IBAS

Registration is now open for the second annual Saskatchewan Summit of Young Insurance Professionals, Thursday, April 4, from 10:30 a.m. –  4:45 p.m. (reception to follow until 6:30 p.m.), at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel in Saskatoon.

This interactive forum brings together more than 120 brokers, underwriters, adjusters, and other insurance stakeholders at similar stages of their careers for a packed day of relationship-building, professional development, and best practices sharing.

Thanks to our Presenting Partners, Wawanesa Insurance and SGI CANADA, there is absolutely no cost to attend. Last year, however, the event filled up quickly, so reserve your spot early — space is limited!

Click here for more information or to register.

In today’s competitive marketplace, knowledge can make all the difference. As insurance brokers, it’s no longer enough to be experts only in insurance — you must now understand industry and economic trends, customer behaviour, and what’s coming on the horizon to maximize both individual performance and brokerage profitability.

That’s why IBAS is proud to launch the new Broker Insights Roundtable Series: Quarterly events aimed at bringing together mid- to senior-level brokers and brokerage principals to share best practices and learn from thought leaders on pertinent areas of interest. Each two-hour session will include a presentation from a subject matter expert, followed by a facilitated roundtable discussion.

THE NEXT ROUNDTABLE

The State of the Greater Saskatoon Housing Market

Chris Guerette, CEO of the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association, will walk attendees through trends in new construction, land use, real estate sales, rental rates, and the overall housing market. Roundtable participants will also discuss impacts related to overland flooding, and how home insurance products must evolve to meet demand.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019
9 – 11 a.m.
Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association Boardroom
#11 – 102 Cope Crescent, Saskatoon

Seating for this event is limited to 16 participants.

Click here to register.

IBAS is pleased to announce an exciting change to its errors and omissions (E&O) member insurance program.

Effective November 1, IBAS will be joining forces with the Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta to launch Sage Advisor Resources in Saskatchewan. This new partnership will replace IBAS’s for-profit entity, IBCO Services Ltd., and will assume the management of existing IBCO clients.

Why the change?

After 13 years on the job, longtime E&O Manager Earl Garratt will begin his well-deserved retirement from IBAS after October 31. This has presented both a challenge and an opportunity for IBAS to fill Earl’s (very big) shoes, grow the book of business, and add additional staff to enhance customer service.

What will stay the same?

If you are already a policyholder, not much will change. Westport Insurance Corporation — a subsidiary of Swiss Re — will continue to underwrite the program. Profits generated will continue to support IBAS activities in the province. And, the high level of expertise and customized service you have come to expect will stay the same.

What will be different?

Apart from a new name and logo, we are pleased to introduce two new representatives who will be the E&O insurance points-of-contact for IBAS members. Going forward, Kelly Duncan (kduncan@sageresource.ca) will be the main go-to for existing policyholders, while any IBAS member wishing to obtain a no-obligation quote is encouraged to contact Karen Bushie (kbushie@sageresource.ca). Karen is happy to sit down with you directly at your brokerage to discuss your E&O insurance needs — with no obligation!

Why does IBAS have an E&O program?

Like every provincial broker association across Canada, IBAS offers E&O insurance as an exclusive member service. There are three main reasons members choose us for their E&O needs:

1. Affordable, superior coverage options from both a carrier and program administrator that know the brokerage business inside and out;
2. Any commission earned supports the important work of IBAS, and reduces the association’s dependency on membership dues; and
3. Sensitive brokerage information required for enrolling in E&O insurance, such as finances, remains with a trusted, neutral third-party.

Where do I call?

Phone Sage Advisor Resources toll-free at 1-800-318-0197 ext. 100.

On November 1, 2018, new federal regulations will come into force that will require all organizations, including insurance brokers, to report breaches of security safeguards that pose a real risk of significant harm to individuals to the Privacy Commissioner and any individuals affected.

It will also require brokers to keep records (for a minimum period of 24 months) of all security safeguard breaches, regardless of whether they pose real risk of significant harm, or if they were reported to the Privacy Commissioner or individuals affected. These new data breach notification rules are required under the Digital Privacy Act, 2015, which amended the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

In response to these changes, IBAS and the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada have produced a guide to inform brokers of the new requirements, including reporting and storing requirements. It can be accessed by clicking here.

