Latest Agencies Headlines

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

People

Mar 23 2009 // Richard G. “Dick” Clarke, senior vice president of J. Smith Lanier & Co. in West Point, Ga., has been elected 2009 president of RiskProNet International, a network of 25 independent insurance brokers in...

How Much is Your Agency Worth?

Mar 23 2009 // Most of the calls from prospective insurance agency sellers start with, “What are agencies selling for these days?” or “What kind of multiple can I expect if I sell my agency?” Insurance agencies...

People

Mar 23 2009 // Kate Westover, vice president of Alternative Risk Financing at Innovative Captive Strategies, has received the 2009 Distinguished Service Award from the Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA). Based in Colchester,...

Transparent Conversations

Mar 23 2009 // If one were to poll every insurance agent in New York about the most important topic facing their profession, “compensation” would probably top the list of answers. Between bailouts, Wall Street’s...

As Credit Scores Fall, Criticism of Insurers’ Credit Scoring Rises

Mar 23 2009 // With consumers’ credit scores dropping as lenders tighten credit terms, insurance consumer advocates are stepping up their criticism of the use of credit scores by insurance companies. They are also warning insurers...

Opportunity Knocks

Mar 23 2009 // No one will argue that operating an insurance business today is challenging. The recession has put pressure on consumers’ wallets, causing them to consider reducing coverages; credit is difficult to come by, meaning...

It Figures

Mar 23 2009 // $568 Million Amount spent by New York City to settle damage claims in fiscal year 2008 – an amount that was about $10 million higher than the previous year. Property damage from two major storms helped drive the...

People

Mar 23 2009 // The Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) installed the association’s new officers and directors. The following will serve in 2009: President Richard E. Dinger of Crescenta Valley Insurance, who is the...

HOT Prospects Come in Unusual Packages

Mar 23 2009 // MyNewMarkets.com’s Top 10 Oddest Market Searches and Requests A “hot” risk from an agent’s view is the one sitting on his or her desk demanding immediate attention. Sometimes those hot prospects...

What’s In a Name?

Mar 23 2009 // Or: A Rose by Any Other Name Is Not an Insured Among the issues that plague coverage lawyers is that of a misnamed, unnamed or mischaracterized insured. All too often in insurance policies, corporations are designated as...

Innovative Boats Need Innovative Agents

Mar 23 2009 // Hybrid Boats Offer New Way to Sell Coverage to the Green-Minded Customer Hybrid boats are hitting the market and the growing popularity of hybrid and electric boats have directly impacted what boaters expect from their...

Greener Opportunities

Mar 23 2009 // Insurers Compete for a Growing Green Industry Jim Henson’s famous Kermit the Frog said it the best, “it’s not easy being green.” Today’s property owners and insurers understand that while...

Liaisons Keep Consumers’ Insurance Concerns at the Forefront

Mar 23 2009 // Loss of Faith in Insurance Providers Would Affect Sales, Advocates Say Insurance agents, brokers and regulators should be aware that when it comes to insurance, consumers are concerned with such issues as the use of credit...

How Consumer Reps Feel About Internet Sales, State Regulation

Mar 23 2009 // Consumer Advisors See Pros and Cons to Internet; Role of Independent Agent Clouded By Commissions Insurance Journal spoke with some of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) consumer liaisons and found...

What is Your Agency Worth?

Mar 23 2009 // Most calls from prospective insurance agency sellers start with, “What are agencies selling for these days?” or “What kind of multiple can I expect if I sell my agency?” Insurance agencies are like...

Defending Data

Mar 23 2009 // Data Security Breaches Present Emerging Risks and Opportunities for Agents Data security represents both a new market opportunity to sell insurance coverage and a new risk — especially for independent insurance...

Minico Offers Select Agent Program for Independent Insurance Agents, Brokers

Mar 20 2009 // Phoenix-based MiniCo Insurance has an expanded benefits program for independent agents and brokers who write a larger volume of business with the company. Those with at least four in-force policies with MiniCo Insurance...

NIP Specialty Launches New Facility for Businesses in Bankruptcy

Mar 19 2009 // NIP Specialty Brokerage, a division of New Jersey-based NIP Group, Inc., launched a new facility to help agents/brokers replace business insurance policies cancelled or non-renewed because their clients have filed for...

Regulators: AIG Not Using Bailout Funds to Underprice Insurance

Mar 18 2009 // Despite some complaints by competitors, American International Group (AIG) does not appear to be using federal bailout funds to lower its insurance prices to keep and attract business, state and federal officials told a...

Insurance Agents 40-and-Younger: What Are YOU Thinking? Exclusive Young Agents Survey

Mar 18 2009 // Young property/casualty insurance agents and brokers across the U.S. are being called upon to answer some questions … and have some fun. Who are you? What do you really think about your career? about your industry?...