Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Okla. Agents Group Leader ‘Pleased’ With Legislative Session

Jul 7 2008 // Dan Ramsey, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma, says the recently convened 2008 state legislative session was a good one as far as the association is concerned. Out of 4,000 bills considered...

People

Jul 7 2008 // Richmond, Va.-based insurance broker Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. promoted F. Michael Crowley to president and chief operating officer. As president, Crowley has been responsible for HRH’s retail operations. In the...

Yes, You Are in a ‘Flood Zone!’

Jul 7 2008 // The Importance of Understanding Flood Zones “I don’t need flood insurance.” “I’m not in a ‘flood zone.'” Or, “I don’t need flood insurance because my mortgage company...

Winning as a Strategist

Jul 7 2008 // Thinking Strategically Can Lead to Insurance Sales Success Want to be a better insurance agent or broker? Then consider your strategy. Today’s sales professionals must be at the top of their game to win sales through...

Find a Silver Lining in the Soft Market

Jul 7 2008 // Strategies From ‘Best Practices’ Agencies Searching for ways to survive and thrive in the soft market cycle? Cultivate untapped customer markets; proactively service renewals; use technology for efficient...

When In Rome, Do As the Romans

Jul 7 2008 // Hint: Learn Before You Go The ancient expression “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is used to warn friends and colleagues to respect and adapt to the culture of places that they visit. In the insurance...

Japan: Risk and Rewards

Jul 7 2008 // A Glimpse into Japan’s Property and Casualty Market The Japanese property and casualty insurance market is ripe for opportunities, but there also are significant risks in the country, according to Keiji Fukasawa of...

‘What Have You Done for Me Lately?’

Jul 7 2008 // How Risk Managers Measure a Broker’s Performance Today’s risk managers need more than just a good broker. They need the best broker. Solid relationships between a broker and a risk manager matter but they...

In Brokers We Trust

Jul 7 2008 // Alliant Insurance Services Puts Its Money Where Its Trust Is — In Teams, Not Individuals Insurance Journal Top 100 Agency Profile Alliant Insurance Services RANKING: No. 2 Headquarters: Newport Beach, Calif. Year...

Willis Buys HRH for $2.1 Billion

Jul 7 2008 // Combined Firm Doubles Employee Benefits Business Willis Group Holdings Chairman and CEO Joe Plumeri holds a reputation for taking on challenges. On June 8 his company gave him one. Willis announced it has agreed to buy...

Exclusive Survey, Part 2: Strengths and Weaknesses – What Agents Think of Regional and National P/C Insurers

Jul 7 2008 // Regional P/C Insurers Beat Out Nationals on Compensation, Claims; Nationals Outperform on Technology Regional carriers come out on top in agency compensation and claims services, while nationals outscore regionals on loss...

Bank Insurance Brokerage 1Q Earnings Hit Second-Highest Level Ever

Jul 7 2008 // Quarterly earnings from bank insurance brokerage hit their second-highest level in first quarter 2008. Bank insurance brokerage earnings in the first three months of 2008 were $1.078 billion, up 8.6 percent from $993.3...

Agency Pains and What to Do About Them

Jul 7 2008 // 10 Common Agency Woes and How to Fix Them The typical agency has at least a few persistent problem areas that never quite go away. At best these issues are addressed but not completely fixed. At worst, they are not even...

Stewart Joins American E&S Insurance Brokers San Francisco Office

Jul 2 2008 // American E&S Insurance Brokers’ San Francisco branch appointed Chip Stewart a broker. Stewart is an industry veteran with more than 20 years experience. Most recently, he was with Swett & Crawford, where he...

Ross and Phillipp Honored by IBA West Young Brokers

Jul 2 2008 // The Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) Young Brokers and Agents presented two awards for young professionals in the insurance industry. The Anthony J. DiBuduo Award went to Derek Ross of C.M. Meiers of...

New York Governor Signs Flex-Rating and NYPIUA Bill

Jul 2 2008 // New York Governor David Paterson has signed into law industry-sought legislation that brings back flex rating for auto insurance and makes permanent New York’s homeowners insurer of last resort. The flex-rating...

Western Insurance Agents Association Installs Officers

Jul 1 2008 // The Western Insurance Agents Association confirmed its board members and officers for the 2008-2009 term. The Board officers were officially installed at the group’s annual member meeting held earlier this month at...

New York Wants Public Hearing on Insurance Agents’ Commissions

Jul 1 2008 // Just days after a top state court ruled it was legal for insurers to pay so-called contingent commissions, the New York Insurance Department and Attorney General said they will hold joint public hearings on the...

North Carolina Agents Honor Montgomery Insurance Company

Jun 30 2008 // Montgomery Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company received the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina young agents company of the year award. Presented during the recent young agents conference...

Pacific Wholesale Names National Healthcare Director, Associate Broker

Jun 30 2008 // Pacific Wholesale announced that Hoppy Stauffer has joined the comapny as national healthcare director, and Veronica Jimenez has joined as associate broker. Stauffer began her career managing physician offices for 10...