EF Fall 07.indd - National Association of Professional Allstate ...
EF Fall 07.indd - National Association of Professional Allstate ... EF Fall 07.indd - National Association of Professional Allstate ...
I want to congratulate you all on afine, fine magazine in the last issue of theExclusivefocus. Like I tell other agents, itpays to join your own agent’s association.The future of Allstate’s NGR programcan be influenced by NAPAA’s input. Ifagents think that the inkjet program wasbad, wait until the technology piece isrolled out countrywide.Again, great magazine, keep up thegreat work!I would like to express my sincere appreciationto NAPAA’s management andboard of directors for, once again, providinga memorable convention agenda andprogram. I have been attending theseconventions off and on since 1992 andfound the 2007 convention to be one ofthe most valuable and informative.After 35 years with the company, Iletters to NAPAAsometimes feel that I’ve seen and heardit all. Membership in NAPAA provesits value to me time and time again. Wereceive valuable information allowingus to plan for the future of our agenciesrather than have knee jerk reactions tomanagement decisions. We share honest,genuine, common experiences andsolutions for successfully growing ouragencies and planning for careers afterAllstate.It is gratifying to know that NAPAA’smanagement team has developed relationshipswith many vendors who willinglydiscount their products and servicesfor NAPAA members. These discountsmore than pay for membership dues andcan help agencies operate more cost effectivelyby trimming overhead expenses.I enjoyed hearing the President-Electof the NAIC and look forward to herpositive approach to industry and consumerconcerns. My hats off to you for agreat convention!George AdamsI read with interest your commentaryon the introduction of Alliance and thereplacement of Alstar. Prior to purchasingmy agency two years ago, I worked inthe software industry for 20 years in salesand sales management, and I understanda few things about business and transactionprocessing applications.First, Alstar is not going away. Thismainframe OLTP system is too importantto Allstate’s business model to replacethis core piece of technology. Most Fortune500 companies still utilize this technologyto process millions of transactionsdaily. Nothing is more reliable and securethan the mainframe for large corporationsto run their business. Second, Allianceis a Web interface to Alstar. In addition,there is a lot of middleware technologythat Alliance connects to gather data fromdisparate systems that presents a unifiedview to the user. Alliance is not anotherOLTP system to run Allstate’s business.The browser environment for users willcover up a host of sins under the coversthat the Allstate IT department will managebehind the scenes.While Alliance is a significant improvementfor the user community, youcan still see all the Alstar commands underneathyour keystroke operations. Theintegration of the credit report and LISand MVR is, of course, a big help andtime saver, especially for training newagents and staff.Finally, in my prior life I spent manyyears selling to the financial servicesindustry, specifically in the New Yorkregion. The accounts that I covered implementedmy company’s Internet technologiesto modernize these front endsystems as early as 1999. These includeAIG and Prudential to name companiesin the insurance space. So let’s give Allstatecredit for rolling out Alliance, abouta half a decade late.8 — Exclusivefocus Fall 2007
Hi Jim,Thank you again for sending me thefiles. I would like to take you up on youroffer to further assist me. First of all, comingacross NAPAA website has been thebest thing that I’ve done in the last eightmonths. I’ve been researching Allstate andState Farm for about eight months now.I’ve met with countless Allstate, StateFarm and Farmers agents. Also, I’ve spentmany hours with MDLs and AFEs (StateFarm). Even after spending so much timewith them, as well as doing my own research,I feel as though I haven’t mademuch progress. Since MDLs and AFEsare in the business of recruiting, I takewhat they tell me with caution – especiallyafter the negative comments I’ve readabout them in many articles and on messageboards. Agents they refer me to seemto be political and reserved. I can’t helpbut think these agents were personallyselected for a reason. I question whetherthey have my best interest in mind. Almostany question I ask is followed by“Well, that depends on you.” The answersare very general at best. I’m finding outthat few to