Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Texas’ Online Surplus Lines Filing System Now Partially Operational
Jun 25 2020 // The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) says some elements of its new online filing system, SMART, were released on June 12. Surplus lines agents and brokers who file policies with SLTX using automated filing now...
Cannabis Broker Spotlight: Boden With Crouse Went All-in on the Budding Industry
Jun 25 2020 // Editor’s note: This part of a series of profiles on cannabis brokers, in which Insurance Journal explores why and how these folks got into the business, the ups and downs of insuring cannabis, as well as a few tips...
Exclusive: How P/C Insurance Pros Are Faring Working From Home During Pandemic
Jun 25 2020 // According to Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, there’s no place like home. For many in the property/casualty insurance industry, home is where their job has been during the pandemic. While millions of people in other...
Upmarket Homeowners Insurance Platform Openly Raises $15 Million
Jun 24 2020 // Boston-based Openly, a platform that sells upmarket homeowners insurance through independent agents, said it has closed a $15 million Series A investment. The round was led by Obvious Ventures, with participation from...
Breckenridge Insurance Services Welcomes Expert Brokers Alan Belthoff and Dianna McCall
Jun 24 2020 // Atlanta, GA, June 23, 2020 — Breckenridge Insurance Services is pleased to welcome two expert brokers to the wholesale brokerage and binding firm. Alan Belthoff joins the organization as a senior vice president, senior...
Rival Wholesale Brokers Ryan Specialty Group and All Risks Agree to Merge
Jun 24 2020 // Two of the largest property/casualty insurance wholesalers are looking to merge. The deal will unite Chicago-based Ryan Specialty Group and its nearly $12 billion in premium, and All Risks, headquartered in Delray Beach,...
California Workers’ Comp Classification Inspection Report Expanded for Agents
Jun 23 2020 // The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California is expanding its Special Inspection Report program to allow agents and brokers to request a WCIRB physical inspection of their clients’ California...
UK Insurance Broker Ardonagh Group Secures $2 Billion Loan for Acquisitions
Jun 23 2020 // UK insurance broker The Ardonagh Group has secured the largest-ever loan from a group of private credit funds led by Ares Management, according to a statement by the lender. The group is refinancing its debt with a 1.575...
Brokerslink Network Continues African Expansion with Tunisian Broker
Jun 22 2020 // Brokerslink announced a further expansion of its footprint in Africa with Tunisian brokerage Karé Kamoun becoming the latest affiliate to join the global broking business. The Tunis-based insurance and reinsurance broker,...
What It Takes for a New Insurance Agent to Succeed
Jun 19 2020 // Developing young talent to become successful young agents is not easy. Chris Burand, president of Burand & Associates, an insurance agency consulting firm, estimates that the new producer failure rate is as high as 70%...
Nitsche Named Chair of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas’ Board
Jun 19 2020 // Robert Nitsche, CEO of the Giddings, Texas-based independent insurance agency The Nitsche Group, has been appointed chair of the board of directors for the 2020-2021 year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas...
California Appoints Curriculum and Insurance Guarantee Board Members
Jun 18 2020 // California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced the newest members of the California Department of Insurance’s Curriculum Board and the California Insurance Guarantee Association’s Board of...
Specialty Insurance Broker Towerstone Adds Blanquez in San Antonio
Jun 18 2020 // Towerstone, a Dallas-based specialty insurance broker and IMA Financial Group company, has added Thomas Blanquez to its energy practice and expanded its geographic footprint to San Antonio. Blanquez is a 21-year veteran of...
AXA XL Taps Clarke from WTW, Generali’s Warke for UK Broker Management Team
Jun 17 2020 // AXA XL announced two additions to its UK broker management team: Michael Clarke has been appointed Regional Broker Distribution leader while Robyn Warke has been named Broker Distribution leader. As Regional Broker...
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers Adds Ausec in California
Jun 17 2020 // The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers has added Jamie Ausec to the Irvine, Calif. Ausec specializes in employee benefits. She started her career in insurance 16 years ago and has worked at ADP, Alliant, and most recently...
Texas Returning to Normal Temporary Agent License Process on Aug. 15
Jun 16 2020 // The Texas Department of Insurance will return to normal processing for temporary agent licenses beginning on Aug. 15. Anyone with a temporary license issued August 15 or earlier will have until Nov. 13 to get a regular...
N.Y. AG Urges Apple, Google to Protect Consumers Using Contact Tracing Apps
Jun 16 2020 // New York Attorney General Letitia James has urged Apple, maker of the iPhone, and Google, developer of the Android operating system, to take steps to protect consumer information and privacy as New Yorkers and Americans...
Smith Elected President of Independent Insurance Association of Georgia
Jun 16 2020 // The Independent Insurance Association of Georgia (IIAG) has elected Ash L. Smith as president. Smith is an executive vice president of Blanchard & Calhoun Insurance Agency in Augusta, Ga., working in the risk...
Reassuring Customers Part of Job for Minnesota Agent in Aftermath of Riots
Jun 15 2020 // Dan Gutlovics did a lot of virtual hand holding during the first days of the violent protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul following the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25. Gutlovics,...
The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Elects Five to Board of Directors
Jun 15 2020 // The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey (PIANJ) elected five independent insurance agents from around the state to its board of directors at the association’s annual business meeting. The following...