This information is also applicable to brokers’ commercial clients, and is free to be shared accordingly. Every broker, however, is unique — and any information provided in this guide must be considered in the context of your individual situation. This guide, including attachments and links, is not intended as legal advice. You should consult your individual legal advisors when considering these contents and when setting up your own systems of monitoring, reporting, and record-keeping.

The 2018 IBAS Annual Report is now available. Click on the cover below to access a digital version (PDF). Hard copies will also be available at the 2018 IBAS Annual General Meeting, October 11 in Regina.

In conjunction with the launch of the new national BIPPER logo on September 4, IBAS has updated its own corporate branding collateral. This includes the launch of a new IBAS logo (below) and the removal of the apostrophe from our name (becoming the last insurance brokers association in Canada to do so). A new website will also be coming in 2019. Please direct any questions to IBAS CEO Derek Lothian at derek.lothian@ibas.ca.

On September 4, the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) introduced its new Broker Identity Program (BIP) branding — along with the new BIPPER logo — and national advertising campaign.

The BIPPER was created in 1988 as part of a national effort to promote the role of the insurance broker as a qualified professional who works for the insurance consumer, providing unbiased advice, choice, and customer service. Since then, the magenta BIPPER has garnered strong brand awareness and has become a widely-recognized symbol that consumers associate with trust, security, and integrity.

“After 30 years of success, we are refreshing the logo to be more contemporary,” says IBAC CEO Peter Braid. “We are not tampering with our hard-earned brand equity — it’s an evolution, not a re-creation. The new logo will be easily recognizable and familiar, with the same classic colour, and the public will see both designs coexisting as brokers transition to the updated version.”

At the same time, small adjustments create a bold, modern feel. The new logo conveys strength and stability. It is confident and dynamic, like the 38,000 brokers that it represents.

“Our logo refresh is an opportunity to reinvigorate our brand, boost recognition, and encourage consumers to take another look,” adds Braid. “What hasn’t changed is the message it conveys, that insurance brokers are part of an association of professionals who put consumers’ interests first.”

The new logo is being launched along with IBAC’s new creative platform, ‘Before the Quote,’ which reminds consumers about the importance of getting the right insurance advice to ensure the right coverage.

Learn more at www.ibac.ca.

We need your input!

The last year at the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Saskatchewan (IBAS) has been all about change. And while much of it has been positive, we recognize there is a lot of important work yet to do.

Part of that process is better understanding the challenges you are facing and how IBAS can add value, which is why we have launched the 2018 IBAS Broker Issues Survey.

If you are a licensed broker or brokerage principal in the Province of Saskatchewan, please take 15-20 minutes to complete the following questionnaire no later than Friday, September 29: Click here to start.

This is not a short survey, but it will be the only comprehensive one we ask you to do this year. Your voice is paramount to the development of policy positions, educational programs, and member services that truly reflect your needs.

Please note that your responses will remain strictly anonymous. The results, meanwhile, will be first shared in a summary presentation at our upcoming AGM during the IBAS Convention in October.

Thank you in advance for your ongoing support. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at (306) 380-3765 or by e-mail at derek.lothian@ibas.ca.

Sincerely,

Derek Lothian
Chief Executive Officer
Insurance Brokers’ Association of Saskatchewan

Voting is now open for election to the Saskatchewan Young Brokers Network (YBN) Executive Committee. This year, there are seven candidates who have allowed their names to stand for up to three vacant positions — each for a term of two years. Their names and biographies can be found here.

If you are a YBN member in good standing, you are eligible to vote for up to three of these candidates. The deadline for voting is 5 p.m. on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Click here for full voting instructions and to submit your vote.

If you experience technical difficulties, or if you have questions, please contact IBAS CEO Derek Lothian at derek.lothian@ibas.ca or (306) 380-3765. For more information about the YBN and its governance model, visit their webpage or refer to the YBN Terms of Reference.

Thank you to the 130-plus golfers and sponsors who came out for the 2018 IBAS Golf Tournament, which was held June 19 at the Willows Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon. This year’s trophy — presented by Midwest Claims Services — went to the team of Les Fedorak, Gail Fedorak, Zac Fedorak, and Wilf Penner. $1,670 was raised for the Saskatchewan branch of the MS Society of Canada.