Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Time to Press Again for Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Reauthorization

May 6 2013 // Congress faces a packed agenda this year. Deficit reduction, immigration reform and gun control will dominate the agenda. But another issue must be added to the docket — reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance...

Most Carriers Provide Training on Selling Online: Survey

May 6 2013 // A two-thirds majority of independent insurance agents say their carriers are providing them with training and consulting on how to use their agency websites to increase sales, a new survey reveals. The annual survey of...

Jimcor’s Mastowski on the Market and the Future of MGAs

May 6 2013 // The incoming president of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) is no newcomer to insurance. He has some 40 years of experience under his belt. Frank Mastowsi founded his family-run managing general...

USG Adds Olson as Producer/Broker in Minnesota

May 3 2013 // USG Insurance Services Inc., a national wholesaler and MGA, has expanded operations in its New Brighton, Minn., office with the addition of Jeff Olson as a producer/broker. Olson began his career in the insurance industry...

Texas Agent Association Annual Conference Set for June 26 – 28

May 3 2013 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) and its Trusted Choice agencies, insurance representatives and other insurance professionals from across the state will gather at the Omni Dallas Hotel, June 26-28, for...

Homeowners not the Only Line of Coverage Affected by Texas Weather

May 2 2013 // It’s well known that Texas has some of the highest homeowners premiums in the nation — in large part due to the state’s vulnerability to violent weather. It may be less known that Texas has some of the...

Zurich Expands Community Banking Products to Zurich Agency Services Agents

May 2 2013 // Zurich is now working with Zurich Agency Services, Inc., to expand its community banks offering additional agents and brokers. As part of this effort, Zurich worked with ZAS, formerly Universal Underwriters Insurance...

Keystone Insurers Group to Expand into Illinois

May 2 2013 // Property and casualty insurance franchisor, Keystone Insurers Group, announced it will begin adding partner agencies in Illinois during the fourth quarter of 2013. Illinois will become the ninth state represented in the...

Applied Systems Acquires IVANS P/C Business

May 1 2013 // Insurance software vendor Applied Systems said it has completed its acquisition of the property/casualty business of IVANS, which has been providing products for insurance data exchange and integration between insurance...

Sandy Lesson for Business Owners: Read Policy, Keep Track of Notice Provisions

Apr 28 2013 // It’s been six months since Superstorm Sandy made its landfall on the coast of New Jersey and became one of the costliest storms ever recorded in the U.S. Many businesses in the region are still recovering from the...

Oklahoma Agents Group Pleased with Progress of State Legislation

Apr 26 2013 // Oklahoma’s independent insurance agent association says measures of interest to the group are moving so quickly in the state Legislature this year it is cancelling an annual event furing which member speak with...

Agents Group Puts Out Call to Help West, Texas

Apr 25 2013 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas is calling for contributions to a fund created to help in the rebuilding of West, Texas, the site of the deadly explosion at a fertilizer facility on April 17. Tommy Muska, mayor...

Big ‘I’ Honors Illinois Agent for Work on Crop Insurance

Apr 25 2013 // An Illinois agent has received an award from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or Big ‘I’) for his work on behalf of crop insurance agents. Brian McSherry of Illinois is the 2012...

Remember E&O When Buying or Selling an Agency: Pearsall

Apr 25 2013 // While the industry seemed to see a spike in mergers and acquisitions activity in 2012 due to some tax implications, many are projecting that 2013 will see some healthy buying and selling, too. While there are many issues...

RIMS Wraps Up In Los Angeles, CRO Pay on Rise

Apr 24 2013 // It appears the chief risk faced by those in charge of risk programs are sky high taxes. According to a survey by the Risk and Insurance Management Society, which wrapped up a four-day conference in Los Angeles with an...

Hilb Group Buys Virginia-Based Brokerage Engle, Paxson & Hawthorne

Apr 24 2013 // The Hilb Group announced last week the acquisition of Engle, Paxson & Hawthorne Insurance Services (EPH) of Leesburg, Va. The transaction was effective April 1, 2013. Founded over a century ago, EPH serves residents...

What Young Agents Say About Their Career Choice

Apr 23 2013 // The road to becoming a successful independent insurance agent is not always easy. The economy and often volatile property/casualty insurance market cycle are just two of the potholes agents must maneuver. Young agents in...

Most Carriers Offer Agents Training Opportunities for Online Sales: Survey

Apr 23 2013 // A two-thirds majority of independent insurance agents say their carriers are providing them with training and consulting on how to use their agency websites to increase sales. This is one of the findings in a new survey of...

IIABCal Long-Time Member Michael Remembered

Apr 23 2013 // The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California is reporting that long-time IIABCal member Lisa Michael died on April 18 from cancer. Michael, who was 43, was a principal at Tom Michael Insurance in Turlock,...

MarketScout, Ironshore Launch E&O Program for CIC Insurance Agencies

Apr 22 2013 // MarketScout has developed a new errors & omissions facility designed specifically for Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) to be offered through its relationship with Ironshore Inc., a global specialty insurance...