Risk & Business Magazine Jones DesLauriers Insurance Spring 2017 | Page 26

A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS
A Bridge Over
Troubled Waters
M
any insureds seek the
expertise of a Jones
DesLauriers broker
because of their ability
to leverage relationships
with insurance partners to provide the
most comprehensive and customized risk
management and insurance solutions at the
most cost effective rate.
This would still be a noble endeavour for
any broker to undertake were we still in the
20th century. Fortunately, technology and
insurance has connected in a way that is
unprecedented and insureds have become
more price conscious given the current
economic climate. Our clients are more
sophisticated in their buying habits and
cost is now only one of many factors they
consider important.
They turn to Jones DesLauriers because
the broker possesses the expertise and
experience to navigate the murky waters
between risk transfer strategies and the
inevitable retention of certain risks inherent
to their operation. To be a good broker, the
clients’ needs must remain at the forefront of
the broker’s value system. Should the broker
choose only to compete on price or most
comprehensive coverage, they would quickly
find themselves at odds with an increasingly
price conscious consumer, direct writers,
and at times, unscrupulous competition.
THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
So what gives a Jones DesLauriers broker
the competitive edge? It certainly helps to
intimately know their client’s business and
then provide the best solutions possible.
But, what is the promise of indemnity
in the event of a loss to a client who has
never suffered a loss or even worse, had
an atrocious claims experience prior to
encountering you? You must provide value
beyond the expensive pieces of paper they
consider their business lifeline.
It starts by having a team of brokers
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dedicated to the insured in times of loss.
At Jones DesLauriers, we understand that
the policy is only as good as the adjuster
interpreting the coverages we put in place.
This is why we believe having a claims
advocacy group is essential to offering value
beyond the sale of insurance products. •
Vendor Management – Our team takes
an additional step by offering vendor
management of the various repair and
restoration service providers.
•
Negotiation - We will engage in
settlement negotiations and participate
in the mediation or litigation process.
THE BRIDGE WE PROVIDE
When a claim occurs, the adjuster assigned
is employed by the insurance company
and will typically put the needs of the
insurance company before the needs of
the policyholder. Although this is not
necessarily nefarious, wouldn’t you prefer
to have an advocate in your corner? The
adjuster wants the claim settled at the least
of repairs, replacement or actual cash value
of the property lost or damaged. The broker
wants the claim settled to their insured’s
satisfaction and more importantly, keep
them as a long-term customer. After all, the
broker works for the policyholder, not the
insurer. Certainly, our team hopes that our clients
never experience a loss, but in that regard,
we are committed to advocating for every
client using the extensive experience
we possess. We remain committed to
facilitating a favourable outcome for our
clients and to reduce or remove the stress
and uncertainty that is often associated with
the claims process. +
While a typical insurance broker can act
as the insured’s claim advocate, Jones
DesLauriers Insurance Management (JDIMI)
goes a giant step further by providing an
in-house claims management team. This
team will leverage their industry and claim
experience to facilitate communication with
the insurer’s claims department, working to
eliminate any roadblocks that may be a part
of the process. Our intention will always be
to produce the most favourable outcome
with the least amount of stress by offering
several forms of advocacy work:
• Applicable Coverages – The first step
is to perform a full review of your
insurance policy to determine which
coverage(s) will respond to your loss.
• Communication - We will
communicate with your insurer to help
facilitate the processing of your claim
and assist with any required support
documentation.
BY: TARIQ NOORHASSAN,
COMMERCIAL CLAIMS MANAGER,
JONES DESLAURIERS INSURANCE
Tariq has over 10 years’ experience in the
claims advocacy sector of the insurance
industry. Working alongside the firm’s
industry leaders and business specialists,
he is responsible for overseeing the claims
management and advocacy group across
the business. He utilizes his technical
abilities to add value to JDIMI’s existing
and future clients as their policy expert
in order to maximize the full benefits of
their coverage. Tariq is a graduate of the
Insurance Institute of Canada. He holds
both Chartered Insurance Professional and
Canadian Risk Management accreditations.