vol. 2026, ed. 09

IA Magazine: Big "I" Presents InsurPac Awards
South Carolina Awarded Seventh InsurPac Championship at Natl Leg Conference in Washinton, DC
One of the Highlights of the IIABA National Legislative Conference held last month in Washington, DC, includes recognition of states for their outstanding support of InsurPac. South Carolina was presented with the InsurPac National Championship Award and the InsurPac Young Agents National Championship Award as well as an Eagle Award for averaging more than $100 per member agency. Find individual contributor list in the spring edition of SC Agent & Broker magazine.   (+ More...)

See also:  Insurance Campaign Institute Prepares Agents to Step Up for Public Office

MEMBER BENEFIT: Monthly South Carolina Rate Filings Reports
IIABSC members have access to the monthly approved Private Passenger Auto and Homeowner insurance rate filings in South Carolina in a PDF downloadable report. January 2024 – April 2026 reports available now. Member website login required for access. (+ More...)

GREENVILLE AGENTS: FREE Local Agent Networking Event June 18
Agents Happy Hour next month at Southern Growl in Greenville
Upstate Agents: Join us for a networking happy hour brought to you by our award-winning Young Agents Committee on June 18 at Southern Growl (155 N Buncombe Rd) in Greer, SC. Thanks to our generous sponsors, this event is FREE to all agents! Plan to join us after work starting at 5:00 pm for some food, drinks and good times with fellow Big "I" agents, industry leaders and event sponsors (Special thanks to Amwins & iSurity). This event is open to agents of all ages. Please also encourage your Young Agents to attend, meet our Young Agents Committee leaders and get plugged in with our SC YA Program. We'll be giving away a free registration to this summer's Young Agents Conference among other drawings. BRING BUSINESS CARDS FOR DRAWINGS!   (+ More...)

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Private Equity Update
FREE Big I member webinar by IA Valuations to be held June 10 at Noon EST
Our friends at IA Valuations are presenting a FREE webinar for member agents who are looking for information on private equity. Webinar to be held June 10 at Noon, Eastern Time.   (+ More...)

From IA MAGAZINE: Art of the Exit — Ensuring a Smooth Transition When It’s Time to Sell
From May 2026 printed edition, featuring Scott Freiday of Insurbanc
Whether you are 30 or 65, the importance of starting the conversation about success planning and the agency’s legacy should start now. A lack of long-term planning can affect your day to-day performance and revenue growth. This article explores the important aspects of your exit – recognizing your eventual retirement and your exit timeline, the importance of a proper valuation, external vs internal sales and contingency buy-sell agreements. (+ More...)

E&O Guardian: Two Levels of Member Access
All members can access Book Roll Handbook, only Swiss Re policy holders view content like Mergers & Acquisitions Guide
E&O Guardian is the online Big "I" agency errors & omissions risk management resource website designed to provide members key information and tools to mitigate agency E&O. There are a few items restricted to Swiss Re policyholders only (such as letters, disclaimers, auditing tools and the Mergers & Acquisitions Guide), but many of the resources are accessible to all members, including customizable procedures manual, declination forms, checklists and the Book Roll Handbook.   Big I username and password required for access.   (+ More...)

See also:  Best Practices for E&O Mitigation in Agency Mergers & Acquisitions webinar (all members)

SOCIAL MEDIA: May is Mental Health Awareness month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month led by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Throughout the month, NAMI actively participates in this national movement, dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness. This year's theme is "Turning Silence into Connection" to challenge stigma and instead create spaces where people are supported, understood, and find healing.. (+ More...)

Read the latest edition of SC Agent & broker magazine
Spring 2026 edition
The latest edition of SC Agent & Broker magazine is hitting mailboxes, but you can also read it online. Our spring edition spotlights 2025 InsurPac and Foundation contributor lists, a preview of the upcoming Young Agents Conference and Trusted Choice GIVE Movement. Also features an ultimate account manager preview as well as articles on flood insurance coverage, and E&O claims tips following a natural disaster. If you are interested in advertising in SC Agent & Broker magazine in 2026, please contact Kim Fiene, (608) 210-2977, of Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin. (+ More...)

