​

Ethics and Unfair Trade Practices

Thursday, November 3, 9am - 12pm

There are many laws dealing specifically with unfair trade practices. Many are specifically written concerning insurance in particular. In this ethics course, we start with the basics of determining whether a trade practice is fair or unfair to the consumer. Once that foundation is laid, we then move into discussing the NAIC Model Act which deals with Unfair Trade Practices in our industry today. All the primary aspects of the Model Act are covered, with questions and discussions encouraged.

​

The Regulation of Insurance Producers

Thursday, November 3, 1pm - 4pm

The course charts both the history and current environment of regulation of insurance producers in the United States, including licensing requirements, agent authority, agent contracts and agency relationships. Also, major federal regulations dealing with insurance are reviewed, as well as state regulation that has historically dominated insurance producer and insurance company regulation.

​

2023 CE Classes:

​

Ethics and the Senior Client

Thursday, February 2, 9am - 12pm

With the senior population in the United States continuing to grow as the baby boomers hit their retirement years, agents need to keep abreast of ethical responsibilities in working with these clients. Questions to consider: Should you assess senior clients differently than younger clients? Is there a difference in writing a health-based product vs. a financial-based product? Should you require a family member to be attendance at any meetings you have with a senior? Do you know your professional liability associated with working with seniors? Also, are you aware of what the concept of “Financial Capacity” means, and how it can affect your ethical responsibilities? All of these issues, and many more, are covered in the course.

​

Fundamentals of Social Security & Medicare

Thursday, February 2, 1pm - 5pm

Social Security has evolved throughout the decades of its existence. The course covers the current issues concerning retirement benefits and strategies for maximizing your benefits. It outlines benefits for family members, survivor’s benefits, SSI benefits, and disability income benefits. Included is a discussion of the misconceptions and challenges in qualifying for the benefits. All aspects of Medicare are reviewed as well, including enrollment rules, benefits, and features.

​

Understanding Mold & Water Damage Issues

Thursday, July 27, 9am - 11pm

What is mold? Why are we concerned about it? Is it the devastating risk exposure some make it out to be? We discuss the insurance concerns relating to mold, as well as how to combat, control, and remove mold from home or business premises. Multiple case studies are presented to demonstrate the insurance issues associated with mold and water damage.

​

Insurance Contracts & Liability

Thursday, July 27, 12pm - 4pm

This course reviews how insurance policies are designed, focusing on the contractual aspect rather than the policy benefits. Insurance policies are contracts with conditions, definitions, and terms that make clear that the benefits paid are based on the language of the contract. If there is a disagreement over whether benefits should have been paid, the insured always has the right to take the insurance company to court. Courts will always make a determination based on the language of the contract.

​

Insuring Home-Based Businesses

Thursday, November 2, 9am - 12pm

Did you know there are over 40 million “home offices” and over 11 million home-based businesses? How many of your homeowner’s policy clients might have some sort of home-based business? The Homeowner’s Policy does not cover liability exposure from a business, and has little property coverage for business equipment. This course defines what a business is, and the insurance limitations of having a business at home. We discuss the differences in owning your own business versus running a business you do not own. We discuss endorsements to increase coverage for a business at home. We define what Incidental farming is and what coverage is available for that risk. We address the question: when should a person running a business from home consider buying a full-blown commercial policy to cover their risk exposures?

​

Ethics in the Insurance Industry

Thursday, November 2, 1pm - 4pm

This course clarifies the differences between morals and ethics, how they’re related, and the focus of regulations in regards to these concepts. The discussion reviews the expectations on corporate and agent conduct in the field of insurance. Specific duties are reviewed that must be fulfilled to achieve the expectations and requirements placed on the industry by regulators and an informed public

​