10 Alaska, Idaho could face new insurance regulators

New governors likely means new appointees

10 Colorado election could affect key insurance issues

“Ethics in government” amendment could have “chilling impact”

11 Oregon insurance division to sponsor five bills

Division to tackle insurance product approvals in 2007 Legislature

12 Oregon defeats Measure 42

Voters reject ban on credit-based insurance scoring

12 Garamendi, Poizner take top spots following Calif. election

Industry says new commissioner Poizner a welcome change

14 Calif. associations take issue with precedential decision

Office of Administrative Law to review industry petition

18 Wash. online complaint guide helpful, but incomplete

Web-based tool designed to help consumers choose insurers

22 Washington employers to save $315 million in workers’ comp

Partial rate suspension proposed to reduce premium costs

N1 Employee crime is big threat to small companies

More than one in three private companies experience theft

N1 Commercial premiums continue to fall

All lines drop except coastal property in third quarter

N1 One in four report financial and personal information stolen

26 percent of Americans report being victims of theft

N2 Democratic Congress OK for industry

Industry says Blue View not a bad thing for insurance issues

MARKET FEATURES

N6 SPECIAL REPORT: Surplus lines

Not your father’s wholesaler; today retailers have a choice

N9 The globalization of corporate responsibility

D&O claims and demand are going global

N16 Spotlight: Truckers seek to slow big-rigs

Association proposes max speed limits on new trucks

N18 Spotlight: One in five truck drivers report falling asleep

Fatigue is a safety concern for many truckers at the wheel

52 Industry needs to improve “perceived” value

Perceived value affects employees, competition, new business

56 Contingency commission crisis threatens agents

Agents being subjected to guilt by association

60 Former Zurich exec ‘gooses’ independent agents

Agents must make efforts to gain as much business as possible

IDEA EXCHANGE

N20 Improving agency valuation

Agency efficiency and staffing strategies make the difference

N24 Carrier Watch

Commercial lines prices up; carriers reap benefits

N26 Growing Your Property Casualty Agency

Attract high-end sales with personal insurance shoppers

N28 Where are all the young guns?

Be a part of the search for quality professionals

62 People, partnerships lead to nearly a century of success

San Diego’s Barney & Barney shares best practices

70 Closing Quote: Power shift in the political landscape

Change increases importance of being involved in the political process

DEPARTMENTS

8 Editor’s Note

16 People

20 Business Moves

66 Fraud Roundup

67 New Markets