Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Oklahoma Seeking Victims of Alleged Scam by Insurance Agent

Apr 12 2012 // A former Oklahoma insurance agent has been arrested for fraud and state officials are seeking victims of a scam he allegedly perpetrated upon elderly individuals.The Oklahoma Insurance Department announced that Marshall...

Severe Weather Has Home Insurers Rethinking Coverages

Apr 10 2012 // As weather disasters strike with more frequency, U.S. homeowners first get hit with the destruction or total loss of property. Many are then hit with the unexpected loss of homeowners insurance policies as insurance...

Oklahoma Investigating Insurance Agent for Fraud, Exploitation

Apr 10 2012 // An Oklahoma insurance agent is facing charges for exploitation of the elderly and fraud, investigators say.Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak announced that charges have been filed in Kay County against Marshall...

Applied Systems to Open Canada Data Center

Apr 10 2012 // Insurance software company Applied Systems announced plans to open a Canadian data center in the third quarter of 2012, in order to provide “additional data storage for the growing number of insurance brokers who...

CRC’s CEO Hopes to Create ‘Best of the Best’ With Crump Merger

Apr 9 2012 // The recent acquisition of Roseland, N.J.-based insurance wholesaler Crump Group by BB&T Corp., a major regional bank and insurance broker based in Winston-Salem, N.C., created one of the largest providers of wholesale...

Oklahoma Agent Sentenced for Fraud in McCurtain County

Apr 9 2012 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak and McCurtain County District Attorney Mark Matloff announced the conviction and subsequent sentencing of Matthew Hammer, a formerly licensed insurance agent in Oklahoma. The...

Force-Placed Insurers on Hot Seat as N.Y. Regulators Expand Probe

Apr 6 2012 // New York regulators are expanding their investigation into the so-called force-placed insurance that target homeowners in financial distress.Benjamin Lawsky, the state’s superintendent for the financial services...

Minnesota Legislature Taps Insurance Agent for University Board

Apr 6 2012 // The Minnesota Legislature has selected an insurance agency owner to serve on the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents.Thomas Devine was elected a regent during a recent joint House-Senate convention. He...

Willis Japan Appoints Enomoto New Retail CEO

Apr 5 2012 // Willis Group Holdings has appointed Yoshihide ‘Dean’ Enomoto as President and CEO of its retail brokerage business in Japan. The announcement coincides with news that the global insurance broker has opened a...

Western Security Surplus Insurance Brokers Announces Staff Changes

Apr 4 2012 // Kyle Stevens, president and CEO of Western Security Surplus Insurance, announced organizational changes in the Dallas office and a new hire for WSS’ Roseville, Calif., office.Jennie Reed has been promoted to senior...

Minnesota’s PCG Agencies Adds Sibell as VP of Finance

Apr 4 2012 // Jeff Sibell has joined PCG Agencies Inc. in St. Paul, Minn., as vice president of finance. Sibell has many years of experience in the insurance, financial services and legal industries, and bring extensive IT skills, as...

Agents Urge Caution on Changes to Missouri Work Comp Insurer

Apr 4 2012 // Some insurance agents are urging caution as Missouri lawmakers considered changes to a state-created workers’ compensation firm that has been criticized by the state auditor for taking advantage of a federal tax...

ABI, UK Government, BIBA Team up to Help Older People Find Insurance

Apr 4 2012 // A bulletin from the Association of British Insurers states that “older customers will find it easier to get motor [auto] and travel insurance under an agreement between the ABI, the Government and the British...

160-Year Old Hanover Retaking Its Place as P/C Industry Leader

Apr 3 2012 // Eight out of 160 years of history may not seem like a big deal but for Hanover Insurance Group, founded in 1852, the last eight years have seen a series of big deals.Eight years ago in 2004, the $2.4 billion heavily...

Broker Admits Funneling Over $1M in Bribes to N.J. School Official

Apr 3 2012 // A Maryland insurance broker has admitted making more than $1 million in bribes to a former school superintendent in southern New Jersey.Seventy-year-old Francis X. Gartland of Baltimore pleaded guilty Monday to charges of...

Marsh Acquires Cosmos Services, a U.S. Brokerage Unit of Itochu Corp.

Apr 2 2012 // Marsh, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York-based Marsh & McLennan Companies, acquired Cosmos Services (America) Inc., the U.S. insurance brokerage subsidiary of global trading firm Itochu Corporation. Terms of the...

Agency Management Challenges

Apr 2 2012 // Pop quiz: Agency owners, please write down a short list of the management challenges constantly facing your company. The catch – you cannot list increasing new business revenue or retaining current clients. Portfolio...

50 Awesome Social Media Ideas for Insurance Agencies

Apr 2 2012 // Social media is a good marketing tool when used wisely. Today’s agencies are creating interaction among fans while developing promotions that generate revenue. The following includes 50 marketing ideas that agencies...

N.Y. Agency Groups Will Not Appeal Recent Disclosure Ruling

Apr 2 2012 // It looks like the courtroom battle has ended for New York State’s broker compensation disclosure regulation.In March, the New York appeals court agreed with the lower court and said insurance regulators were within...

What’s Your Grofit?

Apr 2 2012 // As you execute on your business plan, are you guided by long term objectives, short term goals or a balance of each? Agency owners often perceive growth and profit as mutually exclusive. In our consulting practice, we...