The Hartford Dropping One-Third of Fla. Property Risks; Tower Hill Reconsiders
Southeast News • February 5, 2007
The Hartford Financial Services group says it will drop about 38,000 property insurance policies in the next 18 to 30 months, about a third of its business and personal policies in the ...
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Subject: More Thoughts
Posted On: February 6, 2007, 8:53 pm CST
Posted By: Orlando Agent
Comment:
1) Don't any of you have a glimmer of an idea about the political power of AARP? Hartford is not against independent agents, per se. I would bet a nickel Hartford, even with all the king's men, i.e. their attorneys, could not figure a way to get out of the contract they signed with AARP, just as Foremost Insurance Co., the largest writer of mobile homes in the nation, was unable to get out of a similar contract they made years ago with AARP regarding sales of mobile home insurance in Florida. It has nothing to do with Hartford's or Foremost's "loyalty" to the independent agents or our unique system of distribution. However, if contractually, the only way to protect the company is to non-renew the independent agents' biz, then that is what they have to do. I don't represent Hartford, but I do represent Foremost, and have since 1978. The latter, just barely, at this point!
2) Matt: you are only partially right about Tom Gallagher. Worse than your accusations, the truth is: HE IS THE PERSON WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING CITIZENS, POST HURRICANE ANDREW, IN THE FIRST PLACE. If he had any "grit", he would have held out for another 6 months and the industry would have "righted" itself. Up until then, the only state sponsored property plan in place in Florida was the FWUA, fondly known as the "wind pool". About this time last year, when Tom was then running for governor, he proudly reminded his audience, a group of independent agents, that Citizens was his "brainchild". I thought I would toss my rubber chicken. So, I'm thankful for small favors: Crist VS Gallagher? Yes...and that's just on the Republican side of the ballot! It could have been worse, but I'm not sure exactly how, from an agent's point of view, from a property owner's point of view, from a businessperson's point of view OR from a taxpayer's point of view, as the current scenario is pretty awful on all counts. I know, because I am an agent, a property owner, a business person and a taxpayer.
3) My pet peeve: come on, surely you guys know the difference between 'right' and 'write' and 'here' and 'hear'! Akkk! Sorry, my pet peeve, but it makes us all look unprofessional &/or illiterate.
4) To lighten things up, here's a limerick:
There once was a governor named Crist
Who delivered when consumers were pissed.
Like turning water to wine,
Free insurance he devined.
Soon taxpayers will be slitting their wrists!
Subject: More Thoughts
2) Matt: you are only partially right about Tom Gallagher. Worse than your accusations, the truth is: HE IS THE PERSON WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING CITIZENS, POST HURRICANE ANDREW, IN THE FIRST PLACE. If he had any "grit", he would have held out for another 6 months and the industry would have "righted" itself. Up until then, the only state sponsored property plan in place in Florida was the FWUA, fondly known as the "wind pool". About this time last year, when Tom was then running for governor, he proudly reminded his audience, a group of independent agents, that Citizens was his "brainchild". I thought I would toss my rubber chicken. So, I'm thankful for small favors: Crist VS Gallagher? Yes...and that's just on the Republican side of the ballot! It could have been worse, but I'm not sure exactly how, from an agent's point of view, from a property owner's point of view, from a businessperson's point of view OR from a taxpayer's point of view, as the current scenario is pretty awful on all counts. I know, because I am an agent, a property owner, a business person and a taxpayer.
3) My pet peeve: come on, surely you guys know the difference between 'right' and 'write' and 'here' and 'hear'! Akkk! Sorry, my pet peeve, but it makes us all look unprofessional &/or illiterate.
4) To lighten things up, here's a limerick:
There once was a governor named Crist
Who delivered when consumers were pissed.
Like turning water to wine,
Free insurance he devined.
Soon taxpayers will be slitting their wrists!