Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

ALABAMA ‘BIG ‘I’ MEMBERS WATCHING MARKET

Jan 23 2006 // Maintaining existing markets and finding new ones, especially in coastal areas, is the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents most important 2006 goal, according to Victor McCarley, AIIA executive director. “We will...

BIG ‘I’S S.C. AGENDA: WORKERS’ COMP

Jan 23 2006 // Improving the state’s workers’ compensation system, developing coastal property insurance markets and increasing consumer awareness and educating them about insurance issues are key 2006 goals of the South...

Ga. Big ‘I’ establishes scholarship fund

Jan 22 2006 // Establishment of a past president’s scholarship fund, to be awarded to the children of member agent’s employees, has been established by the Inde-pendent Insurance Agents of Georgia according to David F. Lewis,...

Big ‘I’s S.C. agenda: Workers’ comp

Jan 22 2006 // Improving the state’s workers’ compensation system, developing coastal property insurance markets and increasing consumer awareness and educating them about insurance issues are key 2006 goals of the South...

Excess, Surplus & Specialty

Jan 22 2006 // Main Street E&S: Why independent agents like backyard brokers In today’s business world, it’s rare to hear a live voice on the other end of a phone call. Most companies, small and large, have succumbed to...

Agents’ Game Plan Helped Save Contingent Commissions

Jan 18 2006 // Independent insurance agents approached the criticisms from New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and other officials with a measured game plan that has worked to preserve contingency commissions in agencies across the...

Big ‘I’ Katrina Relief Fund Donations Top $400,000

Jan 17 2006 // The Big “I” Katrina Relief Fund has awarded grants to more than 70 applicants from the Gulf Coast insurance community. With more than $400,000 in the fund from more than 470 contributors, the Big...

American National Bank Acquires Dallas-based Independent Agency Sleeper, Sewell

Jan 4 2006 // The American National Bank of Texas of Terrell, Texas, has acquired Dallas-based insurance agency Sleeper, Sewell & Company. Terms of the transaction were not announced. Led by President and CEO Robert A. Hulsey,...

Michigan Insurer Honors Top Independent Agents

Jan 4 2006 // American Community Mutual Insurance Company, a provider of individual and group health insurance, home-based in Livonia, Mich., honored its top-producing independent agents earlier this year. The annual event recognizes...

Four Key 2006 Goals Outlined by Florida Big ‘I’ President

Dec 28 2005 // The Florida Association of Insurance Agents has four key goals to accomplish in 2006 according to Jeff Grady, FAIA president and CEO, first, to pass its property insurance market proposal; second, to pass FAIA’s...

Texas-based CAA Member Agencies to Participate in Big ‘I’ Best Practices Study

Dec 20 2005 // Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts and Bosworth & Associates, two member agencies of Combined Agents of America, have been selected to be a part of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America “Best...

How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Agency

Dec 19 2005 // As an independent agent or agency owner, you have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually...

Independent Agents Feel Hurricane Katrina’s Full Force

Dec 19 2005 // Residents in many areas of the Gulf Coast watched their lives change forever on Aug. 29, 2005. When all was said and done, Hurricane Katrina went in the record books as the country’s worst natural disaster, leaving a...

How to Choose the Right Bank for Your Agency

Dec 18 2005 // As an independent agent or agency owner, you have unique financial needs. Unfortunately, few banks truly understand those needs. Worse yet, it has become the norm for banks to also sell insurance, meaning they actually...

Sheppard Named S.C. Big ‘I’ President; Ruef Retiring Dec. 31

Dec 15 2005 // G. Frank Sheppard has been named president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina, assuming the leadership role from Leland C. Ruef, president, who retires Dec. 31. As chief staff member,...

National Producer Registry Appoints Big ‘I’ Exec as Vice President

Dec 14 2005 // Wesley Bissett, vice president for government affairs and state relations for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America has been elected vice president of the National Insurance Producer Registry. Bissett...

Hurricane Katrina: The Long Road to Recovery <em>An Insurance Journal Exclusive Video Report from the Gulf States</em>

Dec 14 2005 // With Gulf Coast residents and the insurance industry trying to recover from the country’s worst natural disaster ever, two Insurance Journal reporters set out to see for themselves the effects of Hurricane...

IIASA to Present CE Seminar on Third Party Coverage Issues

Dec 7 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio announced it will hold a continuing education seminar on third party coverage issues on Dec. 14. The seminar will be presented by Fred L. Shuchart of Kroger, Myers, Frisby...

Balboa Stops Writing Non-Standard Business in Alabama

Dec 7 2005 // Balboa has notified the Independendent Insuarnce Agents and Brokers Association that as of Dec. 30 it will no longer be writing non-standard business. IIABA is waiting on communication from Balboa regarding how they plan...

FAIA: Employment Crisis Threatens Agencies

Dec 5 2005 // An impending employment crisis is threatening independent insurance agents and will become disastrous by 2010 unless employers act now, Lisa Harrington, Florida Association of Insurance Agents vice president of education...