What Does Outstanding Customer Service Look Like?

/in ,

Have you left a business and thought, “How are they even in business”? Or have you gotten off the phone and said, “They don’t understand or care about my needs or even respect me”?  We have had those experiences, and we don’t ever want any of our customers to feel that way about our firm.

Outstanding customer service can mean something different to each person. However, we believe there is a basic underlying attitude of a firm that provides outstanding customer service. We would like to share our thoughts on what our firm believes contributes to outstanding customer service. Outstanding customer service is a mindset that we want every employee to have.

We practice three basic principles when relating to clients: empathy, appreciation and helpfulness.

  • Empathy – We will consider and understand your opinion and needs. We will educate you on the details of insurance so that you can make an informed decision.
  • Appreciation – You are important to us and you should be told so. We will value our relationship with you and treat you with respect and trust.
  • Helpfulness- When you call our agency you will talk to a licensed professional who lives and works in the community. We will listen to your requests and provide thoughtful responses. We will always say thank you. We know you have choices when it comes to selecting your insurance agent, and we appreciate that you have chosen us.

Here are other guiding principles that every agency should live by

  • Do what you say you are going to do. If you say the certificate will be delivered by 10:00 am Tuesday; deliver it before or on time.
  • Own your mistakes. No agency is perfect, so when a mistake is made, take responsibility and identify corrective measures to prevent it from happening again.
  • Care about the customer. Genuinely care about your customers and their experiences. When a loss occurs we will get involved as if the loss happened to us.

Insurance is not a product. It is a promise and a trusted relationship. Here at Reichley Insurance Agency, we are not going to sell you something you don’t need. We want to talk to you, determine your needs, and get you covered at the right price.

 

 

 

 

 

Five Things to Do Before You Start Your New Business

/in ,

The latest news from the Small Business Administration is that only 60% of new businesses survive at least 2 years. Of that 60%, only 44% survive another two years. It is a fact that more small businesses fail then succeed. The two main reasons for failure are lack of planning and funding. While we can’t help with the funding part, we can offer some ideas about new business planning.

We found at least five things entrepreneurs should consider as part of their development process. We understand there are more, but this is a good start.

  1. Understand the risks and legal issues – It is important to any new start up to understand all the legal and regulatory statutes and laws surrounding their business. Hire a good attorney to help you; it will be worth the expense. Hire a professional insurance agent to help you understand what your risks are, how to manage the risks, and how to protect yourself from the risks.
  1. Start with a good name – Your name needs to tell the story of what your firm does. For example, if you are starting a bakery, the name “Smith Brothers” fails to tell the public what you do. Also, depending on your market, it is probably not a good idea to use a foreign language as part of your name. Keep your name simple but innovative.
  1. Develop a marketing plan
    1. Who is your target market?
    2. What is the current competition?
    3. How can you fill a need?
    4. What strategies do you need to undertake to tell your story?
    5. What are the costs of doing business?
  1. Develop a Web strategy– It doesn’t matter what business you are in, you must develop a web presence. This would include a web page, social media (Facebook & LinkedIn) and a blog. For some industries, Twitter and Pinterest are important as well.
  1. Seek out mentors and advisors– Whether your mentor provides pointers on business strategy, helps you bolster your networking efforts, or acts as a confidant, it is good to have someone on your team. Hire a competent attorney, insurance agent, accountant and payroll HR/firm

Insurance is not a product. It is a promise and a trusted relationship. Here at Reichley Insurance Agency, we are not going to sell you something you don’t need. We want to talk to you, determine your needs, and get you covered at the right price.

Good luck and call us with any questions so we can help you achieve your goals!

Insurance & Risk Best Practices

/in ,

What Large Companies Do To Lower Costs That Any Company Can Do

As we continue on our journey to a better understanding of insurance, we thought it would be informative to identify some risk management “best practices” of larger companies. We believe that many of these “best practices” can, and should, be discussed with businesses of all sizes.

The good news is that these generally don’t create additional costs to the company; in fact, they usually reduce costs!

