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iTech Dunya is a technology blog that specializes in tech-related topics.Our GOAL is to produce high-quality content for our millions of readers.
Future of IT in the Automotive Industry
When we talk about IT in the automotive industry, we fall into the trap (much like the confusion with how Asian OEMs define vehicle IT) of talking about the connected car alone. The bigger trend here that we are trying to uncover through our newly launched research program titled “Automotive IT” is how this concept of digitization (connected, multi-device, data-generating and thus ripe for big data programs) is impacting many functions across the automotive space ranging from the vehicle retail and ownership experience to launching new shared mobility programs. My colleague Niranjan based with me in our Detroit office is heading this new program and we are currently working on a number of interesting topics in this space.
There are a few important trends to begin with here but key is that IT investments in the automotive industry are not just about day to day operational efficiencies anymore, they are increasingly being tied to business objectives
  • Bringing the retail experience into the 21st century. This largely defined as moving from Brick to bricks and clicks and is not just about opening lifestyle stores in cities like the Audi City showroom in London.
    • It also involves digitizing the customer engagement process and where augmented reality apps, digital screens and the newest Volvo Microsoft HoloLens immersive project all comes in. It is also about digitizing the long and boring pages of owner manuals (a market where vendors like Tweedle Automotive are supporting OEMs such as FCA on digital owner manuals).
    • Bringing in new car configurator portals that can be tailored to mobile and web. This is where Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz are trying to bring a new wave. Augmented reality apps (limited experience) to immersive options like Volvo (full scale) are emerging here. But most of these are limited to luxury OEMs and newer brands like Hyundai who are keen to capture market share.
    • Taking a leaf out of Apple and introducing the concept of hiring “product geniuses”. BMW has already started this in full scale and has an ambitious plan of hiring 1000 such individuals (young tech savvy folks) who are merely trained to explain features and the vehicle to probable customers and not push sales. All the other luxury brands have similar ambitions and even GM tried this for Cadillac and now for other brands after the introduction of LTE (20 somethings product geniuses). This is again a new investment area and a highly relevant one given the increasing tech content in cars and an area where OEMs will atleast be able to convince big franchisee dealers in the US.
    • Web equivalent of lifestyle stores like the “Mercedes Me” concept. This platform that is offered by Mercedes came as a result of their “best customer experience” 2020 team that is a cross functional team including telematics engineers, sales and marketing folks, finance folks and so on. One look at this and we can understand that the concept here is to engage potential customers and existing customers with a slew of offers clubbed into connect, assist, finance, inspire and move me that offers everything from leasing to finance to Car2Go car sharing service to connected services like diagnostics health check and maintenance alerts. The concept that came into the web in the same shape as the lifestyle store in Hamburg hopes to connect with the new gen customers.
    • So very clearly just between these few trends there is massive dollars going into investment on wearables, new mobile and web platforms, new car configurator ideas, etc. Apart from this expect a good amount of investment moving away from the traditional dealer management systems into more dynamic CRM systems that can offer much more potential to engage with the customer over the vehicle lifecycle using the connected car as a central platform (Nissan Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Azure partnership for DMS systems is a good example)
  • Building new services for the vehicle and user with a focus on harnessing big data platforms. This is where OnStar prognostics to pushing contextual offers/coupons to building app stores and payment platforms/wallets (for example in the SAP vehicle network users can pay for parking through Samsung Pay) in the vehicle. This is the use case for pushing internet and cloud to the vehicle and this is where use cases around connected living (nest Mercedes example), connected health and safety come in. All of these will come at a certain investment but our belief is that they will be solid revenue streams in the medium term.
  • Another major area where most German OEMs are pumping billions and others on the average 3-5% of their turnover is digitizing the manufacturing space or Industrie 4.0. OEMs like BMW have a six pillar definition of this and players like Siemens are highly active here. This is not just process improvement but given the migration of most OEMs to unified global vehicle platforms, it is also about meeting business goals. Again this is where CIO’s and COO’s are equal stakeholders with the quality departments as well.
  • Launching new mobility initiatives is not just about business models or a use case for alternative fuel vehicles but more about comprehensive models that push driving or mobility as a service. This is where Faraday Future, the next disruptor after Tesla is looking to innovate in the market. This is also closely linked to use cases on building new services for the vehicle/user and pumping investment dollars into new payment platforms and big data SaaS models.
  • A big area where 3-5% costs will increase for OEMs depending on the approach is Cybersecurity. While the focus currently is just on intrusion prevention systems or hack mitigation systems, there is a wider approach required to enable an integrated model that ensures hardware, software, network and cloud security (What giants like McAfee are preaching). There also needs to be an approach for data privacy, security and retention policies and all of these in conjunction will define OEM cybersecurity investments. And despite more than 10 qualified startup or specialist Cybersecurity vendors, for most OEMs this is still a learning game.
As you can see, IT in this industry is not about the next design tool, prototyping tool or pushing more dollars into bringing high speed connectivity in the vehicle. It is about realizing business objectives ranging from improving market share to generating more revenue per user and improving the overall security architecture (security ranks number 1 to 2 in terms of concerns of most CIO’s).
Again, me and my team would love to speak to you if you want to know more about this research program. You can reach me at cpraveen@frost.com
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Aetna Buys Humana for $37 Billion

