Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

InsurBanc’s Application Approved by OTS

Nov 27 2000 // On Nov. 17, the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) cleared an application by the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA) and W.R. Berkley Corp. to establish a new federal thrift by the name of InsurBanc. The...

Predictions for the 2001 Auto Market’

Nov 20 2000 // Predictions for the 2001 Auto Market? Enforcing Uninsured Driver Laws Should Be A Top Agenda Item What will the Texas auto market look like in 2001? The question is being asked at every professional meeting, on every golf...

Safeco Launches Initiatives, Reports Improved 3Q

Nov 13 2000 // After taking a small step backward last quarter with disappointing results, Seattle-based Safeco reported better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter of 2000. According to Boh Dickey, president and chief operating...

Diversity is Key Theme at Big ‘I’, Jackson calls for Minority Market Participation

Nov 13 2000 // The Reverend Jesse Jackson is not your typical speaker at your typical insurance industry gathering. But the Independent Insurance Agents of America aren’t afraid to do things differently, and they proved it again at...

IIAA Unveils New Agency Universe Study; Finds Growth, Stable Consolidation for Agents

Nov 1 2000 // The last four years have been a period of financial growth and agent consolidation, according to the 2000 Agency Universe Study, a study of the independent agency system conducted by Future One, a cooperative effort of the...

C. Courtney Wood Presented Woodworth Memorial Award

Nov 1 2000 // Past President C. Courtney Wood, CPCU, ARM, was presented the Independent Insurance Agents of America’s (IIAA) highest individual honor-the Woodworth Memorial Award-during the closing session of the...

Young Agents Committee of Indiana Named 2000 Outstanding

Oct 30 2000 // The Indiana Young Agents Committee was one of several state associations that were honored with national awards of excellence at IIAA’s 2000 Young Agents Leadership Conference, held Oct. 28-30 at the Orlando World...

IIAA Honors 2000 National Awards Program

Oct 30 2000 // Top honors in the Independent Insurance Agents of America’s 2000 National Awards Program were presented today to the Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico, the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma, and the...

Houston Bestows IIAA Presidential Citations

Oct 30 2000 // Independent Insurance Agents of America President William M. Houston, CPCU, ARM, today bestowed special IIAA Presidential Citations to several deserving individuals for their outstanding contributions on behalf of the...

As Incoming IIAA President, Hofmann Ready to Promote One Voice For Agents

Oct 23 2000 // “My goal is not to start any new initiative, but to bring a bunch of the things that we’ve got out there to conclusion and to fruition and up-and-running.” —Bill Hofmann” After spending the past...

Survey Reveals Stronger Agency System

Oct 9 2000 // Silicon Valley operatives like to gloat about a shrinking independent agency system. Today there are 42,000 independent agencies in the U.S., down from 46,000 in 1992. Nearly three out of 10 independent agencies have been...

Independent currents:Survey Says: Agency Systems are Stronger

Oct 2 2000 // Silicon Valley operatives like to gloat about a shrinking independent agency system. Today there are 42,000 independent agencies in the U.S., down from 46,000 in 1992. Nearly three out of 10 independent agencies have been...

Independent currents Survey Says: Agency Systems are Stronger

Oct 2 2000 // Silicon Valley operatives like to gloat about a shrinking independent agency system. Today there are 42,000 independent agencies in the U.S., down from 46,000 in 1992. Nearly three out of 10 independent agencies have been...

CNA Personal Insurance Unveils New Name

Sep 29 2000 // CNA Personal Insurance has changed its name to Encompass Insurance, pledging to sell only through independent agents. Independent agents represent one third of the personal lines insurance market and $45 billion in annual...

Buffalo, N.Y. Independent Agency Launches e-Service Unit

Aug 29 2000 // The Lawley Service Insurance Group of Companies, the largest independent insurance agency in Buffalo, N.Y., has launched a new Internet division staffed with eight additional employees. Consumers can access their services...

Agents and Brokers Need to Prepare for the ‘Brand’ New World

Aug 7 2000 // “[Branding] starts with a vision on the top and has to be extended across all points of touch… it isn’t something that’s just window dressing.” The concept of branding is about much more than...

SIAA Expands its Membership in 2000

Aug 2 2000 // The Strategic Independent Agents Alliance (SIAA), a national network of independent insurance agencies, reported significant growth during the second quarter of 2000. During the period of April 1-June 30, the Swanzey,...

Orange County Independent Agent Wins E-Business Opportunity

Jul 26 2000 // OCCarFinder, the automotive channel of myOC.com, a new Seal Beach, Calif.-based web portal affiliated with The Orange County Register newspaper, has selected independent agency Huggins Dreckman Insurance to provide online...

Technology is your Slave, Not Your Master

Jul 10 2000 // The exhibit hall at the ACORD Technology Conference in Orlando in May would have made your head spin. On the one hand, technology is increasingly complex and sophisticated. On the other, it becomes easier when you keep the...

Senate Validates E-Signatures

Jun 19 2000 // An electronic signature bill approved by Congress last week contains important liability safeguards for independent agents according to the Independent Insurance Agents of America. S. 761—the Electronic Signatures in...