This course explains the essentials of flood insurance based on the standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It opens with the background and features of the National Flood Insurance Program, along with a discussion of who needs flood insurance. It then explains flood maps, zone determinations and available products and policies.The general rules and rating process for flood insurance are discussed in detail , along with the claims handling process and the requirements of the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004. Last, agents Understand the flood resources available to them. This course provides helpful guidelines for agents who wish to sell flood policies.

This course is designed to encompass key issues in the business of agency operations. It looks at the various aspects of risk management, and outlines the workings of the insurance markets as they exist today. to highlight the importance of procedural issues, the course also focuses on issues of Errors and Omissions, and links the same to various aspects of the agency business.

This course discusses the basic tenets of personal auto insurance in detail. It outlines the duties that the insurer must perform along with what the insurer should expect from the insured. Multiple practice questions are provided at the end of each lesson to test the students knowledge.

This course was developed to provide licensed insurance personnel to renew their continuing education requirements as well as professional development. The basics of homeowners insurance are discussed in detail. Multiple practice questions are provided to test the student grasp of homeowners insurance.

Perhaps the most important aspect of any insurance policy (for both the consumer and the insurer) is the coverage extended under that policy. Personal auto insurance is no exception, and a firm understanding of all parts of the policy is vital for any property agent. This course presents each part (A, B, C, D, E, and F) of the personal auto policy one at a time, examining the general provisions and conditions stipulated in each. In addition to the basic issue of what is covered, the course takes the opportunity to explain other points, such as who is covered and what is explicitly NOT covered.

The impact of Employer Practices for the insurance industry has become increasingly subject to legal constraints. An expanding series of laws regulate almost every facet of the employer-employee relationship. The laws deal with employee recruitment, testing, wages, benefits, nondiscrimination, occupational safety and health, workers compensation, wrongful discharge, unemployment insurance, pensions and other matters. Employers in the insurance industry must have knowledge of the law to avoid pitfalls. Employees in the insurance industry must also have knowledge of the law s- they can defend themselves when employers act illegally or when they feel their rights have been violated. Although the study of Employer Practices is worthy of several volumes, this course will provide a general overview of the more common employer practice issues confronting the insurance industry. to set the stage a brief overview is given of the industry and its employment of agents and brokers, who will be taking this course. This is followed by a history of the employer-employee relationship. In chapter one the laws are placed on a time line providing a rationale for why these prohibitions and rights were created. With this information as the foundation, the laws are outlined and employer practices, from pre-hiring to postotermination, are reviewed. This overview provides some practical applications to the law. Suggestions are made as to some dos and donts that should be considered.

As a new employee to the insurance industry you may find yourself overwhelmed with understanding the components of the industry and the terminology being used around you. This course will provide you with an understanding of the general make up of the industry and the terminology in order for you to do your job well.

One of the hottest issues facing the insurance industry today involves toxic mold claims under both personal and commercial lines policies. After several recent multiomillion dollar judgments, attorneys are comparing this to asbestos and lead paint claims with regard to the litigation potential. From the standpoint of commercial exposures, toxic mold claims are beginning to rival ‘construction defect’ claims in numbers and magnitude. Home and business owners are looking to their insurers and contractors, building material suppliers, plumbers, and others for remuneration for real or perceived property damage and bodily injury. Mold exists everywhere in our environment. Some molds like penicillin are beneficial, while other types of mold can cause health problems. Concern over so-called ‘toxic mold’ is growing as the medical community begins to understand some of the ailments such mold can cause. Other than EPA and CDC guidelines, there appear to be few, if any, state or federal regulations regarding mold infestations and remediation. Lack of mold awareness also has been part of the problem. The truth is that while liability issues may be debated among insurers, property professionals, and others, uncontrolled mold growth will only heighten property and health claims unless quickly checked and remediated. The goal of this course is to increase awareness of mold and its affect on the insurance industry.

This course was developed to help students to understand the concepts of inland marine insurance. The basic tenets of inland marine insurance are discussed in detail, as well as specific information regarding marine trade. Students will Understand historical background and the current coverages provided under this type of insurance.

This course was developed to help students to understand the concepts of ocean marine insurance. The basic tenets of ocean marine insurance are discussed in detail, as well as specific information regarding marine trade. Students will Understand historical background and the current coverages provided under this type of insurance.

This course provides a general overview of insurance principles, beginning with frequently used terms and their definitions as used in the industry. As the course develops, it illustrates the insurance process and its need, and then grows into a manual of sorts, guiding the reader through the various mechanics, the type of insurance products available, and the applicability in different situations, illustrating with examples wherever possible.