Insurance & Risk Best Practices

  1. Big Companies View Their Broker/Agent As A Trusted Advisor. The best way to accomplish this is to not bid insurance, but rather select an agent based on qualifications and the best fit with the goals of the business.
  2. Consider Modifying The Insurance Program With The Swings In The “Market”. For example, during a soft market you are able to lower deductibles and broaden coverage. As the market cycles up, you are able the increase deductibles to offset premium increases.
  3. Develop Cyber Breach Procedures. Small to medium sized businesses have a greater chance of having a cyber-breach than they do of having a fire. Here is an excellent resource from Experian
  4. Wellness Has Become A Norm. According to an article in the Louis Business Journal, “employee absenteeism is reduced when wellness programs are implemented”. In a study by Prudential Insurance, disability days were 20 percent lower and disability-per-capita costs were 32 percent lower, after implementing a wellness program. In addition, annual medical costs fell by 46 percent.
  5. Human Resources Is Part Of The Management Team.As the workforce gets older, finding ways to attract younger employees will be important. Developing new nontraditional compensation formulas and work hour flexibility will help attract and retain top performers. Develop an employee handbook and keep it updated. Educate and train all employees.
  6. Separation of Accounting Duties. A recent report issued by The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, places the cost of employee fraud at 7% of annual revenues. Companies with less than 50 employees saw a median loss of $50,000. Separate check writing and depositing responsibilities, and have an annual audit by a qualified firm.

At Reichley Insurance, our employees are committed to developing ongoing communication with our clients and striving to exceed your expectations. You are not buying a product; you are managing your risk. Remember, insurance is not a product; it’s a promise and a trusted relationship.

Cost of Risk Part Two

/in

“Total Cost of Risk” is the sum of the costs arising from all classes of risk faced by an organization. Insurance is one component of a risk management strategic plan that protects your assets. There are many benefits to this new approach.

Benefits of a total cost of risk approach

  • Making effective risk management decisions.
  • Measuring progress toward risk management objectives.
  • Understanding that insurance is only a piece of the puzzle, not the entire puzzle.

Total Cost of Risk

  • Internal Risk Administration- This is the cost associated with managing your insurance program. For example, if you have to spend more time getting basic insurance issues answered, your cost of risk goes up.
  • Legal and Claims Expenses- These are costs associated with claims. If your agent is not willing to step in and help, you will spend more time managing the process.
  • Deductible Costs- Every policy has certain deductibles. These are direct costs. It is always important to check quotes to make sure deductible are consistent. Lower premiums may turn into higher costs if the deductibles are higher.
  • Uninsured Loss Costs- Policies do have exclusions and will impact your costs. For example, if you operate a restaurant, your policy better have food spoilage coverage. Knowing the risks of your industry can actually reduce overall cost.
  • Safety Program Costs- Safety programs do have a cost. Some are paid internally and some can be supported by the insurance company.
  • Insurance Premiums- These are direct insurance costs.
  • Contracted Costs- You may enter into contracts for services, and having the right language can improve overall costs. For example, if you are remodeling your building and don’t require the contractor to have insurance, you may be responsible for his injured employees or more. This will increase your risk costs.

The key is there are ways to lower costs in each of these areas that don’t have anything to do with insurance. Having a trusted advisor who can help you evaluate this will serve you well in the long run.

Do You Know Your Cost Of Risk?

/in

This article is a continuation of our series on creating a new way of thinking about insurance. As you consider your business insurance, we invite you to think about this subject in the much larger spectrum of “Total Cost of Risk”. Your insurance program is more the premiums you pay

Total Cost of Risk is the sum of the costs arising from all of the risks faced by an organization. Risks can generally be categorized into one of the following three classes:

Operational– Operational Risk includes the cost of products, protection of property, insurance, damage to or destruction of supply sources for key raw materials, components, or services, injuries to employees or outside parties, damage to the property of outside parties including resulting consequential loss, damage to the environment, and employment decisions.

Financial– Financial Risk includes risks associated with commodity price variability or commodity availability, costs of capital and borrowing, customer credits, business development, profit and banking costs.

