News & Blogs

How insurance agents can use Generative AI

By Hillarie Holcomb posted 21 hours ago
How insurance agents can use Generative AI Independent insurance agencies are using Gen AI tools for content creation, marketing strategies, and to streamline workflows. Generative Al: What is it and why should I care In this blog we will answer the question of how independent insurance agencies are using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) to improve their workflows and marketing efforts and cover steps to get you started or improve your experience with the software. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades and can be found in many technologies we interact with every day—think voice assistants like Siri, customer ...

Day of Caring New Orleans

By Melissa Bond posted 8 days ago
Giving Back with Purpose The power of unity of the NetVU Community is making a difference. Thanks to the overwhelming sense of community and drive from everyone involved, we achieved a milestone that speaks volumes of the caring spirit that was in the air — we successfully assembled and donated over 2,000 hygiene kits to support New Orleans. Each kit, packed with essentials, stands as a beacon of hope and care for someone facing challenging times. The collective act of kindness not only touches lives but also transcends the boundaries of a simple gathering. The first day of Accelerate it was a testament to the impact a community like NetVU can ...

Scholarship Recipients Shine at Accelerate

By Reagan Zarras posted 9 days ago
In a tribute to commitment and dedication, NetVU proudly announced the recipients of its esteemed scholarships at Accelerate. These scholarships, an annual tradition, honor individuals attending Accelerate for the first time, offering them opportunities for growth and development within the industry. The first scholarship, the Past Chair Scholarship , held profound significance. Established in memory of Brent Rineck, who served as chair in 2018-2019, it paid tribute to his legacy while acknowledging the unwavering dedication of those who've held this position. William Boyce Cheek Jr., President of WBC Risk Partners LLC, was rightfully honored as this year's ...

The Power of Accelerate

By Jon Gorman posted 11 days ago
Building a Community in a Business Dominated by Technology NetVU is way more than Accelerate, but coming home from New Orleans I was reminded that there’s no denying that there’s a completely different vibe when you are together with people versus sitting on Zoom or Teams calls. In a time dominated by advancement in technology, people and relationships still matter. Between the Lines NetVU is a user group designed exclusively to serve Vertafore customers. But our community is more than that … We are a group of independent agents driven by the pursuit of better; Vertafore leaders and staff focused on your business and the role ...

Golf carts are gaining traction in the insurance marketplace

By Hillarie Holcomb posted 15 days ago
Golf carts are gaining traction in the insurance marketplace Rising insurance premium and policy numbers reflect their growing popularity They’re slow. They’re clunky. Some would say they’re not cool. But golf carts are becoming the darlings of the transportation world. And they are a growing cross-sell opportunity for some independent insurance agencies. The increasing popularity of golf carts accompanies a surge in insurance policy sales and renewals. The latest golf cart premium and policy data Based on aggregated, anonymized data from independent agencies using Vertafore’s agency management and rating solutions, the ...

Can I move policies from one account to another

By Thomas Polzin posted 24 days ago
Hi, my name is Tom Polzin and I’ve got a couple of questions for you. Is there anything in writing that I could download or have sent to me that tells me how to move a policy from one AMS account to another. I’ve got two situations where I need to do that. First, a husband and wife (parents) have sold a house the owned to their daughter. The parents and the daughter have their own separate AMS accounts. I need to move the policy information from the parent’s AMS account over to the daughter’s AMS account. Second, a customer, female, has a renters policy. She recently married and her and her new husband have an AMS account under the married name. The ...

Annual Meeting of Members RSVP Now

By David Waite posted 03-16-2024
Register now for the NetVU Annual Meeting of Members , happening online Friday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. CST. There is no cost for NetVU members to attend the virtual meeting, which should last about an hour. This is your chance to help affirm nominees and elect executive board members, including four officers and two new at-large members of the NetVU executive board. Speakers include NetVU Executive Director Jon Gorman, AVP of Agency Automation at The Hartford, Jim Rogers, and current Board Chair and Agency Management Systems Project Manager at Starkweather & Shepley Kate O’Toole. When you attend our annual meeting, you can take an active role in shaping ...

