Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Wall Street and Insurance Industry
Nov 21 2011 // The recent “Occupy Wall Street” movement highlighted the public’s discontent with giant financial institutions and the country’s growing income inequity between the rich and the poor. The protesters...
How to Compete for Personal Lines with the Direct Writers
Nov 21 2011 // Let’s face facts. It’s unlikely that any individual independent agency will ever “beat” the direct writers. They have massive marketing budgets, a strong online presence, great name recognition, and...
How to Produce and Keep Happy Claimants
Nov 21 2011 // The best way to keep agency customers happy is to avoid claims in the first place but, of course, that’s easier said than done. When claims do happen, independent agents can play a valuable role in determining...
Web Exchange
Nov 21 2011 // IJ Video Highlights Pat Ryan Asks, ‘Are You Happy? Powered by InsuranceJournal.tv Patrick Ryan is an innovator who sees opportunity. And it was opportunity that drove him to launch Ryan Specialty Group in early 2010....
Pennsylvania, Delaware Agent Groups Part Ways With PIA National
Nov 21 2011 // Two independent agent associations in the northeast said in November they will discontinue their affiliations with the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). The Insurance Agents & Brokers of...
Beyond Wall Street
Nov 21 2011 // We’re in the news business and this isn’t exactly news. It’s more like another confirmation of something we have all known for a long time. Here is the not-so-new news flash: Small business owners trust...
Turning Construction Red Flags into Opportunities
Nov 21 2011 // The role of an agent or broker as a trusted advisor to contractor clients is more important than ever given today’s challenging business environment. One of the many ways you can add value to your client...
Tips for Agents Handling Claims
Nov 21 2011 // ClaimsJournal.com Editor Denise Johnson understands the claims business. She spent the last 14 years examining property/casualty claims for prominent insurance carriers nationwide. Johnson offered some advice for agents...
Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance Adds New Member Agencies in East
Nov 18 2011 // The Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA) added eight new member agencies in the East region in October. SIAA added 45 new member agencies nationwide last month. The new members in the East region are: Cosgrove...
Former Oklahoma Insurance Agent Begins Prison Term for Fraud
Nov 18 2011 // A Stigler, Okla., woman, a former insurance agent, has begun serving time in prison for insurance-related crimes uncovered earlier this year, the Oklahoma Insurance Department announced. Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner...
Caliper’s Greenberg Receives Big ‘I’s’ Chairman’s Award
Nov 17 2011 // The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (Big “I”) recently presented Caliper Corp.’s founder and CEO Herb Greenberg with the association’s chairman’s award. Greenberg was...
Van Wagoner Entering Oklahoma Commercial Earthquake Market
Nov 16 2011 // Texas-based managing general agency, Van Wagoner Companies, plans to begin selling “monoline” commercial earthquake insurance as a surplus line in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Insurance Department announced. Van...
Tennessee Alters Surplus Lines Licensing
Nov 15 2011 // The expiration date for surplus lines licenses in Tennessee will soon have to coincide with the expiration of an agent’s primary insurance producer license. All surplus lines license expiration dates will be moved...
Agents Say Arkansas Earthquake Insurance Sales Up
Nov 15 2011 // Insurance agents say the recent 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma has led many Arkansans to add earthquake insurance to their homeowner policies. The Nov. 5 quake east of Oklahoma City left damage over a wide area and...
Willis UK Broker Networks Add Nine New Members
Nov 15 2011 // Willis Group Holdings announced that nine new members have joined Willis Networks, its alliance with local, independent insurance brokers in the UK. Willis Networks is made up of the Willis Commercial Network (WCN), which...
Agencies Saw Business Interruption Claims After October Nor’easter
Nov 15 2011 // Local agencies in the Northeastern region say they saw cases of business interruption claims following the unusual, freak snowstorm that swept through the area last month. Many claims came from local restaurants and diners...
Lawyers, Firms Line Up as MF Global Crumbles
Nov 14 2011 // Just days after the collapse of MF Global, a healthcare plaintiffs’ lawyer registered the domain mfglobal-lawsuit.com — a sign of the legal business the brokerage’s failure is expected to...
Vanliner Launches Affinity Program for Arpin Moving and Storage Agents
Nov 14 2011 // Vanliner Insurance Co., an insurer in the moving and storage industry, has introduced the Arpin Affinity Program, an insurance product developed exclusively for moving agents affiliated with Arpin Van Lines. The program is...
Small Business Owners Report High Trust in Agents, Survey Reports
Nov 14 2011 // Small business owners trust their independent insurance agents and commercial insurance carriers more than other financial services businesses, a new study reports. The study, commissioned by The Hanover Insurance Group...
MMA (UK) Revamps Shops, Offices, Surgeries Products for Brokers
Nov 14 2011 // MMA Insurance (UK) announced that it “has enhanced its Shops, Offices and Surgeries products with a new level of rating sophistication on its Broker Online system.” It also noted that the developments...
