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