Latest Agencies Headlines

FAIA: Employment Crisis Threatens Agencies

Dec 4 2005 // An impending employment crisis is threatening independent insurance agents and will become disastrous by 2010 unless employers act now, Lisa Harrington, Florida Association of Insurance Agents vice president of education...

Dec 4 2005 // How Program Managers Can Avoid the ‘Courthouse Blues’ A little old lady from San Francisco rejected an earthquake endorsement on her homeowners’ coverage, only to have her home later destroyed by...

Agent-Carrier Partnerships Need Goal Clarity and Exit Strategy, Not Love

Dec 4 2005 // The carrier executive tried to pin down agents on what they wanted from their insurers. Among the vague responses of exclusivity, underwriting authority, respect and long-term relationships, one complaint stood...

Dec 4 2005 // The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, Austin, Texas, has announced that two outstanding customer service representatives have received its National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award for 2005:...

News Briefs

Dec 4 2005 // New Online License Service Available for Wash. Agents and Brokers Insurance agents, brokers and other insurance professionals licensed to transact business in Washington can now print copies of their licenses from their...

A New Home for Lower Value Dwellings

Dec 4 2005 // Heartland Marketing Group Inc. recently introduced a new market for lower valued homes, including mobile/manufactured home, travel trailer and stand-alone dwelling fire risks. Offered through Aegis Security Insurance...

ASI, Zurich, AIG

Dec 4 2005 // ust like Arnold Schwarzenegger, today’s strongest and most successful insurance programs started out as scrawny and klutzy kids. Hard work along with nurturing from wise and patient carriers helped them build muscle...

Smaller and Regional Programs: Proven Exercises

Dec 4 2005 // Pumped for profit Robin C. Brennan knows fuel dealers. She’s been handling their insurance needs since 1998. Brennan is a vice president with the Managing Agency Group in Hartford, Conn., a subsidiary of Hilb Rogal...

Agents Learn About Potential Policy Glitches, Coverage Fixes

Dec 4 2005 // Are you and your customers aware of potential policy “glitches” in their coverages? And what are you doing to help remedy the situation? Glitches in policies agents select for insureds and possible coverage...

Conn. Proud of Its ‘Common Sense’ Compensation Disclosure Law

Dec 4 2005 // States in search of a “common sense” approach to insurance producer compensation disclosure might consider talking to Connecticut officials, that state’s commissioner recently proposed. “I’m...

Words Are Key When Program Managers and Carriers Put Vows In Writing

Dec 4 2005 // As in a marriage, if it’s a good relationship, the parties never have to consider the contract. But if things go badly, words mean everything.” Greg Thompson, president of THOMCO brokerage in Kennesaw, Ga.,...

U.S. Risk Insurance Opens Irvine, San Diego Offices

Dec 2 2005 // U.S. Risk Insurance Group, Inc. (U.S. Risk) has announced the opening of its Irvine, Calif., office and a satellite office in San Diego. Scott T. Carroll has joined the company as vice president and branch manager to...

LWCC First Insurer in Production with AgencyPort’s Renewal and Endorsement Module

Dec 2 2005 // Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Company and AgencyPort, a provider of agent portal and interface solutions to property and casualty insurers, announced that LWCC has initially deployed AgencyPortal’s new...

Calif. Court Rules in Favor of Earthquake Policyholders

Dec 2 2005 // An insurance broker was a representative for the California Fair Plan Insurance Co. with regard to the Northridge earthquake revival statute, which gave policyholders another year to file lawsuits against their insurers in...

Combined Agents Meet in Austin

Dec 1 2005 // Combined Agents of America LLC reported that at its quarterly board meeting held Nov. 15-17 in Austin, Texas, member agencies gathered to share knowledge, discuss industry issues, review its relationships with insurance...

IIAT Survey Shows Improved Conditions in Texas Homeowners, Auto Markets

Dec 1 2005 // Independent insurance agents in Texas report improved homeowners insurance coverage and lower premium prices for both homeowners and auto insurance as the year comes to an end. A survey of more than 1,800 member agencies...

Broker Who Allegedly Stole $3.8 Million Has 2006 Court Date

Dec 1 2005 // Victims of an insurance broker who allegedly collected $3.8 million for bogus policies through his offices in California, New York and Texas may never recover their money, authorities said. Clarence Joseph Hall III, a San...

John B. Collins Adds 4 Facultative Reinsurance Brokers

Dec 1 2005 // A team of four reinsurance brokers — all specializing in the placement and servicing of facultative and program reinsurance — has joined John B. Collins Associates Inc. The brokers all previously worked for...

Drive Insurance Helps Fund Virginia Big ‘I’ Education Institute Building

Nov 30 2005 // Karen Barone, Virginia product manager for Drive Insurance from Progressive recently presented Tom Welch, president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, with a check for $25,000, as part of a $50,000 commitment...

Countersignature Laws Now History in 50 States After S.D. Court Ruling

Nov 30 2005 // A federal district court judge in South Dakota ruled this week that the state’s countersignature law is unconstitutional. The ruling means that 50 states have taken action to eliminate the countersignature...