The insurance industry in the United States consists of more than 5,000 companies with over $1.8 trillion in assets. The insurance industry is one of the largest and most interdependent of the United States industries, making it a critical U.S. industry. Insurance fraud has become one of the most prevalent and costly white-collar crimes. According to a published study by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF), fraud is among the most prominent cost components escalating the costs of insurance. The CAIF has estimated the annual loss figures relative to insurance fraud (non health insurance) to be approximately $26 billion. F raud is costing companies, businesses, and individuals, who pay higher insurance premiums. Identifying, targeting, and dismantling those individuals, organized groups, and con artists committing fraud against the insurance industry will accomplish reducing the amount of economic loss to the insurance industry due to fraud. This course provides an overview of insurance fraud, which will provide the student with an understanding of the nature, costs, results and methods of preventing insurance fraud. The ultimate goal of this course is to increase awareness of insurance fraud and demonstrate the importance of preventing insurance fraud. Topics covered include: Ethics, Fraud Detection and Prevention, Patterns and Indicators of Fraudulent Claims, Legal Issues, and Consumer Protection.

Health and life insurance is affected and influenced by numerous occupational and environmental issues and trends. The purpose of this course is to identify and examine these issues and trends and their relationship to life and health insurance. Topics covered include mold, mold contaminants, general liability implications, workers compensation, homeowners insurance, environmental and occupational diseases, asbestos exposure, terrorism exposure and underwriting health and life insurance.

Legal responsibilities are fundamental. An insurance agent walks a difficult line with legal responsibilities to both an insurance company and a client. When the agent does not live up to these responsibilities, there is the threat of being sued. Periodically, every agent should review the legal responsibilities of an agent in modern society. An insurance agents social, ethical and professional responsibilities may be optional; but legal responsibilities are not. Legal responsibilities are the minimum amount that is required of every agent. If he does not live up to his legal responsibilities, he will end up out of business and maybe even behind bars. Because legal responsibilities are determined by common law, statute, and case law, they are evolving. An agent must remain current, making adjustments for trends and refinements. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a knowledge and understanding of these legal responsibilities and insurance principles. Topics include: Principles of Insurance, Characteristics of Legal Responsibilities, Illegal Acts of an Insurance Agent, Ethics in the Insurance Agency, and Legal Issues in Insurance Fraud.

According to the Washington, DC-based Coalition / Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF) for the insurance industry, and for the public as well, insurance fraud costs $85 billion per year. With such substantial damage, it is no wonder that the industry is making significant efforts to battle this cancer. The industry has decided that increasing public awareness of fraud is its main course of action. The coalition strongly believes that public attitudes are crucial to curtailing fraud. There are no easy solutions to the problems of insurance fraud. Consumers, legislators, regulators, and insurers must work together over the long term to create an environment that either prevents insurance fraud or detects it easily when it occurs. The first step in this process is creating a baseline understanding of the problem and potential solutions .

Our industry is being besieged by matters of compliance. This is especially true in the areas of life insurance and securities. Some may privately express the view that compliance is an impediment to doing business and doing it successfully. But isnt the question really: should shortoterm gains take priority over Long Term client relationships? At first sight, it seems that career agents for the major companies are most affected by strict compliance regulations. While, independent insurance agents and those not closely associated with a major insurer are untouched by compliance requirements. Compliance enforcement and oversight may be more difficult, as those who supervise agents activities may be further removed in time and place from the sales process. The intention of this course is to refocus you on compliant and ethical professional behavior. If you always concentrate on a clients needs and place them above your own, compliance should not be an obstacle in your practice. Putting the client first seems a simple concept, but sometimes it is difficult to implement. Topics covered include: Compliance, Ethics and Professionalism , Our Working Legal Framework, Communication and the Sales Process, Common Compliance Problems, Ethics and Compliance in Practice.

As the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, the issue of how to prepare and safeguard that retirement is becoming an increasingly important topic in the insurance and financial industries. Clients planning for their retirement future often turn to annuities as a source of income and funding. This course explores the function of annuities as investment instruments, the characteristics of fixed and variable annuities, and the benefits and options available with both varieties.

Money laundering plays a fundamental role in facilitating the ambitions of the drug trafficker, the terrorist, the organized criminal, the insider dealer, and the tax evader, as well as the many others who need to avoid the kind of attention from the authorities that sudden wealth from illegal activities brings. By engaging in this type of activity, criminals hope that their proceeds will be beyond the reach of asset forfeiture laws. Financial institutions such as insurance companies are at the forefront of the battle against the money launderers. Under current legislation, insurance companies are responsible for policing their financial dealings and reporting any suspicious transactions. This course will dwell upon the new regulatory environment of the insurance industry vis a vis money laundering, specifically the USA Patriot Act 2001. The course aims to highlight the key aspects of the USA Patriot Act namely, the Suspicious Activities Report (SAR) and the Know Your Customer provision (KYC).