FEBUARY 8 / 2018

NetVU Knowledge
 

NetVU

 

Education

 

Chapters

 

NCOM

 

Partners

Get the latest news, chapter events, webinars, and much more. | 

NetVU Redesigns Newsflash, Knowledge Newsletters to Better Serve Its Members

At NetVU, we’re constantly evolving to better serve our members and live into our mission of providing innovative ideas to fully leverage everything Vertafore has to offer. That includes our flagship newsletters, NetVU Newsflash and NetVU Knowledge, which have been redesigned with this issue of the Newsflash.

In addition to a fresh new look, the publication dates are changing: NetVU Newsflash will be published the first Thursday of each month. NetVU Knowledge will appear the remaining Thursdays of the month. That means each week, you’ll receive the most up-to-date information on NetVU’s offerings, especially in the education area.

The Newsflash retains its focus on NetVU, Vertafore and industry news. The new tagline will be “Tips, Tricks & Events for Users of Vertafore Products.” Hillarie Holcomb, NetVU marketing manager, says, “We plan to include articles that celebrate our members as well show how our resources can help them. We will also continue to feature articles from NetVU partners.”

Holcomb says NetVU Knowledge will be changing the most. “We’re transforming it from a newsletter featuring education stories to a weekly update of upcoming chapter meetings, webinars, trending education and the latest NetVU education recordings,” she says. “You’ll find in one place all that’s going on in NetVU education, delivered on the second, third and fourth Thursdays of the month.”

These changes are the result of “a rethinking of NetVU’s communications to more fully understand what members need and expect in their publications,” Holcomb explains. A readership survey revealed that members are more interested in learning about upcoming education events than reading about what has already occurred, hence the new focus on upcoming meetings and classes, delivered on a weekly basis. The new Knowledge newsletter will look ahead three or four weeks but also will list the top-trending webinars that are available for members to watch. 

Both newsletters will have new layouts with engaging designs that are easy to read across all types of digital platforms. They’re also being produced with new software that allows NetVU to measure open and click-through rates. “This will allow us to gauge interest in individual topics and develop new articles that better meet our members’ needs,” Holcomb says.

Please let us know how you like our redesigned newsletters, so we can continue to make improvements and provide the information you need to maximize productivity in your office.

BitCoin - RPost
 

Has BitCoin Become Mainstream?

The lure of remarketing may kill anonymity in crypto-currency transactions. Online shoppers paying with Bitcoin may have been expecting this crypto-currency to shield their identity. They may be disappointed to learn that merchants are not protecting their identity. In some cases, they are even selling it. A recent Princeton University study revealed that Bitcoin transactions can be tracked through a combination of cookies, third party tracking software and merchant data. Some merchants are selling the information to third-parties including advertisers.[1]

With transactions (apparently) routinely tracked, Bitcoin may now be less attractive to criminals and more attractive to legitimate businesses. Regulators, investors and consumers have been skeptical about the safety of Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies because they can be used by criminals to purchase illegal goods, like drugs or weapons, or to launder money. It’s also the currency of choice for ransomware attacks including the Wanna Cry attack in May of 2017. [2

In fact, law enforcement now uses Bitcoin as a tool to prosecute criminals. “If you catch a dealer with drugs and cash on the street, you’ve caught them committing one crime,” says Sarah Meiklejohn, a computer scientist at University College London. “But if you catch people using something like Silk Road, you’ve uncovered their whole criminal history,” she says. “It’s like discovering their books.”[3(Silk Road was an online black market that was shut down in 2013.)

