whereby each completed quote will enter you in a drawing to win fabulous prizes. Please reach out to a member of the team to learn more.

As always, I’d love to hear how we’re treating you. Please call or drop me a line to let me know!

Cheers,

Robin

robin@tuscano.com

(C) 724-454-3516