Latest Agencies Headlines

All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.

People

Aug 4 2008 // Richard “Dick” Reynolds, former chairman and executive director of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission, was presented the Raymond Mauk Leadership Award at the Insurance Council of Texas’ 16th...

Challenges and Strategies for the 21st Century Independent Agency

Aug 4 2008 // The letter from the Palatine Insurance Co. to the independent insurance agency, written in the dawn of a new century began: “The insurance business is experiencing perilous and unprecedented challenges …”...

Insurance Agents, Travelers, Nationwide Urge Coastal Wind Policy

Aug 4 2008 // Travelers, Nationwide Mutual and two leading national insurance producer organizations are supporting a plan they say will make private windstorm insurance more affordable and available in coastal areas. Federal...

People

Aug 4 2008 // Aon Re Global named Jan-Oliver Thofern CEO and chairman of its German subsidiary, Aon Ruck. Thofern was previously a member of the company’s executive committee. He succeeds Holger Gaserow, who plans to retire at the...

Broker Liability

Aug 4 2008 // Is There a Duty to Advise About Adequacy of Coverage? Author’s note: This month’s column will examine the liability of a broker for an alleged failure to advise the insured about the adequacy of insurance...

What Agencies Can Expect Accessing Bank Capital in the Current Credit Crunch

Aug 4 2008 // How to Properly Position an Agency When Planning to Borrow From a Bank Every morning, stories of financial sector gloom and doom fill the airwaves. A slowing economy has affected the ability of individuals and businesses...

Agents Weigh Independence, Commissions, Markets When Choosing Agency Networks

Aug 4 2008 // Rising Costs, Soft Market Cause Agents to Consider Network Options Maintaining their independence while gaining access to resources and markets are what independent agents consider when deciding whether to join an...

A Philosophy – and Practice – of Sharing

Aug 4 2008 // Shows How Sharing Success With Producers Keeps the Agency and Its Clients Happy Top 100 Agency Profile Ranking: No. 8 Insurance Office of America Headquarters: Longwood, Fla. Year Founded: 1988 Additional Locations: 22...

CNinsure Affiliates Receive High Rankings

Aug 1 2008 // China’s independent insurance agency and brokerage group CNinsure Inc. announced that “twelve of its affiliated insurance intermediary companies, including eight insurance agencies, one insurance brokerage and...

The Case for Risk Management and Insurance Education

Aug 1 2008 // If you’re like most insurance firms, your workforce is aging. Or, as a friend of mine recently put it, “There’s a lot of gray hair in the room.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind...

Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi Names New President

Jul 31 2008 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi elected Angelyn Treutel of Treutel Insurance Agency in Bay St. Louis president at their 110th Annual Convention in Destin, Florida. Treutel’s election follows an active...

Kentucky Insurance Legislation Affects Compensation and Investments

Jul 31 2008 // Kentucky lawmakers adopted insurance legislation during the 2008 regular legislative session that will affect agents and carriers working in the state. The Insurance Producer Modernization bill (HB 334) allows an agent to...

Texas Independent Agents Group Names Young Governmental Affairs Manager

Jul 30 2008 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has named Rebecca Young governmental affairs manager to help serve as a liaison between association members and legislators. With more than 15 years’ experience...

Rating Agencies React Negatively to XL, SCA Bailout Plan

Jul 30 2008 // XL Capital received the inevitable negative reaction from the rating agencies following its announcement that it would pay $1.78 billion in cash and issue 8 million shares as part of a bailout plan to shore up former...

HUB International Names Vucovich President, Brokerage Shared Services

Jul 30 2008 // Hub International Limited appointed Donn Vucovich to the position of president, Brokerage Shared Services. In addition to his role as Shared Services president, he will join HUB’s executive management team and...

New York Governor Signs Late-Notice Reform Bill

Jul 29 2008 // New York Gov. David A. Paterson has signed into law legislation that makes it more difficult for insurers to deny claims based on “late notice” provisions. The legislation requires insurers to clearly...

Under The Microscope: Spitzer-Era Ban On Insurer Fees

Jul 28 2008 // Insurance brokerages who lost billions of dollars in revenue under a ban imposed by former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer told state regulators on Friday that the rules were never applied universally, and should...

International Brokerage, HM Risk Group, Opens Doors

Jul 28 2008 // HM Risk Group LLC, a full-service, woman-owned, independent insurance firm providing dedicated brokerage, risk management and consulting services to commercial clients on a global basis, announced the opening of its office...

Chubb: Lessons in Globalizing an Insurance Brand

Jul 24 2008 // Chubb Insurance, founded in 1882 in New York, today sells in 28 countries and has about 120 offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and the Pacific Rim, serving its property and casualty customers. While...

New York Agents Support Expansion of Excess & Surplus Export List

Jul 23 2008 // Insurance agents and brokers in New York have called upon state officials to ease the rules for how agents obtain coverage for some high-risk policies. The Excess Line Association of New York has proposed adding dozens of...