Cybersecurity presents a risk. Crypto-currency hack attacks are a growing threat. They have involved many crypto-currencies including Bitcoin, Ether, Ripple and Monero. Thousands of attacks have been reported to the FTC. Victims include prominent blockchain investors, early Bitcoin users and crypto-currency executives.[4]

Joby Weeks, a Bitcoin entrepreneur, lost about a million dollars in virtual currency after his cell phone number was stolen. The attacker knew Week’s mobile number and he convinced a Verizon rep to switch Week’s account to the attacker’s mobile phone. If you have linked your crypto - currency account to your cell phone, you could be vulnerable to this type of attack. It only takes a few minutes for a criminal to empty your crypto-currency accounts once they take over your phone.[5]

Will the FDIC or other insurers eventually get into the market of insuring crypto-currency bank accounts? As more legitimate businesses start to use crypto-currency, there may be more pressure to create protections for account holders. Account insurance could be one avenue for this. Central banks may also attempt to regulate crypto-currency markets. Many governments are still determining how they will govern Bitcoin transacations within their borders and the role of crypto - currencies in their economy. After all, Bitcoin it is still primarily a currency speculators' marketplace.

Stay tuned as we continue to watch the market for crypto-currencies, which today amazingly has a market value of about $150 billion, according to Coin Market Cap.

 

NetVU Awards - The Best Kind of Thank You

The Best Kind of Thank You: NetVU Chapter Awards Program Opens

Nominations are now being taken for two exclusive NetVU Chapter awards, prior to the March 16, 2018, deadline:

Chapter of the Year Award     |     Phoenix Award

Chapter awards are presented by NetVU to Chapters who embody the dedication and commitment it takes to represent NetVU’s mission. “Chapters are built and managed by our volunteer NetVU members,” commented Lauren Crosby, Chapter Coordinator. “When you attend a Chapter meeting, you’re participating in the true knowledge sharing between Vertafore product users that’s at the heart of NetVU.”

It is intended to recognize Chapters for providing outstanding volunteer service to NetVU and our community of members during the past year through leading by example and through results. Criteria to consider includes:

  • Support of NetVU mission
  • Regular communication with Chapter members to promote shared goals
  • Strong relationships with NetVU, Vertafore, and other Chapters
  • Participation on NCOM, The NetVU Community 
  • Involvement within local community and/or insurance industry
  • Growth in the following areas:
    • Engagement of new user presenters and volunteers
    • Increased number of meeting attendees and/or meetings
    • Development of new Chapter leaders

Winners of both awards will be announced at the 2018 Awards Gala at Accelerate, Powered by NetVU.

Chapter of the Year Award

The purpose of the award is to recognize a Chapter that has grown and is outstanding in every way. Recent Past Winners:
Michigan NetVU Group, NetVU New England, WorkSmart Virtual Chapter, Georgia NetVU Group, U - VU Ohio Chapter

Phoenix Award

The purpose of the award is to recognize the most improved Chapter over the past year, growing in their service to NetVU members.

Recent Past Winners:
BenefitPoint Users Group, Golden State NetVU Chapter, MidAmerica User Group, Long Island NetVU, SoCal Valley NetVU Users Group, Rocky Mountain VU

For more information about NetVU Chapters or to find your Chapter, click here or contact [email protected]



      

Get a Jump on Accelerate, Powered by NetVU, with Our Early-Bird Rates

How can you save $125? Register now for Accelerate, powered by NetVU. The industry’s largest gathering of Vertafore users and industry professionals will be held May 17 – 19 in Atlanta. Accelerate, powered by NetVU, will accelerate your firm’s productivity and profitability to higher levels.

Registration is easy, and open to both members and nonmembers. But the early-bird rate for the standard registration fee ends on Feb. 15. “No other meeting has the learning, idea sharing and energy of a NetVU conference,” says Barb Dale, CPIW, CISR, CPCU, past chairman of NetVU and this year’s conference chairman. “So many of the improvements we’ve made in our agency management system can be traced back to something I learned at a NetVU conference. I always come away with a ton of new ideas for our office and a bunch of new contacts I can call for advice.”

