Latest Independent Agencies Headlines

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

States Give a ‘Thumbs Up’ to Fingerprinting Insurance Producers

Aug 3 2009 // Regulators Say Fingerprinting Keeps Criminals Out of the Business Don’t be alarmed, but there are convicted criminals roaming around the country acting as insurance producers. They could be robbers, forgers, possibly...

How Independent Agents View Super Regional Carriers

Aug 3 2009 // Survey: Agents Report Recession Not as Disruptive as Initially Predicted Main Street businesses may still be trying to recuperate from the recession, but independent insurance agencies report that it has not been as...

Top 100 Property Casualty Independent Agencies

Aug 3 2009 // About This Report: The economy, soft market and industry consolidations continued to shake up the nation’s leading independent insurance agencies in 2008. Still, nearly half, or 45 percent, of the privately-owned...

Lewis to Lead Independent Insurance Agents of Central Texas

Jul 29 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Central Texas announced the following new board members for 2009-2010: President Steven Lewis, Anco Insurance Vice President Kyle Paschall, Naler Insurance Agency Past-President Don...

Colorado Independent Insurance Agents Association Seeks Award Nominees

Jul 23 2009 // The Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado (PIIAC) is sseeking nominations recognizing outstanding service to the association or to the insurance industry. The awards recognize individuals in several...

Health Insurance Agents’ ‘Fly-In’ Has Impact on Capitol Hill, But Is It Enough?

Jul 22 2009 // Health insurance advisors, independent agents and brokers, consultants and employee benefit specialists combined forces again recently to voice their concerns over the single most important issue for insurance providers...

The Hartford Rolls Out AARP Auto Product Through Independent Agents

Jul 21 2009 // The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. is now offering AARP-branded auto insurance through select, authorized independent agents. Previously, the insurance was only available directly from The Hartford by phone,...

How Independent Agents View Super-Regional Carriers

Jul 20 2009 // Survey Says Carrier Size Matters But So Does Price, Underwriting and Service When it comes to selecting a carrier partner, size matters. But when it comes to ending a carrier relationship, price, underwriting flexibility...

New York Eases Compensation Disclosure Mandate for Producers

Jul 20 2009 // Agents Still Say Cumbersome Changes Will Create Problems The New York State Insurance Department this month released a new draft of a rule governing when and how insurance producers must disclose their compensation and...

How to Hire the Next Generation of Leaders

Jul 20 2009 // Five Sure-Fire Ways to Get the Best Talent in Your Agency The insurance industry is transitioning into a new era. For years, Baby Boomers have led the way and now, as they approach retirement, must find a way to pass along...

Japanese Agents Tour U.S. Agencies to Learn Best Practices

Jul 20 2009 // Most of Japan’s 300,000 Agencies Are Small, But They Are Dreaming Big ‘I’-Like The owners and producers of Japan’s estimated 300,000 insurance agencies can only dream of the success and freedom that...

New York Eases Compensation Disclosure Mandate for Producers

Jul 10 2009 // The New York State Insurance Department this week released a new draft of a rule governing when and how insurance producers must disclose their compensation and competing quotes to customers. The latest draft appears to be...

State Auto: How a Regional Carrier Weathers the Storms

Jul 6 2009 // CEO Restrepo Talks Cat Losses, Premium Growth and Independent Agents Regional property/casualty insurance companies don’t make headlines like the large institutions. They simply go about their business serving...

IIAT Installs New Leadership, Names Award-Winners

Jul 6 2009 // At the recent Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) 112th Annual Trade Show & Conference in San Antonio, the group installed new officers and directors, and presented membership service awards. Bryan Shofner,...

How Independent Agents View Super Regional Carriers

Jul 6 2009 // Survey Says Claims Service Continues to Top List of Agency Demands Quality claims service continues to be the top factor in how independent agents evaluate their carriers, although insurers’ financial strength...

Daniel Named Texas Independent Agents’ ACSR of the Year

Jun 25 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has awarded Patricia Ann Daniel, assistant vice president and insurance consultant with Extraco Banks N.A. dba: Extraco Insurance in Waco,Texas, with its Accredited Customer...

Florida Independent Insurance Agents Establish Charitable Fund

Jun 23 2009 // At its recent 105th annual conference in Orlando, the Florida Association of Insurance Agents (FAIA) announced a donation of $500,000 to launch a new charitable project, the Good Works Fund. In addition to helping...

Bridges Named Young Agent of the Year by Texas Independent Agents

Jun 19 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has named Mark Bridges, a producer at Edmond, Deaton & Stephens Insurance Agency in Amarillo, as the André P. Juneau Young Agent of the Year. Bridges was honored with...

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas Installs New Leadership

Jun 18 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has elected new leadership for 2009-2010. Bryan Shofner, president of Shofner & Associates Insurance Agency Inc., a holding company that owns and operates Shofner Lynch...

Medlin Receives Top Award from Texas Independent Agents Group

Jun 17 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) announced that Plano independent insurance agent Don Medlin recently received the Drex Foreman Award at the association’s 112th Annual Conference & Trade...