none like to talk about the badside of being an agent for their company.I don’t know how they’re expecting me tomake good business decisions and draftup a strong business plan if I don’t understandboth the good and the bad side ofthis business and the company. I feel likeI’m going in a circle.Long story short, I have nowhere elseto turn for direct answers. After reviewingthe NAPAA website, I believe inwhat your organization is trying to accomplish.I would like to know if you oranyone in your organization can help meanswer some of the questions I’ve beendying to know for the last 8 months.I’ve decided to pursue my career withAllstate over State Farm because I feellike Allstate has a better contract basedletters to NAPAAon the research that I’ve done. However,after reading the articles you sent me, I’mnot so sure anymore. I would greatly appreciateany assistance you can offer me.Editor’s Note: Headquarters staff spenthours with the author of this letter. The articleswe sent him were “Memoirs of a ScratchAgency Owner”, “Jack’s Story”, “The Rest ofthe Story” and “It begins with the Interview,”all of which were published by Exclusivefocusin the past year. Last we knew, the authorwas still trying to make a decision.I receive your emails and, althoughI believe a group representing agents iswarranted, I feel that this one is a negativecampaign.Any thought to trying and work withcorporate to get some gains for the agents?Editor’s reply:Thanks for your question. First, I shouldsay that NAPAA would like nothing morethan to work with the company on issues affectingagents. In fact, NAPAA has offeredto work together with Allstate on several occasionsover the years. When I was NAPAApresident, I stood before Ed Liddy at an Allstateshareholders meeting and beseeched himto begin a dialog with us. In addition, I hadmany positive relationships with many insenior management. My latest offer to workwith management was written in the spring2007 issue of Exclusivefocus magazine whenI wrote: “Since reducing agent turnover isa goal that NAPAA shares with Allstate,we invite Mr. Wilson to meet with us. Wewill be truthful, insightful and professional.We won’t be timid, shy or intimidated. Mr.Wilson, if you’re reading this, please give us acall us at 877-269-3474. Let’s talk.” Unfortunately,this offer, like all of our other overtures,has apparently fallen on deaf ears.Again, thank you for writing. We valueyour input.Do you guys actually work for corporatenow, or does it just seem that way? Usedto be we could get some real news fromNAPAA instead of just cheerleading.Please stop sending me these emails.If you ever do decide to actually becomeadvocates, a voice for the agency forceagain, please let me know.Sincerely,A prior NAPAA memberEditor’s Reply:I wanted to let you know that we have receivedyou email requesting that you be takenoff our mailing list. I am sorry you have decidedNAPAA is no longer an agent advocate.I would like to point out that in recent yearswe supported both the anti-credit scoring initiativein your state as well as the Duke Metzcase. We are currently active legislatively inFlorida and Texas. Our legislation in Texas(HB1047) is a bill that, if enacted, will givecaptive agents the same termination protectionsthat independent agents now enjoy. Idon’t know what your definition of advocacyis, but I would say these measures are definitelyadvocating for the agent. What wouldyou recommend we do and how would yousuggest we pay for it?Agents tend to think that NAPAAneeds to do this or do that. The reality isthat it takes money and membership, notfair weather fans. If every Allstate agentwas a member, we would have the moneyto accomplish much more. The FL lawsuit,which we lost, cost us over $700,000. We areonly now beginning to dig out from underthat one. I contributed over $3,000 to helpfinance that lawsuit… how much did youcontribute? I have been a NAPAA memberfor 14 years… how long were you a member?I lost my agency for speaking out andyou still have yours.I guess what I am saying is that if youwant NAPAA to change, then get involvedFall 2007 Exclusivefocus — 9
- Page 1: ExclusivefocusFall 2007An Official
- Page 4 and 5: AAs you read through this issue of
- Page 6 and 7: to find quality vendors who offer a
- Page 10 and 11: and stay involved. Come up with som
- Page 12 and 13: featureWill Your AgencySink or Swim
- Page 14 and 15: Smaller agencieshave a more difficu
- Page 16 and 17: featureIs the Grass Really Greenero
- Page 18 and 19: association benefitsIndustry Leadin
- Page 20 and 21: marketingFinding the RightMEDIAf o