Dale shares highlights for this year’s cutting - edge conference:

  • Over 200 education sessions. 
  • Eight different tracks will cover all the major Vertafore products. From tips and tricks to optimizing systems and improving work flows, there’s something for everyone in your office.
  • An exhibit hall with over 100 vendors. Talk to Vertafore experts, attend product demonstrations and experience firsthand the latest in systems technology.
  • Peer-to-peer networking opportunities. At meetings, receptions, breakfasts and lunches, connect with fellow users who use the same Vertafore products you do. 
  • An amazing host city and downtown area. Restaurants, shops and sights are just minutes from the four conference hotels and the convention center.
  • The fun and friendships you’ve come to expect at a NetVU conference. This year’s Friday night entertainment is the Vertafore End Zone Celebration at the College Football Hall of Fame.

Our four conference hotels are within walking distance of our conference site, the Georgia World Congress Center, in the heart of downtown Atlanta. At this website, you can access hotel descriptions, prices, booking and conference regitrastration. Book your room early to get the best accommodations.

So get ready to Accelerate in Atlanta. Register today! 

REGISTER NOW

This Months top webinars

Virtual Meetings & Education You Shouldn't Miss

It can be challenging to fit local user group meetings into your schedule, but NetVU Chapters, Education, and Partners are here to help.  Our user group volunteers have been working hard to provide virtual opportunities on the latest hot topics to help you better utilize your Vertafore system.

The best part of these virtual meetings is that they’re open to all NetVU members so you can connect to other users and education that you might not normally have access to for a local meeting!

View our Meetings & Events Calendar, and Register Now.

Tuesday, 2/6 at 1:00 p.m. Central – ImageRight Tips & Tricks         

Join us for our quarterly ImageRight NetVU Chapter Meeting.  Your Chapter Leaders will share their best kept ImageRight secrets for Sagitta users, AMS360 users, carriers, and MGAs.

Thursday, 2/8 at 2:00 p.m. Central – Renewal List Tool        

Join Windy City NetVU for a webinar to kick off 2018!  Michael Trouillon of Insurance Agency Automation Associates will explain how to use the AMS360 Renewal List Tool and My Expiring Policies panel to seamlessly manage renewals from start to finish.

Thursday, 2/8 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern – Vertafore eForms; They Are A-Changin'    

Join Long Island NetVU and Jones & Wenner Insurance's Joyce Sigler, CISR, CPIW, CPIA, NcAM for our winter webinar on Vertafore eForms for AMS360 users!  Learn how to create, edit, assemble and generate ACORD documents from Vertafore eForms.  We'll also share how eForms are changing. 

Wednesday, 2/14 at 10:30 a.m. Central – Making Download Work for You - Part 2

Come back to Part 2 – where you’ll learn how to include the information found in the download reports in your written plan, and ask any questions that have come up during your review of download in your agency and your implementation of your agency’s written plan.

NetVU offers monthly download webinars.  Stay tuned to our Meetings & Events Calendar for details on the next webinar.

Thursday, 2/15 at 1:30 p.m. Central – AMS360 Accounting Chapter Meeting        

Join the AMS360 Accounting Chapter for our quarterly meeting!    

Tuesday, 2/27 at 1:00 p.m. Central – Best Practices for Communicating with Insureds While Protecting Your Agency, presented by The Kotter Group

This webinar will share best practices to give agencies a competitive advantage.  Relationships matter, and by communicating with insureds in the ways they prefer, sets agencies above the direct writers and the local competition.  In addition, attendees will learn about Bridge, the powerful new communications platform built by agents for agents.    

View our Meetings & Events Calendar, and Register Now.




What Community Can Do For You - NCOM

What is PM&E & How Can I Get Involved?

Have you ever wondered how Vertafore products get updated?

Whenever there’s an enhancement to a Vertafore product, chances are a group of NetVU volunteers has been hard at work — reviewing suggestions made by users like you and collaborating with Vertafore product managers to make changes that benefit us all. 

NetVU advocates for these changes through its Product Maintenance and Enhancement (PM&E) Work Groups. Currently, there are Product Maintenance and Enhancement Work Groups for AMS360, Sagitta, BenefitPoint, ImageRight, AIM and VPI. Over 100 NetVU volunteers serve in these groups, which meet at least monthly to review and consider recommendations for improving the products and systems NetVU members use. 

