Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Florida Gov. Scott Signs Property Insurance Cost Control Bill
May 17 2011 // Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed into law legislation that promises to lower costs for the state’s property insurers, including what they pay on sinkhole claims. While the memory of former Governor Charles...
Submit Today: Top 100 Independent Insurance Agencies
May 17 2011 // Once again, Insurance Journal is on the search for leading privately-held property casualty independent agencies and brokerages for its annual Top 100 Property/Casualty Independent Insurance Agencies report. Top Overall...
Agents View Carrier Consistency of Product, Price Critical in Relationship
May 16 2011 // Nearly half of independent insurance agents and brokers believe it is most important to their carrier relationships that companies are consistent in product and pricing in the marketplace, a new study co-sponsored by...
Brassard Elected Chair of IIABNY
May 16 2011 // Insurance agent Christopher A. Brassard has been elected president of Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Inc. (IIABNY), heading a new slate of officers for the state trade group. Brassard ā who...
USG Adds MacLachlan as Property Broker
May 16 2011 // USG Insurance Services Inc., a national wholesale broker of commercial insurance, has added Douglas MacLachlan as a property broker, out of the Palatine, Ill., office. MacLachlan most recently held a position as a property...
Cat Bond Investors Not Scared Off by Japan Quake
May 16 2011 // The catastrophe bond market seems to have survived the Japanese earthquake, its biggest test since the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, with investors still likely to consider the sector despite millions of dollars of...
Insurance Agents, Adjusters Vulnerable to Lawsuits Even When They’re not to Blame
May 16 2011 // Agents and adjusters have completely different roles in the insurance industry. But as intermediaries between insurance companies and their customers they have one critical thing in common: They often get called into...
Survey: Commercial Lines Prices Fall 3% in Q1
May 16 2011 // Commercial property/casualty pricing declined again with an average decline of 3 percent in the first quarter of 2011. But according to a new industry survey, the pace of pricing declines may be slowing down. The market...
Agents Tell Regulators Commissions, Consumers Hurt by Medical Loss Rule
May 16 2011 // “The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country and it was dramatic immediately.” That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner...
Pennsylvania House OKs Workers’ Comp Changes
May 16 2011 // Pennsylvania House lawmakers have approved new legislation that would allow insurers to write workers’ comp coverage to owners and principals of businesses. Agents in the state had sought the change to correct a...
What’s Your Definition of Producer?
May 16 2011 // It’s a funny experience writing articles for insurance publications and speaking at industry functions. After nearly 750 articles and presentations, the only articles or presentations that really ever spark anger...
Kentucky Streamlines Agent Licensing for Veterans
May 16 2011 // Members of the armed services will find it easier to keep or obtain an insurance agent’s license under a new law approved by Kentucky lawmakers. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has signed into law HB 301 that...
People
May 16 2011 // Marsh & McLennan Cos. appointed Daniel S. Glaser to the newly created position of group president and CEO. Glaser previously had been chairman and CEO of Marsh. He will continue to report to Brian Duperreault,...
Insurance Agents, Adjusters Vulnerable to Lawsuits Even When They’re not to Blame
May 16 2011 // Agents and adjusters have completely different roles in the insurance industry. But as intermediaries between insurance companies and their customers they have one critical thing in common: They often get called into...
Eye on the Local Managing General Agency
May 16 2011 // The American Association of Managing General Agents Opens the Door for Smaller Members Sometimes bigger is not always better. Large wholesale organizations have a place in the market, but smaller and often family-owned...
Calif. Blocks Bill to Boost Insurance Commissioner’s Penalty Powers
May 16 2011 // The California Senate Insurance Committee has blocked a restitution bill that would have given explicit authority to the state Insurance Commissioner to order restitution as part of an administrative enforcement action...
MLR Dramatically Impacting Commissions, Agents Tell Regulators
May 16 2011 // The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country, and it was dramatic immediately.” That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner from...
Florida Lawmakers Approve Property Reform
May 16 2011 // In the closing days of Florida’s legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill that addresses sinkhole claims and a number of other property insurance issues. In addition to redefining sinkhole losses, the measure...
How to Prevent E&O Lawsuits for Black Swan Risks
May 16 2011 // The timeless maxim- “think globally, act locally” – coined in 1915 by social activist Patrick Geddes, underscores the vital importance for insurance agents to really think through the scope of their...
Survey Shows Opportunity for Carriers to Support Agents in Social Media
May 16 2011 // The majority of agents and brokers say using social media is important for business, yet many report not using social media tools in their business today. Seven of 10 independent agents and brokers believe it is important...