Strategic– Strategic Risk includes issues of risk that can have a major impact on the overall viability of an organization. These include issues centering on reputation of the organization or its employees, loyalty to the organization of customers or clients, development of new products or services, meeting the demand for existing products or services, and pricing of the organization’s products or services.

When you consider all your risks, it is important to understand how a well-designed insurance program can impact all these areas.

Change your Thinking About Insurance

Most businesses only look at their premiums when they evaluate insurance costs. We would like to provide an alternative view. For example, by only considering insurance premiums you are eliminating many other factors in your total insurance costs. Here are factors that make up your total cost of risk.

  • Internal Risk Administration
  • Legal and Claims Expenses
  • Deductible Costs
  • Uninsured Loss Costs
  • Safety Program Costs
  • Insurance Premiums
  • Contracted costs

Next up; we will review each of the cost of risk areas and how they impact your overall insurance program.

What a Customer Centered Renewal Looks Like

/in

file8841263254299

Our agency is founded and run on the philosophy that client’s needs come first and foremost. We know you hear that a lot, so we wanted to tell you how we carry out our philosophy day to day. This article is the continuation of our series on how to think differently about insurance.

Previously, we have encouraged you to think differently about the insurance buying process. In this article we wanted to give you an idea of what a customer centered insurance renewal looks like. A Customer Centered Agency considers the customer in everything it does; from product and service development to the entire customer experience.  A Customer Centered Agency also speaks to its customers in English, not insurance talk, and makes it easy for customers to do business with the agency.

Customer Centered Insurance Renewal

  • Reichley Insurance will contact you prior to renewal to review any changes in your risk and to determine your individual needs.
  • Part of the process will include explaining coverage, terms, and any questions you may have.
  • We discuss with you your budget and exposures.
  • Our team will take the time to explain to you your options and suggest a plan.
  • We will market your program with the leading insurers, and then deliver to you the best options based on our conversation.
  • Your program will be finalized and delivered to you as promised.

These are Reichley Insurance Agency’s highest priorities.  Achieving these priorities enables both collective and individual success, and thus fulfills our mission.

Let Us Say, “Ask Not What The Client Can Do For The Agent, But What The Agent Can Do For The Client”

/in

Businesspeople Using Laptops During Meeting

This article is a continuation of our series on how to think differently about insurance.

We want to continue our revolution regarding customer service by talking about just what clients should expect from their agent. We ran across this statement and truly believe it, “If all your agent does is place your policy, then they are overpaid”.

We use phrases like “people before policies”, “listen to your needs”, and “Your dedicated team of experts”. These words have meaning to our entire team and are carried out in every conversation with our clients.

Here are some of valued added services every agent should be providing:

  • Claims – When you have a claim, we will help you through the process until you are satisfied.
  • Options – We do not sell you a policy. We provide options; some of which may not include insurance. If we do recommend insurance, then we take the complexity and uncertainty out of the process and make sure you have the right policy to fit your budget.
  • Education – Our goal is to educate you so you can make informed decisions.
  • Stay Connected – We stay in touch with you during the year. We make sure your program changes as your needs do.
  • Service – Whey you call your agent you want a PERSON who knows and understand your needs. Our team lives and works in the community. We will even come to you to meet with you.
  • Qualified – Your agent should have more than five years’ experience. You deserve an experienced professional who is committed to his or her craft.

At Reichley Insurance, our employees are committed to developing ongoing communication with our clients, and striving to exceed your expectations. You are not buying a product; you are managing your risk. Remember, insurance is not a product; it’s a promise and a trusted relationship.

Communication Is key to Any Relationship

/in

file6371263244447

This article is a continuation in our series on how to think differently about insurance.

We live in the greatest age of communication. Today there are more ways to connect with each other than any other time in history.  For example, we have access to personal cell phones, email, web pages, videos, social media, traditional mail and more. So why don’t you and your independent insurance agent communicate more often? And, when you do communicate with your agent, what kind, and how much, communication is valuable to the agent/client relationship? Reichley Insurance is attempting to create a new way of thinking about the agent/client insurance relationship.

