future of independent agents News

Agents, Brokers and the Future of Insurance Distribution

A funny thing is happening on the way to the future. As consumers’ and carriers’ behaviors, attitudes and expectations have been changing, independent agents are evolving to better serve both customers and carriers. In terms of customers, agents who have …

Brightway Goes ‘All In’ on Independent Agents, Unveils No-Cost Path to Agency Ownership

On the heels of celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Jacksonville, Fla.-based Brightway Insurance, a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent agencies, has unveiled a no-upfront cost program for independent insurance agents that offers a path to …

Independent Insurance Agents Defying Doomsayers

According to analysts, technologists, aggregators and others, the independent agency system is in trouble. Somebody forget to tell independent agents. Or more to the point, the doomsayers perhaps didn’t notice that independent agencies have been adapting and getting more into …

Rusbuldt on McKinsey 5: Where Will Agents Really Be in 5 to 10 Years?

Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America – the Big “I”- takes issue with a McKinsey report that claims local independent agents will soon be extinct. In this fifth and final installment from …

Rusbuldt on McKinsey 4: Trusted Choice, CAP as Part of Agents’ Internet Strategy

Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America – the Big “I”- takes issue with a McKinsey report that claims local independent agents will soon be extinct. In this fourth installment from an interview …

Rusbuldt on McKinsey 3: Don’t Ignore Trends Favoring Independent Agents

Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America – the Big “I”- takes issue with a McKinsey report that claims local independent agents will soon be extinct. In this third installment from an interview …

Rusbuldt on McKinsey 2: Agent-Carrier Relationships Make a Difference

Bob Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America – the Big “I”- takes issue with a McKinsey report that claims local independent agents will soon be extinct. In this second installment of an interview …

Why McKinsey’s Prediction of Demise of Independent Agents Is ‘Dead Wrong’

A recent report from McKinsey & Co. had some bad news for local property/casualty insurance agents— many of them will be out of business within the next five to 10 years. McKinsey contends that “the economics of the traditional agent …