Presidents message 22 January 2000

The United Farmers Agents Association
"Journey to 3000"

January 22, 2000

Update #00-04

From around the world comes:

Good news- Bad news! Reports from around the country suggest the new term insurance is very competitive, some going so far as to call it "cheap term." That is great news to all agents writing for FNWL. Now is the chance to talk to your customers and sell a competitive term product to those that need it. The bad news? Remember in the "mandatory, everybody must see video" when we are told that we can have cheap term but no commission? And, remember when he said, "and you'll eventually go out of business"? Better write the policies now. Just in case he's right.

Allstate's agents association (NAPAA) won a victory recently and we are very proud of them. They no longer have "required" office hours on Saturday and no longer have to keep the office open till 6 PM. The change will be worked in gradually (?) but NAPAA got a big win for the agency force.

RPM and the finer points. Go to www.mcdirect.com/takethelead and follow the instructions. Make your selections and, behold, you now have xdates to purchase based on the new FARA scores. One agent bought 100 recently and 19% were current Farmers insureds so keep that in mind.

One member received a letter D score on his FARA rating and called Transunion (the credit bureau that handles this for the management company). They apparently do not know how the FARA system works according to the person he talked to. According to the clerk at Transunion, there is no record showing that Farmers requested any information on this member. Call Transunion and see what you can find out and let me know. Ask your BSC for their local 800 number in your area.

And continuing on FARA, one agent ran the request and his customer got a letter grade of M. What is an M? The agent says he was told that an M means "multiple hits" on his credit report. Ask about that in your area and let me know what you are told.

UFAA Chapter Presidents and National Executive Board members will be meeting in Las Vegas starting Sunday evening February 6th. Many of the Executive Board members will be meeting that morning with representatives of the State Farm (NASFA) association, Allstate (NAPAA) association, American Family
(NAAFA) association and Nationwide (NIICA) association to discuss issues of mutual interest. Both meetings will be well worth the time.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

Ralph Buchanan
President
United Farmers Agents Association