Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Joe Pilla, Owner and President, ETA Benefits Group

Joe Pilla is the owner and president of ETA Benefits Group. Since 1999, ETA has been proud to serve our local community as independent agents focused primarily on employee benefits. In 2006, Joe officially added the P&C division to the agency, truly becoming a “one-stop shop” for customers’ insurance needs. Joe shares more about his position at ETA, role as active producer, and thoughts on opportunities within the insurance industry below.

Name: Joe Pilla

Title: President

Years in the Industry: 25

Years at ETA: 19

What are some of your main job duties? I’m primarily responsible for new business development. I’m also an active sales producer focusing on group benefits, and overall company management.  

How did you get into this field? Prior employment (my background is in health care administration and physician relations) and interest in sales.

Describe a typical day for you.  No two days are ever the same. On a typical day I might be working with office staff and their needs, responding to clients’ needs, and staying in touch with our carrier partners and clients. I’m always looking at customers’ needs—I like to take a proactive approach and help identify the best solution for their unique situation.

What do you like best about your job? As I said in the previous question, no day is ever the same. I like the variety that comes with my job. I enjoy working with customers, our employees, and the different insurance partners we have contracted with.

Why is insurance a good field to get into? The insurance field provides a wide array of different disciplines that you can go into, whether you are interested in group medical benefits, issues with property/liability, personal lines like home and auto. If you like working with seniors and the over-65 population, Medicare is a good option—there are so many different facets that you can focus on.

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry? To remain in the business long-term, you need to be empathetic and listen to customers’ problems. On the sales side, you must be able to handle rejection and see other people’s points of view. This means you must modify your delivery based on their needs, not necessarily your own.

Spring Break Insurance Needs for Your College Student

Spring is right around the corner, which means college students will be leaving campus for their annual spring break in just a few weeks. As if you didn’t worry about your child being at college enough already, sometimes just talking about spring break getaways can take your stress to a whole new level!  Although you may not have any input on your child’s itinerary, you can make sure they have the insurance they need while they’re off campus.

If your child is traveling, encourage them to purchase travel insurance. This coverage will protect them from costs related to cancelled reservations, many of which are nonrefundable and can come with steep penalties. Travel insurance can also help cover costs if your child’s trip is cut short due to an accident or injury (and it doesn’t necessarily have to happen to your child. If a family member passes away while your child is away from home, they won’t lose any money if they decide to return early to attend the funeral).   If your child is going abroad, consider travel medical and international health insurance, available for both short- and long-term trips. Many domestic health insurance plans will only cover a portion (at most) of an individual’s health care costs when they are out of the country, so buying a policy when going overseas is a wise investment.

Even if your child isn’t traveling to somewhere exotic, if they live off-campus and plan to be away for the entire break, make sure they have renters’ insurance. This coverage will protect their personal possessions in the event of a fire, flood, burglary, or other unfortunate situation.

And finally, be sure your child has the right personal property coverage, especially if they are living on-campus. Some schools require students to have at least a basic policy to protect agains

t unforeseen circumstances (again—fire, flood, burglary), so be sure they have enough coverage if they’re leaving any valuables, like electronics or sports equipment, in their dorm or apartment over break.

Is there anything else you’d add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Renee Slakoper, Executive Assistant/Account Manager

Renee Slakoper wears many hats in her position as Executive Assistant/Account Manager here at ETA, and will be the first to admit that no two days are the same in our office! From handling projects (small and large) for our agency president Joe Pilla to assisting group benefits clients to tackling pesky computer issues, Renee is responsible for making the day-to-day operations in the office run smoothly. Below she talks a little more about her job at ETA.  

Name: Renee Slakoper

Title: Executive Assistant/Account Manager

Years in the Industry: 7

Years at ETA: 7

What are some of your main job duties? I am the executive assistant to our president, Joe Pilla, so I handle a lot of short- and long-term responsibilities and projects in that role; I am an account manager which means I work with our clients and their employees to manage their employee benefit plans, and I also manage the HR and payroll duties for our agency.

How did you get into this field? I was a licensed producer in New Jersey, then moved to California and my license didn’t transfer. After living on the West Coast, I moved back to Pennsylvania. I was looking for a job and through networking, I heard that my boss was looking to fill a position. Like most jobs, mine has evolved since I started.

Describe a typical day for you. My day can go from working on a major project for Joe to working on a major process for a client (re-examining their benefits, or going on-site to speak with their employees). I also regularly work with our carriers to find solutions to clients’ problems.

What do you like best about your job? I love the challenges that my boss, clients and their employees bring to my desk every day and finding solutions for those challenges.

