Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Often overlooked, accurate insurance-to-value should be a priority

Feb 19 2006 // There often are not many incentives for agents and brokers to calculate accurate property and business interruption values. When underwriting for commercial properties, insurers need to obtain accurate insurance-to-value...

News Currents

Feb 19 2006 // Agents allege red-lining by ANPAC in Texas court case A group of agents recently won a round in a Texas court in their fight to have documents released. Deemed “trade secrets” by American National Property...

Closer Look: Nonprofits

Feb 19 2006 // Over the years, many a vexed property/casualty insurance company chief executive has joked about his firm being a nonprofit, blaming pricing regulation, market cycles, high loss ratios, low investment income or some...

Richard Robin

Feb 19 2006 // People Encino, Calif.-based NAS Insurance Services has appointed Richard Robin president. He will be responsible for overall operations, including underwriting, marketing and administration. Ed Robin will continue to serve...

Outsourcing

Feb 19 2006 // Outsourcing often receives a bad rap, with large corporations using it to reduce staff count, bureaucracy and overhead. However, for small- and medium-sized insurance agencies, outsourcing can be a valuable, even critical,...

Nonprofits

Feb 19 2006 // Over the years, many a vexed property casualty insurance company executive has joked about his firm being a nonprofit, blaming pricing regulation, market cycles, high loss ratios, low investment income or some combination...

Editor’s Note: Prompt adoption by agencies of thetechnology is important because the

Feb 19 2006 // companies and vendors are closely monitoring agency usage in deciding whether to invest in it further. Points and clicks have the insurance industry moving faster than it ever has before. But just imagine being able to go...

Often overlooked, accurate insurance-to-value should be priority

Feb 19 2006 // Inadequate ITV is not just a problem for the insurance industry – it also can be detrimental to policyholders. When underwriting for commercial properties, insurers need to obtain accurate insurance-to-value (ITV)...

If you really want to upset your clients, don’t allow them to finish expressing their thoughts by cutting their communic

Feb 19 2006 // How to keep your non-standard auto clients When selling non-standard auto insurance, do you know how to retain your clients or are you driving away the business? There are a number of factors that affect retention,...

Broker acquisitions remain active; stock prices drop slightly

Feb 19 2006 // Stock Prices: After four straight months of gains in the brokerage sector, stock prices fell 1 percent during the December/January period. This is particularly notable since the sector traded up 6 percent in...

What E&S brokers pay

Feb 19 2006 // More than three-quarters (77%) of wholesalers and brokers said that firm salaries increased in 2005 compared to 2004. Nearly half (49%) of all E&S firms ansering Insurance Journal’s survey reported paying their...

Growing Your Property Casualty Agency

Feb 19 2006 // Hiring a relative as an agency producer Hiring a relative can be a terrific or a terrible move. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy working with your relatives, day after day. Personal and professional problems...

By Christopher L. Pesce

Feb 19 2006 // What lies beneath the surface of a yacht policy? Commonly overlooked coverage issues mean added exposure for agents Although no standard such as ISO exists for the yacht insurance industry assuring consistency from carrier...

National Auto Agents Alliance Gathers for Semi-Annual Board Meeting

Feb 17 2006 // The National Auto Agents Alliance (NAAA) held its semi-annual board meeting in Las Vegas on Feb. 10. At the meeting, the membership application for The Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers (formerly known as the...

Former Calif. Farmers Agent Sentenced for Premium Theft

Feb 16 2006 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has announced that Gary Calcagno, 48, of Carlsbad, Calif., has been sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $13,460 restitution for stealing premiums from 20...

Ala. Commissioner: ‘End Air Force One Policy’

Feb 16 2006 // An effective National Disaster Program has to be found so that if there is a catastrophe, we won’t have to rely on an “Air Force One Policy,” in which Air Force One flies in and brings us $20 billion,...

Baton Rouge, La., Agent Arrested

Feb 16 2006 // A Baton Rouge, La., insurance agent has been arrested and issued a cease and desist order for alleged felony theft and misappropriation of insurance premiums, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. LDI...

U.S. Risk Insurance Acquires Lighthouse Underwriters

Feb 15 2006 // U.S. Risk Insurance Group in Dallas, Tex. is acquiring Lighthouse Underwriters, LLC of Anandale, Va. Under the terms of the agreement, Lighthouse will become an operating division of U.S. Risk Insurance Group, but will...

Delgado Appointed to Calif. Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers Board

Feb 15 2006 // Carlos Delgado, CLU (Danmar Insurance Services, Riverside), has agreed to serve on the Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers’ board of directors. Delgado, a 35-year industry veteran, began his insurance career in...

Specialty Broker Ames & Gough Names Knise President

Feb 15 2006 // Specialty broker Ames & Gough announced the election of Dan Knise as its new president and CEO. Knise was elected at the firm’s annual Board meeting after joining the firm as an equity partner in their McLean,...