The history of managed care really starts when the troops came back from World War II.  Up to this point virtually all medical care was paid for by the patient.

In 1948, there was virtually no insurance for physician care and very limited insurance available for hospital care.  There was no Medicare or Medicaid, so if you got sick and you could not pay for medical care, your family's next call was for the undertaker. The first real real managed care plans (i am using health care insurance company and managed care interchangeably) were provided by the Blue Cross plans for hospital care and  Blue Shield plans for physician care.

Medicare and Medicaid were formed on July 30th of 1965.  The federal government needed someone to administer claims and payments for these programs and they signed contracts with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Associations.  The "Blues," as they came to be called, were  a natural fit. As non profit companies, they were seen as an extension of federal government.

Medicare and Medicaid started out as a much smaller part of a hospital's or physician's business than they are today.  This is in part because Medicare coverage starts at 65 years of age and the average life expectancy was around 66 when Medicare and Medicaid were created (wow times have changed). It was also much more difficult to qualify for Medicaid. Each state had to agree to create a Medicaid plan and many did not, Arizona was the last state to enter Medicaid in 1982.  Also, it was much harder to qualify for Medicaid as the initial the view of who should be covered by Medicaid was much narrower than it is today.

In 1994,  the Blues decide to allow for profit companies to license the Blue Cross and Blue Shield name. The market power and market share for the Blues and companies licensing the name have continued to shrink over the years.

In the early 1980's, when I started in healthcare, hospitals and physicians had four basic buckets in their patient mix. They had Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross and private pay.  Private pay included most of the other health insurance payers as "indemnity" providers that paid 80 percent of charges, leaving the patient to pay the remaining 20 percent.

Now enters Humana.  Humana was at it's inception in 1960 a healthcare chain of hospitals and nursing homes.  They owned and operated one of the largest  chains of hospitals and nursing homes in the country.  In 1984 they started selling health insurance.  In 1993 they sold 73 of their hospitals to the Hospital Corporation of America.  Humana wanted to focus on the insurance business.

In 2003 the Medicare Modernization Act overhauled a failing program to create a behemoth and Humana's largest group of enrolled beneficiaries now.  In 1997 Medicare had created the Medicare + Choice program as a voluntary replacement to standard Medicare.  It failed, mainly because of low rates paid by Medicare to managed care  companies.  In 2003 this program was renamed Medicare Advantage and it took off.  Close to 30 percent of all Medicare members in the country are now enrolled in in Medicare Advantage.

Aetna is an old company that got its start as Aetna Fire Insurance.  They have been involved in healthcare for a long time.  They were functioning as a Medicare fiscal intermediary when I got into healthcare in 1981 for a small number of providers.  In the late 1990s, Aetna bought heavily in the healthcare market, acquiring US Healthcare and number of smaller plans.  In an effort to increase profits, they dramatically raised rates on members and ended up losing over 8 million covered lives.

Aetna still wanted to get larger traction in the healthcare market and appears to be doing it the way they always have,  they bought big.  They are hoping that economies of scale will work in their favor.  They certainly hope history does not repeat itself.

If you ask most hospitals or physician groups what their current mix of patients looks like,  it will most likely be around 30 percent standard Medicare, 15 percent Medicaid, 20 percent Medicare Advantage 25 percent other contracted managed care plans and 10 percent self pay.  Of the Medicare Advantage, the lion share is usually split between Humana and United Healthcare.  With the survival of Obamacare,  it appears that Medicaid will pick up some of the self pay, but also pull some from the other managed care category.   The winners in the managed care arena will be able to profitably service Medicare Advantage, profitably offer insurance in the Obamacare arena  and hold onto a portion of the potentially shrinking pie of people insured outside of Obamacare, Medicare and Medicaid.

