Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

Webb Joins Independent Insurance Agents of Texas as Advantage Markets Director

Jun 17 2019 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has added Lisa Webb as director of IIAT Advantage Markets.Webb has more than 30 years of experience in personal and commercial lines sales, management, training and claims...

Gerger Joins Illinois Independent Agents Group as Education, Agency Resources Director

May 31 2019 // Brett Gerger, former chief deputy director of the Illinois Department of Insurance, has joined the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIA of IL) as director of Education & Agency Resources.In his new position,...

Big I New York Elects Cofini as Board Chair

May 24 2019 // Big I New York, the state’s independent insurance producer trade association, has elected John Cofini as its chair of the board for the 2019-2020 term.Cofini was sworn in during a May 21 ceremony at Big I New...

Protecting Your Agency and Educating Your Clients On Cybersecurity

May 20 2019 // It’s no secret that having the right technology is critical to being a successful independent agent. But as independent agents embrace technology, they must also be aware of the risks for cyberattacks and know how to...

Connecting the Dots in Agency Technology

May 20 2019 // To say the agency technology space is robust is an understatement.Right now, the industry is seeing an “onslaught of technology available to enable agents and brokers to better manage, not only their business, but...

In Race for New Personal Lines Insurance Business, Exclusive Agents at Disadvantage

Apr 26 2019 // Personal lines insurers have only one option when it comes to growing their business: they must steal market share from competitors.That’s because each year brings very few new customers. Only about two to three...

Direct-to-Consumer Auto Insurers Grabbing Market Share

Apr 25 2019 // Direct-to-consumer auto insurers appear to be gaining serious market traction, according to a report from J.D. Power.The firm reports that auto insurance revenue hit $245 billion in 2018, reflecting industrywide growth of...

Wuthrich Named Executive Director of Houston Independent Agents Group

Apr 22 2019 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Houston (IIAH) has named David Wuthrich as the group’s new executive director. Wuthrich is a native Houstonian and has worked in the insurance industry for many years. Most...

Why the Industry Must Embrace Change

Apr 15 2019 // Change is a great way to build, personally and professionally. If we want to stay relevant in our industry, we have to learn how to embrace change. Today, we are changing at the fastest pace our industry has ever seen....

9 Insurance Agency Start-Ups: Why and How They Set Out on Their Own

Mar 22 2019 // What motivates people to take a risk in an industry dedicated to managing risk? New independent agencies are born of various circumstances. Sometimes it’s about seizing an opportunity that comes along; other times,...

Brightway Insurance Independent Agent Program Kicks Off in 6 States

Mar 20 2019 // Brightway Insurance has kicked off its new Independent Agent Program with its first group of seven new Independent Agent Owners.Brightway Insurance, a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network...

Commentary: How Florida AOB Crisis Is Impacting State’s Independent Agents

Mar 19 2019 // Florida’s “one-way attorney fee” statute enacted to protect Florida policyholders from large insurance companies has instead spawned a huge industry of assignment of benefits (AOB) predators who take...

New Forms, Rate Hikes Likely in 2019 Texas Homeowners Insurance Market

Mar 15 2019 // Texas independent insurance agents might want to warn their homeowner insurance customers that premium hikes and/or increases in deductibles could be on the horizon this year.Homeowners insurers have been filing for rate...

Virginia Honors Independent Agents for Efforts to Fill Flood Insurance Gaps

Mar 4 2019 // The Virginia House of Delegates passed a joint resolution that would designate the first full week in March each year as Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agents Week beginning in 2019.HJ 703, introduced by Del. Buddy...

2019 Outlook: Rates, Deductibles Likely to Rise Again in Texas Homeowners Insurance Market

Mar 4 2019 // Texas independent insurance agents might want to warn their homeowner insurance customers that premium hikes and/or increases in deductibles could be on the horizon this year.Homeowners insurers have been filing for rate...

What Young Insurance Agents Earn, Think and Say

Feb 27 2019 // Young agents want change. They want more diversity in the agency sales ranks. They want better paths to grow in their careers. They want other agents to adhere to professional standards and ethics. They want faster and...

Agents, Brokers and the Future of Insurance Distribution

Feb 26 2019 // A funny thing is happening on the way to the future.As consumers’ and carriers’ behaviors, attitudes and expectations have been changing, independent agents are evolving to better serve both customers and...

Insurers with Best Service Win More Business from Independent Agents

Feb 18 2019 // It may be obvious to those in the industry that the more satisfied independent insurance agents are with an insurance carrier, the more business they will conduct with that carrier. But the message may not be getting...

Eating an Elephant: Tales from 9 Agency Start-Ups

Feb 18 2019 // What motivates people to take a risk in an industry dedicated to managing risk? New independent agencies are born of various circumstances. Sometimes it’s about seizing an opportunity that comes along; other times,...

Look Who Is Betting on the Agency System

Feb 15 2019 // According to some pundits, buyers should all be online and the agency system should be dead by now. However, it appears not everyone got that memo. Here are some recent examples of companies, techies and investors betting...