Communicating with Licensees and Consumer Resources
- Communicating with licensees and Consumer Resources:
The Chief Financial Officer has established numerous professional resources designed to help keep licensees and consumers up to date with market trends and relevant changes.
MyFloridaCFO.com is a keystone resource purposed with bridging the gap between licensees, other industry professionals, consumer and the information need to easily navigate Florida’s Insurance Marketplace.
- Within the site, licensees can access all types of information including,
- Status of appointment(s),
- Continued education status,
- Professional career advice,
- Marketplace trends and
- Research tools like the DFS licensee search.
As previously mentioned, (many times), only Authorized entities may engage in the business of insurance and the DFS hosted licensee search helps us identify entities who have been properly screened and Authorized – Permitted to conduct the business of Insurance within Florida’s state lines.
MyFloridaCFO.com also provides career minded individuals with step by step instructions on how to become a licensed agent. The CFO even helps identify qualified/authorized Pre-licensing and Continued Education providers like me.
From the consumer and current events standpoint, the Chief Financial Officer makes it easy for Floridians to stay connected. MyFloridaCFO.com provides links to weekly Newsletters, monthly online magazines and social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Other supported resources like insurance terminology & video library which can help consumers understand not only the “language” of the marketplace but what to expect from our professional insurance producers and providers.
The informed professional agent appreciates an informed consumer; the resources we’ll discuss throughout this course are designed to help us, as licensees uphold marketplace expectations.
- If you haven’t already subscribed to Insurance Insights, check it out.
- On Guard for Seniors
Be Scam Smart – FREE WEBINARS
The downloadable brochure “On Guard for Seniors” and their video library focuses on the popular topics like,
- Annuities,
- Long Term Care,
- Scam Alerts &
- Identity Theft
There it is again, Identity Theft… One of the top complaints consumers report to the *Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s why the CFO and the state resources focused on risk mitigation all take time to identify the dangers associated with Identity theft.
Once you’re an insurance professional, sharing what you’ve learned about Identity Theft should just be part of who you are. The majority of people I encounter aren’t aware of the risk associated with identity theft despite the fact Florida leads the nation in reported instances.
Most people still think identity theft is a financial crime, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Identities are being stolen and sold like commodities. Who’s buying? I can tell you it isn’t someone with your best interest in mind. The reasons people steal and buy stolen identities are as unique as the criminals using it.
- Some impostors may be looking to simply obtain goods in your name while others may be seeking employment which leaves you with the tax responsibility.
- Other, more dramatic consequences of your identity being stolen pertain to impostors receiving healthcare treatments for a disease or substance abuse issue as you.
- Obviously, it’s common for criminals to hide their own identity by posing as you when they commit crimes. Don’t think violent crimes, think white collar crimes.
You do realize law enforcement follows the identity thief’s digital trail of evidence directly to you… Right? If that were to happen, you, not the impostor would be criminally liable for what they’ve done until you prove otherwise. If an identity thief commits a crime like Bank Fraud in your name, the burden of proving it wasn’t you, becomes yours.
- Insurance regulators aren’t here to give anyone the benefit of the doubt so, when it pertains to your professional license, we’re never innocent until proven guilty and here’s why…
Can you imagine a person who intended on committing fraud or some other crime actually admitting their guilt to the first authority figure who questioned them? NO WAY! is a criminal admitting what they’ve done wrong.
NEVER, EVER, in the history of our known universe, has a criminal not claimed to be innocent when questioned so, to protect marketplace standards, regulators are only thinking about protecting consumer confidence… End of story.
Don’t think it could happen to you, think again.
- myfloridacfo.com/OnGuard/IdentityTheft