Latest Agencies Headlines

Not all agents oppose an optional federal charter

Apr 17 2006 // The Commissioners are now fully prepared to go before their various legislative committees with recommendations for a system of insurance law which shall be the same in all States – not reciprocal, but identical; not...

Acquiring minds want to know how even smaller firms can buy agencies

Apr 17 2006 // Small to mid-sized retail independent insurance agencies looking to grow through acquisition had better have a good plan in place if they want to run with the big dogs—those big dogs being the banks, the large public...

Deadly storms hit Midwest again in new round of spring tornadoes

Apr 17 2006 // The new round of tornadoes hit the Midwest less than one month after a similar grouping of twisters, high winds and damage hit a five-state area on March 12. News Currents Another round of deadly storms hit the Midwest...

Apr 17 2006 // People Hub International Ltd., a Chicago-based brokerage has named Jonathan Axel senior vice president of the Kagan-Kozberg Division at Hub International of California Insurance Services Inc., a subsidiary of the insurance...

Technology

Apr 17 2006 // Given the pace of today’s technological developments, it is often difficult for agency principals to know where to get the most bang for their buck. As most agency principals know, it is important to take a strategic...

Agents: Optional Federal Charter Dual Structure

Apr 17 2006 // Optional federal chartering, federal regulation and the creation of a new federal bureaucracy go too far, the equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of...

Mergers and Acquisitions

Apr 17 2006 // Independent retail insurance agencies looking to grow through acquisition had better have a good plan in place if they want to run with the big dogs-those big dogs being the banks, the large public brokers and the regional...

10 Deadly storms hit Midwest again in new round of tornadoes

Apr 17 2006 // Claim counts include March and April storms N1 U.S. tort costs reach a record $260 billion, study reports Cost exceeds other countries’ by large margin N1 Private companies at increased risk of liability...

FAIA briefs agents about Florida bills, holds meetings with legislators

Apr 17 2006 // More than 120 of Florida’s independent agents who attended the March 29 and 30 Florida Independent Insurance Agents Legislative “Fly-In” heard Skip Long, Scott Johnson, Laura Pearce and Kyle Ulrich...

News Currents

Apr 17 2006 // AG McMaster appeals to S.C. Big ‘I’ members to help fight fraud Law enforcement has its hands full, AG asks agents to help provide evidence An appeal for independent insurance agencies to help law enforcement...

Safeco weighs Internet sales of auto insurance

Apr 17 2006 // Seattle-based property and casualty insurer Safeco is considering direct marketing its automobile insurance business on the Internet to reach additional consumers that don’t like to deal with a middle-man and...

Safeco weighs Internet sales of auto insurance

Apr 17 2006 // Seattle-based property and casualty insurer Safeco is considering direct marketing its automobile insurance business over the Internet to reach additional consumers that don’t like to deal with a middle-man and...

Closer Look: Premium Funds Financial Management

Apr 17 2006 // Insurance agencies have millions of dollars in transit through their trust bank accounts. How should agencies manage premium dollars? Unlike other sales and service companies, independent insurance agencies have a...

Debra Bowers

Apr 17 2006 // People Conroe, Texas-based managing general agency and wholesale insurance broker Surplus Inc. announced key promotions within its management team. Debra Bowers was promoted to executive vice president. Bowers has 25 years...

Closer Look: Louisiana Homeowners

Apr 17 2006 // However, insurer trade group says it can be found by those who shop After the wreckage caused by last year’s Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many home insurers in southern Louisiana are refusing to write new policies,...

Insurers unlikely to alter credit scoring as agencies pursue uniformity

Apr 17 2006 // The decision by the three major consumer credit reporting agencies to create a more uniform credit scoring system is not expected to have a major impact on insurers’ use of credit in rating personal lines insurance...

New law pushed by agents may hamper Nevada mining watchdog group

Apr 17 2006 // The chief proponent of a new law cited by Nevada in trying to block a mining industry watchdog group’s efforts to stop pollution from an old Nevada gold mine said that he didn’t envision the law being used that...

By Robert Poli

Apr 17 2006 // A national insurance license helps agents by providing uniformity of regulatory standards; eliminating rate regulation; and allowing new products to be brought to market more quickly. Not all agents oppose an optional...

Closer Look: Insurance Associations

Apr 17 2006 // Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series on Western insurance associations. Part I of this article appeared in the April 3, 2006, western region publication beginning on page 47. As people migrate to the...

Former Calif. life insurance agent convicted for faulty notes

Apr 17 2006 // Fraud Roundup California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced the conviction of former life insurance agent Bassem Btadini, 51, also known as Bob Btadini. Btadini entered a no contest plea and was convicted of...