Monthly Archives: <span>November 2008</span>

Employee Retention: A Best Bet in Any Economy

Employee retention programs drive better bottom line performance in growing and uncertain economies. In fact, engaging and rewarding employees with financial or non-financial awards are retention actions that can no longer be overlooked or dismissed as trivial. Today there is …

What the 2008 Election Means for Independent Agents

With incoming President-elect Barack Obama and major increases in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, the Democrats will now control both chambers of Congress and the White House. The changing of the political guard, coupled with the recent …

People

Safeco Insurance and Indiana Insurance, both Liberty Mutual Agency Markets companies, recently announced key management appointments to lead their respective personal and commercial lines operations in their Midwest territory. Christopher T. Allen was named vice president, Safeco Insurance, and Midwest …

Industry Contributes Big Bucks to Midwest Candidates

Candidates on Both Sides of the Aisle Benefit Interestingly enough, both Democrats and Republicans were on the receiving end of the industry contribution checks. With the 2008 election now behind us, it is interesting to see how the insurance industry …

U.S. Senate Candidates (Not all those listed were up for election in November 2008) Obama, Barack (D) $1,512,257 Durbin, Dick (D-IL) $128,750 Bayh, Evan (D-IN) $1,000 Lugar, Richard G (R-IN) $750 Harkin, Tom (D-IA) $90,580 Grassley, Chuck (R-IA) $61,950 Roberts, …

Insurance Dollars an Electoral Force in Midwestern States

Congressional candidates from the Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin pulled in big donations from a variety of insurance industry interests in 2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a …

Agents Speak Out on ‘Putting Back the Pieces’ After Brooke

Brooke Group Declares Bankruptcy, Faces Rico Charges, More Lawsuits Technically, Brooke Franchise owes me $7 million, but who knows if I will ever see it,” said Roger Cunningham, former Brooke franchisee and agent/owner of RKC Financial in the Dallas/Fort Worth …

Wanted: Agencies Focusing on Hispanic Market

The brains behind the insurance agency consolidation firm Confie Seguros say they are well-positioned to meet their goal of a $300 million revenue company focused on the Hispanic insurance market within a few years, despite current financial markets. Also, while …

Estimating the Credit Crisis Insurance Losses

On Nov. 5, 2008, the insurance information firm Advisen issued an updated forecast of insurance losses likely to arise from the credit crisis. Advisen is now estimating aggregate directors and officers, and errors and omissions losses of $9.6 billion, up …

Business Moves

State Auto, Rockhill Insurance Group State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company has agreed to acquire Rockhill Insurance Group of Kansas City, Mo. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2009, subject to approval by regulatory authorities. Rockhill Insurance Group, which …