Robert Guevara, vice president of commercial lines and inland marine
“If you want to know the value of AAIS’s inland marine and output programs, ask the companies that come looking for us.
“It happens a lot. Someone will work with our forms and rating procedures at one company, get hired to direct an inland marine operation at another company, and come back to us because they know our forms are clear and our rating steps are easy to follow.
“The forms are also well-received by agents, brokers, and claims adjusters; in fact, many agents and brokers insist that AAIS forms be used when placing inland marine business with an insurer.
“Most importantly, whether it’s a general question about a program or a class, or a specific question about a rating procedure, companies quickly learn that they can ask by name for someone who can help them.
“My role is to make sure our inland marine products have the most comprehensive and up-to-date features carriers and buyers expect.
“Sometimes, that calls for us to make a determination on behalf of our members, as we demonstrated when the Guide instituted an authoritative distinction between delay in completion coverage and soft cost coverage in builders’ risk insurance.
“There is simply no more cost-effective way to maintain an inland marine product line than to use AAIS.”
Bob has been with AAIS since 1992, and has 18 years of experience as an inland marine manager at the branch, regional, and home office level for CNA and Zurich American. During his years at AAIS, he has been the principal developer of the AAIS Commercial Output Program and the Inland Marine Guide. Bob is also a member of the legislative and regulatory affairs committee of the Inland Marine Underwriters Association (IMUA). He is a graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan.
Inland marine has consistently been one of the most profitable lines of commercial insurance.
Through prolonged soft markets, inland marine has been one line where carriers could achieve an underwriting profit. While inland marine coverage may produce a small percentage of account premium, it can provide a much larger share of margins.
To achieve those benefits, however, you need resources and methods to underwrite and price this type of coverage.
For decades, AAIS has been the recognized industry leader in the development and maintenance of inland marine and output coverage programs. In all, nearly 350 insurers are affiliated with AAIS for the Inland Marine Guide, and more than 100 use the Commercial Output Program (COP).
"We are transitioning to AAIS’s nonfiled Inland Marine Guide program. We have been extremely impressed with AAIS’s response time on our questions and transition needs, and with the high degree of customer focus AAIS has provided us."
-- Patrick F. Ploucha,
Regional Underwriting Manager
Westfield Companies
AAIS also maintains programs of the traditionally filed classes of personal, commercial, and farm inland marine insurance.
Whether you write such programs as a specialty or as components of commercial packages, AAIS forms, rating information, and other resources can be used on their own or combined with those from other providers.
Insurance companies seeking more information on AAIS products and
services can contact Rick Maka, director of marketing and strategic
alliances, by our contact form or by calling 800-564-AAIS, ext. 222.