Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

New York Eases Compensation Disclosure Mandate for Producers

Jul 10 2009 // The New York State Insurance Department this week released a new draft of a rule governing when and how insurance producers must disclose their compensation and competing quotes to customers.The latest draft appears to be...

State Auto: How a Regional Carrier Weathers the Storms

Jul 6 2009 // Regional property/casualty insurance companies don’t make headlines like the large institutions. They simply go about their business serving customers and independent agents — and paying claims.How are regional...

IIAT Installs New Leadership, Names Award-Winners

Jul 6 2009 // At the recent Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) 112th Annual Trade Show & Conference in San Antonio, the group installed new officers and directors, and presented membership service awards.Bryan Shofner,...

How Independent Agents View Super Regional Carriers

Jul 6 2009 // Quality claims service continues to be the top factor in how independent agents evaluate their carriers, although insurers’ financial strength ratings are now a much bigger concern for agents than in the past, an...

Daniel Named Texas Independent Agents’ ACSR of the Year

Jun 25 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has awarded Patricia Ann Daniel, assistant vice president and insurance consultant with Extraco Banks N.A. dba: Extraco Insurance in Waco,Texas, with its Accredited Customer...

Florida Independent Insurance Agents Establish Charitable Fund

Jun 23 2009 // At its recent 105th annual conference in Orlando, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) announced a donation of $500,000 to launch a new charitable project, the Good Works Fund. In addition to helping...

Bridges Named Young Agent of the Year by Texas Independent Agents

Jun 19 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has named Mark Bridges, a producer at Edmond, Deaton & Stephens Insurance Agency in Amarillo, as the André P. Juneau Young Agent of the Year.Bridges was honored with...

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas Installs New Leadership

Jun 18 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has elected new leadership for 2009-2010.Bryan Shofner, president of Shofner & Associates Insurance Agency Inc., a holding company that owns and operates Shofner Lynch...

Medlin Receives Top Award from Texas Independent Agents Group

Jun 17 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) announced that Plano independent insurance agent Don Medlin recently received the Drex Foreman Award at the association’s 112th Annual Conference & Trade...

Florida Welcoming New Latin Independent Agents, While Still Coping with Old Market Problems

Jun 15 2009 // Being an independent agent in south Florida means never having enough property markets.That was true years ago and remains true today, according to a leader among south Florida agents, Joseph Mier, who is the incoming...

How to Hire the Next Generation of Leaders

Jun 15 2009 // The insurance industry is transitioning into a new era. For years, Baby Boomers have led the way and now, as they approach retirement, must find a way to pass along their legacy. Who will fill their shoes?The problem is...

Managing an Agency in a Troubled Economy

Jun 15 2009 // Unlike many businesses, independent insurance agencies do not need to access credit on a daily basis. But when the time comes that an independent agency needs access to credit and cash, it is usually due to an event driven...

Liberty Northwest Drops Workers’ Comp Direct Sales for Independent Agents

Jun 10 2009 // Liberty Mutual Group’s Agency Markets business unit announced that one of its member companies, Liberty Northwest, has sold the renewal rights for most of its direct-sold workers’ compensation policies written...

Top 100 Final Call: Last Day to Submit Your Agency

Jun 8 2009 // Insurance Journal is on the search for the nation’s leading privately-held property casualty independent agencies and brokerages for its annual Top 100 Property/Casualty Independent Insurance Agencies report.And...

Top 100 Agencies: Extended Deadline to Submit, June 8

Jun 3 2009 // Insurance Journal has extended the deadline for its annual Top 100 Agencies submissions.IJ is on the search for the nation’s leading privately-held property casualty independent agencies and brokerages for its annual...

State Auto: How a Regional Carrier Weathers the Storms

Jun 1 2009 // Regional property/casualty insurance companies don’t make headlines like the large institutions. They simply go about their business serving customers and independent agents— and paying claims. How are regional...

Direct Writers Continue Battle for Massachusetts Auto Market

Jun 1 2009 // Direct writers continue to target the Massachusetts personal auto insurance market, as one major national carrier announced it has written its first policy in the state and another says it will begin writing direct in...

State Auto: How a Regional Carrier Weathers the Storms

Jun 1 2009 // How are regional insurance companies faring in today’s climate — financial and catastrophe? What challenges do they face? How can they grow? Why are they so popular with independent agents?Insurance Journal put...

Fireman’s Fund: Focusing on Agents

Jun 1 2009 // Weathering today’s economic storm has not been easy for insurance companies. Consumers are more carefully scrutinizing their coverages, while the financial sector is taking a beating in the public, as the government...

State Auto: How a Regional Carrier Weathers the Storms

Jun 1 2009 // Regional property/casualty insurance companies don’t make headlines like the large institutions. They simply go about their business serving customers and independent agents — and paying claims. How are...