Member Services

The Insurance Brokers Association of B.C. serves as the voice of the general insurance brokerage industry and promotes its members as the premier distributors of insurance products and services in British Columbia

IBABC represents about 750 property and casualty insurance brokerages that in turn employ more than 8,000 people in approximately 140 B.C. communities.

IBABC provides services to its members, and indirectly to the public, in four key areas:

Membership services – Members receive savings that benefit their bottom line through the combined buying clout of 750 brokerages.
Education – IBABC is the primary provider of pre-licensing and continuing professional education for the general insurance brokers in B.C., and the exclusive examiner for pre-licensing and licensing courses.
Communications– Members are kept informed through BC Broker magazine and other timely communications.
Public Affairs – IBABC represents the interests of the public and its member brokers to all levels of government and to industry stakeholders. 

MISSION STATEMENT
The Insurance Brokers Association of B.C. promotes the member insurance broker as the premier distributor of general insurance products and services in British Columbia.

VISION
The Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia is a non-profit trade association dedicated to:

• Serve as the voice of the member insurance broker;
• Provide sound leadership and services to its members;
• Be the primary resource of professional development for its members and to develop similar education and professional development services for the insurance community as a whole;
• Maximize the individual talents and strengths of its board and members to promote their involvement in directing the growth and prosperity of the association;
• Promote strong business relationships with insurance companies that support the insurance broker distribution system;
• Maintain quality office staff that provides prompt, courteous and knowledgeable service to its members, the public, government, industry and other stakeholders;
• Maintain a strong interactive working relationship with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.

Contacts, location and hours of operation

• Executive and Board of Directors
• Staff
• Become a member
• Let's talk
• Scholarships and awards

Insurance Brokers Association of B.C.
1095 Pender Street West
Suite 1300
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2M6
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Map

Tel: 604 606 8000
Fax: Administration 604 683 7831  Education 604 683 8497

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Group Benefits
Human Resources
Travel
IBABC Services

The Insurance Brokers Association of B.C. is the main trade association for P&C insurance brokerages in the province.

IBABC members receive:

• tangible savings in the benefits and privileges made possible through their combined buying clout
• high-quality education programs developed by and for brokers, at preferred pricing
• timely communications and information on changes and emerging trends
• public-affairs advocacy that maintains consumer protections and industry viability
• image-building programs that help consumers understand and appreciate the broker value proposition
• resources to make their operations more efficient and prosperous
• networking opportunities with other colleagues and industry stakeholders
• connection with colleagues across Canada through membership in the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada, and resultant economies of scale in education, advertising and advocacy.

Group Benefits
Banking Program developed by BMO Bank of Montreal in consultation with the brokerage industry. Highlights include:

• Recognition of the value of the client list, and a unique model for valuing brokerages’ books of business
• Access to capital while maintaining broker independence
• Competitive borrowing rates for acquisition, succession and purchases of equipment and real estate
• Payroll services
• Personal banking privileges and services for employees
• A commitment to not compete with the broker channel 

John Knotek, 1-877-629-6262

Errors & Omissions Insurance is now mandatory for insurance brokerages. IBABC and its fellow members of the Insurance Brokers of Canada offer a highly competitive package to members, managed in B.C. by Metrix Professional Insurance Brokers.
Dave Anderson, 604-683-5583

Group Insurance and RRSP Program managed by Parity Agencies is one of the best in the business. It includes employee benefits, disability, life insurance and savings plans.
Jolene Friesen, 1-800-704-8656

Debit/credit card merchant fee program is currently under review.

Human Resources
These suppliers provide products and services that meet the specific needs of the P&C insurance brokerage industry:

Pre-hire profile assessment specific to insurance brokerage job positions are available from Omnia Group.
Sean Neumayer, Omnia Group, 1-800-525-7117

Pre-employment background checks are available from BackCheck. These include police clearances and resume verification and reference-checking.
Ron Shay, BackCheck, 604-613-4198, 1-877-613-4111

A Compensation Survey, with important compensation data for 18 typical brokerage positions, updated to 2010 by Western Compensation & Benefits Consultants, is available from IBABC. Click for order form.

Travel
Hotels – Stay downtown Vancouver at the Hyatt Regency or the Terminal City Club for the IBABC member rate. The Hyatt is on Burrard just steps from Robson and the heart of the city. The TCC is across from Canada Place and has a luxurious private-club ambience.

Travel services – Book your flights through FCm Travel Solutions, the corporate division of Flight Centre, and receive low booking fees and a dedicated account manager.

Car rentals – Zipcars are waiting at several locations throughout the City of Vancouver; just pay a low hourly rate to use them. Register with Zipcar and get a Zipcard. Then reserve your car online or by phone. Your Zipcard unlocks the car. Away you go. For IBABC members, the $75 account set-up charge and the first year’s annual $30 fee are waived, plus you get a preferred rate for rentals – as low as $8.25 per hour.
To access these benefits, contact the IBABC switchboard at 604-606-8000.

IBABC Services
Broker Finder – makes it easy for web browsers to find the IBABC member nearest to them.

Job Board – has the largest concentration of jobs in B.C.’s P&C insurance brokerage industry, and is available to IBABC members only, and it’s where IBABC members look first for candidates.

Broker Bucks – Members who pay their membership dues invoice promptly can earn a credit voucher that they can apply to IBABC education purchases.  

Scholarships – Young scholars with a connection to IBABC or the insurance industry may be eligible for one of several scholarships administered by IBABC.

Compensation Survey – Every few years IBABC members have the opportunity to participate in a Compensation Survey, and receive important compensation data for 18 typical brokerage positions.

EDUCATION
IBABC is the primary education provider for B.C. general insurance brokers, and the best source of textbooks, courses and exams to meet licensing and designation (CAIB, CPIB, CCIB) requirements. We provide the pre-licensing, licensing courses and Continuing Education seminars that fulfill brokers’ mandatory education requirements to maintain their insurance sales licenses. Each year, more than 2,000 insurance professionals and aspiring insurance brokers in more than 40 locations across the province take IBABC courses and examinations. IBABC tracks education credits earned and will provide credit transcripts to licensees free of charge upon request.

IBABC also provides online education through online seminars, webinars and HyperArticles, which allow brokers to continue or upgrade their education at their own time and comfort.

Licensing & Designation Courses – Fundamental of Insurance and the four modules of the Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker program, in classroom or online formats.
Continuing Education – Technical-credit seminars that meet the daily needs of insurance brokers.
Online Education – Learn and study on your own time.
HyperArticles – Start the article in BC Broker magazine, finish it online and earn CE credits.

COMMUNICATIONS
BC Broker Magazine
Broker Identity Program

BC Broker
BC Broker magazine is IBABC’s main communications vehicle with its membership. Over 30 years, the BC Broker magazine has grown in stature and reputation and is now read by the whole P&C insurance industry in B.C. IBABC members receive copies of BC Broker based on the number of employees in each office. If you would like more or fewer copies, contact BC Broker editor Trudy Lancelyn at 604-606-8008.

Broker Identity Program
IBABC full members have contributed to a national Broker Identity Program (BIP) since 1989 and a provincial one since 1996. Thanks to these programs, the “Best Insurance” symbol is now a widely recognized brand that identifies brokers and that consumers equate with trust and integrity.

Your BIP for 2010

BIP Logo Download

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