Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

Independent Agents Seek Digital, Product Support From Carriers to Battle Direct Writers

Nov 16 2020 // Independent insurance agents and their carrier partners face strong headwinds in their efforts to maintain their dominance among distribution channels due to increased competition and evolving consumer expectations,...

How Independent Agencies Can Set Themselves Apart

Nov 16 2020 // For independent agents, building a community-based brand has always been a smart way to set themselves apart from their exclusive counterparts. Now, as the next wave of COVID-19 hits the U.S. economy, it’s more...

The Horton Group’s Daly Elected President of Illinois Agents Association

Oct 22 2020 // George Daly with The Horton Group in Orland Park, Ill., has been elected president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIA of IL). Daly’s term runs until Sept. 30, 2021.As president, Daly will serve as a...

The Main Street America Group Rebrands, Expands Commercial Offering

Oct 21 2020 // The Main Street America Group, a U.S. provider of property/casualty insurance through independent agents, has unveiled a new name and brand – Main Street America Insurance. The brand was announced in conjunction with...

UK Insurtech Zego Partners with 2 Independent Broker Networks to Expand Fleet Offering

Oct 2 2020 // London-based insurtech Zego has partnered with two of the UK’s biggest networks of independent brokers that sit within Bravo Group.Zego will benefit from access to a community of over 700 brokers, more than 60% of...

Allstate to Cut 3,800 Jobs as Latest Step in Multi-Year Growth Plan

Oct 1 2020 // The Allstate Corp. said it will cut approximately 3,800 jobs in claims, sales, service and support functions as part of its continuing plan to grow its property/casualty market share. The layoffs will affect about eight...

Independent Brokers Will Remain Competitive by Adding Value to the Value Chain

Sep 23 2020 // The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for brokers to add value to the insurance transaction, according to Toby Esser, chairman of AFL Insurance Brokers, a London-based independent broker.Indeed, Esser said, the...

Questions to Ask Before Starting an Independent Agency

Sep 21 2020 // 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,...

It’s Clear Insurance Agency Data Is Valuable. Who Owns It May Not Be So Clear.

Aug 24 2020 // Independent agencies, like every other business, are living in a data-driven world. The value of data — including how and when it’s used and for what purpose — continues to evolve. As the value of data to...

Missouri Independent Insurance Agents Name Corrigan as Person of the Year

Aug 19 2020 // Karen O’Connor Corrigan, owner president of O’Connor Insurance in St. Louis, Missouri, has been honored by the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) as Person of the Year.The award is presented to an...

Viewpoint: Michigan Auto Insurance Reform Is Here. Agents, Are You Ready?

Aug 12 2020 // Finally, there is good reason to believe Michigan will drop the infamous distinction of being the one of the most expensive states in the country in which to insure a vehicle. As of July 2, the state’s drivers now...

The Value of Agency Data and Who Owns It

Jul 20 2020 // Independent agencies, like every other business, are living in a data-driven world. The value of data — including how and when it’s used and for what purpose — continues to evolve. As the value of data to...

Bridges Elected Vice Chair of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas

Jul 9 2020 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) elected Mark Bridges of INSURICA in Amarillo to serve as vice chair for 2020-2021.Bridges was elected to the post during IIAT’s annual business meeting on June 10,...

Allstate to Buy National General for $4 Billion, Growing Auto, Independent Agent Business

Jul 8 2020 // U.S. Insurer Allstate Corp. said on Tuesday it will buy National General Holdings Corp. for about $4 billion in cash, scaling up its auto insurance business at a time when the coronavirus has crushed traffic on roads and...

Texas Independent Agents Name Stoffle Account Manager of the Year

Jul 2 2020 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has named Karla Stoffle of Upshaw Insurance in Amarillo as Account Manager of the Year.The Account Manager of the Year award is given annually to an account manager in Texas...

Renaissance Alliance Insurance Services Adds 6 Agency Members in Florida

Jun 30 2020 // Renaissance Alliance Insurance Services, a membership alliance for independent insurance agencies, has added six independent insurance agencies to its Florida network.The new members include: AFG Insurance (American...

Nationwide’s Transition to Independent Agency Insurance Company Complete

Jun 30 2020 // Nationwide says the process of transitioning the company to operate as an independent insurance agency carrier is complete, effective July 1.For the past 18 months, the Columbus, Ohio-based insurer has been working on the...

TexCap’s Brown Named Chair-Elect of Texas Independent Insurance Agents Group

Jun 26 2020 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has installed Gaylon Brown of TexCap Insurance in Dallas as the group’s chair-elect for 2020-2021.Brown was named to the post during IIAT’s annual business...

Nitsche Named Chair of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas’ Board

Jun 19 2020 // Robert Nitsche, CEO of the Giddings, Texas-based independent insurance agency The Nitsche Group, has been appointed chair of the board of directors for the 2020-2021 year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas...

SIAA Reports Strong First Quarter and Anticipates Continued Growth

May 13 2020 // Hampton, NH, May 13, 2020: SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance, Inc.), the largest independent insurance alliance in the United States, reported strong growth in the first quarter of 2020, signing new members at a...