I think our readers know by now that we're not about politics here at National Underwriter Property & Casualty and PropertyCasualty360.com. Personally, I don't feel it's appropriate for us to endorse a candidate (we are a trade brand, after all, not a newspaper), and I've discovered on my own that many folks already have their minds well made up by now who they're voting for on Nov. 8—and they're damn passionate about it.

Still, until now I've kept to myself a personal story that involves me and The Donald that I need to share in the interest of transparency. It's time.

I've mentioned in previous columns that I'm a singer/songwriter in my free hours; I've been playing music with a close friend of mine, Alan Miller, for decades. In fact, this year he and I are celebrating 30 years of writing and performing music together.

Alan and I are friendly with a New Jersey-based booking agent who several times now has booked us as the entertainment at the after-party for the Trump Men's Invitational golf tournament, typically held each summer in Bedminster, N.J. It's a great gig; it's always hot as blazes on the open-air patio, but we've always been treated well by the excellent clubhouse staff and we've been paid very well—twice our normal rate, truth be told.

The Donald is always at the event, and in between verses of “Suspicious Minds” and The Everly Brothers' “Dream,” I've watched him work the room. Making each and every guest feel like they're the most important person in attendance is an art, and Trump is a master. I've always admired that ability. It's a skill that really can't be taught; it has to be honed through years of practice.

Such personal courtesy also has been extended to the event's musical talent, thank you very much.

Each year we've played the gig, the greeting process has been the same: Mr. Trump enters, looks at Alan and me; we smile and nod with appropriate respect. Mr. Trump nods back. And at the end of the evening last summer, we received a nice, personal compliment.

“Great job, fellas,” he said, delivering the thumbs-up.

I have to say, it was a nice gesture. Trump didn't have to tell the hired help they were good. But he did. (He was right, of course. We were good that night. But, still.)

So, now you know the truth. Rest assured this personal “connection” won't influence our coverage of the P&C insurance business—even though an A.M. Best survey published in March did state that 26.5% of respondents said Trump's policies would be more favorable to the P&C industry than any other presidential candidate. (Hillary Clinton came in seventh, with 5.3% of the vote, if you were curious.)

We'll see if that winning streak continues in November.