Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Gallagher Acquires Calif. Broker

Dec 15 2003 // Itasca, Ill.-based brokerage giant Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Avery-Hammer Insurance Associates, Inc. of Fresno, California. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1980,...

J.D. Power: Independent Agents Expect Volume Increase With Carriers

Dec 15 2003 // Independent insurance agents expect to see an increase in the number of policies written with the majority of insurance carriers in the next year, according to the inaugural J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Independent...

IIABA Boasts Anti-Spam Exemption

Dec 15 2003 // The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America said an intensive lobbying effort paid off when it brokered an 11th-hour exemption for trade associations to the anti-“SPAM” bill conference report passed...

Top 10 2003 Newsmakers

Dec 15 2003 // While less turbulent than 2001-2002, this year hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. The industry continues to face intractable problems—a lack of capital strength, accompanied by accusations that it’s...

PIANJ Files Court Brief in ‘Standard of Care’ Case

Dec 15 2003 // The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc. announced that it was recently granted permission by the state’s Supreme Court to file an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in an important case that could...

Industry People Making Moves in 2003

Dec 15 2003 // As you will probably notice from this list, it is not scientific, preferential, etc. We retraced news coverage of this past year and tried to come to an agreement on who made headlines. We likely left off a few...

The Southern California Firestorms of 2003

Dec 15 2003 // The wildfires that raged through San Bernardino and San Diego Counties in October have now been declared the worst fire disaster in the history of the insurance industry. More than 8,000 firefighters battled roaring flames...

TSLA, IIAT Gear Up for Joint Initiative

Dec 15 2003 // At the Texas Surplus Lines Association 2003 Annual Meeting held in Austin Nov. 16 and 17, Jim Berger, president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas announced that the two groups are working together on an...

Industry Says Good-bye to Familiar Faces

Dec 15 2003 // The insurance industry lost a number of familiar faces in 2003. Some were company presidents and CEOs; some may not have been as well known but were still instrumental in shaping the industry and its future. Insurance...

Enhancing Carrier Relationships with a Sales and Marketing Plan

Dec 15 2003 // The New Year is a perfect time to reflect on how we have been running our agencies and restructure it to the way we should be running it. Business plans and sales and marketing plans are essential to proper agency...

Cross-Selling LTC Insurance Leads To Brighter Days Ahead

Dec 15 2003 // A much brighter future beyond what may be currently envisioned awaits property/casualty agents and brokers through cross-selling long term care (LTC) insurance. The sunny scenario that will unfold includes helping...

Enhancing Carrier Relationships with a Sales and Marketing Plan

Dec 15 2003 // The New Year is a perfect time to reflect on how we have been running our agencies and restructure it to the way we should be running it. Business plans and sales and marketing plans are essential to proper agency...

Top 10 2003 Newsmakers

Dec 15 2003 // While less turbulent than 2001-2002, this year hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. The industry continues to face intractable problems—a lack of capital strength, accompanied by accusations that it’s...

Avoiding the Half-Million Dollar Mistake

Dec 15 2003 // Hiring the wrong producer is what I call a $500,000 mistake. In fact, in analyzing the fallout from hiring the wrong producer, the mistake can often be greater than one-half million dollars. Believe me, I’ve been...

Industry Says Good-bye to Familiar Faces

Dec 15 2003 // The insurance industry lost a number of familiar faces in 2003. Some were company presidents and CEOs; some may not have been as well known but were still instrumental in shaping the industry and its future. Insurance...

Industry People Making Moves in 2003

Dec 15 2003 // As you will probably notice from this list, it is not scientific, preferential, etc. We retraced news coverage of this past year and tried to come to an agreement on who made headlines. We likely left off a few...

SCOR Back on Broker’s Lists; Expects Minimal Impact from Floods

Dec 12 2003 // France’s SCOR Group has issued an announcement indicating that its securities are once again “back on the security lists of the main brokers.” The company also said that the recent flooding in Southern...

Ind. Big I Elects New President

Dec 11 2003 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana elected Lawrence D. Myers as its new president at the group’s convention in November. As a member of the IIAI executive committee, Meyers will represent the interests of...

Eastern Alliance Insurance Group Chooses AgencyPort to Support Valued Agents, Growth and Operational Efficiency

Dec 10 2003 // AgencyPort Insurance Services, Inc. announced that Eastern Alliance Insurance Group, a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation company, has licensed AgencyPort’s full KeyOnce(TM) Solution. The KeyOnce(TM) Portal...

London American Offers E&O Renewal Solutions

Dec 10 2003 // Recognizing an increasing need by insurance agencies to replace their non-renewed errors & omissions coverage, London American General Agency Inc. has secured a number of alternative markets to meet the demand. These...