This is the first, but definitely not the last, of these mergers and acquisitions.  I am reminded of the story of Alexander the Great on his deathbed.  The story went that when asked who would lead after him, he simply said the strongest.

Timothy Powell, CPA

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Timothy Powell

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Benefits of Auto Insurance 2016

Benefits of Auto Insurance 2016
Motor vehicle is a potential threat for the driver, passengers as well as for the pedestrians. It can cause damage to third party as well as your property. So you should consider the possible problem and hassle that you may face when you own a car. Thus, there is responsibility on the owner the others as well as own health and property. Insurance laws are made keeping this in mind and it is mandatory that every car owner to insure themselves as well as their vehicles. They can go for various types of insurances like seized car insurance and others.

Protect yourself from financial hazard


 Car insurance like impounded car insurance is meant to protect you against the financial hazard that you face in an accident. Everyone cannot afford the expenses of the damage and legal issues that unfold due to an accident. Trying to pay all of it can make you bankrupt.

 Many people follow the rigorous laws that are meant for the safety of the drivers so do they still need to be insured? If a person has always made sure to wear seat belts, breaking well on time, not rushing or maintaining the gap between his car with others, who should he need a car insurance? The answer is simple, no matter how careful you are behind the wheel it is not enough to ensure that you do not meet an accident. There are different kinds of people on road and everyone is not maintaining the laws so you can have to pay for his sins. Accidental damages cost is very high and if you have to pay the whole of it from your own pocket can cost you badly.  Thus car insurance can reduce the pressure and come to your aid.

Other reasons to go for car insurance


 There are more reasons for car insurance. If a pedestrian is careless and hi/ her carelessness causes an accident that leads to death of the pedestrian or some damage to the property nearby then with an insurance the driver or owner has to pay every bit of money by himself which will obviously be difficult for anyone.  This kind of damage of property or some other human being will always involve legal procedure which is equally expensive. All such expenses are covered if you have done car insurance beforehand.

 The above points make it clear that car insurance is important and mandatory. So if you own a car it is your duty to get a car insurance. Just compare the available options over the internet and save yourself from sudden hassles.
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Auto Insurance Coverage
Has your agent ever taken the time to explain to you
what your limits of liability are in California?  The most important thing to know is this: if you carry limits of liability that are not high enough you will leave yourself open to trouble.  What this means to you is that if you hit a car and your property damage coverage is not enough, or your liability is not enough, they can file a lawsuit against you and ask the court to garnish up to 70% of your income, take your home, college planning accounts and so on.  Make sure you have enough coverage and get a different agent if yours sold you a policy with low limits of liability.
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Dealing with the Insurance Company After an Accident
Car insurance is an integral part of recovering after an accident. Without insurance, you may not be able to recover money for your hospitals bills, or repair damaged property. However, just because you pay your insurance company to reimburse you for your losses, do not assume that your insurance company—or the other driver’s insurance company—has your best interests in mind.

Before you speak with any insurance company, speak with an attorney first. The Pennsylvania and New Jersey personal injury attorneys at PollackSteinberg, LLP, can help you protect your rights after an accident, and will keep unscrupulous insurance adjusters from taking advantage of you and your family.

What You Should Say To an Insurance Adjuster


After an accident, you have a responsibility to contact your insurance company and let them know about the collision. The other driver also has this responsibility, but you cannot rely solely on someone else’s actions, especially if the accident was that person’s fault.

When you speak with your insurance company, be brief and give them the contact information for the other driver, as well as the name of that person’s insurance company if you know it. It is important to speak with an attorney before you given them any other details.  Once you have an attorney, refer any questions to your lawyer who will negotiate with them on your behalf.  At PollackSteinberg, LLP, the knowledgeable accident lawyers and staff will report the claim for you and make sure the insurance company gets that information necessary to protect your rights.

What Not to Say to an Insurance Adjuster


While not every insurance adjuster is out to deny reasonable claims, every insurance company is in the business of making money. If every claim were approved, the company wouldn’t be profitable. For that reason, sometimes claims are denied for little or no reason.

If you need to have a conversation with your insurance company, always be mindful of what you say. Never agree to give a formal statement or sign any documents without speaking with an attorney first. Be aware that seemingly innocent comments, like “The accident occurred on a nice, sunny day,” can be misconstrued to make the accident seem like your fault because you were blinded by the sun.

