International Excess Program Managers is bringing social media and interactivity to the web of the insurance world. The improved website brings a refreshing new approach to the stagnate websites typical of insurance marketing. Those that visit will even have an opportunity to participate in a contest naming the company’s new mascot. Marc Pender, President, says, “The addition of our social networking accounts offers customers a fun, user-friendly experience. Furthermore, our blog provides useful insurance information, melding insurance and social media in one place.” The new website also allows users to meet the staff in a unique way, as well as participate in a “What superhero are you?” test. In regards to the theme and overall playfulness of the website, Pender goes on to say, “We like to take a different approach at our marketing by not taking ourselves so seriously.” The website also provides a look at the expanded insurance programs that International Excess Program Managers now offers. N Read more…
PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Foundation gave away $29.2 million to more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations in 2010, according to its newly released annual report.
The grant money, the most the foundation has spent since its founding 95 years ago, was 5.8 percent higher than 2009’s $27.6 million.
Forty-one percent of the grants were determined by the foundation, while 59 percent were decided by donors.
The majority of the grants were directed toward six sectors — education, health, human services, environment, arts and culture and community and economic development — with education organizations receiving more than $8 million.
The foundation also runs an Initiative for Nonprofit Excellence, which offers training and workshops as well as online resources for nonprofits.
The Rhode Island Foundation had $572 million in assets at the end of 2010, a 9.35 percent increase from the year before. Operati
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Las Vegas, April 13, 2011 — Yesterday, three senior life insurance executives shared their views on distribution, regulation, risk management and product innovation, and their impact on the future of the life insurance industry to the 550 attendees of the 2011 Life Insurance Conference. “Middle market will be the growth engine for the future,” said Thomas M. Marra, president and CEO, Symetra Financial Corp. “Companies will need to return to the basics of life insurance to reach this market. With estate taxes at $5 million and $10 million for one person or a couple, opportunity in the affluent market will be diminished. The days of hunting elephants are probably over.” J. Eric Smith, president, USAA Life Insurance Company, added “Leveraging technology will be the differentiator to capture more market share — especially will younger consumers. Building a strong dot.com space and using social networking site will fuel future growth.” The panel, moderated by Robert A. Kerzner, president an Read more…
CATHERINE RAMPELL
Dollars to doughnuts.
Ive suggested several different explanations for why the jobs crisis has gotten so little attention in Washington, especially compared to the deficit. In response, a lot of frustrated readers e-mailed me to argue that Id left out one other explanation: the media. Major news organizations have devoted much more air time, ink and pixels to Americas debt concerns than to the 14-million-person army of jobless workers, they argued.
As a reader named Cindy writes:
If any of these big media conglomerates really cared about the millions of people that are being tossed like road kill, they would be doing something to help us organize and give us the coverage we need to be heard once and for all.
Another reader, Virgil, writes:
People hear in the media that it is not that bad out there, so they turn on their friends that are unemployed and call them deadbeats and state that their taxes are so high because they have to pay for those that wont get a job.
Complaints about media coverage do appear to be supported by a cursory review of articles from the last two years.
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