When a person applies for a policy, it is an underwriter who determines whether that person is worth the risk of insuring. By assessing how much risk a person represents, underwriters ensure that all policyholders fit the company’s requirements. In addition, underwriters often help determine policy...

Loss control specialists work in the field inspecting job sites, shops, warehouses and other business areas looking for hazardous conditions and ways to fix them. Their primary responsibility is to limit injury, loss, and accident. Specialists in healthcare focus on preventative medicine as well as improving work environments. Those interested in this career should be familiar with engineering, or safety management. Ideally, candidates should prepare by getting a degree that emphasized both technical expertise and business...

Because of their function as a go between insurance companies and insurance agents, service representatives must have excellent communication skills and a detailed understanding of insurance products. A successful representative is good at building relationships with agents and company representatives. A general liberal arts education provides a solid foundation for a career as a service...

We are pleased to announce that Jonathan Ams has recently earned the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). A CIC designation is a mark of distinction that represents a commitment to professional excellence and leadership within the insurance industry. The formal training required to become a CIC includes 100 classroom hours and the successful completion of five comprehensive exams, with an annual update required in order to maintain the designation. The five CIC institutes and comprehensive written examinations focus on all major fields of insurance, insurance management, and agency operations. The designated CICs across the country are recognized as among the...

When a customer has had an accident, been injured, or been through a loss, adjusters help determine a fair settlement between all involved. A successful claims adjuster must have excellent communication and negotiation skills and should be able to arbitrate with grace and empathy. Adjusters spend time in the field, as well as behind a...

Brokers and agents sell insurance policies to individuals and companies that want to guard their assets against liability. In the event of a fire, injury, or accident, customers call their agents; therefore agents must have a detailed knowledge of policies and their limitations. Those who are familiar with business practices and comfortable talking with all types of customers can make a good living working an adjustable schedule in the insurance...

Actuaries are responsible for determining the risk involved in insuring a person’s life, their property, their health, or their business. If you’re 23, you probably pay more for auto insurance than your friend who is 27. That’s because an actuary determined that age has a dramatic effect on the risk of insuring a driver. Because their analysis is used to establish coverage risk, actuaries are one of the most important elements of the insurance industry. A successful actuary understands government legislation and social tendencies that effect risk. They often work with government entities, insurance agencies, pension management firms, and other...

For the Week Ending February 24, 2012  The Democratic majority in the Vermont House flexed its muscles last week and easily powered through a health care bill establishing state-specific characteristics for the federally-mandated health insurance exchange required in all states beginning in 2014. H.559 was approved and sent to the Senate on an 88-38 vote. The majority easily defeated minority amendments to modify the House Health Care Committee’s recommended version of the bill during a two-day debate. The House concurred with its committee’s recommendations that all individual and small group insurance plans be offered through the exchange, thus eliminating any benefit choices...

Last week, the House Health Care Committee passed H.559, a bill which, if passed by the House and Senate, will significantly change the way anyone employed in a business with fewer than 50 employees obtains his or her health care coverage.  This will affect approximately 120,000 Vermonters as of Jan 1, 2014.  I encourage you to read the report  and the Rutland Herald article below.  Here is a summary:

• Group health plans will no longer exist for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.  Instead, your employees (and you) will purchase their insurance individually via a State-run insurance exchange.  The State will...
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For the Week Ending February 10, 2012  The House Health Care Committee last week made two key decisions on the design of a health insurance exchange but deferred a third decision on an “off-exchange” market to this week as committee members continue to seek answers to their unanswered questions about benefit options and prices within the exchange when it becomes operational in 2014. The committee agreed to limit the exchange to individuals and employers with less than 50 employees on a preliminary vote of 10-0-1 rather than including employers up to 100 employees as allowed by federal law and proposed in H.559....