NAILBA Perspectives - January 2016 - (Page 26)

member profiles Premier Brokerage Services, Inc. Steven Katz Based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, Premier Brokerage Services, Inc. has been a NAILBA member since 1993. Steven Katz, President and Chief Optimist, provided input for this article. 26 perspectives JANUARY 2016 About the Agency Premier Brokerage Services is a nationally acclaimed full-service brokerage firm headquartered near Philadelphia. Founded in 1995 by Steven Katz, the firm is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For two decades, Premier Brokerage has provided comprehensive solutions to an array of clients across the globe, all while demonstrating unshakable commitment to both clients and local charitable organizations. The firm is staffed by a team of 28 experienced industry professionals committed to helping producers build a more profitable business. What makes your agency unique? We're in an extremely focused market, and we have not gone out and marketed in 10 years. We are 100 percent referral, and we don't have more than 100 producers at any given time. Our ratio of staff to clients is very small. We have always been an impaired risk specialist. That's our thing, and we do it well. We don't pretend to do everything. We serve a high-end marketplace with impaired risk and jumbo case marketing. My title is also somewhat unique: President and Chief Optimist. That is my official title in the state of Pennsylvania under our incorporation. (They actually called me up to make sure it was real.) My job is all about looking forward, not backwards, and keeping people motivated and positive. Life is short, and I'm determined to enjoy every minute of it and make sure my family and staff do the same. Chief Optimist, Steven Katz, tells Senior Case Design Specialist Peggy McEntee, "Yes, we can place that!" What kind of producer are you looking to attract? We are looking for a pretty high-end producer. We made a decision many years ago not to be in a high volume business but to pay attention to each individual case. Our average premium is significantly higher than the industry average, and that is by design. Where do you see your organization in the next 5 to 10 or even 20 years? This is such a hard question because everything is changing so rapidly. Five years ago, who would've thought we'd be in this low interest rate environment? With product changes, companies buying each other, consolidation, and everything else that has happened in the last five years, who knows where we're going to be five years from now. There are carriers that no longer exist that were here 18 months ago. There are just so many variables. So you have to be extremely flexible but at the same time maintain a level of loyalty and commitment. It's a difficult balancing act, but I think Premier is very good at balancing. We're learning from the past, but we're constantly looking forward in every respect. So, where are we going to be in 20 years? Who knows? To predict what's going to happen even in one or two years in this business is very difficult. How does being a NAILBA member benefit you and your business? I really love being a part of NAILBA because it gives me a lot of insight into the carriers and the direction of the industry, especially at the Annual Meeting. It's so helpful to listen to the speakers and talk directly to senior staff at the companies and find out what they're thinking about the future. Based on that, we can decide where we're going in the next two years, five years, or even 10 years. The NAILBA Annual Meeting is

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NAILBA Perspectives - January 2016

NAILBA Perspectives - January 2016
Contents
Chairman’s Corner
CEO Insights
Department of Labor Makes Waves with Proposed Fiduciary Rule
NAILBA Charitable Foundation
NAILBA 34 Highlights
Life Happens
Member Profile
Agency Successor Networking Group
Calendar of Events
Index of Advertisers

NAILBA Perspectives - January 2016