Additionally, never agree to take a settlement for your claim without speaking to a Pennsylvania or New Jersey injury lawyer. Sometimes, just having an attorney on your side will significantly increase the amount of money that your insurance company is willing to provide in a settlement. Other times, you may not be aware that you are entitled to additional compensation like payments for physical therapy or future medical treatment.

If you sign a settlement with your insurance company, you will not be able to change your mind and file a lawsuit later. Before you agree to give up important rights, make sure that you are protected.

The attorneys at PollackSteinberg LLP offer free consultations to injured people and their families. We will evaluate your case, and let you know what your legal options are, whether that means a negotiated settlement or a lawsuit. We take cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning there is no charge to you unless we win.   At PollackSteinberg, LLP, we fight for people seriously injured by 18 wheelers, cars and trucks, as well as from other personal injury incidents, because insurance companies won’t protect you.
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iTech Dunya is a technology blog that specializes in tech-related topics.Our GOAL is to produce high-quality content for our millions of readers.
We put in a lot of efforts to plan a vacation abroad, But, what if you got sick and injured while travelling in a foreign country or happen to lose your baggage? The sudden financial requirements that would pop-up due to such unexpected events will leave you in a worse situation.

To make your trip a safe and peaceful experience, investing on a travel insurance policy is a must. It covers you in unforeseen situations such as emergency evacuation, cancellation of the trip, loss your baggage or passport and enables you to explore and enjoy new destinations with complete peace of mind.

HDFC ERGO, one of the leading general insurance companies in India, offers a wide range of travel insurance plans that cover both the business and leisure travel. The company aims to make your overseas travel stress-free and enjoyable one and that too at an affordable cost.

However, buying HDFC ERGO travel insurance plan is not enough, here’re a few other important factors, you need to pay attention to-to make sure you’re getting the most from your HDFC-ERGO travel insurance:

Read the certification of coverage: Carrying a travel insurance plan without knowing its details will not benefit you in any case. Therefore, it is wise to know the details of your policy. Read it when you buy the plan and highlight portions that you feel are the most important to you. That way, if you have to file a claim, you can simply refer to your certificate of coverage and finish off the process quickly.

See if your travel insurance policy has a pre-existing condition waiver:

 This is something that is extremely important if you need to file a claim. Some travel insurance policies are inexpensive because they don’t include a pre-existing condition. However, to get the most from your travel insurance, make sure your policy should include a pre-existing condition waiver.


Update your policy, if your trip plans change:

 Trip dates change and that can bring additional expenses on hotels and flight cost. So, as soon as you change your plans,don’t forget to convey this information to your travel insurance company. If you miss to inform for the non-refundable parts of your trip, the insurance company can actually reject any claim,because in order to be covered, you must insure 100% of the non-refundable trip penalties. Nevertheless, if the cost of your non-refundable expenses decreases, you should contact the insurer so that they can adjust your policy and refund you for any differences in your coverage.

These are quite a few important factors that you must remember to make the most from your travel insurance policy. Truly speaking, while travelling abroad, the chances of accident, theft or other unfortunate event are increased. Even if you take all the precautions to avoid getting into tragic situations, mishaps can and do happen while you travel. For a complete peace of mind, be sure of carrying a suitable travel insurance policy before you leave home.
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iTech Dunya is a technology blog that specializes in tech-related topics.Our GOAL is to produce high-quality content for our millions of readers.
New Electric Cars Introduce
Published by Jeffrey Mackie on Apr 27, 2015

As I began to write this blog, I quickly realized that I could easily span two or three blog posts or even a few books if I really got into the subject. I will begin with a brief history of electric cars, followed by a look at the coming line-up of plug-in hybrids, and finally a look at the introduction and possible future for fully electric cars like the Tesla line-up.

There is a certain allure of having a vehicle that uses no gasoline and runs quietly and efficiently on electric power. The thoughts of breaking free from having to go to gas stations, saving money, and helping reduce the overall impact on the environment are all appealing aspects to electric cars. While it is a nice concept to think that there are ‘zero emissions’ that come from running an electric vehicle, we can’t forget that the electricity used to run it has to come from somewhere.

