Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Officials Look to Curb ‘Rebating’ in Sales of Federal Crop Insurance
Apr 1 2011 // Farmers and insurance agents who sell them federal crop insurance policies may soon be required to certify that they are not participating any rebating or incentive schemes related to the purchase of those policies. The...
Selling Isn’t Winning
Apr 1 2011 // Selling isn’t Winning Vince Lombardi opened the Packers training camp by saying “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing” One of Leo Durocher’s favorites was ” Show me a good...
Calif. Homeowners Insurance Valuation Training Courses Available Online
Mar 31 2011 // Education to meet the California’s Department of Insurance Homeowners’ Valuation Training requirement can be obtained online. Through the Insurance Community University Web site,...
Minnesota Real Estate Closer, Insurance Agent Fined $420K
Mar 31 2011 // The Minnesota Department of Commerce has ordered a Forest Lake real estate closer and insurance agent to pay a civil penalty of $420,000. The department says an investigation found that Cynthia Strand misappropriated $1.3...
Applied Systems Buys CSR24 Agency Systems Firm Artizan
Mar 31 2011 // Insurance technology company Applied Systems has acquired Artizan Internet Services, a provider of Web-based and outsourced customer service and claims technology for property/casualty insurance agencies wanting to offer...
Black Brokers’ Bias Suit Against Bank of America/Merrill Dismissed
Mar 31 2011 // Bank of America Corp. won the dismissal of a bias lawsuit by black financial advisers at the former Merrill Lynch & Co. who said they were paid lower bonuses than white counterparts to stay on when the companies...
Rating Agencies Might Stop Reports Due to EU Threats Say Sources
Mar 31 2011 // Credit rating agencies have warned the European Commission that they could stop rating risky countries if the EU executive goes ahead with plans to make them legally liable for errors of judgment, industry sources...
Agents, Adjusters Vulnerable to Lawsuits Even When They’re Not to Blame
Mar 30 2011 // Agents and adjusters have completely different roles in the insurance industry but as intermediaries between insurance companies and their customers they have one critical thing in common: They often get pulled into claims...
Last Chance: Find Out Who’s Worth What in Today’s Independent Agency
Mar 30 2011 // Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in Insurance Journal’s 2011 Agency Salary Survey. Once again, the survey will ask insurance agents and brokers nationwide who’s worth what in the independent...
Combined Agents Reports Commercial Premium Growth of 64% Over Decade
Mar 30 2011 // Combined Agents of America, LLC (CAA), based in Austin, Texas, reported the group wrote more than $414 million in combined property/casualty premiums in 2010 and has increased commercial premium written by 64 percent since...
Simanoff Joins Morstan General Agency
Mar 30 2011 // Richard Simanoff has joined Manhasset, New York-based Morstan General Agency as senior broker. In his new role, Simanoff will expand brokerage business, assist in the building of a large lines division, help to open new...
9 Alternatives to Individual Health Insurance Mandate; Will They Work?
Mar 29 2011 // There are alternatives to the controversial federal government mandate that requires almost everyone to purchase health insurance, although experts are divided over how effective the alternatives might be in helping to...
Towerstone Adds Ortiz, Proctor in Dallas
Mar 29 2011 // Dallas-based Towerstone Inc., a wholesale insurance broker and managing general agency, has added Emmanuel Ortiz as account manager and Justin Proctor as account executive. Ortiz will work in Towerstone’s managing...
MarketScout Names Muston a Senior Broker in San Diego
Mar 28 2011 // MarketScout Wholesale LLC has expanded in San Diego with the addition of Tere Muston as senior broker. Muston joins MSW with 23 years of industry experience marketing property, casualty professional and management...
Who’s Worth What in the Independent Agency System? Find Out … Join IJ’s Survey
Mar 25 2011 // Insurance Journal is polling insurance agents and brokers nationwide in its annual search to find out who’s worth what in the independent agency system. Don’t miss out on your chance to participate. The 2011...
Commentary: Pending State Legislation to Implement NRRA is Fly in the Ointment
Mar 23 2011 // Pending state legislative proposals, such as California’s AB 315, that would implement the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010 (NRRA) are akin to the fly in the ointment. The NRRA becomes effective on July...
Louisiana Agent Fined $100K for Alleged Misappropriation of Premiums
Mar 23 2011 // A Deville, La., insurance agent has been accused of attempting to defraud insurers by submitting false business and receiving more than $127,000 in unearned commissions. Robert Lee Daniel III, 29, was served on March 18 by...
Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson File Lawsuit Against Former Insurance Broker
Mar 23 2011 // Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages from their former insurance broker. According to celebrity gossip Web site TMZ, which discovered the lawsuit, Hanks and Wilson...
Insurers, Brokers Settle Spitzer-Era Bid-Rigging Case for $37 Million
Mar 23 2011 // Lawyers for a majority of the 15 insurance company and broker defendants in a long-running suit accusing them of bid-rigging are scheduled to be in court today outlining a proposed settlement that will cost them about...
Pennsylvania Ponders Workers’ Comp for Small Business Owners
Mar 23 2011 // Agents in Pennsylvania will urge lawmakers today to pass legislation that would allow insurers to cover owners or partners of small businesses through a workers’ compensation policy. The legislation changes insurance...
