A new industry briefing shows reinsurance rates continuing to increase for the U.S. property-catastrophe reinsurance market for April 1, 2009, renewals. According to Guy Carpenter & Co.’s “Rates Up on Tightening Capacity at U.S. 4/1 Prop-Cat Renewal” briefing, national programs …
The exclusive 2009 Insurance Journal Young Agents Survey asked independent agents under 40 years old what they like least about being an independent agent. Here’s what some of the 692 agents who took the survey had to say: Lack of …
Pirates have stepped up their attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. In three days (April 6-8) the marine marauders, based in Somalia, seized four cargo ships and a French yacht (See IJ Web site …
While the tendency is for independent agents to stress their independence and go solo, a team approach can be very valuable to producers who are new to the industry. “When producers first come in, instead of handing them the Yellow …
Colorado lawmakers voted down SB 103, the Unfair Claims Practices Act. The legislation was killed in the House Health and Human Services Committee in a 6-5 vote. The bill would have “defined as an unfair claim settlement practice and a …
Sometimes a Little Adversity Goes a Long Way, Thomco CEO Says A little more than 10 years ago, Greg Thompson, CEO of the Georgia-based insurance services firm Thomco Inc., discovered his accounting manager was stealing money from the company. One …
And Other Lessons from High-Performing Agencies Use your agency management system to the max. Measure your productivity. Communicate consistently and effectively with your staff, customers and carriers. And above all, don’t cheap out on the training. Do those tactics sound …
Arsonists’ handiwork has dominated headlines in the past several months. Earlier this year, in southeast Pennsylvania, an alleged group of firebugs torched dozens of buildings in one community before being caught. In rural New Hampshire, a man was charged with …
Colorado lawmakers are looking at a plan to take $500 million from the state-created workers’ compensation insurance company to reverse deep cuts in higher education. The Senate Appropriations Committee reviewed the plan as one of nearly two dozen proposals to …
As America’s economy slogs through this once-in-a-generation recession, stressed-out consumers are literally being driven to desperation. Growing numbers of drivers around the U.S. are illegally dumping their vehicles for insurance money. Blackened hulks are turning up in remote deserts outside …