Why is insurance a good field to get into? The many interesting people that you meet and helping them through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry? Pay attention. Soak up as much knowledge as you can. Most importantly—listen. Listen to those who have been in the industry. Listen to your clients. If you’re not moving forward, you’ll become stagnant. There are so many aspects to this industry, you might end up in a field you never imagined.

Beating the Winter "Blahs"

It’s been a long, cold winter, and for many of us, now that the holiday rush is over, spending so much time inside is starting to make us a little stir crazy. Unfortunately, we have several weeks of winter left, so the best thing to do is try to make the best of it.

Below are a few ways to pass the time inside while it’s snowing outside:

Get organized. Admit it—you’ve just been waiting to have enough time to clean out those closets, sort through the towering piles of papers in your desk drawer, or tackle another area of your home that could use some tidying. What are you waiting for? If you’re fortunate enough to get snow days from your employer or you’re stuck in the house all weekend, what better time to get to these projects. There are dozens of organizations that are always accepting donations—Goodwill and many local shelters accept clothing and household items; most local libraries accept used books and DVDs, and many day cares, nursery schools, and churches appreciate art and craft supplies (call before you drop anything off just to make sure they accept the items you want to donate).

Plan a family game night.  Wintry weather definitely gives you plenty of quality time with your family. If everyone in your house is spending a little too much time on electronic devices (including you!), put them away for one evening and dig out your old board games. You’ll all probably be surprised at how much you still enjoy them. A little good-natured competition isn’t a bad thing, either.

Have a movie marathon. Since renting DVDs has gone the way of the dinosaurs, you don’t have to leave the house to check out the latest releases (or old ones you never got around to watching). There’s no shortage of ways to stream movies, so put together a list of them to watch while the snow falls. Get everyone’s input for a family movie marathon, select a theme, or if no one’s up for hours of TV time, splurge on a few “guilty pleasure” flicks (sappy romances, cheesy action or horror movies, or comedies no one else in your house likes) to watch solo.

Get crafty. Whether you’re actively crafty or have “always meant to” start, why not give it a try this winter? Start with small projects you’re more likely to finish and work your way up to something more advanced. Check out instructional videos online if you’re starting something brand-new.

Exercise. If you’re active, these long winter months can seem even longer if you can’t do your regular workouts outside or at the gym. Find ways to improvise while you’re inside. Dig out the old exercise equipment you haven’t been using as often as you’d intended, or watch workout videos online to get that blood pumping. It’s tempting to sit on the couch with a bowl of something unhealthy, but try to stay motivated and do some kind of physical activity so it’s easier to stick to your routine once the weather improves.

How are you passing the time during the winter? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Patrick Kane, Certified Insurance Counselor

Patrick Kane is another agent with our office, primarily working with clients for their group and individual health, life, commercial (business), and Medicare needs. Patrick earned his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation a few years ago. This important credential shows his commitment to offering clients extensive industry knowledge and trusted advice. Below, Patrick shares a little more about his role here at ETA.

Name: Patrick Kane

Title: Certified Insurance Counselor

Years in the Industry: 24

Years with ETA: 7

What are some of your main job duties? Understand clients’ needs for insurance protection and write policies to put solutions into action, as well as help clients understand their coverage and service their needs and claims throughout the year.

How did you get into this field? I began as a health insurance company representative in my move from the Washington D.C. area and found a career that is interesting and challenging.

Describe a typical day for you. Most days are a combination of assisting existing clients via calls or email, servicing clients’ needs on their policies, talking with new clients about how ETA and I can help them.

What do you like most about your job? There are many things I enjoy about my job, including the challenges created by this industry and clients, solving problems, meeting new people and learning about other industries and occupations.

Why is insurance a good field to get into? It is a very broad industry, with opportunities across the globe, providing numerous products that everyone needs, changing constantly to keep things interesting and offering an opportunity to help people as part of your job.

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry? Start now, explore the many directions available in this industry, find a pursuit that you enjoy, and the time will fly by!

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Wendy Shubeck, Customer Service Representative

Besides the agents in our office, we have support staff who also assist clients with their insurance needs, whether it's answering general questions or resolving an issue. Wendy Shubeck is our Customer Service Representative, and she is responsible for a number of tasks in our office. Below, Wendy talks a little bit more about her role here at ETA: 

Name: Wendy A. Shubeck

Title: Customer Service Representative/Accounting

Years in the Industry: 3 years

Years at ETA: 3 years in March 

What are some of your main job duties?  Customer Service Rep/Accounting

How did you get into this field?  I applied for and was offered the receptionist job, and learned about home and auto insurance in the process. I then became our agency's first Customer Service representative.

