Russell Longcore

Russell Longcore (born August 31, 1953 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an insurance claims adjuster living in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Russell is one of the foremost authorities on property and insurance claims in the world. He is the author of a 2007 book entitled "Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!" The book shows consumers worldwide how to take control of their insurance claims, and add hundreds or even thousands more dollars to their claim settlements. Russell writes books and articles about insurance-related topics that are published in newspapers, magazines and websites. Russell also has a hobby as a classically-trained lyric tenor, singing opera and oratorio internationally and winning four Grammy Awards since 1998.

Biography and career

Russell Longcore, the second of three siblings, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Baptist parents Clifford and Hazel Longcore of Kent City, Michigan (population 600). His father was a bricklayer: his mother was a homemaker. During Russ' early childhood, his father bought into a construction company about 60 miles from Kent City. The family moved to Montague, Michigan, where the business was located, in the summer of 1968. Russell graduated from Montague High School in 1971 solidly in the middle of his class. He played football, basketball, baseball, wrestling and track & field.

Russell attended Muskegon Community College in nearby Muskegon, Michigan in 1971 and 1972. He attended Grand Rapids Baptist College in 1974.

In 1972, Longcore was working as a laborer in his father's construction company when he bought a house. He bought homeowner's insurance at closing, and soon thereafter, the insurance agent offered him a job as an insurance agent. In April of 1973 at age 19, he became the youngest insurance agent in the history of Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Michigan. He left Farm Bureau soon thereafter to become an independent agent. In the ensuing years, he moved back and forth between the insurance business and the family construction business. He eventually became Vice President of the family business, with his father as President. In 1984, his beloved mother Hazel died of cancer. Russ sold his interest in the business back to his father in 1986, and went back into the insurance business full-time. In late 1991, he sold his interest in his insurance agency to his partner and moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

Soon after arriving in Atlanta, Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida and Southwestern Louisiana. He was hired by a national independent claims adjusting company as a "Storm Trooper," a temporary adjuster, because of his knowledge of construction and insurance. That began Russell's career in the insurance claims field. Longcore became a General Adjuster in Property in just four years, which normally takes an adjuster 10 to 15 years to accomplish. He has rocketed forward in the claims adjusting field through a combination of hard work and constant continuing education. Russell is now an Executive General Adjuster in both Property and Casualty claims, which is the highest position available to an adjuster. His claims adjusting practice is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Inspiration for first book

Russell has spent many years adjusting claims in residential and commercial property and casualty insurance claims. During that time, he came to understand that the insurance companies expected him to assist them in holding down claims settlement amounts and claims costs. At the same time, he understood that the claimants and policyholders were often entitled to collect hundreds or even thousands more dollars under the terms and conditions of their policies. This became a moral dilemma that would not go away. The dilemma caused many sleepless nights as he tried to balance the issues.

In the summer of 2004, he attended a workshop put on by Cory Rudl, an Internet marketing genius (now deceased). Russ was looking for a way to generate some extra income by marketing on the Internet. It was suggested to Russ that he write a book about the area of his expertise. He had always been a good writer and an avid reader, but had never dreamed that he could write a book. He set about writing the book in August, and finished the book entitled "Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED!" by the end of 2006.

Russell intended the book to be a handy guide for policyholders on how to submit an insurance claim. However, in the process of writing the book, he naturally revealed important strategies for consumers on how to take control of their insurance claims...strategies that the insurance companies would never reveal to their own policyholders. The strategies, if used, would result in higher insurance settlements. The content of the book placed him at odds with the insurance companies and insurance adjusting companies.

When the book was still in manuscript form, Russ gave a copy to the President of the company he worked for, an international claims adjusting company. He wanted to fully disclose the manuscript to that employer. The manuscript was written under an assumed name to protect his identity while he still worked in the industry. However, the executives at the adjusting company told him that if insurance companies learned that the author of the book worked for the adjusting company, they would stop giving them claim assignments. They told Russ his book was a conflict of interest, and fired him in March of 2007...even though the book was only a manuscript, under an assumed name and not published at that time.

The book was released in Russell's name in May 2007, published by Trafford Books.

The book is available through the publisher, at Amazon.com, and at: http://www.insurance-claim-secrets.com

Publications

Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED! (2007) ISBN 142510443-6

Car Rental Insurance Report

Coming Soon: Business Insurance Claim Secrets REVEALED! Release date: August 1, 2008

Family life

Russell is married to Julia Ann Longcore. "Julie" is an internationally known voiceover actor, using the professional name Deborah Richards. Julie spent 25 years in radio in the Atlanta market, retiring in 2002. Julie was co-winner of an award from the Academy of Country Music in 1988. Their son, Jarrett, is in college studying for a career as a sports broadcaster.

Russell has two grown children from a previous marriage. Melissa Longcore O'Connell lives with her husband Daniel and children Abigail Grace, Morgan Elizabeth and Austin John, in Holland, Michigan. His son, Russell Jr., is single and lives in the Atlanta area.

Performance history

Russell was a soloist in church all of his life. However, when he moved to Atlanta in 1992, he was encouraged to audition for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus as a tenor. He was accepted into the chorus as a First Tenor. The conductor, the legendary Robert Shaw, told Russell to take voice lessons. He studied with Dwight Coleman, Chairman of Opera Studies at Georgia State University. He also studied with Dr. Jennifer Cable, Chair of Vocal Performance Department at the University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.

Russell has also sung with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, the Atlanta Opera Company, Richmond Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Richmond Symphony Chamber Chorus. Russell has recorded 20 CDs with the ASO Symphony and Chorus on the Telarc label. He has been on recordings that have won four Grammy Awards.

In December 2003, Russell traveled to Berlin, Germany to perform Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has performed onstage at Carnegie Hall on seven occasions.

Discography

1. A Capella Works by Copland, Durufle, Tavener, Vaughn Williams, Messiaen and Tallis

2. Absolute Heaven

3. Bach Mass in B Minor

4. Barber: Cantana Profana, Barber: Prayers for Kierkegaard, Op. 30 & Vaughn Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem

5. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

6. Berlioz: Requiem

7. Choral Masterpieces

8. Dvorak: Stabat Mater

9. Gloria!

10. Grand & Glorious - Great Opera Choruses

11. Great Choral Classics

12. Mendelssohn: Elijah

13. Mozart: Requiem

14. Orff: Carmina Burana

15. Rachmaninoff: The Bells and Adams: Harmonium

16. Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe

17. Szymanowski & Poulenc: Stabat Maters

18. The Power and The Majesty

19. Ralph Vaughn Williams: Symphony No. 5, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Serenade to Music

20. Verdi: Requiem and Operatic Choruses

See Also

1. http://en. .org/wiki/Insurance#Criticism_of_insurance_companies

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