independent agents News

Liberty Mutual to Acquire State Auto Group

Insurer Liberty Mutual reported that it will acquire State Auto Group, a super-regional insurance holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Under the terms of the agreement, State Auto mutual members will become mutual members of Liberty Mutual. Also, Liberty Mutual …

Client Connections – Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Digital Options?

Calling All Independent Agents! This week we’re running a survey, sponsored by Providence Bank Agency Finance. The survey asks 10 questions about how you connect to your clients and market your agency. I want to encourage you to take the …

Nationwide Switching to Independent Agency Distribution Model by 2020

Independent agents take note – Nationwide may be on your side. Nationwide on Monday announced its intention to shift to an independent agency distribution model over the next two years. The Columbus, Ohio-based carrier, which provides a range of insurance …

Carrier Poll Shows Many Agents Expect Minor Tech Disruption by 2020

A new poll conducted by a Seattle, Wash.-based carrier that asked independent insurance agents what’s ahead in 2020 showed that roughly half of agents expect technology disruption to have a minor impact on their agency over the next few years. …

Why Customer Satisfaction Is Falling for Large Auto Insurers, Rising for Small: J.D. Power

After climbing in each of the past two years, customer satisfaction is falling among the nation’s largest auto insurers, while satisfaction is actually up a tad for small insurers. This rising dissatisfaction with large carriers is in turn driving overall …

Helping Independent Agents Compete and Evolve

This post is part of a series sponsored by CoreLogic. Even with advancements in the direct-to-consumer channel, independent agents (IAs) continue to be a dominate distribution channel for property & casualty carriers. Why? Trust. According to Accenture’s 2013 U.S. Personal …

Google Dupes Insurance Buyers: Insurance Agent Executive

Independent insurance agents are accustomed to competition but many are watching with heightened interest the entry of one new competitor in particular, Google Compare. Bill Wilson, director of the Virtual University at the Big “I” (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers …

Experts: Insurance Distribution Future Online and Personalized

The future of insurance distribution was discussed at the CPCU Society’s annual All Industry Day in California on Tuesday. The day-long conference at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City included panels on the economy, business interruption and cyber liability. During …

New Hampshire’s Minkler New Chairman of Big ‘I’

New Hampshire independent agent Thomas J. Minkler has been inaugurated as the new chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”), with David Walker as chairman-elect, Randy Lanoix as vice chairman and Joseph …

Project CAP Selects Phoenix Agency for Agency 2020 Program

Hester, Heitel & Associates, an independent insurance agency in Phoenix, has been chosen as the spotlight agency to represent Project CAP’s Agency 2020 program. Agency 2020 was designed to provide independent agencies with resources to help them implement a long-term …