Latest Agencies Headlines

Big ‘I’ Leader Says Hurricane Response ‘Too Slow;’ Hails Flood Reform, TRIA Progress

Nov 22 2005 // The insurance industry’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has been “too slow” and the job of adjusting claims is a long way from being completed in the view of the leader of the nation’s...

DOI HITS FELONIOUS BAIL BOND AGENTS:

Nov 21 2005 // Missouri Insurance Director Dale Finke announced a crackdown on bail bond agents with felony convictions who have obtained licenses from the Insurance Department during the past several years. “The Missouri Supreme...

Your New Employee is About to Start, Now What?

Nov 21 2005 // (Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles offering “best practices” suggestions for the hiring process in the independent agency. More information is available at iiat.org under Agency...

How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Agency

Nov 21 2005 // As an independent agent or agency owner, you have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually...

Push or Pull?

Nov 21 2005 // Is the image of the insurance industry forever tainted in the public’s eyes? Ipsos Public Affairs, a market research company, recently conducted an online survey of the public’s perception of the insurance...

California Commissioner Drops Broker Regulations

Nov 21 2005 // California Insurance Commis-sioner John Garamendi has announced that he will halt efforts to adopt new regulations imposing fiduciary duties and mandatory disclosure regulations on insurance agents and brokers. “We...

IBA West “Guide to Compensation Disclosure

Nov 21 2005 // The IBA West “Guide to Compensation Disclosure,” includes: discussion of possible components of compensation disclosure; sample introductory clauses; sample commission disclosure clauses; sample contingent...

ILLINOIS

Nov 20 2005 // Lawmakers Pass Kids’ Health Plan: The Illinois House passed H.B. 806, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s “All Kids” health insurance program on a 79-28 vote, following Senate approval on a 32-23 vote. The...

Nov 20 2005 // The Board of Directors of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. elected Kay W. McCurdy to serve on its board of directors. McCurdy began her career in 1975 as an attorney at Lord, Bissell & Brook in Chicago and has more than...

News Briefs

Nov 20 2005 // FloridaFAIA Likes Due-Diligence Decision The Florida Association of Insu-rance Agents has filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief with the First District Court of Appeals in a case involving an insurance agent who...

How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Agency

Nov 20 2005 // As an independent agent or agency owner, you have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually...

Your New Employee is About to Start, Now What?

Nov 20 2005 // After a long search, your agency has finally found the right employee. Intelligent, the right attitude, solid background. So what do you do with them now? There is so much they need to learn, but how do they get...

People

Nov 20 2005 // Dallas-based Colemont Corporation named David Stevoff as chief operating officer of Colemont Brokerage Group, its U.S. subsidiary. In this newly created position, Stevoff will have responsibility for the overall operations...

Nov 20 2005 // The Nevada Independent Insurance Agents has elected a new board of directors and has named a new president. Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman has announced the installation of the following newly-elected...

California Commissioner Drops Broker Regulations

Nov 20 2005 // California Insurance Commis-sioner John Garamendi has announced that he will halt efforts to adopt new regulations imposing fiduciary duties and mandatory disclosure regulations on insurance agents and brokers. “We...

Editor’s Note: Is the image insurance industry forever tainted in the public’s eyes?

Nov 20 2005 // Ipsos Public Affairs, a market research company, recently conducted an online survey of the public’s perception of the insurance industry in the wake of hurricane Katrina. While the 1,000 adults who responded hardly...

InsWeb’s AgentInsider

Nov 20 2005 // InsWeb Corp. launched AgentInsider, its new local agent lead generation program. InsWeb said the AgentInsider program will extend the reach of local agents by providing a cost effective way to connect with the millions of...

Apollo Agencies Appoints President

Nov 18 2005 // Don Gwizdalski has been named president of Apollo Agencies Inc., a subsidiary of Kinecta Federal Credit Union. He will be responsible for growing Apollo’s insurance business in each of the Kinecta Member Service...

CNA E&S Appoints Noodle Specialty Brokers for Property/Liability Products

Nov 16 2005 // Noodle Specialty Brokers (NSB), a division of InsuranceNoodle (www.insurancenoodle.com), announced it has been appointed by CNA E&S to underwrite and distribute select products from the E&S division. CNA E&S...

N.J. Agents Back Change in Insurers’ Auto Expense Formula

Nov 16 2005 // The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc. recently provided comments supporting the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance’s proposal to change the method for calculating the maximum allowed...