Posted by Deborah Brcka on March 5, 2012
Though it’s a little earlier than most people would expect to hear tornado sirens, the past couple of weeks have proven that tornadoes don’t need to be in-season to strike. Although warning systems are always improving, tornadoes can appear very quickly and move sporadically. It’s important to have an emergency plan and know how best to keep your family and your home safe.
Today, CW33’s Bob Goosmann takes us through some helpful tornado safety tips that everyone should know in case a tornado crosses your path.
Check out the video and share your thoughts by commenting below or on Twitter using the hashtag #riskymonday.
#riskymonday, brought to you by Bankers Insurance Group, covers one important video highlighting the risks we face each week. Watch the video and join the discussion in the See Through Insurance blog comments, on the Bankers Insurance Group Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag #riskymonday.
Posted by Deborah Brcka on August 23, 2011
As the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season produces its first land-threatening hurricane, we want to remind you of the importance of storm prep and planning.
Here are 3 quick resources to help you and your family get ready for severe weather and its aftermath:
As William Booher, the director of external affairs for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, says
It’s like that old saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The steps you take now, from taking a quick inventory of what you need to have on hand to designating an out-of-town emergency contact, mean you’ll be better able to cope when Mother Nature is at her most fearsome. 
Have a conversation with your family about what to do as a storm approaches. Make sure you have an emergency supply kit assembled. And plan for the aftermath of a catastrophe, both for your home and business.
Our award-winning Bankers CAT team has over 30 years of experience handling more than 25 storms. We’ve been through this before, and we’re here for you now. Be smart, be safe and think a step ahead of the storm.
Posted by Deborah Brcka on July 18, 2011
2011 has seen it’s fair share of natural disasters and although it’s a been quiet to date, hurricane season has just begun. Last year’s season was a busy one with 36 consecutive days of cyclonic activity including eight named storms in September alone (want to know what it takes for a storm to get a name? Click here!). Even with an active season many homeowners forget the devastation a hurricane can cause due to lack of landfall. As always preparation is crucial and it’s never too early to secure your home and create an evacuation plan. Check out the video and share your thoughts by commenting below or on Twitter using hashtag #riskymonday.
#riskymonday, brought to you by Bankers Insurance Group, covers one important video highlighting the risks we face each week. Watch the video and join the discussion in the See Through Insurance blog comments, on the Bankers Insurance Group Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag#riskymonday.
Posted by Deborah Brcka on July 11, 2011
The bags are packed, the mail is being held, but before you head out the door this summer make sure your home is ready to thwart any unwanted visitors in your absence. Simple steps such as installing flood lights and cutting down excess brush will not only deter burglars but will also give you peace of mind and the ability to fully enjoy your time away. Check out the link to this video and share your thoughts by commenting below or on Twitter using hashtag #riskymonday.
#riskymonday, brought to you by Bankers Insurance Group, covers one important video highlighting the risks we face each week. Watch the video and join the discussion in the See Through Insurance blog comments, on the Bankers Insurance Group Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag #riskymonday.
Posted by maria on May 18, 2011
“See Through Insurance” just nails it….! The public doesn’t understand insurance. If it did understand, we would not be in the place we are today, with insurance companies failing, the consumer thinking they are being ripped off, and more importantly, so many people being uninsured or underinsured. What I LOVE about STI is its realness. The people at Bankers Insurance are genuinely passionate about making change, and they know it isn’t going to be easy. The industry is entrenched in old ways of communicating, and in traditions of formality that today’s consumer doesn’t always relate to, bores them, and down right annoys them. The words we use in the industry were invented 200 years ago, and many of them have connotations that are totally different today. It makes it feel less relevant. Their attention spans shorten, and they will miss important points. Bankers really “gets” what it takes to change that. Finally!
Secondarily, in addition to talking to customers like they are actually real people, Bankers has made some really bold and creative moves to help the public understand how insurance actually works. “Build Your Own Policy” is a perfect way to begin that lesson, and it makes it fun and pain free to do so. This, my friends, is what transparency was intended to be. It is not just stating what is required to be said, it is saying it in a way that people get it and remember it. Nobody else is doing that. Way to go, Bankers!!!!
Maria Umbach, M.B.A., CLU, is managing principal, insurance and financial services, for Maddock Douglas in Norwalk, Conn. She specializes in helping large brands innovate new products, services and business models. Maria has spent 25-plus years as a marketing executive in the life insurance space and is now focused on “what’s next” for the industry. She is a frequent speaker and the author of the upcoming book series “Flirting with the Uninterested: Innovation in a Sold Not Bought Category.” For more, visit her blog at www.soldnotbought.com, or email her at maria.u@maddockdouglas.com.
Posted by John Strong on May 9, 2011
When it comes to insurance, you may find yourselves confused and frustrated. The entire insurance industry has done a poor job of hearing your concerns and frustrations, and until now, Bankers wasn’t much better. We haven’t answered enough questions. We haven’t taken the time to explain why we do things. And we haven’t cleared up misconceptions often created by the media or politicians.
It stops now. We are going to fix this. It isn’t going to happen overnight. We don’t have all of the answers, but we are going to start asking the questions. We are going to start addressing the tough issues. And we are doing it here – in a new blog we have aptly titled, “See Through Insurance.” It means what it says – from now on, transparency is key. Plain English is golden. And answers are available. We’re inviting experts from all over the industry to write about the issues that concern them and you. To offer you a new perspective and find the answers we all seek.
Our industry is at a crossroads. Especially in catastrophe-prone areas like our home state of Florida. These are issues that can’t be swept under the rug any longer, and we all need to understand what we are facing in the event of another Katrina-sized storm. This crisis must have a resolution soon. Something that works for everyone.
So blog away. We are ready to take the heat and make it better.
And here’s my guarantee. If you don’t see an improvement and a new clarity in the information you are getting from my company, I want to hear from you. Call me and let me know.
Dr. John A. Strong
CEO, Bankers Financial Corporation
Direct: 800-627-0000 x4004
John Strong is the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Bankers Financial Corporation and its affiliates and subsidiaries. He brings over a decade of service in the insurance industry having served on the Bankers Insurance Group Board of Directors for nine years.
