Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Texas Regulator Abstains from MLR Vote; Says State Requested Waiver
Nov 29 2011 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has adopted a resolution urging Congress to amend the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to ensure...
Michigan Regulators Suspend Iron Mountain Insurance Agency, Agent
Nov 29 2011 // The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) has summarily suspended the licenses of Erickson & Associates Inc. (E & A), an Iron Mountain insurance agency, and insurance agent Edward Erickson,...
How to Compete for Personal Lines with the Direct Writers
Nov 28 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...
Former North Dakota Insurance Agent Admits to Mail, Wire Fraud
Nov 28 2011 // A former Minot, N.D., insurance agent has pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud charges in federal court. Court documents indicate Alan Henning embezzled nearly $1.2 million between 2005 and 2010 from his employer, West...
Willis UK Networks Given ‘Chartered Insurance Brokers’ Status
Nov 28 2011 // The Willis UK brokers Networks team has been awarded the title of “Chartered Insurance Brokers” by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). The Willis Networks team manages Willis Networks, comprising the...
The Competitive Advantage: Procedural Consistency and Agency E&O
Nov 22 2011 // I have often been asked why procedural consistency is important for reducing errors and omissions (E&O) exposures. Another way of asking the question is, “Why is inconsistency an issue?” Let’s first...
Agency E&O Survey: Why Agents Buy Coverage
Nov 22 2011 // Agency owners have a lot to protect. Of course, first and foremost they must protect their clients. But they must also protect their book of business. They must protect their relationships. They must protect their...
People
Nov 21 2011 // St. Petersburg, Fla.-based LIG Marine Managers announced that Richard C. Zolty has joined LIG as senior ccnsultant and longshore insurance development director. Zolty has 40 years of underwriting experience in workers...
E&O Insights: Can the Manner in Which an Agent Handles a Claim Cause an Errors & Omissions Claim?
Nov 21 2011 // The answer to the question posed in the headline is a definite “yes.” This has actually developed into a significant issue for agents and is one of the current errors and omissions (E&O) hotspots agents...
Agents say Arkansas Earthquake Insurance Sales Up
Nov 21 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...
People
Nov 21 2011 // Holborn Corp., an independent reinsurance brokerage firm in New York, appointed two executives: Wesley Zeliff as vice president and Shinji Ueda as assistant vice president. Zeliff comes from U.S. RE Corporation, where he...
Nationwide, Harleysville CEOs Say Merger All About Growth
Nov 21 2011 // The merger of insurer Nationwide Mutual with regional carrier Harleysville Mutual is all about growth, not only for the companies but also for their independent agents, according to the CEOs of the two...
Are You Prepared for the Changing Insurance Market?
Nov 21 2011 // In today’s personal property/casualty insurance market, agents and brokers face increasing uncertainty. Staying the course is no longer an option to drive profitable growth. You must understand your performance...
Contractors, Agents Fight to Stay Afloat in Distressed Construction Market
Nov 21 2011 // Some Signs Point to Better Times Ahead, Experts Say The construction market is showing hints of improvement, if only slightly, according to insurance specialists for this market. The contractor class has been one of the...
Small Business Owners Trust Their Agents, Survey Reports
Nov 21 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...
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...
