As all long-time readers of Claims know, we prepare an annual salary survey for claim personnel and publish the results in our October issue. This survey is very important to you because it's a vital tool that helps you gauge your career path in comparison to others in the claim-handling functions of the insurance industry.

In this electronic age, our preparations and your participation are much more easily accomplished than in the old days of snail mail and "please return in the postage-paid envelope at your earliest convenience." Through the miracle of e-mail and internet links, you can take the entire survey in a matter of a few minutes and then simply hit the "send" button. We want to stress that the survey is completely confidential. We do not track results for identification purposes; your anonymity is assured. However, there is an optional space for your name and contact information in the event that you would like to be contacted by one of our editors when we prepare this important feature.

Participants are chosen randomly from our circulation lists, but we make sure to go across the board of claim-handling disciplines and levels of employment. That means everyone from presidents and vice presidents to claim managers and adjusters, employed independently or with carriers, will be involved.