Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Average Homeowners Policy Rate Comparison is Meaningless

Mar 10 2008 // Despite the insurance industry’s traditional reliance on averages, averages don’t always make sense when comparing premiums. In Texas, as elsewhere, individual premiums are subject to so many variables — from...

Policyholders Need to be Educated on Importance of Flood Insurance

Mar 10 2008 // Eroding levees, flood map changes, lack of buyers highlight need for public outreach Levees can also erode and decay over time and require regular maintenance and upkeep to continue to offer the level of protection they...

As the Soft Market Continues, Calif. Wholesalers Seek Specialty Niches

Mar 10 2008 // Relationships with agents, brokers and regulators critical to CIWA members The members of the California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) play a vital role in the state’s insurance market. To find out how...

People

Mar 10 2008 // Denver-based Van Gilder added three persons to its staff. Tony Dodd joined the firm as an account executive specializing in homeowner association risk management programs. Kyle Krisman assumed the role of business...

How to Hire a New Producer

Mar 10 2008 // Hiring employees is a process crucial to the success of a business. Finding and keeping a good producer is even more crucial, since that person is responsible for growth in new sales. Therefore, the right selection and...

Who’s Worth What?

Mar 10 2008 // Agency Salary Survey: Survey reveals fewer pay raises in 2007 but most agencies’ salaries hold firm Fewer independent agencies gave salary increases to managers, sales producers and support personnel in 2007 compared...

The Basics About Appraisals

Mar 10 2008 // Agents should know when and why to refer clients to appraisers for their prized possessions Although like many insurance agents you may have worked with appraisers when insuring a client’s art, antiques or...

Special Policies For Special Cars

Mar 10 2008 // How to find new and existing leads in the collector auto market Everyone knows a car guy. Maybe he’s the neighbor who spends entire weekends in his driveway — armed with a toothbrush, cotton swabs and chamois...

Yates & Associates Names Vaglienty Underwriter/Broker

Mar 7 2008 // Tustin, Calif.-based Yates & Associates has hired Cynthea Vaglienty as commercial transportation underwriter/broker. Vaglienty began her insurance career in 1995 at Roger Stone Insurance. After a few years on the...

GlobalGreen Insurance Offers Independent Agents Franchise

Mar 7 2008 // St. Louis-based Equity One Franchisors, LLC recently announced it is offering independent insurance agents an opportunity to franchise GlobalGreen Insurance Agencies. The first three established franchises are located in...

Arrowhead Announces New Carrier For Insurance Agents E&O Product

Mar 6 2008 // San Diego, CA, 03/06/2008 – ARROWHEAD General Insurance Agency, Inc. has announced its independent property and casualty insurance agents errors and omissions product will be underwritten with an “A”...

Wisconsin’s Straka Named Young Agent of Year by PIA National

Mar 6 2008 // Bart Straka has been named the 2008 PIA National Young Insurance Professional of the Year. The award was presented March 1, 2008 by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). Straka is vice president...

CNinsure Adds Two More Agencies

Mar 6 2008 // CNinsure Inc. remains in an acquisitive mode. The Chinese agent/broker announced that it has acquired majority interests in Shenzhen Huameng Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. and Fuzhou Guoxin Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. The...

N.Y. Agents’ Group: Spitzer’s Fine Proposals Are Out Of Whack

Mar 6 2008 // Empire State lawmakers should reject increased fines for breaking insurance laws sought by Gov. Eliot Spitzer in his proposed state budget, an agents’ group said. The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New...

Mo. Department Announces New Exam Procedures for Agents

Mar 6 2008 // Effective March 1, 2008, Pearson VUE will be the state’s new provider of insurance producer exams for individuals seeking licensure in Missouri. Openings to schedule testing through the current vendor are no longer...

PWIB Announces Change of Name and Launch of New Divisions

Mar 5 2008 // ATLANTA, March 5, 2008 – Insurance Specialty Group, LLC (“ISG”) is the holding company, which owns Pacific Wholesale Insurance Brokers, LLC (“PWIB”). ISG is pleased to announce the change of...

Brown & Brown Inc. Launches London Wholesaler, Decus Insurance

Mar 5 2008 // Florida-based Brown & Brown Inc. opened a London-based wholesale brokerage, Decus Insurance Brokers, Limited (D.I.B.) on March 1. According to Regional Executive Vice President Anthony T. Strianese, D.I.B. is Brown...

Legislators Adopt Resolution in Support of Agent Licensing Registry

Mar 5 2008 // The National Conference of Insurance Legislators’ Executive Committee unanimously adopted a widely supported Resolution in Support of the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) and urged all states to fully...

Tenn.’s Bowles Honored as 2008 Agent of Year by PIA National

Mar 5 2008 // Kenneth A. Bowles as been named the 2008 PIA National Professional Agent of the Year by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. Bowles was honored for his work on behalf of professional insurance agents,...

Insurance Among Washingtonians’ Top 20 Complaints

Mar 4 2008 // Washington consumers filed 19,686 complaints with the Attorney General’s Office in 2007, with insurance ranking among the top 20 complaints. Complaints about collections agencies climbed to the No. 2 spot, bumping...