- Page 22 and 23: to direct marketing, the EMAF study
- Page 24 and 25: featurePutting Together an Idea Sha
- Page 26 and 27: technologyExclusive Interviewwith M
- Page 28 and 29: That sounds so Lex Luther…AS: Wil
- Page 30 and 31: featureThe Canadian Experiment:a Pr
- Page 32: marketingA Small Business Perspecti
- Page 35 and 36: Looks like a job for AMS 360.Free y
- Page 37 and 38: Hmmm... what could they be chatting
- Page 40 and 41: NAPAA AnouncementDear Agency Owners
- Page 42 and 43: technologyDSL - Reliable, Cost-Effe
- Page 44 and 45: usinessStepping Stones to Purchasin
- Page 46 and 47: technologyAnatomy of aToner Cartrid
- Page 48 and 49: association benefitsAnother Brick i
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I want to congratulate you all on afine, fine magazine in the last issue <strong>of</strong> theExclusivefocus. Like I tell other agents, itpays to join your own agent’s association.The future <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allstate</strong>’s NGR programcan be influenced by NAPAA’s input. Ifagents think that the inkjet program wasbad, wait until the technology piece isrolled out countrywide.Again, great magazine, keep up thegreat work!I would like to express my sincere appreciationto NAPAA’s management andboard <strong>of</strong> directors for, once again, providinga memorable convention agenda andprogram. I have been attending theseconventions <strong>of</strong>f and on since 1992 andfound the 2007 convention to be one <strong>of</strong>the most valuable and informative.After 35 years with the company, Iletters to NAPAAsometimes feel that I’ve seen and heardit all. Membership in NAPAA provesits value to me time and time again. Wereceive valuable information allowingus to plan for the future <strong>of</strong> our agenciesrather than have knee jerk reactions tomanagement decisions. We share honest,genuine, common experiences andsolutions for successfully growing ouragencies and planning for careers after<strong>Allstate</strong>.It is gratifying to know that NAPAA’smanagement team has developed relationshipswith many vendors who willinglydiscount their products and servicesfor NAPAA members. These discountsmore than pay for membership dues andcan help agencies operate more cost effectivelyby trimming overhead expenses.I enjoyed hearing the President-Elect<strong>of</strong> the NAIC and look forward to herpositive approach to industry and consumerconcerns. My hats <strong>of</strong>f to you for agreat convention!George AdamsI read with interest your commentaryon the introduction <strong>of</strong> Alliance and thereplacement <strong>of</strong> Alstar. Prior to purchasingmy agency two years ago, I worked inthe s<strong>of</strong>tware industry for 20 years in salesand sales management, and I understanda few things about business and transactionprocessing applications.First, Alstar is not going away. Thismainframe OLTP system is too importantto <strong>Allstate</strong>’s business model to replacethis core piece <strong>of</strong> technology. Most Fortune500 companies still utilize this technologyto process millions <strong>of</strong> transactionsdaily. Nothing is more reliable and securethan the mainframe for large corporationsto run their business. Second, Allianceis a Web interface to Alstar. In addition,there is a lot <strong>of</strong> middleware technologythat Alliance connects to gather data fromdisparate systems that presents a unifiedview to the user. Alliance is not anotherOLTP system to run <strong>Allstate</strong>’s business.The browser environment for users willcover up a host <strong>of</strong> sins under the coversthat the <strong>Allstate</strong> IT department will managebehind the scenes.While Alliance is a significant improvementfor the user community, youcan still see all the Alstar commands underneathyour keystroke operations. Theintegration <strong>of</strong> the credit report and LISand MVR is, <strong>of</strong> course, a big help andtime saver, especially for training newagents and staff.Finally, in my prior life I spent manyyears selling to the financial servicesindustry, specifically in the New Yorkregion. The accounts that I covered implementedmy company’s Internet technologiesto modernize these front endsystems as early as 1999. These includeAIG and Prudential to name companiesin the insurance space. So let’s give <strong>Allstate</strong>credit for rolling out Alliance, abouta half a decade late.8 — Exclusivefocus <strong>Fall</strong> 2007
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