Latest Agencies Headlines

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

People

Jul 7 2008 // Richmond, Va.-based insurance broker Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. promoted F. Michael Crowley to president and chief operating officer.As president, Crowley has been responsible for HRH’s retail operations. In the...

Yes, You Are in a ‘Flood Zone!’

Jul 7 2008 // “I don’t need flood insurance.” “I’m not in a ‘flood zone.'” Or, “I don’t need flood insurance because my mortgage company said I don’t need it.”Those...

Winning as a Strategist

Jul 7 2008 // Want to be a better insurance agent or broker? Then consider your strategy. Today’s sales professionals must be at the top of their game to win sales through competitive advantages. Successful sales pros take command...

Find a Silver Lining in the Soft Market

Jul 7 2008 // Searching for ways to survive and thrive in the soft market cycle? Cultivate untapped customer markets; proactively service renewals; use technology for efficient agency management; and assertively seek referrals.Those are...

When In Rome, Do As the Romans

Jul 7 2008 // The ancient expression “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is used to warn friends and colleagues to respect and adapt to the culture of places that they visit. In the insurance industry, that advice applies...

Japan: Risk and Rewards

Jul 7 2008 // The Japanese property and casualty insurance market is ripe for opportunities, but there also are significant risks in the country, according to Keiji Fukasawa of Finrex Japan and Rie Hidaka of Swiss Reinsurance Co.P/C...

‘What Have You Done for Me Lately?’

Jul 7 2008 // Today’s risk managers need more than just a good broker. They need the best broker. Solid relationships between a broker and a risk manager matter but they aren’t everything, according to Melissa Miller-Bowman,...

In Brokers We Trust

Jul 7 2008 // Insurance Journal Top 100 Agency ProfileAlliant Insurance Services RANKING: No. 2 Headquarters: Newport Beach, Calif. Year Founded: 1927 Total Premium Volume: $2.8 billion 2007 Total P/C Premium Additional Locations:...

Willis Buys HRH for $2.1 Billion

Jul 7 2008 // Willis Group Holdings Chairman and CEO Joe Plumeri holds a reputation for taking on challenges. On June 8 his company gave him one. Willis announced it has agreed to buy Virginia-based rival Hilb Rogal & Hobbs for...

Exclusive Survey, Part 2: Strengths and Weaknesses – What Agents Think of Regional and National P/C Insurers

Jul 7 2008 // Regional carriers come out on top in agency compensation and claims services, while nationals outscore regionals on loss control and technology. That’s according to an Insurance Journal week-long survey in June on...

Bank Insurance Brokerage 1Q Earnings Hit Second-Highest Level Ever

Jul 7 2008 // Quarterly earnings from bank insurance brokerage hit their second-highest level in first quarter 2008. Bank insurance brokerage earnings in the first three months of 2008 were $1.078 billion, up 8.6 percent from $993.3...

Agency Pains and What to Do About Them

Jul 7 2008 // The typical agency has at least a few persistent problem areas that never quite go away. At best these issues are addressed but not completely fixed. At worst, they are not even noticed and then fester until something bad...

Stewart Joins American E&S Insurance Brokers San Francisco Office

Jul 2 2008 // American E&S Insurance Brokers’ San Francisco branch appointed Chip Stewart a broker. Stewart is an industry veteran with more than 20 years experience. Most recently, he was with Swett & Crawford, where he...

Ross and Phillipp Honored by IBA West Young Brokers

Jul 2 2008 // The Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) Young Brokers and Agents presented two awards for young professionals in the insurance industry. The Anthony J. DiBuduo Award went to Derek Ross of C.M. Meiers of...

New York Governor Signs Flex-Rating and NYPIUA Bill

Jul 2 2008 // New York Governor David Paterson has signed into law industry-sought legislation that brings back flex rating for auto insurance and makes permanent New York’s homeowners insurer of last resort.The flex-rating...

Western Insurance Agents Association Installs Officers

Jul 1 2008 // The Western Insurance Agents Association confirmed its board members and officers for the 2008-2009 term. The Board officers were officially installed at the group’s annual member meeting held earlier this month at...

New York Wants Public Hearing on Insurance Agents’ Commissions

Jul 1 2008 // Just days after a top state court ruled it was legal for insurers to pay so-called contingent commissions, the New York Insurance Department and Attorney General said they will hold joint public hearings on the...

North Carolina Agents Honor Montgomery Insurance Company

Jun 30 2008 // Montgomery Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company received the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina young agents company of the year award. Presented during the recent young agents conference...

Pacific Wholesale Names National Healthcare Director, Associate Broker

Jun 30 2008 // Pacific Wholesale announced that Hoppy Stauffer has joined the comapny as national healthcare director, and Veronica Jimenez has joined as associate broker.Stauffer began her career managing physician offices for 10 years....

Utah Independent Insurance Agents Name Stringham Young Agent of the Year

Jun 30 2008 // Ryan Stringham of The Buckner Co. has been named Young Agent of the Year by the Utah Association of Independent Insurance Agents. Stringham started his career with The Buckner Co. in 2002. While working full time for the...