Latest Agencies Headlines

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

News Currents

Jul 23 2007 // Agents question SDR on Texas Select unearned commissions policy The Special Deputy Receiver (SDR) for Texas Select Lloyds, in response to a request from the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas for clarification on the...

In the oil and gas sector, all policies are not the same

Jul 23 2007 // In previous articles on this subject I have preached the virtues of watching out for the four “C’s” of insurance protection for the oil and gas operator — contracts, coverages, costs and claims...

People

Jul 23 2007 // Richard S. “Dick” Gieger, general counsel of the law firm of Thompson, Coe, Cousins and Irons, was presented the Raymond Mauk Leadership Award on July 12 in Austin, Texas, at the 15th Annual Mid-Year Property...

The Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act

Jul 23 2007 // After decades of frustration and brutal disappointment, the vexing and seemingly intractable tax payment and regulatory compliance problems surplus lines brokers face on multi-state risks are about to be solved. The...

Regional companies provide a competitive advantage

Jul 23 2007 // Agents need to build a portfolio of carriers to meet their clients needs, and that should include both regional and national carriers, according to Rick Quagliaroli, president and CEO of Strongwood Holdings Insurance Corp....

Despite firefighting prowess, the Russians aren’t coming

Jul 23 2007 // While the Southeast’s largest wildfire in more than a century was still smoldering in Georgia after burning 903 square miles, a fresh conflagration reared its ugly head in California, and an American pilot from...

Building the case with customers for excess casualty coverage

Jul 23 2007 // What should brokers or agents say when they meet resistance from customers who already feel they are spending too much on liability coverage? Explain that in today’s world, it doesn’t take long to run through...

Industry supports terror bill but not all agree with NBCR mandate

Jul 23 2007 // At a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. last month, insurance industry group representatives generally spoke in favor of a bill that would extend the federal backstop for terrorism insurance coverage for another 10...

A recipe for independent agency-carrier relationship success

Jul 23 2007 // Agency-company relationships are a softer issue in business today, and not something independent agencies think about all the time, according to Frank Kortarba, president and CEO of Golden Eagle Insurance in San Diego....

Neb. Insurer Donating $80K in Ark. in Name of Agencies, Small Business

Jul 20 2007 // Omaha, Neb.-based workers’ compensation insurer, FirstComp, is celebrating 10 years of business in Arkansas with some big checks and big thanks to independent agencies and policyholders, the company...

Williams Joins The Republic Group as Underwriting Process Manager

Jul 20 2007 // The Republic Group, a regional insurer based in Dallas, announced that Jay C. Williams has joined the company as its new Personal Lines Underwriting Process manager. In this newly created position, Williams will manage the...

Brown & Brown Names Paschke and Strianese Regional Exec. VPs

Jul 20 2007 // Brown & Brown Inc. announced it has appointed Michael Paschke and Anthony Strianese as regional executive vice presidents. Paschke and Strianese are headquartered in the West and Northeast, respectively. Paschke...

Former Fargo Agent Arrested in Minn. for Insurance Fraud, Theft

Jul 20 2007 // An insurance agent accused of defrauding investors has been arrested in Minnesota. David Skjerven, 60, of Sedona, Ariz., faces charges of theft and insurance fraud. An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month by...

MarshBerry Names Plasket VP, Agency/Broker Division

Jul 20 2007 // Kel Plasket has joined Marsh, Berry & Co. as vice president to coordinate their new Agency/Broker Operations Division. Plasket has 25 years of hands-on experience in all areas of agency operations including sales...

MyNewMarkets.com Announces 2008 Market Exchange

Jul 17 2007 // SAN DIEGO – Insurance Journal’s new online service, MyNewMarkets.com, is launching a new market focused conference oriented toward helping retail agents and brokers find the coverages they need. The first...

Insurance Broker to Reimburse Floridians $2.6 Million

Jul 17 2007 // While denying wrongdoing, Willis Group Holdings Ltd., a national insurance broker, agreed to reimburse $2.6 million to multiple Florida cities and counties, according to state officials. Florida Chief Financial Officer...

5 Secrets Insurance Agents Should Know to Increase Sales

Jul 16 2007 // There are two types of insurance agents: successful and not successful. Insurance agents that make six figures a year have a secret. They use prospecting methods that make them money. While many insurance agents waste...

Scott Joins PWIB Texas as Broker/Underwriter

Jul 13 2007 // Chris Scott has joined Dallas-based PWIB Texas as broker/underwriter, the company announced. Scott has been a broker since 2002 and previously was associated with other leading insurance wholesalers in the Dallas...

Calif. Broker Charged, Arrested for Grand Theft

Jul 13 2007 // Merilyn Matsuko Burnside, an insurance broker from Commerce, Calif., has been arrested for allegedly swindling customers out of insurance payments on two separate occasions. Burnside was arrested Friday, July 6, 2007 in...

Lloyd’s CEO Puts the Hammer Down

Jul 12 2007 // “I have no doubt that there is a shared will in the market to improve our processes and much progress has been made,” stated Lloyd’s Chief Executive Richard Ward in response to a letter sent to the market...