New Orleans: Augmenting Your Accelerate Experience with the Local Arts

By Jon Gorman posted 02-23-2024
The Southern-most city on the banks of the Mississippi River, New Orleans is a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, diverse communities, and vibrant art scene. The birthplace of jazz, the grandeur of its historic architecture, and the pulsating energy of its street art scene, New Orleans offers a feast for the senses that captivates visitors and locals alike. Why Art Matters to Me One of my favorite things to do when visiting a city is to take in the local art scene and visit the galleries and see the pieces I have always loved – The Art Institute of Chicago (“ The Old Guitarist ” by Picasso), MoMA in New York City (“ The Starry Night ” by Vincent ...

Creating Operational Efficiency with Insurance Virtual Assistants and AMS360

By Santosh Kumaar posted 02-21-2024
Building relationships is at the insurance industry's core – relationships with clients, the community, carriers, and affiliate businesses. Focusing on relationship building helps retain existing clients, bring in new business, and sustain essential business partnerships. But as every insurance agent knows, operational tasks can absorb a significant amount of your time and that of your employees – time that could be better spent interfacing with clients, making new connections, and soliciting new business. Utilizing an Agency Management System (AMS) like AMS360 streamlines many agencies' operational processes, but to take it one step further, partnering with ...

Shining a Spotlight on Member Achievements

By Mackenzie Winn posted 02-16-2024
Shining a Spotlight on Member Achievements Celebrating Leadership, Community Service, and Tech Innovation At NetVU, we believe in celebrating our members and your triumphs. That’s why we are proud to give special recognition to our members for exceptional service and dedication to our mission. We know you accomplish extraordinary things all year. Now is your chance to tell us all about it and share your stories about industry leadership, volunteering to serve your communities and using technology in advocacy. Nominate yourself or your favorite NetVU member and insurance industry professional for a NetVU award. 2024 nominations are open now in three ...

Conference Preview

By Ellen Mitchell posted 02-16-2024
Accelerate your learning and unmask your potential with proven strategies, tools and expertise to grow your business. Accelerate, powered by NetVU is the ultimate problem-solving event for insurance industry pros. Secure your ticket to the largest in-person meeting exclusive to Vertafore customers like you. Here’s why you’ll want to register to join us in New Orleans April 1-4. · Network and connect: Nowhere else will you find a more dedicated, dynamic setting to engage with your professional peers. · Access and share knowledge and expertise: Accelerate is where you’ll find the latest insights about market conditions, ...

Unlocking Success in the Insurance Industry

By Jon Gorman posted 02-15-2024
Unlocking Success in the Insurance Industry How NetVU Strengthens Members Through Education and Community At the core of NetVU is delivering ongoing continuing education that is driven by the needs of our community. NetVU connects you to professionals who are shaping the future of the insurance industry through education, community discussions, and events like Accelerate and Spark. NetVU truly believes there is Strength in Members. We believe every member becomes stronger when they have access to the expertise and insights of their peers. NetVU focuses on providing educational opportunities for all ...

Empowering Leadership and Community Growth

By Joyce Sigler posted 02-15-2024
Empowering Leadership and Community Growth The Integral Role of Members in NetVU By Joyce Sigler NetVU offers our members opportunities to apply your leadership, vision, and spirit of service to help your fellow insurance professionals on our board of directors. As an independent, volunteer-driven organization, NetVU depends on our board members to engage and grow our professional community. In return, board members get to flex valuable experience in servant leadership. Here are some important things to know about our board and the qualities we’re looking for. The journey of NetVU is something that everyone looking for professional development ...

