Articles by Peter van Aartrijk

A former corporate communications executive and journalist, Peter van Aartrijk has worked with independent agents, brokers and carriers for decades on marketing-communications challenges. He is CEO of insurance marketing firm Aartrijk. He serves on the board of directors of the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association (www.imcanet.com), and he is the author of The Powers, a branding guidebook available at Amazon and bn.com. Email: peter@Aartrijk.com.

SEMCI: Paper-Free this Century’

Sure, independent agencies offer a choice of markets. That’s a nice benefit. But it also means you must key in customer information more than once in different formats and screens to accommodate the various companies. Add to that the agency …

Independent Currents: SEMCI, Paper-Free this Century’

Sure, independent agencies offer a choice of markets. That’s a nice benefit. But it also means you must key in customer information more than once in different formats and screens to accommodate the various companies. Add to that the agency …

Men are from Mars, women from Venus, independent agents from Mercury

Bud Wilson, past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of America, has said to agents: “Choose your companies wisely.” Interpreted broadly, the argument supports any company providing competitive prices and fair compensation to agents. Read literally, the argument says multiple-distribution …

Kenny Waldt is Banking on his Future

Meet Kenny Waldt, independent agent from Houston. When I last checked in, back in November, he was toying with selling his $1.2 million revenue agency to a bank. Feeling pretty righteous about the value of his agency, he said: “They’re …

Kenny Waldt is Banking on his Future

Meet Kenny Waldt, independent agent from down there in Houston. When I last checked in, back in November, he was toying with selling his $1.2 million revenue agency to a bank. Feeling pretty righteous about the value of his agency, …