Latest Agencies Headlines

All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Iowa Agent Sentenced to 41 Months for Defrauding Insurers

Jul 21 2014 // A former Des Moines, Iowa, insurance agent was sentenced to 41 months in prison for insurance fraud. Melissa Ilene Williams, of Dike, Iowa, also was ordered to pay restitution for fabricating and submitting life insurance...

Independent Agents Drawn to Tablet Applications

Jul 21 2014 // Many independent insurance agents say that tablet devices are going to be more important in the next couple of years – particularly for sales presentations and accessing carrier-based training. This is among the many...

Agents Keep Up: How People Use Mobile Technology to Communicate and More

Jul 21 2014 // An agent’s technological plate is so full it may seem impossible to decide where to start. Experts agree that embracing mobile needs to take top priority for two critical tasks: to mobile-optimize the agency website...

Deal Analysis: Why Validus Is Buying Western World

Jul 21 2014 // The combination of Validus Holdings and Western World Insurance Group fills in “missing pieces” for both organizations, Validus’ chairman said in late June, detailing finer points of a $690 million deal...

Peremption for Me, But Not for Thee

Jul 21 2014 // The Difference Between Insurance Agents and the Insurers They Represent Hurricane season 2014 had barely begun when Hurricane Arthur formed and wreaked havoc along the East Coast during the 4th of July weekend. Whether the...

Consumer Interest in TrustedChoice.com Growing, Big ‘I’ Chair-Elect Says

Jul 21 2014 // Insurance consumer interest in Trusted Choice, the national brand created for the members of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or Big “I”) is growing, according the...

Surplus Lines Tax Sharing Solution Still Up for Debate

Jul 21 2014 // Things have changed a bit for the surplus lines industry since the Non-admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act, (NRRA) part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform legislation, passed in 2010. The NRRA’s implementation has...

Senate Passes TRIA Renewal with Broker Licensing Provision

Jul 17 2014 // In a 93-4 vote, the Senate today passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014 (S. 2244 ) that extends the federal reinsurance program for seven years. In addition to extending the Terrorism Risk...

Hearing Set in Insurance Fraud Case Against Former Kansas Agent

Jul 17 2014 // A federal judge will hear arguments on whether to dismiss the bulk of a wide-ranging indictment accusing a former Kansas insurance agent with stealing nearly $2 million from policyholders. U.S. District Judge J. Thomas...

Getting a Grip on Ridesharing Coverage

Jul 17 2014 // Ridesharing services are becoming increasingly popular among consumers looking for a more convenient alternative to taxis or other forms of public transportation, and new ridesharing companies have been cropping up...

Insurance Journal Co-Sponsors MarshBerry Market & Financial Survey

Jul 16 2014 // How are agencies targeting new business today? Will historical growth rates be sustainable? And just how much do agencies need to reinvest to achieve desired growth and enable perpetuation? These are some of the questions...

Florida’s Heritage Assumes Sunshine State Policies, Adds 150 Agents

Jul 16 2014 // Florida’s Heritage Insurance Holdings Inc. said it has it assumed approximately $59 million in annualized premium from the insolvent Sunshine State Insurance Co. Effective June 27, 2014, the policies were assumed by...

Why Isn’t Current Pricing Pain Impacting Reinsurers’ Ratings? – Litmus Analysis

Jul 16 2014 // Since the disappointing pricing at the 1.1. renewal the bad news on reinsurance pricing has kept on coming. April, June and July renewals were all reported as materially down by the major brokers. S&P adopted a...

Breckenridge Insurance Services Hires Michael J. Foley as Area President to Lead West Coast Brokerage Expansion

Jul 16 2014 // KENNESAW, Ga., July 16, 2014 — Breckenridge Insurance Services, the wholesale commercial brokerage division of Breckenridge Insurance Group, has named Michael J. Foley as area president to head up West Coast brokerage...

Iowa Agent Gets 41 Months in Prison for Defrauding Insurance Companies

Jul 15 2014 // A former Des Moines, Iowa, insurance agent was sentenced to 41 months in prison for insurance fraud, the Iowa Insurance Division announced. Melissa Ilene Williams, of Dike, Iowa, also was ordered to pay restitution for...

USG Insurance adds Chang in Southern California

Jul 15 2014 // USG Insurance Services Inc. added Perry Chang as producer/broker in its Irvine, Calif. office. Chang most recently held the position of broker at Scottish American. Past positions include vice president of sales at Artisan...

ITC Expands Comparative Rating System, TurboRater, to Nevada

Jul 11 2014 // Insurance Technologies Corporation (ITC), a provider of marketing, rating and management software and services, has expanded its comparative rating system TurboRater with its release of automated insurance rating...

Georgia Agent Accused of Home, Crop Insurance Fraud

Jul 11 2014 // An Eastman, Georgia, insurance agent has been charged with insurance fraud and forgery in connection with homeowners and crop insurance policies she sold in the middle Georgia. Officials said warrants have been issued for...

TWFG Top 2014 Branches, Agents Honored

Jul 10 2014 // Texas-based The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG) honored the top branch offices and agents from across the network of more than 300 insurance agencies affiliated under the TWFG Insurance Services umbrella with awards. The...

Atlantic Specialty Lines Opens New Louisiana Office with Danny Gendusa to Lead Initiative

Jul 10 2014 // Hammond, LA, 7/10/14– Atlantic Specialty Lines (ASL), a wholesale broker and specialty lines MGA offering a variety of property, casualty, auto, professional, and personal lines coverages, continues its expansion by...