Latest Agencies Headlines

Who is worth what?

Feb 6 2006 // Last year was not a big year for raises in independent insurance agencies as salaries in many agencies across the county stayed right where they were in 2004. Producer commission rates stayed the same also. More than 1,000...

Caution: Motor truck cargo insurance not for rookies

Feb 6 2006 // Transportation insurance and, more specifically, motor truck cargo insurance are not fields where an agent should dabble without some expertise. The specific nuances in this class of insurance lead to extensive errors and...

Fitch Analyst

Feb 5 2006 // James Auden, Fitch: stable outlook for broker industry in 2006 New York-Chicago-based Fitch Ratings is predicting stability and growth for the broker industry in 2006, while admitting that earnings will be down in 2005...

News Currents

Feb 5 2006 // W. Va. Big ‘I’ members to hear about mandates, regulations during Feb. 12-13 legislative discussions An update describing local, state and national industry and government issues, focusing on the latest...

Baylor University endowed professorship honors Texas agent

Feb 5 2006 // Presentation of scholarship endowment to Baylor University. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Terry Maness, Dean of the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University; Bill Bailey, Founder of Bailey Insurance &...

Managing Your Agency

Feb 5 2006 // For smaller companies, such as small and medium sized insurance agencies, outsourcing can be a valuable, even critical tool to facilitate cost-effective growth and stimulate productivity. Outsourcing often receives a bad...

News Currents

Feb 5 2006 // Oklahoma’s legislative session shifts into gear Lawsuit reform, uninsured drivers are among issues to be debated. The bill-filing deadline for the Oklahoma Legislature passed Jan.19, 2006, and the session opens Feb....

Young agent tricks and treats

Feb 5 2006 // Any activity done ouside the office is always better than doing something in the office. Like many of you, I started my insurance career with an empty desk and a phone. Over the years I have learned some tips or...

Spitzer probe brought bad practices to light, panel says

Feb 5 2006 // That the investigation of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer into compensation practices of the nation’s insurance brokers and carriers brought to light the unethical behavior of some bad industry apples was a...

Feb 5 2006 // People Bob Amado, president of Colemont’s Northern California offices, has retired, effective Jan. 1, 2006. Doris Barnett has been named his successor. Amado joined Colemont in 1997 and was instrumental in growing...

Editor’s Note: Pushing paper

Feb 5 2006 // There appears to be a lot of action on state legislative hills these days. Politicians have been meeting in most Western states to consider a wide variety of insurance proposals to regulate the industry. And hundreds of...

Cautionary tale on switching cargo

Feb 5 2006 // Agents new to the transportation insurance field must be careful of exclusions-especially when it comes to motor truck cargo. This frequently arises where an agent is switching coverage from one carrier to the next. Maybe...

Closer Look: Motor Carrier Cargo

Feb 5 2006 // Producers advised to work closely with a wholesaler or carrier that knows transportation contracts Transportation insurance and, more specifically, motor truck cargo insurance are not fields where an agent should dabble...

2005 delivers mixed bag for property/casualty brokers

Feb 5 2006 // Stock Prices: In terms of stock prices for property and casualty brokers, the year was mixed. With its stock up 54 percent, Aon experienced a remarkable year. However, Marsh and McLennan’s woes continued as its stock...

Minding Your Business

Feb 5 2006 // Agency value and price-what sellers can expect to put in their pocket Today there is constant attention by those asking agency owners to think about selling or merging with them, so the owner can pursue his or her hopes,...

Compensation overall

Feb 5 2006 // Last year was not a big year for raises in independent insurance agencies as salaries in many agencies across the county stayed right where they were in 2004. Producer commission rates stayed the same also. More than 1,000...

San Antonio Agents to Hold Workers’ Comp Class

Feb 3 2006 // The Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio will hold a workshop on the Texas workers’ compensation on March 9, 2006, in San Antonio. “Workers’ Comp: Navigating the Texas Experience Rating,”...

Insurance Skills Center Hosts E&O Classes Throughout California

Feb 2 2006 // Insurance Skills Center, Huntington Beach, Calif., will be presenting errors and omissions classes throughout California that focus on the new issues of permanent digital retention of records, the increased exposure to the...

Fla. CPCU Speaker Outlines Certificates of Insurance Terms, Provisions

Feb 2 2006 // “Certificates of Insurance: The Second Most Dangerous Piece of Paper,” including specifics about various insurance contract terms and provisions, and what to do and not to do with certificates of insurance were...

Softech Simplifies Access to Instant MVRs from any Comparative Rater Nationwide

Feb 2 2006 // Softech International announces that it is now providing agent/brokers and carriers with instant access to Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) from within all major comparative raters nationwide. Now customers can access MVRs...