Navigating the True Cost of Issuing Certificates of Insurance

By Michael Yanoff posted 02-13-2024
Author: Michael Yanoff, CEO | Certificate Hero | NetVU Silver Partner Issuing Certificates of Insurance (COIs) is a common practice to provide proof of coverage. While this may seem like a straightforward process, agents and brokers often underestimate the true cost associated with issuing these certificates. In this article , we will conduct a thorough assessment to help you unravel these true costs. Agents and brokers who have thoroughly examined their costs for processing COIs reveal that the figure exceeds $20 per transaction. Direct Expenses Related to Staff Time and Admin Tasks Calculate the hours spent ...

Meet the Team Dedicated to Agency Success

By Bob Bardwell posted 02-12-2024
Author: Bob Bardwell , Chief Operating Officer | Ivans | NetVU Silver Partner As we start the new year, goals and success are top of mind, and I have the honor of overseeing a team that supports agents in their success all year long. Our Agency Customer Success team is here to help with adoption support/training, internal and external roadmap advocacy, and innovation workshops designed to help create better partnerships and an awesome customer experience. Let’s meet the team that can get you started with meeting your digital connectivity resolutions in 2024 and beyond. Ivans COO Bob Bardwell celebrates a team moment with the Ivans ...

5 reasons to put Accelerate on your 2024 calendar

By Hillarie Holcomb posted 02-01-2024
5 reasons to put Accelerate on your 2024 calendar Join your peers and the who’s-who of insurance in New Orleans, April 1−4. With thousands of insurance professionals and experts, Accelerate, powered by NetVU, is the can’t-miss event of the year for Vertafore users. The industry’s longest-running InsurTech conference heads to the Big Easy this year, and features education on the latest industry solutions, sneak peeks at new technology, the chance to network with decision-makers and major industry players, and the opportunity to meet and learn from other Vertafore users. Join us April 1 − 4, 2024 , for new tech insights, a preview ...

Why Your Billing Process is Your Biggest Operational Inefficiency

By Chris Peabody posted 01-16-2024
Doing things they way they’ve always been done is costing you more than you think . When you take the common sports saying: winning solves everything and actually deconstruct it – you realize, winning can often delay or sideline foundational issues that are lurking around the corner. Over the past decade, the insurance industry has seen a huge explosion of investment, growth, new technologies, and consolidation as there’s been a lot of “winning.” As the market hardens and we reckon with headwinds like the aging out workforce , difficulty hiring, carriers leaving states – now is when we really see where the cracks are in our industry. One of ...

Deferring Strategic Goals

By Jon Gorman posted 01-15-2024
In the Habit of Deferring Goals: A Closer Look The Big Picture In this hard market, have you found yourself deferring strategic goals for your agency or for yourself, preferring to wait it out until the sky is clear? Personally, I think this is a risky game to play, but I get it. I’ve been there. Time and resources are valuable assets to a business leader and deploying them at the right time on the right things is critical. When times are tough, pushing important decisions down the road that require investments of time and capital might seem like harmless delay for when market conditions are better. Digging Deeper The reality of ...

Enhancing the Customer Payment Experience in a Hardened Insurance Market

By Alain Valaka posted 12-15-2023
Insurance agents are working harder these days to find insurance coverage to meet their clients’ needs. Industry experts claim this is the longest hard market climate affecting large and small commercial lines business and personal lines. The current hard market conditions in insurance are caused by several factors. The largest single factor is the lasting complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a reduction in written premiums for many property and casualty carriers when businesses were forced to close or scale back operations. This reduction in written premiums led to temporarily improved surplus ratios as liabilities from unearned premiums ...

2023 Reflection: Navigating Change, Together

By Jon Gorman posted 12-14-2023
As we reflect on the closing chapters of 2023, I am thrilled to share with you the highlights of our past year together. I believe our accomplishments reflect the commitment and dedication of the entire NetVU community, including Vertafore and the rest of our partners. Strategic Precision: As 2023 closes, we are at the end of a three-year strategic cycle, requiring us to revisit and fine tune our strategic focus for the next three years, which provides us with a clear roadmap and mile markers to track our progress as we work to move forward with greater focus and precision. We remain true to our purpose – transforming the lives and relationships ...