Let us start by asking and answering the following question, “What kind of communication and service are you getting from your agent”? If all your agent does is send you a policy and an invoice, then your agent is way overpaid. There is so much more that an agent shouldbe doing to educate and serve you. Here are a few examples of what our agents at Reichley Insurance do:

  1. We ask questions about your risks.
  2. We educate you on these risks and their impact.
  3. Together we select a program that fits your needs.
  4. We continue to educate you through regular communication.
  5. Our web page offers ongoing education.
  6. If there is an important event that may affect you, we offer solutions.
  7. We send you automatic emails about every policy transaction.
  8. We provide a letter with each insured renewal package explaining coverage changes and options.
  9. Our experienced staff is able to clearly discuss issues and solutions.

Recent J.D. Powers & Associates.com score study found consumers find agents easier to use than a black-box 800 number or a website, and still prefer to finalize their purchase through an agent whom they can visit or call. In today’s cyber world, an agent should provide that desired personal touch. At Reichley Insurance, our employees are committed to developing ongoing communication with our clients, and striving to exceed your expectations.

Why Relationships Matter

/in

Business group meeting

This article is the continuation of our series on how to think differently about insurance. The relationship between you and your agent is the most important part of insurance and risk management process. Your agent’s ability to serve and understand you will impact everything else.

People Before Policies

Reichley Insurance is in the business to meet people’s and business’s needs. We don’t ever just sell you a product. We create and deliver personal and business solutions that address your individual needs, and sometimes that may not include any insurance if it is not in your best interest. Our belief is that by doing what is best for you… we will also benefit.

Education

Smart and informed buyers are the best buyers. We want you to be informed insurance buyers. Our goal will be to educate you on “trending” issues that are important to your family and business.

Relationships Matter

Partnerships are built on trust over time. Our goal is to be viewed by our clients as a trusted partner. If an accident or disaster strikes, Reichley customers can contact our agency staff 24/7 and work with our trusted team. We partner with only the most respected and trusted insurance companies.

We Listen To Your Needs

Unlike some big national firms, we don’t have a set of scripted statements to give to you. We listen to what you are saying and then respond accordingly. We ask the right questions to find the individual insurance solution for you.

We Have a Team of Experienced Professionals

We know and understand your industry.  Before we do anything, we take time to get to know you.  Our staff has a deep understanding of how insurance works and we continually seek training and education. Our team has over 150 combined years of experience.

These commitments result in the highest of customer satisfaction and confidence. They are Reichley Insurance Agency’s highest priorities.

A New Way to Think About Insurance

/in ,

 

hands-jgdh

Congratulations! You got past the title and are now embarking on a new way to look at the insurance buying process. Over the next few months we would like to offer you an alternative way to think about insurance that will change your purchasing experience.

We will start with a few basic truths that we believe in. We will share these truths in greater detail over the next few articles.

  • Insurance is a service not a commodity.
  • You can never get the right insurance for you needs online in 7 minutes.
  • There is more to insurance than a policy.
  • Insurance was designed to be a relationship between the customer, agents and insurer.
  • Your insurance agent should be as valuable as your CPA, attorney and financial advisor.
  • If all you get from your agent/company is a policy, then they are overpaid.
  • Insurance ads are confusing because they make you believe that all insurance is the same, and we all know that not to the case.
  • To get proper coverage, a knowledgeable agent and great service, buyers need not pay any more.

The very core of what we value is that providing reasonable solutions to people and businesses should come before everything else, even if what we recommend means not selling you insurance. That is what we will do.

We want to inform you about the value and importance of developing a relationship with your agent. The qualification of the agent can make a difference in your insurance coverage.   The national companies spend millions of dollars in advertising while offering only a minimal amount of coverage. The main purpose of insurance is to have your claims covered. In order for your claims to be covered you need an individualized policy that addresses your risk and needs. Only then, will you have the right coverage.

We hope you will join us on this journey, and in the end decide that there is a better way to buy insurance and have true peace of mind.