NEW MEMBER BENEFIT: Access weekly State House reports by McGuireWoods
Find them on our website in Advocacy section, SC Legislature page, member login required
Each Friday, McGuireWoods Consulting, on our state government affairs team, provides weekly State House updates on the activities of both the House and Senate. They have allowed us to share these weekly reports with our membership. The Newsletter gives a narrative overview of the week with images and highlights, and the House Actions and Senate Actions documents chart the progress of specific bills to becoming law along with links to the full bill text. These bills won't necessarily be referenced in the newsletter. As always if you have questions about any of the bills that pertain to the insurance industry, feel free to contact IIABSC President/CEO Becky McCormack. Member login required for access.  (+ More...)

Surplus Lines License Renewal Deadline is May 31
Anyone who holds a SC Surplus Lines license must renew by May 31, 2026. To complete the renewal process, all Surplus Lines Brokers must renew online through NIPR and pay a licensing renewal fee of $200.

Brokers that also hold a producer license must remember that the broker license is contingent on having an active producer license. If the producer license is not renewed, the broker license will cancel. If the surplus lines broker license is canceled, a renewal application would be required, and payment of a penalty fee double the regular fee must be paid before the license can be reinstated.

There are no additional CE requirements to renew your surplus lines license. Do you need a reminder of who needs a surplus lines license?

Anyone who does not intend to renew this license and wants to cancel it, please find the cancellation form online and submit it to the SC DOI. If you have any questions regarding your surplus lines renewal, please email the DOI at agentmail@doi.sc.gov.

Trusted Choice GIVE Movement seeking TOP AGENCY GIVERS
Week of giving in early June to benefit Make-a-Wish South Carolina
We are participating once again in the Trusted Choice GIVE Movement this June 1-8. This annual project led by our young agents encourages agencies, affiliates and partners to come together for a week of giving to benefit an incredibly inspirational and worthy cause. Together our donations have the potential for life-changing impact for children and families in South Carolina through Make-A-Wish South Carolina. Our goal in 2026 is to raise $30,000 - enough to grant the wishes of FOUR local children. Donations will be accepted all year long, and agencies and companies who participate as a TOP AGENCY GIVER will be spotlighted throughout the campaign and especially during our week of giving. TOP GIVERS are those individuals and organizations who go above and beyond and donate $1,000 or more to the campaign.  (+ More...)

Ultimate Account Manager School returns as Virtual/Classroom Hybrid
Popular CSR training will be webcast live June 24-25 from IIABSC office in Columbia
The Ultimate Account Manager series is back! This remarkable and one-of-a-kind training has been streamlined to meet the busy needs of our independent agents. The series is split over two comprehensive training days that address the major needs of Account Managers and CSRs to assure they will enhance their skills, productivity and effectiveness. 

Upon completion of the two days, attendees will receive their Ultimate Account Manager certification. Our education partner normally offers this training for $749, but IIABSC members can attend both days of training for only $435. Classes are offered in Columbia June 24-25 OR you can attend virtually. This is a two-day series, no single-day options are available. Filed for 12 hours P&C credit. (+ More...)

Nominate this year's SC Outstanding CSR of the Year
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 SC Outstanding CSR of the Year. This award is the highest honor for insurance customer service representatives who have distinguished themselves through contributions to their industry and profession. Final entry submission deadline is July 20. Find entry forms and view past winners on our award webpage. (+ More...)

Catalyit Agency Compensation Survey still open for those who haven't completed it yet
Results dashboard available for those who have completed the survey
Agency Compensation 360, the multi-state compensation survey built specifically for independent insurance agencies and powered by Big “I” associations, is back open for those agencies who did not get to complete it the first time around. Agencies that have fully completed the survey can explore detailed compensation and benefits benchmarks for South Carolina and across the nation on their results dashboard.

Gain insights into:

• Pay and benefits trends by role and region
• Staffing and retention challenges
• How your agency compares to others

A Note About Data Security: Catalyit has emphasized their commitment to data security and anonymity regarding the Comp360 survey. NOBODY OUTSIDE OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANAGING THE SURVEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ANY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. All data will be anonymized and aggregated before being shown within the Analytics portal. In addition, survey participants should substitute alternative identifiers in place of an employee's full name to reinforce data security and anonymity.

Agencies must complete the survey to access results! Your input will help create a more robust, insightful results dashboard that benefits you and the entire independent agency community. (+ More...)

Use ABEN discount code for 25% off
Use code SPRING at checkout
Use discount code "SPRING" at checkout for 25 percent off our entire ABEN catalog at iiabsc.aben.tv. Discount cannot be applied to bundled courses. Courses are available live or on-demand and can be browsed by category or by broadcast date.   (+ More...)