The Omaha Association of
Health Underwriters and
Independent Insurance Agents of Omaha
Present

“Is it a Lie? Is it Wrong?”
Ethical Practices in Insurance

Numerous polls place public confidence in insurance agents near the bottom of any list of professions or occupations. Near the top of the public’s expressed concern over the ethics of insurance agents is the issue of agent honesty. This three-hour course is specifically designed to address the issue of agent honesty in the clearest, most straightforward, and insurance-specific way possible. The course centers around 10 brief cases of agent-client interaction. The cases are used to illustrate the various situations in which an agent’s honesty may be put to the test. All cases are drawn from common and easily recognizable insurance practices and circumstances. The instructor also provides philosophical and empirical support for his approach to agent honesty within the practice of selling insurance.

Purpose and objectives
The purpose of the course is to challenge the agent’s understanding of honesty in practice, assist the agent in identifying the kinds of circumstances and practices where honesty is likely to be an issue, provide the agent with simple and easy to apply principles for everyday use, and encourage the agent to examine his/her current practices in light of the lessons drawn in class.

About Our Presenter
Dr. Richards is a Professor of Philosophy and Managerial Studies at St. Ambrose University, where he became a full- time faculty member in 1993. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Iowa in 1996 and has an M.A. in Philosophy from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from St. Ambrose in 1971.

Prior to 1993, Dr. Richards performed management, training, and consulting responsibilities with several local companies while serving as Adjunct Professor in Philosophy with St. Ambrose. He is recognized for his expertise in the field of organizational behavior, process development, business ethics, and human resource management. Dr. Richards has been designing classes and teaching insurance continuing education since 1988. He is also a Visiting Professor at Zagreb School of Economics and Management in Zagreb, Croatia and is Visiting Professor at the International Business School in Vilnius, Lithuania.