Latest Agencies Headlines

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

What’s Your Definition of Producer?

May 16 2011 // It’s a funny experience writing articles for insurance publications and speaking at industry functions. After nearly 750 articles and presentations, the only articles or presentations that really ever spark anger...

Kentucky Streamlines Agent Licensing for Veterans

May 16 2011 // Members of the armed services will find it easier to keep or obtain an insurance agent’s license under a new law approved by Kentucky lawmakers. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has signed into law HB 301 that...

People

May 16 2011 // Marsh & McLennan Cos. appointed Daniel S. Glaser to the newly created position of group president and CEO. Glaser previously had been chairman and CEO of Marsh. He will continue to report to Brian Duperreault,...

Insurance Agents, Adjusters Vulnerable to Lawsuits Even When They’re not to Blame

May 16 2011 // Agents and adjusters have completely different roles in the insurance industry. But as intermediaries between insurance companies and their customers they have one critical thing in common: They often get called into...

Eye on the Local Managing General Agency

May 16 2011 // Sometimes bigger is not always better. Large wholesale organizations have a place in the market, but smaller and often family-owned managing general agencies (MGA) also have a place, says Wayne Forest, the incoming...

Calif. Blocks Bill to Boost Insurance Commissioner’s Penalty Powers

May 16 2011 // The California Senate Insurance Committee has blocked a restitution bill that would have given explicit authority to the state Insurance Commissioner to order restitution as part of an administrative enforcement action...

MLR Dramatically Impacting Commissions, Agents Tell Regulators

May 16 2011 // The impact of the medical loss ratio has been dramatic on the agents and brokers in this country, and it was dramatic immediately.”That’s a quote from Beth Ashmore, an independent insurance agency owner from...

Florida Lawmakers Approve Property Reform

May 16 2011 // In the closing days of Florida’s legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill that addresses sinkhole claims and a number of other property insurance issues.In addition to redefining sinkhole losses, the measure...

How to Prevent E&O Lawsuits for Black Swan Risks

May 16 2011 // The timeless maxim- “think globally, act locally” – coined in 1915 by social activist Patrick Geddes, underscores the vital importance for insurance agents to really think through the scope of their...

Survey Shows Opportunity for Carriers to Support Agents in Social Media

May 16 2011 // The majority of agents and brokers say using social media is important for business, yet many report not using social media tools in their business today.Seven of 10 independent agents and brokers believe it is important...

House Committee Passes Flood Insurance Extension, Reform Bill

May 13 2011 // As flood waters continued rising along the Mississippi River, a House committee yesterday unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to extend the federal flood insurance program for five years and introduce financial...

A. J. Gallagher Acquires UK Broker Heath Lambert for $158 Million

May 13 2011 // Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG), has completed the purchase of HLG Holdings Ltd (the Heath Lambert Group), for a net purchase price of £97 million ($158 million). Heath Lambert is headquartered in London and has 16...

Liability Lawsuits Against U.S. Rating Agencies Dismissed

May 11 2011 // The three major U.S. credit rating agencies won the dismissal of lawsuits seeking to hold them liable as “underwriters” for helping banks structure securities transactions to achieve desired ratings.The 2nd...

Wholesaler All Risks Expands Orlando Branch; Names Deising Manager

May 11 2011 // Wholesale insurance broker All Risks, Ltd. reports that Don Deising has been hired to lead its Orlando, Florida operation as branch manager and senior broker. Deising will produce new business while leading the Orlando...

New Products Catlin Select and Catlin Online to Launch at BIBA Conference

May 11 2011 // Catlin UK, part of the Catlin Group Limited, plans to unveil a new suite of products aimed specifically at UK brokers at this week’s BIBA (British Insurance Brokers Association) conference in Manchester.The products...

Moores Named President of Minnesota Agents & Brokers Group

May 10 2011 // Mark Z. Moores, president of St. Paul-based Moores Insurance Management Inc., and has been named president of the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (MIIAB) professional association.He previously...

P/C Insurers Cautious About Adopting New RMS Hurricane Model

May 10 2011 // Property/casualty insurers appear to be in no rush to adopt a controversial revised catastrophe model that dramatically raises certain estimates of potential hurricane losses in the country.California-based modeling firm...

Pennsylvania House OKs Workers’ Comp Changes

May 10 2011 // Pennsylvania House lawmakers have approved new legislation that would allow insurers to write workers’ comp coverage to owners and principals of businesses.Agents in the state had sought the change to correct a...

MMA UK Names Bradshaw as Commercial Development Manager

May 10 2011 // MMA Insurance, the wholly owned UK subsidiary of French multi-national insurer, MMA IARD Assurances Mutuelles, has appointed Derek Bradshaw as Development Manager, to drive commercial growth through its broker partners.He...

Hub International Acquires Two Agencies

May 9 2011 // Hub International Limited has acquired the assets of Lawson-Hawks Insurance Agency Inc. (LHI), a Mountain View, Calif.-based insurance brokerage firm, and Mark Tauber Insurance Brokerage Inc., a Brooklyn, New York-based...