Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

Texas Agent Honored With Big ‘I’ Woodworth Award

Apr 30 2007 // Matt Berry of the William Gammon Agency in Austin, Texas, and former president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, has received the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the Independent Insurance Agents...

Agent Leader Soto Renews Vow to Defend Contingent Pay

Apr 30 2007 // The leader of the nation’s biggest independent insurance agent association has promised agents his group will vigorously defend their incentive pay and contingent commissions that have come in for criticism by some...

Big ‘I’ Honors N.Y’s Emek and Louisiana Affiliate

Apr 30 2007 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) honored an agent leader and one of its state associations for their legislative accomplishments in 2006 at the Big “I”...

Insurance and Small Business Addressed at Big ‘I’ Conference

Apr 27 2007 // Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and House Republican Whip Roy Blunt R-Mo., addressed 1,400 independent insurance agents and brokers at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s National Legislative...

Editor’s Note: A ‘hot career path’

Apr 23 2007 // With this being Insurance Journal’s “Salute to Independent Agents” issue, I got to thinking about what it means to be an independent agent. I’m not an agent of course so I can’t speak from...

Editor’s Note: A ‘hot career path’

Apr 23 2007 // With this being Insurance Journal’s “Salute to Independent Agents” issue, I got to thinking about what it means to be an independent agent. I’m not an agent of course so I can’t speak from...

McCarran-Ferguson emerges as No. 1 threat to independent agents

Apr 23 2007 // As 1,200 independent agents and brokers from around the country descend on Washington, D.C., this month for the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, they will be greeted with a new legislative...

Editor’s Note: Spring ritual

Apr 23 2007 // It’s that time of year when, if you are a member of Congress and you don’t have a meeting with at least one independent insurance agent from back home, you are probably not running for re-election. Like cherry...

McCarran-Ferguson emerges as No. 1 threat to independent agents

Apr 23 2007 // As 1,200 independent agents and brokers from around the country descend on Washington, D.C., this month for the Big “I” Legislative Conference & Convention, they will be greeted with a new legislative...

Spring ritual

Apr 9 2007 // It’s that time of year when if you are a member of Congress and you don’t have a meting with at least one independent insurance agent from back home, you are probably not running for re-election. Like cherry...

Ohio Casualty Sponsors Agent Branding Program, The Partnership

Apr 3 2007 // Ohio Casualty Group® today has announced its sponsorship of two key projects of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA). The company is an official sponsor of the PIA Branding Program, Local Agents...

Big ‘I’ Makes Changes to Federal Affairs Staff

Mar 14 2007 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) has hired Jason Spence as its new assistant vice president for federal government affairs, effective March 12. Spence comes to the Big...

Agents and Brokers: Extended Deadline to Submit for IJ’s Top 100, March 21

Mar 14 2007 // Insurance Journal’s search for the nation’s top independent insurance agencies and brokerages is winding down with just a couple of days left for qualified firms to send in their entry forms. The exteneded...

The impact of contingent commissions on independent agencies

Mar 12 2007 // How much do independent agencies rely on contingency income and could they survive without it? Debate continues in the insurance industry regarding the future of contingent income. Any drastic changes in the current...

What lies ahead for agency compensation? Agents could benefit from incentive pay plans replacing contigent income

Mar 12 2007 // Incentive pay plans for agents that some insurers are implementing to replace discontinued contingency compensation could work out better for agents than the programs they are replacing. A handful of major carriers banned...

The impact of contingent commissions on independent agencies

Mar 12 2007 // Debate continues in the insurance industry regarding the future of contingent income. Any drastic changes in the current compensation structure would have far-reaching effects throughout the industry and would impact...

What lies ahead for agency compensation?

Mar 12 2007 // Incentive pay plans for agents that some insurers are implementing to replace discontinued contingency compensation could work out better for agents than the programs they are replacing. A handful of major carriers banned...

PIA Montana and Independent Agents of Montana Agree to Joint Meeting

Feb 26 2007 // The PIA Montana and Independent Insurance Agent’s Association of Montana announced they will be working together on a number of projects to mutually benefit both associations. For example, the groups will jointly...

Progressive Drops ‘Drive’ Brand Name…Except in Calif.

Feb 23 2007 // The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies today announced a change in its brand names for products sold through its agents. The company said it is putting the Progressive name first in the names of all of the products...

Final Call to Participate: Who’s Worth What in the Independent Agency System?

Feb 21 2007 // Insurance Journal is polling insurance agents and brokers nationwide in its quest to find out who’s worth what in the independent agency system. More than 1,000 agencies nationwide have already responded to Insurance...