Full Service Agency

Accompany Carrier Representatives

When any company representative wants to meet with you, we want to be there, as well. Ruhl & Ruhl can act as your "translator" to be sure both you and the carrier are "communicating", not just talking!

Accuracy of Classifications

You may not be correctly classified for your liability or workers' compensation exposures. We make sure you are properly classified, with the intent being to put you in the lowest-rated classification. Ruhl & Ruhl belongs to several classification organizations not just NCCI (workers' compensation). A conference call or even a face-to-face meeting is possible.

Agency Perpetuation

Contracts exist and are funded by insurance to guarantee Ruhl & Ruhl will be around forever, hopefully. An unexpected loss of an owner/manager will not mean the end of our service to you!

Avoid Audit Surprises

Six months into the policy period we can check with you as to the accuracy of payroll and/or sales estimates. This will help avoid "surprises" at audit. We can help you accrue/write-off these expenses as they occur.

Can Provide for all your Insurance Needs

We can provide coverage for all of your insurance exposures, such as:

1. Directors & officers liability
2. Fiduciary liability
3. Group life & health
4. Errors & omissions
5. Kidnap/ransom
6. Employment-related practices
7. Foreign liability, property, workers' compensation and umbrella
8. Survivorship life
9. Disability income
10. Travel/accident
11. Voluntary Life
12. Receivable Insurance
13. Pollution Liability
14. Removal of asbestos, lead-based paint, etc.
15. Legal expense coverage

Client Satisfaction Surveys

Periodically, we send out questionnaires for your input as to your satisfaction with Ruhl & Ruhl's services, as well as the carriers' services. These can be anonymous, but we guarantee action will be taken to cure any shortcomings you point out.

Involved in Insurance Community

We encourage employees to be involved in organizations such as the Iowa Big I, C.P.C.U., Q.C. Claims Association, RIMS, L.U.T.C.F., Scott County Big I, etc. Why? To learn from competitors and/or potential clients as to what you, the insurance buyer, wants. RIMS tells us what the large, sophisticated client wants which insures to your benefit, as well. Just because they represent bigger operations than yours does not mean you have fewer loss exposures than they do.

Midwest Underwriters

Generally we deal with "Midwest" underwriters in Des Moines, Omaha, Cedar Rapids or Kansas City (not Chicago). There is definitely a difference in the "big city' attitude versus the "rural" attitude. Our biggest carrier in 1987 had an office in Davenport which they moved to Chicago in 1991. Our volume with them dropped from $5,000,000 to its current $300,000. The "big-city" Chicago attitude is not always to your benefit. Chicago is a dynamic growing area. This allows agents and companies to be less concerned about competition. Any underwriter handling both Chicago area accounts and "downstate" accounts will tell you the competition is much keener "downstate".

143 Years Strong

We are one of the oldest (since 1862) and largest Quad Cities insurance agencies. So what? We have a lot of respect from our carriers and long-term clients we must be doing something right! We may not be the biggest or oldest, but we are the best!

Preferred Agency Status

As with your business, insurance is a "relationship" business. We get more attractive offers from certain carriers than others. Gladly, Ruhl & Ruhl has "preferred" status with several carriers, as you probably do with many of your customers and suppliers. We try to be a significant, important agency for all of our companies. This insures to your benefit in terms of pricing, coverage, etc.

Pro-Active Carrier Appointments

The agency is very pro-active as to carriers we represent. More carriers are not necessarily better! We continually evaluate our carriers' successes to be sure we have the most responsive carriers to service you, including premium, claims, loss control, coverages, etc.

Review Workers' Compensation Losses before NCCI Filings

For your workers' compensation, a four-month after-expiration claim status review is important! Prior to filing unit statistical cards (six months after expiration) with NCCI for experience modification promulgation, a company claim person can meet with you and us to discuss the reserve amounts and open claims. Through aggressive discussions, we have been successful in getting claims closed and/or reserves reduced to be sure you have the lowest modification possible. Once reported to NCCI, their rules say the claim costs can only be changed due to a clerical error.

Specialization

Our agents "specialize" in certain areas. These are medical malpractice, contractors, aviation, contract bonds, group health, machine shops, etc. So what? You are serviced by an expert in the field who doesn't need to ask inane questions and, more importantly, has your underwriter's confidence. This means a better insurance program for you.

Verification of Modification

We can confirm/verify the accuracy of your workers' compensation experience modifier. We can detect "double-dips" which in one particular case saved the client $30,000 out of a premium of $70,000 about 33%!!

Was/is Premium Comparison

Every year you will be informed as to how your renewal premium/rates compare to the past. The spreadsheet comparison will aid in your evaluation. Many times (at least in the current "soft market") you will find your current/renewal rates are lower than in the past. Our computer-programmed spreadsheet can provide you several years for comparison. This allows your team (you and Ruhl & Ruhl) to be better informed and to make the correct decision.

We Agree as to the Services you Want

We can initiate a service contract between you and Ruhl & Ruhl as to the service you desire. We monitor this contract to be sure you are getting what you wanted. A "stewardship report to management" will be discussed with you on a periodic basis.

We Don't Just Duplicate and "Bid"

Instead of just quoting on an "apples to apples" basis, we prefer to analyze all your risks of loss exposures and recommend solutions. These may or may not include insurance. Instead of just quoting as per your current policies, we prefer to not even see your policies to avoid prejudices as to what coverages you should consider.