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Career Opportunity – Commercial Lines Producer

Premier NW Insurance is currently searching for a Producer to add to our successful B2B sales team at our Salem branch office. Premier NW is a locally owned, customer focused organization that provides Producers with the flexibility and support necessary to achieve their financial goals. Our agency has an outstanding reputation for professionalism, integrity and providing top tier advice and solutions to our clients. Our Producers have access to the leading insurance companies in the Northwest.

For those looking at insurance sales as a new career or as a first time career decision – insurance sales is an often misunderstood and under-appreciated profession. The most effective insurance Producers develop a close, personal relationship with their clients and become an important resource to them in the successful operation of their business. Compensation potential is unlimited and is directly related to the efforts and success of the Producer. Insurance Producers have a significant advantage in that insurance is a recession resistant industry.

We currently have opportunities available in our Clackamas and Salem branch offices. Whether you are an experienced Producer or are interested in making a career change, we have the resources and positive agency culture to enable your success.

We are looking for outstanding people with the following traits:
•Outgoing personality with the ability to develop close relationships with clients
•Strong work ethic, self-motivated with effective time management skills
•Ability to work effectively in a team oriented collaborative environment
•Strong community ties
•Ability to quickly learn and understand market dynamics affecting the businesses of our customers
•Ability to assess and analyze customer needs and develop recommendations
•Above average written and oral communication skills
•Capable of working with owners and senior management of businesses
•B2B sales experience
•Ability to build a successful referral network

We are willing to provide in depth sales and insurance product training to the right individual. We have resources available through our insurance company partners and agency mentorship to help ensure your success.

This is an excellent opportunity for sales minded individuals. Our producers enjoy a recurring revenue stream from their clients with strong new business incentives. Base compensation plus commission is provided to assist while building your client base. We offer favorable commission percentages for both new and renewal business and full vesting opportunity to our sales staff.

Premier NW Insurance is not a call center. We are not a captive agency who will place unreachable goals on you each year. We are a growing, family owned agency who cares about our customers and our staff.

If you have an interest in joining a successful locally owned agency with unlimited compensation potential, please contact Mitzi Johnson at mjohnson@premiernw.net.

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Are you ready for Open Enrollment?

It’s that time of year again! If you haven’t started thinking about your health insurance…now is the time. Open Enrollment is fast approaching.

If you are interested in receiving a quote for Benefits for yourself or your business, please contact our agency or click on the following links:

Individual Quote: http://premiernw.net/request-a-quote/individual-health-quote/

Group Quote: http://premiernw.net/request-a-quote/group-health/print-group-health-form/

“The Open Enrollment period for 2015 coverage is November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015.

If you haven’t enrolled in coverage by then, you generally can’t buy Marketplace health coverage for 2015 until the next Open Enrollment period for coverage the following year.

If you’re enrolled in a 2014 Marketplace plan, your benefit year ends December 31, 2014. To continue health coverage in 2015, you can renew your current health plan or choose a new health plan through the Marketplace during the 2015 Open Enrollment period.

If you don’t have health coverage during 2015, you may have to pay a fee. The fee in 2015 is higher than it was in 2014 — 2% of your income or $325 per adult/$162.50 per child, whichever is more.

Enrollment and Coverage Start Dates

During Open Enrollment, if you enroll:

Between the 1st and 15th days of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the next month.
Between the 16th and the last day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the second following month. So if you enroll on January 16, your coverage starts on March 1.

You may buy Marketplace insurance outside Open Enrollment only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying life event such as marriage, birth or adoption of a child, or loss of other health coverage. Learn more about how you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

You can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time. There is no limited enrollment period for these programs. You can apply any time. If you’re qualified, you can enroll immediately.

If you own or operate a small business, you can start offering coverage to your employees at any time.”

Source: HealthCare.gov https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace-deadlines/2015/

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Premier NW Insurance Recognized as Leading Writer of Farm Insurance

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2014
 
Contact: Joel Feller
Director, Sales Development
Nationwide Agribusiness
1100 Locust Street
Des Moines IA 50391
515-508-3356

Premier NW Insurance Honored at National Sales Conference

DES MOINES, IA – Ryan Justus, Commercial Lines Agent with Premier NW Insurance located in Clackamas, Oregon, was recognized at the Nationwide® Agribusiness Insurance Company national sales conference held in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, as one of the company’s leading writers of farm insurance. Premier NW Insurance is an On Your Side® Farm Certified Agent.

The annual FAST Track Conference was held in recognition of top-producing agents in sales of new farm insurance policies during the 2013 calendar year.

“Farm coverage is a highly specialized line of insurance,” said Joel Feller, Sales Development Director, Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, Des Moines. “Only agents who specialize in this highly complex type of business can provide our farm customers with important advice and counsel. Our FAST Track Conference recognizes agents who have made this commitment.”

While more than 6000 agencies write farm insurance for Nationwide, only 87 qualified for the 2014 FAST Track Conference.

“Congratulations to Premier NW Insurance on reaching this level of recognition,” said Feller, “and for their ongoing dedication to protecting Oregon and Northwest area farmers.”

Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, and its affiliate, Farmland Mutual Insurance Company, are part of Nationwide®, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Agribusiness, rated A+ (Superior) by The A.M. Best Company, is the country’s #1 farm insurer, and a leader in insurance and risk management solutions for commercial agribusinesses in the food and fiber chain. For more information, visit www.NationwideAgribusiness.com. Nationwide Agribusiness offers the AgriChoice® farm policy which provides customized coverages for farm operations of various sizes and types.

 Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark, and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

 

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Career Opportunities

Premier NW Insurance is currently searching for Producers to add to our successful B2B sales team. Premier NW is a locally owned, customer focused organization that provides Producers with the flexibility and support necessary to achieve their financial goals. Our agency has an outstanding reputation for professionalism, integrity and providing top tier advice and solutions to our clients. Our Producers have access to the leading insurance companies in the Northwest.

For those looking at insurance sales as a new career or as a first time career decision – insurance sales is an often misunderstood and under-appreciated profession. The most effective insurance Producers develop a close, personal relationship with their clients and become an important resource to them in the successful operation of their business. Compensation potential is unlimited and is directly related to the efforts and success of the Producer. Insurance Producers have a significant advantage in that insurance is a recession resistant industry.

We currently have opportunities available in our Clackamas and Salem branch offices. Whether you are an experienced Producer or are interested in making a career change, we have the resources and positive agency culture to enable your success.

We are looking for outstanding people with the following traits:

  • Outgoing personality with the ability to develop close relationships with clients
  • Strong work ethic, self-motivated with effective time management skills
  • Ability to work effectively in a team oriented collaborative environment
  • Strong community ties
  • Ability to quickly learn and understand market dynamics affecting the businesses of our customers
  • Ability to assess and analyze customer needs and develop recommendations
  • Above average written and oral communication skills
  • Capable of working with owners and senior management of businesses
  • B2B sales experience
  • Ability to build a successful referral network

We are willing to provide in depth sales and insurance product training to the right individual. We have resources available through our insurance company partners and agency mentorship to help ensure your success.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to enter the insurance industry. Our producers enjoy a recurring revenue stream from their clients with strong new business incentives.  Base compensation plus commission is provided to assist while you build your client base. We offer favorable commission percentages for both new and renewal business and full vesting opportunity to our sales staff.

Premier NW Insurance is not a call center. We are not a captive agency who will place unreachable goals on you each year. We are a growing, family owned agency who cares about our customers and our staff.

If you have an interest in joining a successful locally owned agency with unlimited compensation potential, please contact Mitzi Johnson at mjohnson@premiernw.net.

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Producer, Ryan Justus, recently quoted in Capital Press’ article on “agritourism”

 

Agritourism requires added coverage

By

Mateusz Perkowski

 

Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press Peter Sherman and his wife, Carin, help their son, Liam, and daughter, Emma, pick out pumpkins at a farm on Sauvie Island near Portland, Ore. experts say agritourism operations require common sense to prevent injuries and insurance coverage in case they occur anyway.

Pumpkin farmer Matt Roloff says the prospect of calamity doesn’t dissuade him from opening his property north of Hillsboro, Ore., to the public each year.

“Anytime you have 30,000 people rolling through your place, inevitably somebody will get hurt,” he said. “You can’t let the risk scare you out of business.”

Roloff said he tries to use common sense when designing attractions at his 34-acre farm, which features a tree fort, pirate ship, medieval caste and Western town, among other constructions.

At the same time, Roloff makes sure the operation is well insured in case injuries do occur, he said. “Accidents happen when you get that many people.”

Liability and insurance issues, along with regulatory and legal constraints, are among the top challenges faced by agritourism operators, according to a survey by University of California Cooperative Extension.

Obtaining a policy that covers agritourism activities is now easier than it has been in the past, said Ryan Justus, a farm specialist at Premier Northwest Insurance.

“More people are doing it and more people are offering it,” he said.

Even so, coverage remains a financial hurdle for some farmers because insurance companies see agritourism operations as having a high exposure to risk, Justus said.

“Is it cheap insurance? No, it’s not. It’s expensive,” he said.

Premiums for agritourism insurance typically run from about $2,500 to $5,000 per year and must be purchased on top of regular policies that cover buildings and equipment, Justus said.

The cost of insurance goes up based on revenues as well as the types of activities involved — a pumpkin patch and corn maze will be cheaper to cover than a hay ride and inflatable bouncy castle, he said.

A rule of thumb is that anytime children are riding, bouncing or sliding on something, the insurance premium rises, Justus said. “You’re into that next category that’s going to be a bit more expensive.”

The insured farmer has to be found negligent before an insurance provider will pay out a claim — with serious injuries, the company will send in investigators to determine if negligence was to blame, he said.

Generally, an attorney for the injured visitor will send a letter seeking damages, which prompts the farmer’s insurer to get involved, Justus said. In some cases, the farmer will admit he was liable.

If the parties disagree about negligence, the case goes to court, he said.

It’s important for farmers to fully inform their insurer about the activities offered at the operation so they’re not exposed to too much risk, said Brian Bauman of Bauman Farms near Gervais, Ore.

“The activities get adjusted and changed to make sure we’re doing the best job we can,” Bauman said.

Bauman Farms has a set of rules for each activity and ensures its employees are ready to enforce them, he said. “We do a lot of training with all our staff.”

Concerns about injuries have prompted Roloff to scrap some ideas, such as a wall that visitors could climb over with the help of a net.

“We decided the risk wasn’t worth the reward,” he said.

Roloff said he mitigates risk by ensuring that parents enter the property with their children, rather than letting their kids run around unsupervised.

“You have to use really good judgment,” he said.

Some growers have visitors sign “hold harmless” waivers, in which they acknowledge the risk of entering the operation and waive claims for damages, said Melissa Fery, a small farms extension agent with Oregon State University.

Such waivers shouldn’t replace insurance coverage — a farmer can still face lawsuits alleging negligence — but they provide visitors with additional awareness of the hazards, she said.

http://www.capitalpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131030/ARTICLE/131039989/… 11/4/2013