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Feb 5 2006 // Oklahoma’s legislative session shifts into gear Lawsuit reform, uninsured drivers are among issues to be debated. The bill-filing deadline for the Oklahoma Legislature passed Jan.19, 2006, and the session opens Feb....

Young agent tricks and treats

Feb 5 2006 // Any activity done ouside the office is always better than doing something in the office. Like many of you, I started my insurance career with an empty desk and a phone. Over the years I have learned some tips or...

Spitzer probe brought bad practices to light, panel says

Feb 5 2006 // That the investigation of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer into compensation practices of the nation’s insurance brokers and carriers brought to light the unethical behavior of some bad industry apples was a...

Feb 5 2006 // People Bob Amado, president of Colemont’s Northern California offices, has retired, effective Jan. 1, 2006. Doris Barnett has been named his successor. Amado joined Colemont in 1997 and was instrumental in growing...

Editor’s Note: Pushing paper

Feb 5 2006 // There appears to be a lot of action on state legislative hills these days. Politicians have been meeting in most Western states to consider a wide variety of insurance proposals to regulate the industry. And hundreds of...

Cautionary tale on switching cargo

Feb 5 2006 // Agents new to the transportation insurance field must be careful of exclusions-especially when it comes to motor truck cargo. This frequently arises where an agent is switching coverage from one carrier to the next. Maybe...

Closer Look: Motor Carrier Cargo

Feb 5 2006 // Producers advised to work closely with a wholesaler or carrier that knows transportation contracts Transportation insurance and, more specifically, motor truck cargo insurance are not fields where an agent should dabble...

2005 delivers mixed bag for property/casualty brokers

Feb 5 2006 // Stock Prices: In terms of stock prices for property and casualty brokers, the year was mixed. With its stock up 54 percent, Aon experienced a remarkable year. However, Marsh and McLennan’s woes continued as its stock...

Minding Your Business

Feb 5 2006 // Agency value and price-what sellers can expect to put in their pocket Today there is constant attention by those asking agency owners to think about selling or merging with them, so the owner can pursue his or her hopes,...

Compensation overall

Feb 5 2006 // Last year was not a big year for raises in independent insurance agencies as salaries in many agencies across the county stayed right where they were in 2004. Producer commission rates stayed the same also. More than 1,000...

San Antonio Agents to Hold Workers’ Comp Class

Feb 3 2006 // The Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio will hold a workshop on the Texas workers’ compensation on March 9, 2006, in San Antonio. “Workers’ Comp: Navigating the Texas Experience Rating,”...

Insurance Skills Center Hosts E&O Classes Throughout California

Feb 2 2006 // Insurance Skills Center, Huntington Beach, Calif., will be presenting errors and omissions classes throughout California that focus on the new issues of permanent digital retention of records, the increased exposure to the...

Fla. CPCU Speaker Outlines Certificates of Insurance Terms, Provisions

Feb 2 2006 // “Certificates of Insurance: The Second Most Dangerous Piece of Paper,” including specifics about various insurance contract terms and provisions, and what to do and not to do with certificates of insurance were...

Softech Simplifies Access to Instant MVRs from any Comparative Rater Nationwide

Feb 2 2006 // Softech International announces that it is now providing agent/brokers and carriers with instant access to Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) from within all major comparative raters nationwide. Now customers can access MVRs...

Big ‘I’ Seeks Comprehensive Flood Reform as Committee Holds Hearing

Feb 2 2006 // The Senate Banking Committee’s discussion on Thursday of proposed reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was reportedly an important step, and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of...

N.J. Agent Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nearly $100,000 in Premium Money

Feb 1 2006 // New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L. McKoy reported that a Cumberland County insurance agent has pleaded guilty to theft for stealing nearly $100,000 in insurance premium money from insurance...

PWIB Texas Adds Taylor as Associate Underwriter/Broker

Feb 1 2006 // Dallas, Texas-based PWIB Texas, a division of Insurance Specialty Group (ISG), announced the addition of Josh Taylor as an associate underwriter/broker. Taylor formerly served as an assistant underwriter with a managing...

Worldwide Facilities Adds Brokers in Los Angeles, Seattle

Feb 1 2006 // Los Angeles-based Worldwide Facilities Inc. has hired several new property and casualty brokers for its offices in Los Angeles and Seattle. Bob Markese joins as vice president in the Los Angeles office.He spent the past 8...

‘Big I’ Says Survey Will Help Strengthen Independent Agency System

Feb 1 2006 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America is encouraging all members of the independent agency system to take part in the ACORD-User Groups Information Exchange’s (AUGIE) benchmark Agency Technology...

Missouri Agent Found Guilty of Selling Fraudulent Investments

Jan 31 2006 // A Springfield, Mo. insurance agent was found guilty this month of illegally selling unregistered investments, a crime that contributed to dozens of Ozark area residents losing millions of dollars. Former insurance agent...