Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

People Moves: Zurich Adds Sustainability Posts; Pie Attracts 4 Execs; Big ‘I’ Names Invest Chief

May 6 2022 // Zurich Creates Role to Support Energy and Construction Clients With SustainabilityZurich North America has created three roles to support its construction and energy customers in their sustainability objectives....

People Moves: Faylo New U.S. Cyber & Tech Leader at Lockton; Big ‘I’ Names Boggs VP of Agent Development; MGA Falcon Hires 3 Senior Leaders

Mar 31 2022 // Lockton appointed Michelle Faylo as its U.S. Cyber & Technology Leader. Faylo will lead Lockton’s team of skilled cyber specialists, delivering innovative and effective solutions to global businesses that face...

People Moves: Godhwani, Bresnahan Assume New Top Posts at BHSI; Big I’s Flannagan to Retire; Aon Names Merlo as Claims Leader

Mar 24 2022 // Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Names Top LeadersBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced Sanjay Godhwani has been named president, North America region, and David Bresnahan will take on the role of...

People Moves: Kentucky’s Big I; Berkshire’s Life Sciences

Dec 7 2021 // Big I of Kentucky, the association of independent insurance agents in the state, has elected Kevin Desmond as chairman.Desmond, who is president of Desmond Insurance in Bellevue, has been active on the Big I board and...

Independent Agents Can Access Tech Training, Tools with Catalyit

Nov 22 2021 // Independent agent associations in seven states have teamed up with the technology company Catalyit to help agencies assess and improve their use of data and technological innovations in the insurance arena. “Every...

Pay-Per-Mile Digital Insurer Metromile to Add More Independent Agents

Nov 1 2021 // By Andrew G. SimpsonPay-per-mile digital auto insurer Metromile is pursuing what it is calling a “significant” expansion of its use of independent agents to sell its insurance, and it has hired a Travelers...

Keystone Agency Partners Appoints Big I’s Rusbuldt as First Independent Board Member

Oct 28 2021 // Keystone Agency Partners, an independent insurance agency partnership platform, appointed insurance industry veteran Robert A. Rusbuldt as the company’s first independent board member. Rusbuldt currently serves as...

Pay-Per-Mile Digital Insurer Metromile in Drive to Add Independent Agents

Oct 21 2021 // Pay-per-mile digital auto insurer Metromile is pursuing what it is calling a “significant” expansion of its use of independent agents to sell its insurance, and it has hired a Travelers Insurance executive to...

Kansas’ Fee Succeeds South Carolina’s Jensen as Chair of National Big ‘I’ Agents

Oct 6 2021 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) installed Kansas’ Bob Fee, president of Fee Insurance Group Inc. in Hutchinson, as 2021-22 Big “I” chair at the recent...

Digital Auto Insurer Root Will Add Independent Agents to Its Distribution

Aug 20 2021 // Digital auto insurer Root saw its loss ratio spike in the 2021 second quarter as higher costs for repairs, used vehicles and miles driven rose above pre-pandemic levels.But the Ohio-based insurer continues to report growth...

New Study of Independent Agents Reveals Real World Methods Applied to Achieve Breakthrough Success

Jul 7 2021 // Whitepaper details surprising statistics on success measures including close ratios based on national interviews conducted with agentsGREENSBORO, NC—July 7, 2021— A new study of independent agents reveals real-world...

Allstate CEO Strategy: More Independent Agents But No More ‘Human Modems’

Jul 5 2021 // Allstate Corp. wants to buy more independent insurance agencies this year to build the business it acquired with its purchase of National General, Allstate Chief Executive Tom Wilson told Reuters last month.But the agents...

Allstate CEO Strategy: More Independent Agents But No More ‘Human Modems’

Jun 24 2021 // Allstate Corp. wants to buy more independent insurance agencies this year to build the business it acquired with its purchase of National General, Allstate Chief Executive Tom Wilson told Reuters on Wednesday.But the...

The Impact of Commercial Lines Raters on Independent Agencies

Jun 21 2021 // For many years independent agencies waited anxiously for a practical multi-company rating system in commercial lines.Now, several easy-to-use products are available to agencies with quoting capability among a growing...

Howden to Acquire Spain’s Largest Independent Broker, ARTAI

Apr 22 2021 // Howden, the London-based insurance broker, has announced the acquisition of ARTAI, Spain’s largest independent corporate insurance broker.The transaction, which is pending approval from Spain’s Directorate...

People Moves: Burkhart to Lead Michigan Big ‘I’; J.M. Wilson Promotes 3, Adds VanderMaiden

Apr 19 2021 // Jared Burkhart will be the next CEO of Big “I” Michigan (MAIA), the association announced.Burkhart joins the Big “I” team on May 3 and succeeds the current CEO, Bev Barney, who is retiring Aug. 31....

Number of Independent Agencies Dips a Bit: Future One Study

Mar 30 2021 // Despite continued robust agency mergers and acquisitions activity, the number of independent insurance agencies has remained stable at 36,000, a number slightly below the last tally of 36,500 in 2018.That’s according...

Texas Insurance Exec, Harrison, Honored by Big ‘I’ with Woodworth Memorial Award

Feb 25 2021 // Longtime Texas insurance agency executive, William “Bill” E. Harrison Jr., has been honored by the Big “I” with its Woodworth Memorial Award, the national independent insurance agency...

Big I Advantage Promotes Juratovic to Assistant Vice President for E&O

Feb 22 2021 // The Big “I” announced that Amanda H. Juratovic has been promoted to assistant vice president of errors & omissions operations at Big I Advantage. Juratovic will lead the Big “I” Professional...

Before Starting an Independent Agency, There Are Many Questions to Weigh

Jan 28 2021 // In the most recent Closing Quote in Insurance Journal, I wrote about why I believe this is the best time in history for entrepreneurial agents to create a new independent insurance agency. My reasons include lower costs,...