Latest Agencies Headlines

How to Choose the Right Bank for your Agency

Oct 17 2005 // As an independent agent or agency owner, you have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually...

Brian Sullivan: The Industry is Changing — Really

Oct 17 2005 // Although we’ve heard it many times before, the insurance agency business is on the cusp of huge changes, driven in part by technology, a host of new and better insurance products and increased stability on the part...

Industry Associations Object to CDI Legal Opinion on Fiduciary Duties

Oct 17 2005 // The California Department of Insurance (DOI) recently released a legal opinion on insurance fiduciary duties that industry associations say is over-reaching and will adversely affect their members. In its opinion, the...

AMERICAN AGENTS ALLIANCE CHANGES NAME TO INCLUDE BROKERS

Oct 17 2005 // The American Agents Alliance has changed its name to the Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers. The name change was unveiled Sept. 30, 2005, at the association’s annual convention in Indian Wells, Calif. David...

Gubernatorial Hopefuls in New York: Spitzer vs. Weld

Oct 17 2005 // New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has made a name for himself exposing fraudulent and anti-competitive business practices in the securities, mutual fund and insurance industries. Now he is running for governor in New...

Survey Finds Insurers Appointing N.J. Agents in Record Numbers

Oct 17 2005 // Insurance companies are making new agency appointments in New Jersey in record numbers, reports the Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc. According to data compiled this summer, at least 10 percent of the...

Oct 17 2005 // Willis Group Holdings has appointed Vincent D. Liotta as executive vice president and production director of the Willis Re U.S. Specialty Practice. Earlier this year Willis Re merged its Global Marine, Aviation, Retro and...

How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Agency

Oct 17 2005 // Independent agents or agency owners have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually compete...

Most Insureds Accept Spitzer Fund Settlement, Reports Broker Marsh

Oct 17 2005 // Marsh & McLennan reported that about 70,000 policyholders have opted for payouts from an $850 million fund formed to settle New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s investigation into bid rigging and price...

News Briefs

Oct 17 2005 // OHIO Hospital Group Sues WC Bureau: The Ohio Hospital Association and a member hospital sued the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in September on claims the state did not follow legal processes for a $50 million...

People

Oct 17 2005 // Nancy C. Gates was honored by the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia as its 2005 Outstanding Certified Insurance Service Representative. Since 1996, Gates has been a commercial lines, large account representative...

News Briefs

Oct 17 2005 // ALABAMA AIIA Conference, Educational Sessions The Alabama Independent Insurance Agents has scheduled five upcoming seminars in Mobile, Birming-ham and Huntsville. Oct. 19, Small and Rural Agents Conference, two topics,...

PIA of Georgia’s Atlanta Expo Stresses Education

Oct 17 2005 // The importance of professional education was stressed by John Oxendine, Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner, during the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia’s ninth annual Education Expo held on in late...

DFS Spokesperson Outlines Fla. Agency Licensing Requirement Changes

Oct 17 2005 // Changes in Florida’s legislation during the spring session and new administrative changes requiring agency licensure or registration were described by Hazel Muhammad, bureau chief of Agent and Agen-cy Licensing with...

Gregory Stevens

Oct 17 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio announced it recently installed Gregory A. Stevens as the 84th president of the association. Stevens is president of Texas Insurance Division of Compass Insurance Agency...

Using a Marketing Approach to Recruiting Employees

Oct 17 2005 // The lifeblood of the independent insurance agency system is sales. You are the distribution system for insurance carriers and your long-term success is rooted in your ability to produce business. As a result, you probably...

Brian Sullivan: The Industry is Changing – Really

Oct 17 2005 // Even though we’ve heard it many times before, the insurance agency business is on the cusp of huge changes, driven in part by technology, a host of new and better insurance products, and increased stability on the...

How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Agency

Oct 17 2005 // As an independent agent or agency owner, you have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually...

California Insurance Commissioner Campaigns Against Fraud

Oct 17 2005 // California State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has launched a statewide campaign to warn consumers about scams involving fake insurance policies. The Department of Insurance has cracked several fraud cases in the...

Industry Associations Object to CDI Legal Opinion on Fiduciary Duties

Oct 17 2005 // The California Department of Insurance (DOI) recently released a legal opinion on insurance fiduciary duties that industry associations say is over-reaching and will adversely affect their members. In its opinion, the...