Latest Agencies Headlines

Jul 7 2008 // People McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP (MHBT) added Jim Anderson as senior vice president in the Dallas-based firm’s property/casualty group. Anderson will oversee the production and account management of...

IIAT Names Award Winners, Elects New Officers

Jul 7 2008 // Beginning Sept. 1, 2008, Garry Kaufman, president of Galveston Insurance Associates, Galveston, Texas, will lead the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) as president. Kaufman was elected at IIAT’s 111th...

Find a Silver Lining in the Soft Market

Jul 7 2008 // Strategies From ‘Best Practices’ Agencies Searching for ways to survive and thrive in the soft market cycle? Cultivate untapped customer markets; proactively service renewals; use technology for efficiency and...

Yes, You Are in a ‘Flood Zone!’

Jul 7 2008 // The Importance of Understanding Flood Zones “I don’t need flood insurance.” “I’m not in a ‘flood zone.'” Or, “I don’t need flood insurance because my mortgage company...

Okla. Agents Group Leader ‘Pleased’ With Legislative Session

Jul 7 2008 // Dan Ramsey, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma, says the recently convened 2008 state legislative session was a good one as far as the association is concerned. Out of 4,000 bills considered...

People

Jul 7 2008 // Richmond, Va.-based insurance broker Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. promoted F. Michael Crowley to president and chief operating officer. As president, Crowley has been responsible for HRH’s retail operations. In the...

Yes, You Are in a ‘Flood Zone!’

Jul 7 2008 // The Importance of Understanding Flood Zones “I don’t need flood insurance.” “I’m not in a ‘flood zone.'” Or, “I don’t need flood insurance because my mortgage company...

Winning as a Strategist

Jul 7 2008 // Thinking Strategically Can Lead to Insurance Sales Success Want to be a better insurance agent or broker? Then consider your strategy. Today’s sales professionals must be at the top of their game to win sales through...

Find a Silver Lining in the Soft Market

Jul 7 2008 // Strategies From ‘Best Practices’ Agencies Searching for ways to survive and thrive in the soft market cycle? Cultivate untapped customer markets; proactively service renewals; use technology for efficient...

When In Rome, Do As the Romans

Jul 7 2008 // Hint: Learn Before You Go The ancient expression “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is used to warn friends and colleagues to respect and adapt to the culture of places that they visit. In the insurance...

Japan: Risk and Rewards

Jul 7 2008 // A Glimpse into Japan’s Property and Casualty Market The Japanese property and casualty insurance market is ripe for opportunities, but there also are significant risks in the country, according to Keiji Fukasawa of...

‘What Have You Done for Me Lately?’

Jul 7 2008 // How Risk Managers Measure a Broker’s Performance Today’s risk managers need more than just a good broker. They need the best broker. Solid relationships between a broker and a risk manager matter but they...

In Brokers We Trust

Jul 7 2008 // Alliant Insurance Services Puts Its Money Where Its Trust Is — In Teams, Not Individuals Insurance Journal Top 100 Agency Profile Alliant Insurance Services RANKING: No. 2 Headquarters: Newport Beach, Calif. Year...

Willis Buys HRH for $2.1 Billion

Jul 7 2008 // Combined Firm Doubles Employee Benefits Business Willis Group Holdings Chairman and CEO Joe Plumeri holds a reputation for taking on challenges. On June 8 his company gave him one. Willis announced it has agreed to buy...

Exclusive Survey, Part 2: Strengths and Weaknesses – What Agents Think of Regional and National P/C Insurers

Jul 7 2008 // Regional P/C Insurers Beat Out Nationals on Compensation, Claims; Nationals Outperform on Technology Regional carriers come out on top in agency compensation and claims services, while nationals outscore regionals on loss...

Bank Insurance Brokerage 1Q Earnings Hit Second-Highest Level Ever

Jul 7 2008 // Quarterly earnings from bank insurance brokerage hit their second-highest level in first quarter 2008. Bank insurance brokerage earnings in the first three months of 2008 were $1.078 billion, up 8.6 percent from $993.3...

Agency Pains and What to Do About Them

Jul 7 2008 // 10 Common Agency Woes and How to Fix Them The typical agency has at least a few persistent problem areas that never quite go away. At best these issues are addressed but not completely fixed. At worst, they are not even...

Stewart Joins American E&S Insurance Brokers San Francisco Office

Jul 2 2008 // American E&S Insurance Brokers’ San Francisco branch appointed Chip Stewart a broker. Stewart is an industry veteran with more than 20 years experience. Most recently, he was with Swett & Crawford, where he...

Ross and Phillipp Honored by IBA West Young Brokers

Jul 2 2008 // The Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) Young Brokers and Agents presented two awards for young professionals in the insurance industry. The Anthony J. DiBuduo Award went to Derek Ross of C.M. Meiers of...

New York Governor Signs Flex-Rating and NYPIUA Bill

Jul 2 2008 // New York Governor David Paterson has signed into law industry-sought legislation that brings back flex rating for auto insurance and makes permanent New York’s homeowners insurer of last resort. The flex-rating...