Living in Alberta, a province that generates over 50% of its electricity from coal power and another roughly 40% from natural gas, it is a stretch to think that running an electric vehicle on the power grid here would really generate ‘zero emissions’. Alberta is certainly a hydrocarbon/coal intensive jurisdiction, but even broadly across the United States the energy mix is around 40% coal and 28% natural gas, with nuclear, hydro and renewables making up the balance. Not to get too technical into the numbers but, on average, only 1/3 of the electricity generated on this continent is from ‘zero emissions’ sources. This third of power generated also doesn’t include the energy input relating to manufacturing solar panels or wind turbines, or mining and processing uranium for nuclear power.

I will leave this analysis aside for the moment, as I could get into a never ending debate on whether or not running an electric vehicle on the grid or just driving a reasonably efficient gasoline powered car is actually better for the environment or produces fewer emissions overall. The fact of the matter is, as there is no significant amount of grid power generated on this continent from oil or refined products, that running an electric vehicle in North America would directly displace the consumption of gasoline or diesel in favour of whatever mix of power is used to run your local electric grid. Diesel generators are used in sparsely populated or remote areas like the far north, but their overall use is miniscule in terms of power generation on this continent. Therefore, wide adoption of electric vehicles does create the potential for a disruptive change in the patterns of fuel consumption and energy consumption in general.

But when will this happen? Haven’t electric cars been around for decades with limited commercial success?

Let’s start at the beginning


Electric cars were actually introduced around the same time as combustion engine cars and for a brief time had strong interest from consumers. One of the first commercially successful electric vehicles was the ‘Detroit Electric’. I had the opportunity to see an original restored Detroit Electric last year at the Canadian Museum of Making. (www.MuseumOfMaking.com) The image to the right shows my daughter sitting in the sporty vehicle (an original Detroit Electric at the Canadian Museum of Making).

This vehicle was originally designed as a ‘Lady’s car’ for shorter trips in and around the city. I’m not making any sexist comment here, but as you can see in the photo, the car has features like vases for flowers and curtains in the windows (standard equipment), that were designed to appeal to a lady in the 1910-1930s era, when the car was in production. The car is also steered with a long lever, as opposed to a steering wheel, which I suppose in the days before power assisted steering, made the vehicle easier to steer. The car had a range of about 80 miles, or 130km, on a charge and a top speed of around 20 mph, or 30km/h, which was competitive with combustion engine vehicles of the day. The marketing for the car positioned it as a reliable vehicle that would allow a lady to run errands around town and not have to worry about cranking the engine of a gasoline powered car to start it. The museum has fully restored this vehicle and it currently runs on standard lead acid batteries that you would find in an electric golf cart. It did look like a fun and sporty car to drive around town, but unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take it for a spin.

Eventually combustion engine vehicles became more reliable, introduced electric starters, offered better range, faster fueling and better overall performance. The production of the Detroit electric stopped in 1939, partly as a result of the challenging economic environment of the Great Depression and partly due to the improvements in combustion engine technology that provided many advantages in performance, range and convenience.

Between 1939 and today there have been only a few notable efforts to develop electric vehicles and none that were of any particular commercial success. The American ‘Big 3’ automakers all had electric car programs through the 1960s and 1970s, but no vehicles were made for commercial sale during this time period. Arguably, the most notable electric vehicle to come out of this time period was the electric powered lunar rover vehicle that astronauts used during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions to the Moon.

The first glimmer of a revival in passenger vehicles came in the form of General Motor’s EV1 that was introduced in 1996. The EV1 had a limited range of approximately 150km and less than 1200 were ever produced. This vehicle remains somewhat controversial and is the subject of the documentary “Who killed the Electric car?”. Part of the controversy arises from the fact that the vehicles were never sold to consumers, but leased on a short term basis. When the EV1 program was cancelled in 2003, GM recalled all of the remaining leased vehicles from consumers and nearly all of them were destroyed.



(left) NASA’s Lunar Rover (right) GM’s EV1


So what is different about electric vehicles this time around?

In my next two blogs I will explore some of the significant improvements in both electric and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles and take a look at why your next vehicle might take one of these forms.

Coming up in the next few weeks, I will discuss the electric car company Tesla and their innovative business plan to solve the ‘Chicken or Egg’ problem of electric cars and charging stations. I define this problem as - ‘what comes first, the electric car or somewhere to actually charge it?’. It is tough to build one without the other.

In my third installment on the topic I will take a look at the technology of plug-in hybrids and how this type of vehicle has the potential for disruptive change to fuel consumption patterns in the shorter term. The German automakers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes have made a significant bet on plug-in hybrid technology and are each introducing three or four plug-in hybrid models to their line-ups later this year.



