So over the past year, I have proved to you "live" in this column that I'm no standup comic; I'm definitely not a weatherman; I am certainly no Frank Sinatra; and after my "Twelve Days of Insurance" song a couple of weeks ago, you now all know that I am no Irving Berlin (I expect some senior reader out there to mimic Lloyd Bentsen in his debate versus Dan Quayle and say : "I knew Irving Berlin and believe me you are no Irving Berlin"). As a matter of fact, our illustrious editor even went so far as to suggest that I "...don't give up my day job at FISERV to pursue a career in poetry". Obviously he doesn't know "raw" talent when he sees it! Wait, now don't cut that-I don't really mean it, Steve.

Although you are a little...opinionated, shall we say?

Ok, where was I? Oh, right, my "talents". So what do I know, you may ask?

Well, in my "Twelve Days of Insurance" ballad that everyone except the editor enjoyed so very much, one of the gifts that insurance agents asked for each of the twelve days was a "Real Time Rating System". Although I admitted that I "threw that one in", it is certainly something that I hear each and every day from each and every agent I meet, and it's something that I even know "a little bit about"Agents want Real Time. Therefore, I thought that maybe we take a few minutes and just briefly talk a little bit more about what Real Time actually is with respect to this business of ours.Without getting too intricately involved, let's see how it may help your business.

As you know, the "Get Real Time" campaign is sponsored by a group of agents, brokers, carriers, technology providers, user groups, agents, and industry associations (I am proudly a member of this group) who united and now meets regularly to advocate for the implementation of Real Time and Download interface applications by independent agents and companies nationwide. By this group's definition, Real time "is the ability to click on a button from a client file in your agency management system or comparative rater for immediate access to carrier information on that client. The transaction may be a quote, billing inquiry, claim inquiry/loss runs, policy view, endorsements or a request for information. This approach provides a single workflow for servicing or quoting." For additional information please visit www.getrealtime. org and while you're there ask for "Eddie"...tell 'em I sent ya. You'll see who "Eddie" is when you get there.

What can Real Time do for your business? Well, how would you like to be able to access all of your carrier web sites, and obtain all of your clients' current policy information, directly from your agency management system without having to remember all of those logins and passwords (especially the ones that change every thirty days)? Perhaps you have the need to file a claim, request a loss run, or even submit an endorsement request on behalf of your insured, and you wish to do it immediately, accurately, and again directly from your agency management system. Or possibly you wish to get a quote from ten carriers on a four vehicle risk with five drivers (one of them a sixteen year old male who already met a police officer or two while driving mommy's Porsche), and you really do not have the time to enter all of the information into each and every carrier's web site over and over again, and run the E & O risk of possibly entering the information incorrectly in at least one of the carrier sites.

Then, once you quote it, wouldn't you also like the ability to move that information from your rating system or agency management system immediately over to your carrier to instantly bind the risk before your prospect decides to go out and make a fifteen minute phone call (remember the second most stated insurance New Year's resolution in my last column about "running down a gekko")?

Well, that's what Real Time is all about. That's the true meaning of Real Time. As I said earlier, I really didn't want to get too entrenched in how much Real Time can do for you and your business today, as we will save the details for another time, but because this is such an important piece in your business practice, I did want to start the new year off with a brief refresher course on what Real Time is and what it can do for you. I'm positive that we will talk about it many more times this year, however if you have any specific questions please shoot me an email or give me a call, and I will be happy to discuss it with you. It's a way of being pro active or as someone once wrote, a way to "accentuate the positive". Wasn't that Irving Berlin?

Even though there are plenty of snow days left on our calendar here in the northeast, it's never too early to begin thinking about the spring convention season. Typically the majority of conventions, conferences and trade shows occur in the spring and fall; however there are a couple of conferences that do take place outside of the "season". For example, PIA's "Metropolitan Regional Awareness Program", more affectionately nicknamed "Metro RAP" to us downstate New Yorkers ("You got a problem with that?"), is being held on January 30th at the Brooklyn Marriott on Adams Street. Always a "fan favorite", this year's event will feature keynote speaker Joseph D. Morelle, New York State Assemblyman. In addition, the continuing education course being offered is titled "Errors and Omissions; what are the producer standards of conduct?" which I am sure will be both educational and interesting. The Big "I" holds it Legislative Two Day Conference in Albany on the 2nd and 3rd--and what an important year it is to show up in Albany, what with a new senate Insurance Committee Chair, the budget and so much else.

Other conventions and trade shows in the very near future that I will be attending and/or exhibiting at (if you see me please stop by and say "Hi") are "The Young Insurance Professionals of New York State's Winterfest Conference" on March 6th, 7th and 8th in Hunter, NY , the "PIA of Connecticut's Annual Conference" at Foxwoods Hotel and Casino on March 16th and 17th; "The Connecticut Young Insurance Professional's Mid-Winter Outing" in Wilmington, VT February 6th through the 8th; and the IIAA's "New Jersey Young Agents Council Winter Conference" January 23rd and 24th in Hamburg, NJ. As other events get a little closer I will mention them, too, so you can make your plans accordingly.

Well, until we meet again, thanks for taking a walk around the neighborhood with me, and I'll see you on the road! [IA]