Describe a typical day for you.  I help our clients with issues like pending cancel notices, processing and make payments, and assisting our agents with various tasks. I also handle the accounting, invoicing, and commissions for our agency. I also answer the phone and assist walk-in clients when they stop by.  Every day I learn something new.

What do you like best about your job? Everything. I love learning new things, the people I work are the best, and I have an awesome boss!

Protect Those You Love With Life Insurance

February is the month of love, and one of the best ways to show it is to plan for your family’s long-term needs with life insurance.

While it may not be high on your list of insurance priorities (probably ranking somewhere below home or auto coverage), life insurance is more of an investment in your family’s financial future. Despite what you hear in the news and online these days, GoFundMe is not life insurance! Rather than rely on the kindness of others to pay your final expenses or help your family in the event of your death, be proactive and purchase a policy so they don’t have to worry about the bill.

Supplementing the family’s income and paying for the deceased’s final expenses are just a few common uses for life insurance proceeds. Others include:

Your children’s education. Many parents open a savings or 529 account to be used to fund their child’s higher education plans.  Life insurance can help to cover remaining costs or provide a nice nest egg for their post-college future.

Charitable donations. If the insured was involved in a local organization or there was a cause especially important to them, you can arrange to contribute to that organization using some of the proceeds. Depending on the amount of the gift or the number of causes you wish to support, you may need to meet with a financial planner to make sure the funds are distributed according to the deceased insured’s wishes.

Continue a family business. Rather than sell the company that likely took someone years to build, life insurance proceeds can be used to offset business expenses, whether it’s purchasing new equipment, upgrading or buying a new building, or expanding in other ways.  

ETA Benefits Group works with several life insurance carriers and can customize a plan to meet your family's needs. Contact us to learn more about the different types of coverage available.

Do you have life insurance? Why or why not? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Ed Titus, Licensed Agent

Here at ETA Benefits, our agents sell a wide range of products to fit our customers' various needs. From personal lines such as home and auto to commercial policies for business owners to employee benefits and Medicare, we're proud to offer insurance for virtually everyone. One of our agents, Ed Titus, has a long history in the insurance industry and with our office, and he's sharing more info about his job below.

Name:  Ed Titus

Title:  Insurance Agent          

Years in the Industry:  27 years

Years at ETA:  13 ½ years

What are some of your main job duties?  Shop and do changes for all different types of insurance for both existing and prospective individual and group customers.

How did you get into this field?   Started at Aetna 27 years ago paying health insurance claims and checking provider contracts were loaded into the computer system correctly.  I decided to get on the other side of the spectrum and actually sell and be able to directly help people.

Describe a typical day for you.  Developing quotes for prospective insureds for both the individual and group level for all different types of insurances.  Also, processing change requests both on personal insurances and group insurances.

What do you like best about your job?  The satisfaction of helping people save money.

Why is insurance a good field to get into?  It is a very rewarding experience helping people understand insurance better and helping them get the correct coverage, etc.

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry?   It is a very rewarding experience learning about all of the different types of insurances and being able to help prospects and clients understand them better.

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Joann Chickilly, Licensed Agent/Office Assistant

It's always important to make customers feel welcome when they enter your business, and that is always the goal for us here at ETA Benefits Group. If you stop by our office, chances are the first person you'll see is our receptionist, Joann Chickilly, who is also a licensed agent working primarily with home and auto. Joann talks a little more about her job below.

Name: Joann Chickilly

Title: Licensed Agent/ Office Assistant

Years in the Industry: 12

Years at ETA: Just shy of 1.5 years

What are some of your main job duties? Main jobs consist of taking care of walk-in customers—assisting with their current policies and writing new home and auto policies. The newest addition to my plate is Medicare.

How did you get into this field? After returning to the area from accompanying my husband through his 23 years of active duty military service, I needed employment.  I started as a part-time office assistant with another agency, and within 4 months I was a licensed, full time P&C agent. 

What do you like best about your job? One of the best parts of my day is helping our clients solve problems with their insurance, save money, or most important, ensuring they have all their assets properly protected.

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry?

My advice to anyone getting into the insurance field is if being a trusted adviser and being there to help people when they are at a time of need is something you find fulfilling, then the insurance business is for you! 

How to Choose a Wedding Reception Location

February is National Weddings Month, so it’s a great time to start planning if you're getting married in the near future!

Planning a wedding of any size is stressful. Even if you keep it small or informal, there are countless details to think about. Some couples prefer to tackle the bigger tasks first so they can focus on the smaller “to dos” closer to the big day.  If this sounds like you, let’s talk about one of the biggest items—finding a venue for your reception.

An outdoor location is one way to keep costs down if you have a small budget or are keeping things casual.  Do you know anyone with a big and beautiful backyard, farm, or other unique piece of property? If so, ask them if they’d be willing to host your reception.  Just remember that any outdoor event is at the mercy of Mother Nature, so plan accordingly with a tent, umbrellas for guests, and any other emergency weather gear.

