360Training Launches Classroom Instruction

Jack Frick, CIC, CISR, AIS & Jason Clark, Business Development Manager, both with 360Training, will be conducting an Anti-Money Laundering seminar April 12th from 10:15a.m.-12:15p.m. at the Federation of Insurance Women in Texas’ Region VII Education Conference and Mid Year Board Meeting at the Omni Southpark Hotel in Austin, TX. For more information about the conference, please visit their website at http://www.fiwt.com/ or visit http://www.learninsurance.com/ to learn more about insurance pre-licensing preparation, continuing education, professional designations, securities prep and CPA continuing professional education.

Why Sell Long Term Care Insurance?

As we all know, growing old is inevitable (or at least we hope). As we age, the need to have a long-term care (LTC) solution becomes increasingly important. However, long-term care insurance does not have to only apply to the elderly. Just as an example, Christopher Reeve, the actor, was paralyzed at the age of 42, and required nine years of long-term care. This is a good example that the need for long-term care insurance doesn’t just apply to the elderly and individuals need to start looking to purchase long-term care insurance immediately.

Generally, LTC is for those who are not sick in the traditional sense, but are simply unable to perform basic daily activities like dressing, eating, bathing and walking. When someone is in this situation, financial security and asset protection can be difficult. However, with long-term care insurance, those worries are alleviated, or disappear altogether. When an individual decides to purchase long-term care insurance, they are taking their future in their hands and planning for the possibility that they may not be able to take care of themselves down the road. Doing this means their family will not be struggling to pay their bills and medical costs while they are incapacitated. As well, it will keep their bank account from being drained while they are receiving long-term care. Long-term care insurance is the best way to ensure their future financial situation stays as solid as their present.

Some may think Medicare will cover long-term care, however, although it is used by millions of Americans to assist them in their medical expenses, it does not cover expenses related to long-term care, while Medicaid will for those who cannot pay for the expenses. However, this amounts to very little money and if an individual wants financial security as they age, the need to purchase long-term care insurance increases.

Long-term care insurance is an excellent way for an individual to plan ahead. No one knows what the future holds and, as a result, measures need to be taken to ensure that the quality of life they enjoy at this point will be the same throughout their lives. Going out to purchase long-term care insurance for themselves or a family member will keep the financial stresses from becoming too much in the unfortunate situation where a family member requires long-term care.

Learninsurance.com offers several online courses covering long-term care to help prepare you for selling LTC insurance. Please visit us at http://www.learninsurance.com/, click on Insurance CE and your state to see what courses we offer and enroll.

Educating Policyholders about Flood Coverage

In the United States, floods are the most common natural disaster, yet sadly enough, only a small fraction of homes are covered by flood insurance. In the event of a flood, with flood insurance protection, claims are paid even if a national disaster is not declared by the President. A study conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners last year revealed that 33 percent of homeowners believe – incorrectly – that flood damages are covered under a standard home-owners policy. So, in an effort to reverse misconceptions about homeowners policies and flood coverage, the NFIP turns to you, the agent, to help advise your clients on critical insurance needs and requirements. Flood insurance, the best available protection against rising water, needs to top that list.

Section 207 of the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, Public Law 108-264 (Act) requires all producers selling flood insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to be trained and educated about the NFIP so that they may properly serve their clients. The Act requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in cooperation with the insurance industry, state insurance regulators, and other interested parties, to establish minimum flood insurance training requirements for producers who sell flood insurance policies.

You can complete the required FEMA-approved flood insurance course online at http://www.learninsurance.com/, click on Insurance CE and your state to enroll.

Classroom Pre-Licensing for Texas

In response to customer inquiries 360training will begin offering Texas pre-licensing classroom training at their corporate headquarters located at 13801 N. Mo-Pac Expressway, Austin, Texas. Classes are scheduled to begin in June. A final schedule will be published soon.

The pre-licensing training will consist of 2 ½ days of classroom instruction which will include textbooks, supplemental study material, and final exams. Instruction will be offered for both Property and Casualty and Life and Health licenses.

Corporate clients who desire customized in-house pre-licensing training to be conducted at their premises are invited to contact Jack Frick, CIC, CISR, AIS, Vice President of Financial Services, 360training.

Please visit us at http://www.learninsurance.com/ for more information regarding pre-licensing preparation, insurance continuing education, designation preparation, securities and futures preparation and CPA continuing professional education.

What is the Value of a Designation?

What is the value of a designation in the insurance industry? Why do we work to earn those letters after our names? Are they really worth the effort?

In a recent article in Rough Notes Magazine (April 2007), by author Ruth E. Phillips, CISR, CPSR, CPIW, she noted that there are often misconceptions about designations. Some bosses think they are simply a waste of time and money. Designations mean more than being out of the office in class or passing tests. A designation after your name is a signal to the public that you are a professional in your chosen career field. Whether you are a CSR, producer, underwriter or claims adjuster, there is a designation tailored for you.

Pursuing a designation does give you a chance to take a course (whether in a classroom or online), participate in a class, and perhaps even take a test. But it is not just a class. It is continuing education, the key word here is continuing. It is a course that by design will keep you, the professional, current in your chosen field.

Designations offer value to employers as well. Earning a designation or attending a continuing education class may mean free publicity for your employer. Many local newspapers will run a press release with information regarding your achievement. Also, the awarding institute will usually offer a sample press release. Your employer will be recognized for encouraging your professional growth. Agency owners can also be assured their employees are staying up to date on current trends and industry happenings.

Through Learninsurance.com’s online designation preparation courses you can prepare for many different industry designations including:

· ARM
· CCMP
· CPCU
· CPDM
· INS
· WCCA
· WCCP
· IIA
· CLU
· ChFC
· CIC
· CFS
· CAS
· BCE
· RIS
· PPM

Please visit us at http://www.learninsurance.com/designation-courses.cfm for more information and to enroll.