Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

Independent Agency System Marked by Changes and Challenges

Feb 28 2012 // Bob Bramlett Robust merger and acquisition activity, carrier relocations and an aging workforce are influencing independent insurance agencies in ways an agency owner might not have experienced decades ago. But Bob...

Compensation Freeze Comes to an End?

Feb 20 2012 // Agencies Report Salaries and Compensation on the Rise, Slightly It looks like the freeze may be over. For the first time since 2008, independent agency salaries rose in 2011, albeit only slightly. According to Insurance...

Independent Agency System Marked by Changes and Challenges

Feb 20 2012 //

Louisiana Senator Co-Sponsors Bill to Protect Agent Health Commissions

Feb 20 2012 // Two U.S. senators have filed a bill to clarify that agent compensation should be excluded from the federal health reform Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requirement for the individual and small group markets. Sen. Mary L....

Independent Agency System Marked by Changes and Challenges

Feb 20 2012 // Robust merger and acquisition activity, carrier relocations and an aging workforce are influencing independent insurance agencies in ways an agency owner might not have experienced decades ago. But Bob Bramlett, president...

Louisiana Senator Co-Sponsors Bill to Protect Agent Health Commissions

Feb 6 2012 // Two U.S. senators have filed a bill to clarify that agent compensation should be excluded from the federal health reform Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requirement for the individual and small group markets. Sen. Mary L....

TDECU Insurance Acquires 2 More Texas Independent Agencies

Feb 3 2012 // TDECU Insurance Agency LLC announced it has acquired two independent insurance agencies: Assurance Insurance Agency Inc. (Assurance) based in Bellville, Texas, and Burridge Insurance Agency Inc. (Burridge) based in...

Find Out Who’s Worth What in the Independent Agency System

Jan 27 2012 // Time is running out to find out who’s worth what in the independent agency system! Insurance Journal is once again polling insurance agents and brokers nationwide in its annual Agency Salary Survey. Survey results...

Who’s Worth What in the Independent Agency System? Find Out … Join IJ’s Survey

Jan 18 2012 // Insurance Journal is polling insurance agents and brokers nationwide in its annual search to find out who’s worth what in the independent agency system. Don’t miss out on your chance to participate. The 2012...

Allstate Revises Agent Compensation Plan

Jan 9 2012 // Allstate’s captive agents have been spared part of a planned cut in their commissions as the insurer has revised its compensation strategy. The Illinois-based insurer confirmed that it would cut its base commission...

Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Harnesses New Technology to Reach Independent Agents

Jan 4 2012 // Walnut Creek, CA, 12/08/11 – The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) will make use of the new technologies available through the Virtual Insurance Marketplace to bring the organization’s...

How One Independent Agent Tried to Off the GEICO Gecko

Dec 29 2011 // Editor’s Note: This article is from Insurance Journal’s annual Satire Issue, originally published on Aug. 15, 2011. The article is fictional and is meant to be humorous. Enjoy! Obsession is more than some...

Allstate Revises Agent Compensation Plan

Dec 27 2011 // Allstate’s captive agents have been spared part of a planned cut in their commissions as the insurer has revised its compensation strategy. The Illinois-based insurer confirmed that it would cut its base commission...

All in the Family

Dec 16 2011 // Young Agents Survey Reveals Strong Family Ties Bryan Hanes grew up in the family business listening to stories about life in a small town. He heard his grandfather and then father sharing cheerful conversations with local...

Online Portal Aims to Connect Independent Agents with Consumers

Dec 11 2011 // Beginning early next year, independent insurance agents will be able to tap into an online resource designed to connect them with the more than 65 percent of market share in personal lines they are currently missing. The...

Minnesota Workers’ Comp Insurer Joins Big ‘I’ Trusted Choice Program

Dec 6 2011 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) announced that Minnesota-based workers’ compensation insurer, SFM, is the newest member of the Trusted Choice consumer...

Texas Regulator Abstains from MLR Vote; Says State Requested Waiver

Nov 29 2011 // The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has adopted a resolution urging Congress to amend the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to ensure...

How to Compete for Personal Lines with the Direct Writers

Nov 28 2011 // Let’s face facts. It’s unlikely that any individual independent agency will ever “beat” the direct writers. They have massive marketing budgets, a strong online presence, great name recognition, and...

Nationwide, Harleysville CEOs Say Merger All About Growth

Nov 21 2011 // The merger of insurer Nationwide Mutual with regional carrier Harleysville Mutual is all about growth, not only for the companies but also for their independent agents, according to the CEOs of the two...

How to Compete for Personal Lines with the Direct Writers

Nov 21 2011 // Let’s face facts. It’s unlikely that any individual independent agency will ever “beat” the direct writers. They have massive marketing budgets, a strong online presence, great name recognition, and...