D's insurance store, I don't think your rambling at all... I think you know what your talking about. Linkedin actually has a part of your profile where you can get recommendations from people who have worked with you. I think that feature could add credibility but blantant schilling on Facebook and ...

I can vouch for Tangram, ATM and Abram Interstate in CA. Appaliachian Underwriters is good in most states. I would avoid SA and Networked.

You have to love it when some marketing rep creates a new handle and only has two posts schilling their product... Anyway... for personal lines and small commercial I would take the "more is less" approach in terms of an agency managment system. Quickfile, Doris, Hawksoft and FSC Manager c...

Where are you located? There are some great clusters out there that can give you direct access. They are not cheap to join but are a much better deal (direct access and contingency) in the long run.

I use facebook to keep in touch with family and friends (old and new) and their network of friends. Facebook is a great way to reconnect with people and stay in touch. I politely insert some info about my business but I don't think people are really all that interested being sold to through those ve...

I just got a flier from WIAA Insurance Services claiming a $1250 MP with new ventures accepted so I will give them a shot at my renewal. I cannot vouch for it but it could be worth a call. Their phone number is 800-553-4221

I just went through this 9 months ago with a start up agency. The best rate was with Lloyds through Arrowhead for $2800 or so. I shopped around a bit and everybody was between $2800-3500... I don't think you will do any better than that as a start up.

Find a good cluster and join. The advantage of being independent is that you can offer so many different companies and options... your not going to get direct appointments right off the bat with the best carriers unless you partner with a cluster that can provide access. I recently went from a $150m...

Glad I could help. Between Sacramento (Natomas and Elk Grove suburbs) and Stockton... I am insuring way too many vacant dwellings these days. I would check with Abram Interstate regarding the liablity... I believe they have a Comprehensive Personal Liability program with USLI. If they won't do it......

Foremost is writing vacant dwellings... would have to run it by the UW's regarding the open claim.

My answer depends on what you do. If your a producer at a large agency... selling commercial lines gives you the chance to make more money. If your a small agency owner, I think personal lines is the way to go if you do it right. I have walked both paths and personally prefer owning an agency and se...

Not a whole lot you can do to bury them with legal fees when there is so much California case law in their favor. If you push it too far you will be paying their legal fees.

jcwindad, I agree to a certain extent but not all agencies and areas operate the same way. If I were paying a producer 25-40% I would expect them to produce, make their own calls and hand hold their clients . If had a very competitive program and I was paying a CSR on salary to turn around quotes......

Clients often have a personal relationship with their agent/broker. I think that if an agent leaves and advises his clients where he has landed... there is nothing unethical or unprofessional about that. Once the clients know where you are, the ball is in their court. In my opinion it would be unpro...

Sorry I took so long to respond. I think you would be crazy because you have already done the hard part... going out on your own and survived the first 18 months. Buy out your partner and make it into your third year with $1.2M in written premium and you will be a happy man. I have never known a bus...