Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Former Washington Agents Charged with Fraud, Writing Fake Policies
Feb 18 2019 // Three Pierce County, Wash., residents were charged in early February with crimes related to insurance fraud in Pierce County Superior Court. The charges follow investigations by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s...
Insurers with Best Service Win More Business from Independent Agents
Feb 18 2019 // It may be obvious to those in the industry that the more satisfied independent insurance agents are with an insurance carrier, the more business they will conduct with that carrier. But the message may not be getting...
Employees Have Upper Hand in Today’s Agency Job Market
Feb 18 2019 // Owners Must Show Them the Money, Culture and Other Perks As the insurance industry unemployment rate continues to hover at 1.7 percent, which is lower than the national average of 3.9 percent, insurance agencies face stiff...
Things to Consider When Charging Broker Fees
Feb 18 2019 // A broker fee is a fee in addition to premium and commission that is charged by retail and wholesale insurance brokers and that ultimately is paid by the insurance buyer. Such fees are subject to two overriding rules: (1)...
Agency Merger & Acquisition Deals Hit All Time High, Again
Feb 18 2019 // The year of 2018 brought an all-time high of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity to the insurance industry. Consolidation of firms, both at a local level with M&A by independent agents and brokers, and...
People
Feb 18 2019 // National MetLife has named Darla Finchum as head of the company’s U.S. property/casualty business, MetLife Auto & Home. Finchum had been serving in this role on an interim basis since last August. She will be...
How to Conduct an E&O Self Audit
Feb 18 2019 // Mistakes happen. After all, we are human. That is why insurance agencies have agency errors and omissions (E&O) coverage. Even with the support of E&O coverage, an E&O claim can take its toll on the people...
Eating an Elephant: Tales from 9 Agency Start-Ups
Feb 18 2019 // What motivates people to take a risk in an industry dedicated to managing risk? New independent agencies are born of various circumstances. Sometimes it’s about seizing an opportunity that comes along; other times,...
Look Who Is Betting on the Agency System
Feb 15 2019 // According to some pundits, buyers should all be online and the agency system should be dead by now. However, it appears not everyone got that memo. Here are some recent examples of companies, techies and investors betting...
New Ventures, Driver Shortage Among Challenges in Trucking Insurance Market
Feb 15 2019 // The transportation industry is considered a barometer of the U.S. economy. If freight is trending up, so too is the U.S. economy. But capacity constraints for trucking – including a shortage of qualified drivers, low...
7 Different Insurance Career Options
Feb 13 2019 // This is Insurance Careers Month. I really enjoy when this comes around every year. It’s a chance for me to remind some (and educate others) that the insurance industry is a great career to work in. It has been good...
InsurTechs Take Note: Chubb’s Digital Marketplace Serves 1,000 Agents a Day
Feb 13 2019 // Giant global insurer Chubb is on a mission to transform itself into a digital enterprise. The company is making substantial investments in digital technologies including cloud, mobile, APIs, security, chatbots, analytics...
Insurance Broker Lockton Opens New Orleans Area Office
Feb 12 2019 // Global insurance broker Lockton Companies has opened an office in the greater New Orleans area, headed by Tim Woodard, JD. Danelle Heathman has been appointed as a senior vice president and Cheryl Cabrera will serve as a...
Virginia Honors Independent Agents for Efforts to Fill Flood Insurance Gaps
Feb 12 2019 // The Virginia House of Delegates passed a joint resolution that would designate the first full week in March each year as Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agents Week beginning in 2019. HJ 703, introduced by Del. Buddy...
Massachusetts’ XS Brokers Promotes McVicker
Feb 8 2019 // XS Brokers, a Quincy, Mass.-based independent wholesale insurance underwriting brokerage service provider, has promoted Sean McVicker to division leader of Brokerage Casualty. Previously, McVicker served as assistant vice...
UK’s Integro Offers Piracy Protection Cover for Entertainment Industry
Feb 8 2019 // Integro Insurance Brokers, the UK insurance broker and risk management firm, announced it is offering Piracy Protection Insurance for the entertainment industry. The firm’s Piracy Protection Insurance is designed to...
Champion in California Names Myers Commercial Insurance Broker
Feb 7 2019 // San Diego, Calif.-based Champion Risk & Insurance Services has named Casey Myers a commercial insurance broker. Myers was previously a vice president with Paul Hanson Partners Transportation Insurance. Casey...
Swanson Joins United Group Alliance as Regional VP for Ohio
Feb 7 2019 // United Group Alliance (UGA), an alliance of independent insurance agencies, has hired Dianne Swanson as regional vice president for Ohio. Swanson will be responsible for membership service and business development for all...
What do you mean, I have to cover YOUR property?
Feb 6 2019 // The Academy Journal is pleased to present the following article by our friend, Craig Andrews. As questions come to me from property-casualty practitioners all over the country, one situation in particular seems to popping...
Being Independent, Nimble and Niche: Keys to SSL Endeavour’s Aim to Put Clients First
Feb 6 2019 // By creating an innovative and nimble operating platform, SSL Endeavour, London-based Lloyd’s broker, aims to attract and retain the best entrepreneurial brokers who are freed up to create innovative client solutions,...
