Latest Agencies Headlines

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

North Carolina Independent Agents Announce 2008 Award Recipients

Oct 29 2008 // The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina announced its 2008 industry award winners during the 111th IIANC Annual Convention held Oct. 12-15 in Asheville, NC. The 2008 Agent of the Year is J. Rives...

Willis Adds 2 Execs to UK Commercial Broker Network

Oct 29 2008 // Willis Group Holdings announced the appointment of Howard Robinson as a marketing consultant and Sarah Walters as marketing communications manager for the Willis Commercial Network, a partnership of local, independent...

Web Site ‘Bridges’ Relationships Between Insurance Agents, Brokers

Oct 29 2008 // The Internet has become more than a useful bridge for insurance agents trying to reach new markets for accounts — it’s also helped locate insurance for bridges. Insurance agents are reporting success connecting...

Gibson Group Retains Best Practices Status from Independent Agents

Oct 29 2008 // Indiana-based Gibson Insurance Group is part of a group of independent insurance agencies around the U.S. to retain Best Practices status in 2008 from Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA). Gibson...

Regional Transit in Chicago Could Lose Funds Because of AIG Woes

Oct 28 2008 // The Regional Transportation Authority is among about 30 transit agencies around the nation that could be on the hook for millions of dollars because of the woes of insurance giant American International Group...

Survey: Insurance Agent Salaries Could Freeze in 2009

Oct 28 2008 // Given today’s tough economic times, most insurance agencies and carriers in the Southern California region are not planning to give their employees cost of living increases in 2009, although many companies have not...

Tennessee Underwriter Forms Commercial Brokerage in Florida

Oct 28 2008 // Tennessee-based Appalachian Underwriters Inc. established a commercial brokerage division and will open a new office in Sarasota, Fla. to house the new operation. AUI will focus on property and casualty risks that are...

Survey: P/C Premiums Decline Again as Industry Enters ‘Uncertain Times’

Oct 27 2008 // Commercial property/casualty premiums continued a downward slide during the third quarter of 2008, but there were suggestions the market decline may have leveled off, at least between July and September, for small and...

4 CAA Members Make ‘Best Practices’ List

Oct 27 2008 // Texas-based Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) announced four of its member agencies, Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts, Bryan Insurance, Pierson & Fendley and Weatherby-Eisenrich, have retained their status as...

Rhode Island Agents’ Trade Group Elects Loiselle-Mongeon as President

Oct 27 2008 // Melanie Loiselle-Mongeon has been named president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island. Loiselle-Mongeon, who is vice president of Loiselle Insurance Agency of Pawtucket, becomes the youngest elected...

Montpelier Re Forms Lloyd’s Managing Agent

Oct 24 2008 // Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. announced that it has received approval from the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Lloyd’s to establish a wholly owned Lloyd’s Managing Agent subsidiary. The new unit...

How Employers, Agencies Are Responding to the Financial Crisis

Oct 24 2008 // As the impact of the global economic crisis takes hold, a quarter of large U.S. employers expect to make layoffs in the next 12 months. However, most companies are focusing on increased employee communication and smaller...

Liberty Mutual Serves Up Loss Control Unit for Insurance Agents, Buyers

Oct 24 2008 // Liberty Mutual Group has created a new loss control organization, Loss Control Advisory Services, to give middle and national market commercial insurance buyers and their agents and broekrs better access to professional...

Venture Launches Coastal Property Coverage Under New Facility

Oct 24 2008 // West Chester, Pa.-based Venture Insurance Programs, a national program administrator, will offer coastal property coverage under a new CATalyst Property Insurance brokerage facility. CATalyst will support each of...

Lawmakers Blast Rating Agencies for Role in Financial Crisis

Oct 23 2008 // The top executive of Moody’s warned his board in 2007 that the quality of credit ratings was in danger due to trends that could “place the entire financial system at risk.” The confidential briefing was...

Texas Exec Named to The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers Board

Oct 23 2008 // Tom Hughston, executive vice president of North Texas-based Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB), has been named to the board of directors of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, a trade association...

Spilman Named Governmental Affairs Manager for Texas Agents Group

Oct 22 2008 // With the 81st Texas Legislative Session just around the corner, the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) and its Trusted Choice agencies have appointed Annie Spilman as governmental affairs manager. Spilman will...

Meurer and Grimsley Join Texas Security General in San Antonio

Oct 22 2008 // San Antonio-based Texas Security General Insurance Agency Inc. announced the addition of Andy Meurer as senior broker and Debbie Grimsley as commercial underwriter in its Commercial Brokerage/Underwriting...

What Keeps Independent Agents Awake at Night? Commissions Just One of Several Concerns

Oct 21 2008 // Independent insurance agents and brokers are concerned about the future of contingent commissions, according to a recent survey. But that’s just one of several major concerns agents have. They also have doubts about...

Yates & Associates Names New Business P&C Underwriter/Broker

Oct 21 2008 // Yates & Associates of Tustin, Calif., announced that Denise Plecas will be joining the underwriting department as underwriter/broker – new business P&C. Starting as a receptionist at Hull & Co. in...