Specialty Personal Lines Still Driving Growth at Concorde
(From MN Insurance Magazine, 09/2017 Issue)
While Concorde General Agency writes Commercial and Farm business as well, Personal Lines has remained the key focus since their start more than 35 years ago. The company was founded on a program for Mobile Home business in 1981, and thanks to steady growth, today there are few specialty Personal Lines property or liability accounts Concorde’s team cannot provide options for.
By putting such a focus and priority on Personal Lines, Concorde’s underwriters have become experts in a wide variety of programs, and the company has built partnerships with a solid group of specialty carriers not typically found under one roof. In fact, in today’s trend of business consolidation, their program and carrier depth is often the differentiating factor that leads agents to choose Concorde.
Another differentiator is customer experience. “We still like to hear the account’s story,” said Kim Bentley, Concorde’s Personal Lines Sales and Underwriting Manager. “We have the automation available – connecting agents to our own peteRATER and multiple company platforms – but our team is also here to personally help agents navigate all of the options.”
Their team can address some of the most common “pain points” agencies face with both admitted and surplus lines companies – including American Modern, American Reliable, Aegis, Great Lakes and Lloyd’s. Whether looking to place a vacant home owned by an Estate, a landlord with more than 10 properties, an account with prior claims or unrepaired damage, or even a homeowner with a high-risk breed of dog, Concorde’s underwriters are available to personally talk agents through different programs and options.
“Within our Dwelling and Mobile Home programs, there is so much that we can do. I’m still surprised when agents tell me they didn’t know we write, for example, Vacants,” president Bob Hanna added. “We write Vacants every day, and we usually have four or five options available.”
Concorde is continually looking for additional carriers and programs to add to their portfolio because a variety of strong partners makes responding to market and appetite changes easier. “Many times, if an account is not eligible for one program, we can find an alternative option in-house,” said Bentley. “Our motto is, ‘We’ll Find a Way,’ and we do our best to live up to that, even if the option available may not be with Concorde.”
Concorde’s peteRATER is also growing to include additional Concorde exclusive programs on the commercial side. In the last year, they’ve launched admitted Artisan Contractor and Irrigation Systems Programs, which are fully written online.
The Artisan Contractor program was designed to quickly quote and bind General Liability and Contractors Equipment coverage for more than 30 classes. Upon binding, agents can instantly print a Certificate of Insurance to get their clients on the job. Agents also enjoy an automated renewal process with no audits.
The Irrigation Systems program provides admitted Inland Marine coverage for Pivot Irrigation Systems, with a quick and easy online form to quote and bind. One of the key differentiators on this program is the availability of Replacement Cost for systems of all ages.
For details on Concorde’s team, programs and carriers, visit them online at www.cgains.com or call 1-800-726-1611.
