Boggs continues to tell apart himself as one of the crucial candid, insightful, and impactful educators within the insurance coverage business. His current LinkedIn article, “Are You Working a Half-Donkeyed Insurance coverage Company,” just isn’t solely sharply written however rings with fact that each insurance coverage skilled, particularly these in company management, ought to mirror upon. It’s a wake-up name disguised as a critique, laced with Boggs’ wit and knowledge.
Boggs begins by reflecting on a profession immersed on the planet of insurance coverage companies as an agent, a coach, and a coach. He has seen the spectrum, from the good to the bumbling. He famous some brokers who grasp their function with readability to those that, fairly frankly, ought to rethink their profession alternative.
The article provides a no-holds-barred evaluation of the present state of many companies, concluding {that a} overwhelming majority fall into what he calls the “half-donkeyed” class. It’s a provocative time period that captures the essence of a troubling fact. Many companies excel at understanding their manufacturing numbers, ratios, and shutting stats, however neglect a deep and lasting understanding of insurance coverage protection, which is crucial requirement since brokers promote protection.
This isn’t the primary time Boggs has leveled this type of critique. I’ve written about his contributions earlier than. In an earlier weblog put up, I mentioned his wonderful “Twelve Guidelines for Studying an Insurance coverage Coverage,” which stays one of many clearest and most sensible guides for anybody within the insurance coverage subject studying learn a coverage.
In one other article Sixteen years in the past, “Insurance coverage Brokers, Adjusters and Attorneys Can Study Necessary Protection Subjects Studying Chris Boggs’ Articles,” I famous how useful his insights are for brokers, adjusters, and attorneys alike when making an attempt to navigate complicated coverage language and ideas. His work by no means coddles or indulges. As an alternative, it challenges insurance coverage professionals to rise to a better commonplace of competence and integrity.
On this newest LinkedIn put up, Boggs shares a memorable quote from his father: “Loopy folks don’t know they’re loopy; silly folks don’t know they’re silly; and loopy silly folks know all the things.” It’s humorous, however pointed. Boggs means that many within the insurance coverage enterprise, regardless of being well-intentioned and performance-driven, fall right into a class of “loopy silly.” It is a situation born not of malice or laziness, however of willful ignorance in regards to the true complexities of insurance coverage contracts. They assume competence as a result of they will quote metrics however ignore the foundational want to grasp what is definitely being bought, sure, and promised.
The irony is sharp when contrasted with the way in which courts in some jurisdictions view the position of insurance coverage brokers. Regardless of the immense complexity of insurance coverage insurance policies that Boggs so clearly outlines and the deep research required to actually perceive protection, some judges nonetheless maintain that brokers are nothing greater than “order takers.” On this view of the usual of care owed by brokers to policyholder prospects, the duty to make sure ample and acceptable protection rests nearly solely on the insured, who might do not know what they really want or ask for it.
I explored this troubling logic in my weblog put up, “Are Insurance coverage Brokers McDonald’s Order Takers or Skilled Advisors? The Massachusetts View,” the place courts absolve brokers of any responsibility to advise until a particular relationship exists. This authorized stance stands in stark distinction to the skilled actuality Boggs advocates, the place brokers aren’t passive clerks at a drive-thru window, however energetic, knowledgeable counselors able to defending their purchasers from catastrophic gaps in protection. It’s a unusual quirk in insurance coverage agent negligence legislation that insurance coverage agent educators inform brokers of their monumental duty, which the legislation then ignores.
Insurance coverage is a enterprise rooted within the energy of phrases and the precision of authorized language. It calls for ongoing schooling, mental humility, and a dedication to mastery. Boggs’ article is a reminder that company success must be measured not simply by development charts and fee numbers however by how properly brokers really serve their purchasers by understanding the insurance policies in and out.
Anybody within the insurance coverage career who cares about being greater than common and aspires to be among the many small share that basically is aware of what they’re doing must be following Christopher Boggs on LinkedIn. His insights are crucial for mastery of insurance coverage protection. His newest put up is one other instance of his ongoing mission to raise the business and name out those that assume they’re within the high one % with out incomes it. For these able to do the laborious work of changing into really wonderful, his voice is likely one of the greatest to be taught from.
Thought For The Day
“Excellence is the gradual results of at all times striving to do higher.”
— Pat Riley