Latest Agencies Headlines

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

The Competitive Advantage: The Lost Value Proposition of Independent Agencies

Apr 3 2017 // My brother recently asked for advice regarding his personal insurance. I recommended he contact an independent agent I know who represents three carriers who I know provide a good form, reasonable price, and good claims...

Forget Insurtech. What About Us? Young Agents Speak Out in Annual Survey Report

Apr 3 2017 // With so much attention lavished on insurtech startups that vow to replace them, young insurance agents feel they are being shortchanged in the race to invest in insurance technology. Just give them the technology tools...

A Look at Restrictive Covenants and Obstacles that Keep Producers from Making a Move

Apr 3 2017 // If someone were to offer you $1 million to make a job move, would you? What if that move meant you’d go through some lean years?For $1 million, you’d likely tolerate several lean years. An entrepreneurial model...

Young Agents Enjoy Career Choice But Worry About Future Hiring

Apr 3 2017 // Despite sentiments about technology lags, the vast majority of young agents responding to Insurance Journal’s 2017 Young Agents Survey believe strongly that their career choice was the right one.The survey found that...

New York’s Cybersecurity Rules: Things Insurance Professionals Should Know

Apr 3 2017 // The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) has issued cybersecurity requirements for financial services companies (cyber rules) that went into effect March 1.The cyber rules require insurance and insurance-related...

Florida Insurance Agent Gets 4 Years for $100K Premium Theft

Apr 2 2017 // A former Florida insurance agent has been convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for stealing more than $100,000 from two elderly clients, according to a statement from the state’s Chief Financial Officer...

2 Retired North Carolina Agents Convicted of $11M Insurance Scam Targeting Seniors

Mar 31 2017 // North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) announced the conviction of two retired insurance agents in a regional scam targeting senior citizens.Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said the two retired agents, Milton...

Ryan Specialty Group Agrees to Acquire Assets of New York-Based LoVullo

Mar 31 2017 // Ryan Specialty Group LLC (RSG) has reached a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of LoVullo Associates Inc. (LoVullo), a wholesale insurance brokerage and binding authority operation based in...

Blue River Underwriters Promotes Jared Mathis to Executive Vice President

Mar 31 2017 // Atlanta, GA, March 31, 2017 — Blue River Underwriters, a Breckenridge Insurance Group company, has promoted specialty property senior vice president Jared Mathis to executive vice president of the division. As executive...

Citizens Seeks Florida Agents’ Help Fighting Water Claims Abuse

Mar 30 2017 // As the Florida property market fights what has so far been a losing battle against attorneys and unlicensed contractor firms over water loss claims and assignment of benefits (AOB), Citizens Property Insurance Corp.,...

MassMutual Completes Broker-Dealer Integration

Mar 28 2017 // Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has completed the integration of its existing broker-dealer, MML Investors Services LLC, and MSI Financial Services Inc., the broker-dealer acquired as part of...

How Agents Can Deploy Soft Benefits to Win the Talent War

Mar 28 2017 // Insurance agencies that stress “soft” benefits have the upper hand in recruiting workers in today’s competitive job market.Employees are increasingly seeking out “soft” benefits in addition to...

Broker THB and CNA Hardy Partner to Provide Global Industrial Cyber Solution

Mar 27 2017 // London-based broker THB, CNA Hardy and cyber security specialist Waterfall Security Solutions have entered into a partnership to provide a cyber security protection package for industrial businesses globally.The package,...

The Hanover Launches Professional Liability Risk Management Portal

Mar 27 2017 // The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has launched a new online portal featuring risk management tools for the professional liability industry.HanoverProRisk offers articles, templates, risk bulletins and seminars focused on...

Flintstones vs. Jetsons, a Broker Success Story, and How Agencies Can Survive Insurtech

Mar 23 2017 // “If we survive the next five to 10 years and improve the way we do things, we can be well-positioned into the future.”James Keating, founder, chairman and CEO of The Keating Group, offered those positive words...

Chubb Introduces Online Workers’ Comp Policy System for Small Business Agents

Mar 23 2017 // Chubb has introduced a new online system for independent agents that will quote and issue a comprehensive workers’ compensation policy for small businesses.Chubb’s workers’ compensation policy for small...

Missouri’s Millennium Brokers Joins Insurance Agency Alliance

Mar 21 2017 // Millennium Brokers LLC in Springfield, Mo., has joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a network of over 100 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois. Millennium Brokers is a full-service insurance...

XL Catlin Names Fischbach to Key Excess & Surplus Insurance Post

Mar 21 2017 // XL Catlin has appointed Karl Fischbach as head of Binding Authority and Brokerage for its excess and surplus insurance operation. In his newly added role, Fischbach will focus on aligning XL Catlin’s E&S...

Colorado Insurance Agents Association Rebrands as a Trusted Choice Organization

Mar 20 2017 // The Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado (PIIAC) announced it has changed its name to the Trusted Choice Insurance Agents of Colorado (TCCO).“As an association, we strive to be there for our agents,...

New York Insurance Broker Sentenced in $1M Fraud Scheme

Mar 20 2017 // An Albany insurance broker has been sentenced to nine years in prison for a $1 million securities fraud scheme.Lawrence D. Rosenbaum previously pleaded guilty to charges including grand larceny and securities fraud. He...