Should I stay or should I go? This pivotal question is one many of us grapple with in our relationships. Everyone in long-term bonds will, at some point, confront moments of doubt or uncertainty. I believe it is essential for individuals to reflect on the underlying reasons for these feelings. A critical question to consider is, “Why am I in this relationship?” By understanding the purpose and fulfillment derived from the relationship, you can make more informed decisions about its future implications, whether you stay, leave, or change.

While interviewing Tim Woodard over the past two weeks, I returned to these thoughts about staying or leaving relationships. For public adjusters, “Why should you join an association? What do you get out of it? Why join one versus another?”  

Where else are you going to be involved in American lava flow claims other than Hawaii? What is really going on following the Maui wildfires? Restoration contractors who are thinking of becoming public adjusters, public adjusters who are sole practitioners, and those new to the public adjuster business will appreciate the story and my interview with Robert Joslin. Robert is self-made. He had a very successful construction and insurance restoration contracting business before becoming Hawaii’s first full-time resident public adjuster. His website noted the following:

Success is never a solitary endeavor. From our first breath, we are enmeshed in a tapestry of connections, constantly shaped by those we encounter. Some touch us briefly, while others etch indelible marks, guiding and sometimes dramatically altering the course of our lives.

(Chip’s Note—This is the fourth post of a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.)   

Who should you learn from? There is so much misinformation and wrong information available today from people that are really good at social media advertising or just trying to get your eyes on their website, that the answer is really hard to discern—who are the true professionals who have withstood the test of time and have achieved measurable success whom you should trust to learn from?   

(Chip’s Note—This is the third post of a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.) 

About twenty years ago, I asked past NAPIA President Harvey Goodman for his opinion about who the best public adjusters were. He raised his hand and said, “If I have one hand up, Ron Papa would certainly be among the top five.” Ron Papa is the CEO of National Fire Adjustment (NFA.) While I usually ask about the history of a public adjusting firm, readers should go to the NFA website to see the timeline for this 100-year-old public adjusting business.  

(Chip’s Note—This is the second post of a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.) 

Want to learn something from a public adjuster whose firm has been in existence and helping policyholders with their property insurance claims for nearly 100 years? Stephen Sarasohn of Sarasohn & Company is my spotlight public adjuster this week because his firm has stood the test of time. Further, his father, Ira Sarasohn, was somebody I knew closely, and as a leading public adjuster, I would suggest others should aspire to emulate.   

(Chip’s Note—This will be a weekly feature of this blog which I am writing to obtain perceptions from experienced and leading public adjusters in the public adjusting profession.)   

Amy Bach and I were on a phone call last fall trying to determine a course of action to support policyholder interests regarding proposed legislation in Florida. She asked if I knew Rick Tutwiler. I laughed and said that I knew him and could tell her stories his mother, Linda Tutwiler, would tell me about Rick. Amy Bach then told me that Rick had been forwarding her all kinds of helpful articles and information about Florida’s insurance marketplace and was actively supporting United Policyholder efforts.