But if you’re staying indoors, make a list of “must haves” to help you evaluate each facility you visit. Having some idea of what you want ahead of time can make the process simpler and less overwhelming for everyone involved.

Below are a few things to include on your checklist:

Size. How big is your guest list? Before you even start looking at venues, do some research and make sure they can comfortably fit the amount of people you plan to invite.  Find a place that’s large enough for a 200+ guest list; smaller but still comfortable—you want plenty of room for people to socialize and dance!—if you’re only inviting your closest friends and family (of course you can have 100 people in a massive banquet hall, but maybe something smaller and more intimate would be better).

Cost. Price is always a deciding factor. Luckily, most venues have a variety of serving options that are priced accordingly, so something should fit your budget. Most large-scale events serve the food as either plated, family-style (where everyone takes their food from the same plate which is passed to each person), or buffet. Cocktail hours with appetizers, serving stations, dessert bars…these are just a few of the trends that have been popping up at receptions in the past few years (all with their own price tags, of course). Or, if you’re committed to keeping costs down, recruit friends or family with impressive culinary skills to make the food either on-site or ahead of time and just use the facility’s kitchen to keep everything warm.

Menu. Can the kitchen accommodate special dietary needs, such as those with food allergies? Is their menu diverse enough to keep finicky eaters happy? Do they offer choices for kids if necessary? Are there vegetarian options available? Do special menu requests come with special pricing? These are just a few questions to keep in mind when you sit down with the venue’s planner or catering manager, which leads to…

Planning help available.  Does the venue have an event planner who can help with the planning, answer questions along the way, and oversee the details on the day itself? You and your spouse-to-be have dozens of stressors to deal with on your wedding day, so it’s nice to know that someone will be on-site to make sure the place settings are in order, the band or DJ has their directions, and can take care of placing the cake. An event planner is more of a “nice to have” than a necessity, but their help can be invaluable as the big day gets closer!

Ensure that everything goes smoothly on your big day with a wedding and special event insurance policy. ETA Benefits Group works with several carriers that sell this type of affordable coverage. Contact us to get a no obligation quote!  

What else would you add to this list? How did you choose your reception location? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!  

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Sara Karnish, Marketing Assistant

Marketing is important to all businesses, and insurance is no exception. As a small independent agency, we are proud to work with our friends and neighbors in our local community. So how do we get the word out? Through both traditional and digital platforms, which allows us to reach an even broader customer base. 

A marketing position usually requires someone with strong writing, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, as well as a healthy dose of creativity and the ability to multitask. Below is a little more about this type of job from our marketing assistant.

Name: Sara Karnish  

Title: Marketing Assistant

Years in the Industry: 15 years in the communications field; almost 1 in the insurance industry

Years at ETA: Almost 1

What are some of your main job duties? Helping to market our agency through both traditional and digital platforms. I maintain our social media pages, write and distribute our monthly electronic newsletter, write all of the posts on our blog, and assist with any other communications-related tasks, including working with vendors on advertising. I also help with answering the phone and greeting customers when they stop by our office.

How did you get into this field? Through a combination of networking and having a strong writing background.

Describe a typical day for you. Every day is different, but I can usually be found keeping our social media pages current, working on our blog, and/orlooking for new opportunities to help spread the word about our agency and the products we sell.

What do you like best about your job? I’m always learning something new, and I have many opportunities to write and be creative—two of my favorite things!

Why is insurance a good field to get into? It’s something everyone needs, and there are more opportunities within the field than you would probably think!

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry? Ask a lot of questions, be open to taking on more responsibilities (even if it’s something you’ve never done before), and use your strengths to make your job your own.

Insurance Careers Month: Q&A with Denise Wolfe, Insurance Broker

February is Insurance Careers Month, and all month long, we'll be sharing some details about our jobs here at ETA Benefits Group. First up is our agent Denise Wolfe.

Name: Denise Wolfe

Title:  Insurance Broker

Years in the Industry:  33

Years at ETA: 11

What are some of your main job duties?  

Health and property and casualty insurance sales and service

How did you get into this field?

Applied for a job opening at a local insurance office

Describe a typical day for you.  

Quoting new business insurance prospects searching for carriers that would fit the clients’ needs, servicing existing clients' insurance as needed, personal visits

What do you like best about your job? 

Helping clients find solutions to fit their needs and possibly saving them some money

Why is insurance a good field to get into? 

The satisfaction of helping others find the right insurance that fits their needs and saving them some money in the process

What advice would you have for someone new to the insurance industry?

 You will never be done learning