Latest Agencies Headlines

Tennessee Agents Warned on Flood Insurance E&O Exposure

Jun 7 2010 // Some Tennessee homeowners have been surprised to learn their policies won’t pay for flood damage and an attorney and lobbyist is warning insurance agents not to admit to any wrongdoing if clients confront them about...

Agents: How to Avoid Traps of Selling on Price

Jun 7 2010 // The standard homeowners policy is increasingly a trap for consumers. Low rates!” “Lower your premiums!” “Compare and save!” Turn on the TV or search the Web on the term “homeowners...

How Program Partners Can Help Agents Sell Value

Jun 7 2010 // There is a quote from Warren Buffet that I want to put on my wall and send to all my colleagues: “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” Agents, brokers and underwriters should heed Mr. Buffet’s...

Storm Management

Jun 7 2010 // The Atlantic hurricane season forecasts are in and they aren’t pretty. All the major forecasters have predicted the season will be much more active than last season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

Agents: How to Avoid Traps of Selling on Price

Jun 7 2010 // The standard homeowners policy is increasingly a trap for consumers. Low rates!” “Lower your premiums!” “Compare and save!” Turn on the TV or search the Web on the term “homeowners...

In Developing Producers, a Little Help From One’s Friends Goes a Long Way

Jun 7 2010 // As John Lennon and Paul McCartney could tell you, sometimes you just need a little help from your friends. And in the insurance agency business – where building relationships are key to success – that friend...

Jun 7 2010 // Congress’s inability to act leaves many in flood prone areas vulnerable – for the second time this year and the fourth in 12 months’ time. When it rains it pours, as the saying goes. By extension, one...

People

Jun 7 2010 // Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp. (LWCC) President and CEO Kristin W. Wall has been elected to the board of directors of NCCI Holdings Inc., a provider of workers’ compensation and employee injury data and...

Trains, Ships and Trucks

Jun 7 2010 // Maritime Law May Limit Compensation for Cargo Damages During the Inland Transportation Part of a Journey That Originated Overseas. In disputes regarding damage to cargo transported over land and water, it is important for...

Agents: How to Avoid Traps of Selling on Price

Jun 7 2010 // Low rates!” “Lower your premiums!” “Compare and save!” Turn on the TV or search the Web on the term “homeowners insurance,” and you’ll be inundated with offers like these. To...

The Right Relationship Chemistry Can Increase Sales, Create Succession Plan

Jun 7 2010 // As John Lennon and Paul McCartney could tell you, sometimes you just need a little help from your friends. And in the insurance agency business – where building relationships are key to success – that friend...

California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Market More Lucrative

Jun 7 2010 // Prices are improving in the California workers’ compensation insurance market – at least according to one specialty workers’ compensation carrier in the Golden State. According to PacificComp President...

Agents Aren’t Quite Ready for the Social Media Revolution

Jun 7 2010 // LaRocco lamented that only 48 percent of independent insurance agents have Web sites, and of those, only about 20 percent keep the sites updated. The insurance industry is not as quick to adapt to change as other...

Calif. Agents Could Face New CE Requirements

Jun 7 2010 // Agents, Insurer Groups Discuss Homeowners Replacement Cost Regulations California insurance agents and producers may face new continuing education requirements on estimating replacement value on homeowners insurance. The...

People

Jun 7 2010 // Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based LaBarre/Oksnee insurance brokers promoted Jeff Leane to the newly created vice president of sales position. He is charged with leading the development and implementation of sales strategy and...

Agents Seek More Real Time Options from Carriers

Jun 7 2010 // Independent agents and brokers want more carriers to offer real-time functionality, according to a new industry survey. Agents believe those carriers will deliver the greatest benefit in making real time the predominant...

Top 10 Tips to Help Agents Improve Their Careers

Jun 7 2010 // Relationships, Time Management, Reputation and Professional Development Pays Off Everyone loves top 10 lists, and I’m no exception. There is something inherent in human nature to want to quantify and rank things....

Agents’ Top-Rated Carriers Make Fast Adjuster Contacts

Jun 7 2010 // Survey Shows the Amount of Time It Takes an Adjuster to Contact Insured Matters Most Independent agencies and their carriers perform a huge variety of tasks for policyholders when originating and servicing policies, but...

What Agencies Should Do When Key Employees Leave

Jun 7 2010 // Protecting Trade Secrets, Confidential Agency Information Critical, Attorney Hirshfeld Says The insurance industry is a highly competitive market, even when it comes to its work force. There’s a shortage of highly...

Sales Strategies in Difficult Times

Jun 7 2010 // Price, Renewals, Cross Selling and More The weak economy and continued soft market still has a stranglehold on insurance agents. Most agents are doing a good job on retention. However, lower premiums (and commissions)...