Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

Independent Agency Population Holds Steady as Start-Ups Keep Pace with Mergers

Dec 20 2010 // The total number of independent agencies in the country remains stable at around 37,500 as start-ups have kept pace with agency mergers and closings, according to a new study of agencies. There are today as many agencies...

Texas Independent Agent Named Trusted Choice Hometown Hero

Dec 15 2010 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has named Steve Barksdale, vice president at Bancorp South Insurance Services Inc., in Athens, Texas, as its newest Trusted Choice Hometown Hero. The Hometown Hero program...

Northeast Florida Agents Group Inducts New Directors

Dec 15 2010 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Northeast Florida (IIANF) inducted its 2010-2011 board of directors recently. The IIANF board consists of Brad Arrowsmith with The Holmes Organisation; Michael Beach with The Della Porta...

Independent Agency Population Holds Steady as Start-Ups Keep Pace with Mergers

Dec 7 2010 // The total number of independent agencies in the country remains stable at around 37,500 as start-ups have kept pace with agency mergers and closings, according to a new study of agencies. There are today as many agencies...

Fireman’s Fund Ready to Rally

Dec 5 2010 // Company Progressing on Mass Market Strategy Fireman’s Fund’s financials, like other insurance carriers’, got bruised a little in the first half of 2010, following some heavy catastrophe losses. But...

Big ‘I’ Gives $1.7M to Shape New Congress

Nov 14 2010 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) said that its political action committee, InsurPac, distributed more than $1.7 million in the 2010 campaign cycle resulting in a...

Why Now Is a Good Time for Agency Network Growth

Nov 5 2010 // They go by many names — networks, alliances, franchises, clusters and aggregators — but all have similar goals. Aggregator groups have been around the insurance industry for more than three decades but in the past few...

Big ‘I’ Insurance Agents Gave $1.7 Million to Shape New Congress

Nov 3 2010 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) said that its political action committee, InsurPac, distributed more than $1.7 million in the 2010 campaign cycle resulting in a...

Fireman’s Fund Ready to Rally

Nov 1 2010 // Company Focused on Technology Upgrade, Mass Market Strategy Fireman’s Fund’s financials, like other insurance carriers’, got bruised in the first half of 2010. In particular, the Novato, Calif.-based...

People

Nov 1 2010 // Aubie W. Knight has assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia (IIAG). Knight has been with IIAG since 1996. During his tenure, he has been responsible for most of...

Where Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner Candidates Stand

Nov 1 2010 // Hudgens, Squires and Bruce on Credit Scoring, Tort Reform, Role of Independent Agents and State Regulation Georgia voters going to the polls on Nov. 2 will have a real choice when it comes to electing the state’s...

Fireman’s Fund Ready to Rally

Nov 1 2010 // Company Progressing on Mass Market Strategy Fireman’s Fund’s financials, like other insurance carriers’, got bruised a little in the first half of 2010, following some heavy catastrophe losses. But...

Foremost Insurance Group Joins Trusted Choice

Oct 28 2010 // Michigan-based Foremost Insurance Group is the newest member to join the Trusted Choice consumer branding program for independent insurance agents and brokers. Foremost is a provider for property and casualty insurance...

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Race: Attracting Insurers, Value of Agents

Oct 21 2010 // The three politicians who want to be Georgia’s next insurance commissioner see eye-to-eye on the need for the insurance regulator to be involved in attracting new insurers and insurance jobs to the state. According...

North Carolina Agents Honor Newmister of Montgomery Insurance

Oct 20 2010 // Montgomery Insurance Co. Regional Vice President Nancy Newmister has been named the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina’s (IIANC) Company Professional of the Year. The award was presented to Newmister...

People

Oct 18 2010 // Texas-based Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB) announced that Jan Holcombe joined the company as vice president of personal client services. Holcombe brings more than 20 years of experience as an insurance counseling...

The Power of More

Oct 18 2010 // Why the Time is Right for Agency Networks They go by many names — networks, alliances, franchises, clusters and aggregators — but all have similar goals. Aggregator groups have been around the insurance industry for...

Kilkenny Joins IIAT as Director of Agency Management Resources

Oct 14 2010 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) and its Trusted Choice agencies announce that Todd Kilkenny has joined the association as director of agency management resources. Kilkenny will be responsible for...

Knight Assumes Role as CEO for Georgia Independent Agents

Oct 7 2010 // Aubie W. Knight has assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia (IIAG). Knight has been with IIAG since 1996. During his tenure, he has been responsible for most of...

The Future for Independent Insurance Agencies

Oct 6 2010 // I believe the future of independent insurance agencies is at a tipping point. A number of forces are pushing agencies toward the precipice of major change. A few of those forces include: legislation, case law, the Web,...