FAIA President Says: In Our Future Some Things Will Never Change

Created more than a century ago in 1904 as the Florida Local Underwriters Association, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents adopted its present name in 1941. FAIA is dedicated to enhancing the independent agency system through education, legislation, communication and member services.

FAIA is a nonprofit state trade association of insurance agencies affiliated with the Independent Insurance Agents of America and 22 local boards across Florida.

FAIA was based in Jacksonville, then Tampa, before moving to Tallahassee in 1971 to improve the effectiveness of the association’s lobbying efforts and communications with state insurance regulators on behalf of independent agents.

FAIA’s 14-member board of directors selects a president responsible for FAIA management. The association serves as a central information source for more than 1,100 member agencies. In addition to a broad range of education programs and public relations’ initiatives, FAIA provides technology assistance (including Web design) to members.

Each year in June, FAIA holds a convention featuring presentations from industry experts, networking opportunities, and numerous education classes presented by a well-known staff of instructors.

FAIA’s mission is to serve Florida insurance agents by promoting a healthy and competitive insurance environment.

“It’s hard to predict what the future holds, but it seems some things will never change,” Jeff Grady, FAIA president and CEO explained. “I am sure independent agents, as a distribution system, will continue to be threatened by technological innovations and other forms of non-traditional competition.”

Grady said this certainly was the case during the first 100 years of FAIA’s existence and there is no reason to believe that agents will somehow be insulated from these challenges in the future.

“The association’s role has been and will continue to be to equip agents with the tools and training they need to remain competitive in the marketplace,” Grady said.

“FAIA will acquire the tools primarily in two ways: First, through relentless advocacy in the legislative/regulatory arenas to create nothing less than a level playing field for independent agents; and second, through influence and/or direct participation in the insurance market to ensure
that agents have competitive products

for their clients that also enhance the franchise value of their agencies.”

Grady pointed out that training agents has always been FAIA’s primary focus. The association has never intended to be known simply as a “continuing education credits” provider.

Long before Florida enacted a continuing education requirement for agents, FAIA was in the business of providing professional training for folks seeking to make a career as an independent agent.

“Today, even with laws that often serve to “dumb down” training and development for insurance professionals, FAIA has stayed the course in providing a higher end product focused on quality rather than quantity,” Grady explained. “The venues by which the association offers education will certainly continue to change with the advance of technology, but it is a safe bet to assume that FAIA will not stray from providing top shelf training and development for insurance agents.

“Finally, I believe independent agents will need to maintain their political and industry influence through a strongly united agents’ associtiation.”

Grady said the wasteful nature of supporting two competing P&C agents associations has had a very deleterious affect on advocacy efforts.

“The initial reasons for having a
separate PIA and IIABA expired decades ago, but yet these entities (and many

of their state affiliates) operate today as if
a new reason has surfaced,” Grady said. “Nothing could be further from the

truth, and my hope for the future is that selfish motives will be laid aside to allow for a single more united and influential association for P&C agents.”

Legislative Roundups

FAIA sponsored six Legislative Roundups between May 24 and June 13 in Pensacola, Destin, Naples, Miami, Tallahassee and Fort Pierce, Fla. The events were developed by FAIA’s Education Department in 15 Florida cities to explain agency licensing issues and other items in the association’s summary. The courses were taught by Bill Perkins, Kyle Ulrich and Laura Pearce. Agents completing the courses received four hours intermediate credit in Generic Life, GL and Title continuing education credit.

During the event, according to Lisa H. Harrington, vice president of Education, FAIA presented its annual, line-by-line summary of insurance legislation that passed at the end of the 2005 sessions of the Florida Legislature. Most of the bills were signed by Gov. Jeb Bush during the first week of June.

“Our Legislative Roundup class is intended to bring the independent agent up to date on the issues from this year’s legislative sessions that will affect their business,” Harrington explained. “We provide a comprehensive summary and excellent commentary on the property legislative, agency licensing issues, new DUI laws, and more.

“Students hear Bill Perkins, one of our nationally known instructors, and also from one or both of our lobbyists, Laura Pearce or Kyle Ulrich, so that they receive a first hand view of the issues,” she said. “FAIA goes well beyond punching a CE ticket. Information is provided that will enhance the operation of their entire business.”

Grass-roots effort

“Throughout the summer, in conjunction with our Legislative Roundup Classes, our members are hosting various events for their legislators,” Kyle Ulrich, Grass Roots/PAC coordinator explained. “These events provide an excellent opportunity for our members and legislators to exchange information about past, present and future issues pertinent to insurance.”

Ulrich said this is being done not only to engage the membership but also to show state legislators that FAIA members care about the decisions that are made in Tallahassee and will hold them accountable for those decisions.

Grady said the wasteful nature of supporting two competing P&C agents associations has had a very deleterious affect on advocacy efforts.

Topics Florida Trends Agencies Legislation Training Development Property Casualty