Latest Agencies Headlines
All the headlines from our Agencies Topic Page, ordered by recency.
TDI Modernization Efforts Paying Off During Pandemic, Commissioner Says
Apr 20 2020 // The employees of the state agency in charge of regulating the insurance industry in Texas might not put it this way, but in a sense, operationally at least, they have been preparing for the current health crisis brought on...
New E-Book, Online Guide Aims to Help Insurance Agencies Deal with Disruptions
Apr 20 2020 // A new e-book and online resource guide created by a trio of insurance agency executives, including Tony Caldwell, CEO of the Oklahoma-based agency network One Agents Alliance, aims to provide independent insurance agents...
Red Skies in the Morning, Insurers Take Warning
Apr 20 2020 // Red skies at night, sailors’ delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning. Just as the old adage infers, when it comes to marine risks, there will be losses. But, not every loss can be attributed to the...
Turning 50, Invest High School Program Eyes Apprenticeships for Independent Agencies
Apr 20 2020 // A new apprenticeship program aimed at attracting and developing talent in the independent agency system is being rolled out by an insurance education organization that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Invest, the...
15 Things Young Agents Like Most
Apr 20 2020 // That this career offers freedom and room for advancement. I like the stability of the industry. People will always need insurance. The ability to work with many different carriers to provide clients with as many options as...
Pandemic Stress: A Challenge for Agents
Apr 20 2020 // One challenge that agents face during this pandemic has been ignored: high stress levels, not just from housebound, income-challenged clients but also from agency staff working from home. I have heard many stories from...
As Cyber Risks Grow, So Does the Need for Small Business Coverage
Apr 20 2020 // With cyberattacks on the rise and many small businesses unaware of the dangers, independent insurance agents are in a good position to educate clients about their risks, recommend preventative measures, and provide...
Overcoming The New Agent Failure Rate: What It Takes to Succeed
Apr 20 2020 // Developing young talent to become successful young agents is not easy. Chris Burand, president of Burand & Associates, an insurance agency consulting firm, estimates that the new producer failure rate is as high as 70%...
15 Things Young Agents Like Least
Apr 20 2020 // The way our industry and the persona of an insurance agent is portrayed by the public. I find the amount of inefficient methods for quoting and maintaining policies to be lazy and agitating. Constantly having to deliver...
How to Maximize P/C Insurance Industry’s Crisis Response: Make Small Steps Part of Bigger, Long-Term Strategy
Apr 20 2020 // I’m shocked, just shocked that you’re suggesting that during a crisis that insurance companies might in fact be considered the villains. I’ve never heard that before.” That’s Richard Levick...
Quoting Requests to Agencies Down 30% Since Coronavirus Shutdowns
Apr 20 2020 // While consumers may have more time to consider their insurance needs during this period of stay-at-home orders and non-essential business shutdowns brought on by the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic, they aren’t...
Game ON: Young Agents Take On COVID Crisis
Apr 20 2020 // The death toll from the coronavirus keeps rising. So too does the economic toll. The crisis has decimated huge sectors of the economy, leading to unprecedented unemployment and business closures. It has been a time of...
How To Make Your Life Easier, and Richer
Apr 20 2020 // Agency owners can make their lives easier and richer if they follow one simple rule: Run their agency as a business. This means doing what businesses do, including working on the business rather than just in it. This is...
Louisiana Extending License Renewal Dates for Insurance Agents, Adjusters
Apr 17 2020 // The Louisiana Department of Insurance says a new emergency rule extends the renewal dates for licenses of insurance producers and adjusters who have been negatively impacted by the business closures brought on by the...
As Attacks Rise, Paladin Offers Cybersecurity Platform Free to Insurance Agencies
Apr 17 2020 // Paladin Cyber is offering independent agents and brokers throughout the U.S. free one-year enrollment in its Paladin Shield cybersecurity platform. The offer is in response to more employees working at home and a sharp...
Arkansas Insurance Dept. to Consumers: Contact Agents About COVID-19 Premium Relief
Apr 16 2020 // The Arkansas Insurance Department is advising auto insurance consumers to contact their insurance agents as to whether their auto insurance carrier is offering premium relief in light of the COVID-19 health crisis. AID has...
Progressive Gives $2M to Big ‘I’ Fund to Aid Agencies Affected by Coronavirus Crisis
Apr 16 2020 // Progressive Insurance has donated $2 million to establish the Trusted Choice COVID-19 Relief Fund in response to the economic and operational challenges the coronavirus crisis has presented to independent agencies. The...
Howden Broking Group Buys Greece’s Matrix Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers
Apr 16 2020 // Howden Broking Group, the London-based independent specialty broker, announced it has acquired Matrix Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers in Greece. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2003 and...
Farmers in California Names Conte Head of Exclusive Agent Distribution
Apr 15 2020 // Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Farmers Insurance has named Krista Conte head of exclusive agent distribution. Conte joins Farmers after more than 15 years at Allstate, where she was most recently field vice president in the...
Suddenly There Is Big Demand for Pandemic Cover, Says Underwriter
Apr 14 2020 // In the midst of this pandemic, insurance buyers and their brokers are looking for COVID-19 pandemic coverage, which is like buying property insurance when your house is on fire, according to Tracey Gibbons, senior vice...