“Getting involved in a PM&E Work Group is a great way to support the products we rely on every day,” says Jim Helton, Gulfshore Insurance, Naples, Florida, leader of the ImageRight Work Group. “It not only gets you a sneak peek at what’s coming, but also gives you the opportunity to help make the products better.” 

How It Works 

The work groups collaborate with Vertafore product managers to gather suggestions from users on how to improve systems, with the goal of maximizing efficiency and productivity for all users. 

“The work group will determine if user feedback should be implemented in future releases or passed to the education work groups to share knowledge about workflow with other users,” explains Melissa Bond, NetVU member relations manager. “Volunteers in our work groups commit to participate in monthly virtual meetings as well as an face-to-face meetings for some groups.” 

The work groups use the Ideas tool to review and prioritize enhancements and provide feedback to Vertafore. Ideas is a forum that allows NetVU and Vertafore to share information and collaborate on future releases. 

“We take great care to make sure that each idea is reviewed,” says Angela Minutaglio, Marsh & McLennan Agency, Somerset, New Jersey, the BenefitPoint Work Group leader. The group reviews the top ideas for the year based on voting and presents them to the BenefitPoint development team. Minutaglio adds, “We’re committed to meeting twice a month via phone to review ideas; discuss the system releases; give feedback on development issues, changes and updates; and view mockups in test systems.” 

Wanted: New Members  

Dawn Mathews, AINS, AIS, CPCU, CPIW, IMA Financial Group Inc., Wichita, Kansas, chairs the Sagitta Work Group. It meets virtually twice a month with Bruce Westman, Vertafore’s Sagitta product manager, to review Ideas feedback and upcoming releases. 

“We are always looking for new members who can bring new insights to our group,” she says. “We strive for a diversified membership from all areas of an agency — IT, systems, client service, accounting, training and more.” 

Kevin Dickmann, Tolman & Wiker Insurance Services LLC, Ventura, California, is a member of the AMS360 Work Group. “Being in a PM&E group helps to get your voice heard,” he says. “Several things happen at each meeting you attend. You meet a great group of people who have the same interest as you. You almost always learn something new, and you can help shape the product.” 

To get involved in one of NetVU’s Product Maintenance and Enhancement Work Groups, contact Melissa Bond at [email protected]. Learn more about Ideas and how to provide feedback on the Ideas page of NetVU’s website. 

 

 

 

Tips and Tricks from NCOM

Work Distribution

How are you setting up sole proprietor clients in your system?

 

| Read More |

4-Day Work Week

Does anyone have a 4-day work week option at their agency?

 

| Read More |

Diary vs Task

Diary vs Task: Do you use both, and if so how?

 

| Read More |

NetVU Partners

 

FOUNDING PARTNER

2018 Founding NetVU Partner
 
Vertafore
 
 

PLATINUM PARTNER

2018 Platinum Partner
 

Imperial PFS

The Rough Notes Company

 

 
 

GOLD PARTNERS

Gold Corporate Partner
 
App River
 
EMC INSURANCE
 
The Hartford
 
Travelers
 
Nationwide
 
 

SILVER PARTNERS

2018 Silver Corporate Partners
 

ACORD

 

ANGELA ADAMS CONSULTING

 

ARCHWAY COMPUTERS

 

AVYST

 

BANKDIRECT CAPITAL

 

BRIGHTFIRE

 

CHUBB

 

CINCINNATI INSURANCE COMPANY

 

CORELOGIC

EPAY POLICY

 

THE HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP

 

INSURESIGN

 

IVANS

 

THE KOTTER GROUP

 

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE

 

LINCHPIN-IT

 

MOTORISTS INSURANCE GROUP

 

OMNIA

 

PROGRESSIVE

 

QUIKER

 

RPOST

 

SELECTIVE

 

TRUSTEDCHOICE.COM

 

WAHVE

 

WESTFIELD