Newsletter Volume 3: November 2023

Welcome to the Newest Version of the NLC Update! A moment in time…to let you in on What’s Happening at NLC with our Agents, Customers and Employees!

Company Announcements

New ‘Auto Pay EFT’ Billing Enhancement Went Live in October

We were pleased to announce our new Automatic Payment EFT (Auto Pay) enhancement to our billing plans went live in October. Agents can now set up their customer's account for Auto Pay at any time by clicking the Pay Bill/Set Up Auto Pay icon on the top banner of any policy.

Automatic payments can be set up to be withdrawn from the customer’s account on the date the bill is generated or the date when payment is due. To ensure billing notifications reach the insured a valid email address and banking/credit card information is required.

Click the button below to a reference document that details each step in the process to set-up the Auto Pay option through NLC-Policy Center or NLC-Customer Account.

Please encourage your new and renewal customers with NLC to visit our website at www.nlcinsurance.com to create their account and begin taking advantage of the services they can access directly 24 hours a day/7 days a week – including Pay Bill and Set Up Auto Pay. All they’ll need to get started is their policy number, email address, mobile number, and zip code. 

Agencies on the Rise: Cushman Insurance Group

We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with Cushman Insurance Group, including their affiliate agencies Ora A. Andrews and T Robert Sullivan Insurance. Cushman Insurance Group has been appointed with us since 1997 and has been dedicated to serving the personal and commercial insurance needs of individuals, families, and business owners in Southeastern Massachusetts for more than 100 years. The group is led by principal partners Marc Lane, Steven Saccocia, and Ted Hughes, and is a proud member of Renaissance Alliance. We appreciate the business and look forward to building on our shared success!

"We were appointed with NLC in 1997 through our acquisition of Thompson, Eaton, & Boyden, a Brockton-based agency. Thanks to the dedicated and responsive service from our NLC team, we became great partners with the company. Although personnel have changed over the years, we still have great relationships with everyone at NLC. We are thankful for our appointment with NLC and have valued the relationship since day one. "

- Marc Lane

President, Cushman Insurance Group

Main Office Location: Brockton, MA

Additional Office Locations: Norton, Lakeville, South Attleboro, and Halifax 

Community

Employee Spotlight

Keith Raymond

Assistant Vice President, Actuary

Can you share some details on your background prior to joining NLC? 

After graduating with an Economics degree from UMASS Dartmouth in 2002, I began my insurance career as an Analyst for Providence Washington Insurance Company working primarily on commercial lines. A couple of years later I moved to a role with MetLife Property & Casualty developing rates & pricing for their employer-sponsored affinity group business. Over the years, I progressed through the ranks and in 2017, I became a Fellow in the Casualty Actuarial Society. Finally, in 2019, I assumed the role of Head of State Pricing for Metlife where I was responsible for rate & price management countrywide up until I left the organization to join NLC earlier this year. 

What do you enjoy most about your new role here at NLC?

Being at the table to collaborate with our senior leadership team and having a voice & input to our entire strategy. The hands-on approach of the team is different here from my prior experience and most welcome.

What interests or excites you about NLC?

The environment is less reactionary, which provides for more opportunities. There is a lot to be said for working for a small regional carrier vs. a national stock company.

Our ability to be agile, focused on long-term objectives, and experiment with different ideas & strategies based on what our agents and customers need versus just copying how other large carriers are doing things is refreshing…

How do you spend your time when you are not at work?

Well, I have a 7-year-old, so that means youth sports. Coaching, cheering, and carpooling…which I love!

When I get the chance, you’ll also find me on the golf course or spending time with family and friends.

Employee Anniversaries

OCTOBER

Merle Perkins

Sr. Personal Lines Underwriter | October 6, 1986 (37 years)

Cheryl A. Harnois

Quality Assurance Specialist | October 2, 1989 (34 years)

Crystin Silvan

Auto Physical Damage Adjuster | October 25, 2021 (2 years)

Helen Govoni

Technical Specialist, Analytics & Reporting | October 31, 2022 (1 year)

November

Terry Brine

Personal Lines Product Development Specialist | November 4, 1976 (47 years)

Juliana Pungitore

Direct Bill Processor | November 5, 1993 (30 years)

Mary Forrest

Business Operations & Customer Service Lead | November 11, 2019 (4 years)

Carolyn Coleman

Accountant | November 1, 2021 (2 years)

The Numbers

We recently completed a successful pilot phase for our new BOP program with a limited number of our trusted RI agency partners. In addition to testing our program and providing invaluable feedback on our product, quote & issue process, and user experience our pilot agents issued 62 new policies generating over $400,000 in new written premium. Importantly, our quote pipeline and new business production run rates have continued to build and grow steadily each week and month. We’re now ready to move forward with the next phase and launch our new BOP program with all our key agency partners in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Our new BOP program will enable us to accelerate the profitable growth we’ve achieved with our agents in Commercial Lines (CL) so far this year through Q3.

Headlines Include:

CL Written Premium Growth: +9.2%

Calendar Year Loss Ratio: 18%

If you’re a CL Agent don’t miss out on the opportunity to win more small business customers with NLC and our new BOP! Reach out to your Marketing Rep or CL Underwriter to learn more and align on your next steps today!

Strategic Relationship Focus

P&C Insurance Software and Technology

A few years back we engaged with Guidewire to “accelerate our digital transformation” by transitioning to a modern technology platform that supports our entire product portfolio and the service lifecycle for our agents & customers. Guidewire has emerged as the platform of choice for many leading Property & Casualty insurers in the U.S and over 40 countries.  Guidewire is now the backbone of our service technology across all our core functions, able to integrate with other modern systems and services… making rapid system enhancements, accelerated product development, and continuous improvement in all our processes & workflows possible. 

Here are just a few highlights of the benefits we’re realizing:

• The platform enables more growth, enhanced product and service delivery, and ongoing improvements in the customer and agency experience.
• Improved productivity & efficiency across all departments through streamlined workflows leading to faster response time and better outcomes. Quite simply, we’re easier to do business with.
• Advanced analytics enabled by the platform helps support better business decisions in Underwriting and Claims, improved rate management, and more effective pricing.

Thank you, Guidewire!