Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Bush Signs Federal Ergonomics Repeal; Draws IIAA Praise
Apr 2 2001 // Independent agents are hailing the finality of freeing small businesses from costly federal ergonomics rules following President Bush’s signing of a measure to repeal them, said Independent Insurance Agents of...
Cracking Down on the Industry’s Fraud Problem
Apr 2 2001 // Fraud investigators in June busted a Tampa fraud ring that crashed cars at a private site, scooped up the debris and moved the wreckage to a public roadway. The members then called police so that they could file fraudulent...
Agents at the Capitol
Apr 2 2001 // There were about 11 of them in the House insurance committee hearing room. These 11 Allstate “independent contractor” agents had left San Antonio that morning just after 7 a.m. They were joined by a few State...
Brokers Acordia, Heath Lambert Form Alliance
Mar 29 2001 // U.S. broker Acordia, which was recently purchased by the Wells Fargo Bank, and U.K. broker Heath Lambert announced plans to form an alliance aimed at offering their respective clients enhanced global services. They plan to...
Cracking Down on the Industry’s Fraud Problem
Mar 26 2001 // Fraud investigators in June busted a Tampa fraud ring that crashed cars at a private site, scooped up the debris and moved the wreckage to a public roadway. The members then called police so that they could file fraudulent...
SAFECO Considers New Distribution Channels in Rebound Efforts
Mar 26 2001 // Circumventing independent agents. Under-mining agents’ sales. These are phrases that don’t set well with SAFECO CEO Mike McGavick. And it’s no wonder. Appointed as the man to turn the struggling...
Brokers Not Classified as Professionals
Mar 26 2001 // A ruling by the New York Court of Appeals last week set breach of contract suits brought against insurance brokers to a six-year statute of limitations, because brokers are not professionals. The ruling, handed down...
WORKERS’ COMP IN CALIFORNIA: A Barren Landscape
Mar 26 2001 // Three months into the new year, the picture for the California workers’ comp market is not pretty, and it’s likely to get worse. Developments in recent weeks-including lowered ratings, carrier losses, declining...
CPIA Takes National Sales & Marketing Education Conference to San Diego
Mar 26 2001 // Members of the Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) Society enjoyed a valuable National Sales & Marketing Education Conference March 7-10 in San Diego’s balmy climate. Attendees had the opportunity to...
Independent Broker Network Holds
Mar 26 2001 // The Independent Broker Network (IBN) held its 2001 Technovention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Jose, Calif., on March 16 and 17. This year’s theme concentrated on the Internet and how that medium is enabling...
Another ‘Dot-Gone’: eCoverage is History
Mar 26 2001 // San Francisco-based eCoverage, an online provider of insurance services founded just over two years ago, has ceased operations. Known for its slogan: “The industry is history,” eCoverage predicted the demise of...
Agents, Agency Companies Undergoing Renaissance
Mar 23 2001 // A new study by the Independent Insurance Agents of America has found a renaissance in the appeal and effectiveness of the independent agency system is underway–a rebirth that is helping to grow market share for...
Bush Signs Ergonomics Repeal; Draws IIAA Praise
Mar 22 2001 // Independent agents are hailing the finality of freeing small businesses from costly federal ergonomics rules following President Bush’s signing of a measure to repeal them, says Independent Insurance Agents of...
Oregon Revokes Four Agents’ Licenses, Suspends One
Mar 21 2001 // The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has revoked the licenses of five agents across the state for unrelated violations. In one case, a Cave Junction agent, Cecile G. Zimmerman, had her license revoked...
IlAA Endorses Electronic Document Distribution Tool for Agents
Mar 20 2001 // The Independent Insurance Agents of America has endorsed IVANS Business Tracker as an industry-standard technology. IVANS Business Tracker is a distribution tool that allows companies to electronically circulate documents...
New York Man Arrested for Falsely Acting as an Insurance Broker
Mar 19 2001 // New York Superintendent Neil D. Levin announced that Andrew Hicks, 36, has been arrested on charges that he falsely acted in the capacity of an insurance broker. Hicks allegedly possessed and issued fictitious New York...
New Players on the Block – YouZoom.com expands into Texas; Progressive unveils homeowners market
Mar 19 2001 // Two companies made substantial entries into Texas last week. YouZoom.com will offer Texas agents the opportunity to sell insurance products online. Progressive, which up until now only offered auto coverage in Texas,...
Safeco Considers New Distribution Channels In Rebound Efforts
Mar 19 2001 // Circumventing independent agents. Undermining agents’ sales. These are phrases that don’t set well with Safeco CEO Mike McGavick. And it’s no wonder. Appointed as the man to turn the struggling...
How To Sell Umbrellas to Everybody
Mar 19 2001 // Selling personal umbrellas is a nuisance, yes? Some agents say, “Forget the $15 or $20 commission; it’s the perception of value-added service to the client. It helps round accounts and keep accounts. And a lot...
Hanging On to Market Share (Sell ‘Em More Stuff)
Mar 19 2001 // As a distribution channel, independent agents are doing a fairly good job of holding down the fort. The Independent Insurance Agents of America recently examined market share among the three channels: direct response,...
