Latest Agencies Headlines

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

Willis Acquires Polish Broker to Expand Employee Benefits, Construction

Aug 26 2011 // Willis Europe B.V., a division of Willis Group Holdings plc, has acquired 100 percent of the shares of Polish insurance broker, Brokerskie Centrum Ubezpieczeniowe (AMA) Sp. Zoo.Willis said the deal, effective immediately,...

Amarillo Insurance Agent Faces Prison Over Investment Scam

Aug 24 2011 // A Texas Panhandle woman has been convicted in a more than $600,000 investment scheme that targeted elderly investors.Prosecutors say 60-year-old Janice Edwina Demmitt of Amarillo was convicted of conspiracy to commit money...

U.S. Risk Names Greer a Senior Broker in Austin Office

Aug 24 2011 // Managing general agency and surplus lines wholesaler U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc. has appointed Tony Greer as senior broker in its Austin, Texas, office. Greer has five years of experience in the insurance industry and...

Abacus Insurance Brokers Launches Online Jewelers Block Program

Aug 22 2011 // Abacus Insurance Brokers, Inc., a Los Angeles-based program manager that distributes specialty insurance products online, has launched an online jewelers block program. The program is available in all 50 states on an...

Oklahoma Commissioner Revokes Agent’s License, Files Charges Against Couple

Aug 22 2011 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has revoked a Stigler woman’s license to sell insurance, and the agent and her husband have been charged with crimes including the embezzlement of more than $37,000 from...

Last Chance: Complete the Best Agencies to Work For Survey Now

Aug 22 2011 // Is your independent insurance agency a GREAT place to work? If so, don’t miss this LAST CHANCE to recognize your agency as one of the best places to work.The deadline to nominate your agency for Insurance...

Towers Watson Hires Reinsurance Agent in San Francisco

Aug 19 2011 // Global professional services company Towers Watson, the global professional services company has appointed Conrad Lagasca vice president in its reinsurance brokerage business. Lagasca, who will be based in San Francisco,...

AIR Chief on Cat Models: ‘What’s All The Fuss About?’

Aug 19 2011 // When it comes to revised hurricane models, AIR Worldwide CEO Ming Lee has one basic question, “What really is all this big fuss about?”Lee, whose Boston company launched the catastrophe modeling industry in...

Group of Allstate Agents Votes to Unionize

Aug 18 2011 // A group of Allstate agents who say the insurer controls them like employees rather than as independent contractors voted to affiliate with a union — a move the agents hope will help dissolve some of their concerns...

The Truth About Why Independent Agents Love Regional Companies

Aug 17 2011 // The multitudes of fine regional insurance companies have been a source of salvation for independent agents. In the last 15 years, their share of the overall personal lines market grew from 18 percent to 23 percent. They...

Unitrin CEO Southwell Sees Growth, Value in New Kemper Name

Aug 17 2011 // Unitrin Inc. is counting on added success as it takes on a new name — the well-known and legendary Kemper name — for the future of the company.Effective Aug. 25, Unitrin Inc. will officially become Kemper Corp. and Don...

Got Regional?

Aug 15 2011 // The multitudes of fine regional insurance companies have been a source of salvation for independent agents. In the last 15 years, their share of the overall personal lines market grew from 18 percent to 23 percent. They...

How One Independent Agent Tried to Off the Gecko

Aug 15 2011 // Obsession is more than some Calvin Klein perfume; it’s the root cause of one independent agent’s tragic attempts to terminate the marketing influence of what he calls the “little green monster” (no...

Managing Agency, Company Relationships the Easy Way

Aug 15 2011 // We all know the importance of maintaining good relationships with insurance companies in order for your agency to succeed. The slowdown in the economy has created changes to the internal structure of many insurance...

Easy Ways to Increase Revenue and Profits with Little and Preferably No Effort

Aug 15 2011 // I am frequently asked how agencies can increase their revenue per person. Since all agencies are basically the same, I have developed a three step program that is sure to help every agency increase this all important...

State Agencies Not Exempt from Age Bias Claims, Says Mass. Court

Aug 11 2011 // The Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled state agencies aren’t exempt from age discrimination lawsuits, even when the discrimination is the result of a policy that doesn’t explicitly target older workers.The...

Agents Say Insurers Out of Touch with Needs of Small Businesses

Aug 11 2011 // Insurance agents and brokers think that their insurance carriers may be out of touch with what the small business segment needs. For one, carriers have been busy coming out with new products and coverage enhancements for...

Florida Eases Surplus Lines ‘Due Diligence’ Rule for Agents

Aug 10 2011 // Florida insurance agents should have an easier time placing commercial policies with surplus lines carriers under a new law that allows them to offer the coverage without first scouring the admitted market for the...

Are Bounce Houses Too Difficult a Risk?

Aug 10 2011 // In the last two months alone the media has reported at least 10 bounce house or inflatable amusement rides nationwide that were toppled by wind or collapsed under weight of too many kids. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety...

Don’t Miss This Year’s Best Agencies to Work For Survey

Aug 9 2011 // Do you love your boss? Do you love your agency? Do you think your independent insurance agency or brokerage firm is a GREAT place to work?If so, don’t miss this opportunity to recognize your agency as one of the best...