The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Richardson GMP Limited or its affiliates. Assumptions, opinions and estimates constitute the author's judgment as of the date of this material and are subject to change without notice. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of this material, and it should not be relied upon as such. Before acting on any recommendation, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, if necessary, seek professional advice. Richardson GMP Limited is a member of Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Richardson is a trade-mark of James Richardson & Sons Limited. GMP is a registered trade-mark of GMP Securities L.P. Both used under license by Richardson GMP Limited.
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Creative Ways to Spark Curiosity in the “Next Generation”
I think it is fair to say in recent years one of the hot topics with the risk management and insurance industry is how to attract young individuals to take interest in picking our industry to pursue their future careers in.

The industry has taken steps to address this issue by launching initiative programs such as MyPath and InVEST. If you have not heard of these programs check them out and get involved if you can. They’re great programs that are tailored to educating students and young professionals about the industry and career paths that could fit their interest.

In this article, I want to address this issue from a more specific, creative side. Here are three innovative examples about how to initially spark curiosity in the “Next Generation”:

1. Auto Insurance 101 Classes


Most of the youth population hasn’t considered or is completely turned off in pursuing a career in the insurance industry. But who could blame them? For many, their only exposure to the industry stems from paying high premium bills for their car. When I started driving, I paid around $1,200 annually for a car I bought for $8,000. I never understood why I couldn’t just save the money and if something happened to my car, use that to buy a new one. I never realized the exposure of damaging someone else’s car or hurting another person through my behaviors.

Designing an auto insurance 101 course detailing an overview of this coverage and what a client is paying for and protected against could be two-fold. The company would be creating intelligent consumers for the future and sparking curiosity in some to learn more. After learning more, someone will begin to ask their parents questions or even pursue studies in Risk Management and Insurance programs in college.

Try adding incentives for taking the classes such as reductions to premium or lower deductibles for the same price. Hopefully, building intelligent consumers will reduce the risk and help the encouragements pay for themselves.

2. Sponsoring Sports Teams, Clubs, etc.


Sponsoring sports teams, clubs and other youthful groups in a community, high school, or college could be strategic in attracting the “Next Generation.” Aside from the public involvement that would generate name recognition and positive PR, the company could take this opportunity one step further to expose some youthful minds to the industry.

For example:


Sponsor a local high school soccer team, and then create a competition to answer the question: How much are David Beckham’s legs insured for? The winner gets a signed jersey from a local Major League Soccer player.

Create a competition between all the local area college’s political clubs with the question: How much would it cost to insure the White House? The winning club gets a paid trip to the state’s capital and a luncheon with some state officials.

3. Partnering with Teachers to Make “Classroom Insurance Policies”


This can be a fun twist on teaching a classroom about insurance. After working with the InVEST program to gain relevant teaching material, reinforce the concepts through a simulation that students can relate to. Creating basic “classroom insurance policies” and giving students an amount of “money” they can spend to buy different policies and endorsements. This would take some time to initially make but would be an enjoyable way for the students to learn and get some exposure to reading a policy, applying endorsements/exclusions, etc.

An example:


Forgetful Student Policy


A policy could include protection against forgetting an assignment was due and would allow the assignment to be made up that night for half the credit (actual cash value). An endorsement could be bought to upgrade their policy so that the assignment could be made up for full value (replacement cost). Exclusions could include large projects or papers.

Creating interest and reinventing the image of the business must be an industry-wide, collaborative effort. Understanding that learning can be and should be exciting and enjoyable for these young students and professionals should greatly increase the success of efforts to attract the “Next Generation."

"A sense of curiosity is nature's original school of education." Smiley Blanton
About the Author and “Thoughts from an Insurance Millennial” Series:

My name is Justin Peters, I’m currently 21, and I work in the industry for an insurance brokerage near St. Louis, MO. I started my career as an intern over two years ago with little exposure to the industry and no initial decision to pursue a position after graduation in the field. Throughout my internship, I gained understanding of all the opportunities the industry had to offer.

I became fascinated with ways I could help the industry grow and attract the employees of the future. With the series, “Thoughts from an Insurance Millennial”, I hope to voice potential options on the current issue from a different mindset: a young, ambitious individual already working in the industry. The series will include creative ideas on recruiting, retaining, evaluating performance, and many other facets employers in the industry will have to deal with come that time.
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