Articles by Andrea Wells

Andrea Wells is vice president of content for Wells Media Group Inc., overseeing coverage for its multiple print and digital platforms. She is a veteran insurance journalist with more than 20 years’ experience covering the property/casualty industry. She has won several awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), including awards for original research for her work on Insurance Journal’s annual salary survey of retail insurance agencies and its annual survey of young insurance agents. She can be reached at: awells@wellsmedia.com.

Sharing Economy Calls For Insurance Innovation

How Insurance Helped Getaround Get Going Can technology positively impact a billion people in just 10 years? Possibly, if insurance is available. Consider taking a low-use personal automobile — which might sit idle most of the time — and making …

5 Startup Businesses Agents Should Watch

It hasn’t been the best of times for America’s Main Street businesses. Often facing overwhelming competition from big box stores, many small businesses face an uphill battle from the outset and more than a few don’t survive beyond a few …

Compensation Freeze Comes to an End?

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 Journal‘s annual Agency Salary Survey, …

The New Normal in Producer Compensation

When it comes to producer compensation, there really is no norm. Rather, the norm is that producer compensation varies tremendously depending on demographics, geography, laws, experience, competition, the economy and age – and whatever agency owners think works best. Some …

Five Startup Businesses Agents Should Watch

It hasn’t been the best of times for America’s Main Street businesses. Often facing overwhelming competition from big box stores, many small businesses face an uphill battle from the outset and more than a few don’t survive beyond a few …

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

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 will be compiled for a special …

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

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 Agency Salary Survey results will be …

Under Construction

Apartment Builders see Uptick in Market Changing demographics and new economic realities are driving more people away from homeownership in the suburbs and into rental properties and apartments in many areas around the country. This surge in rental demand is …

Agency Pro-tection

E&O and Agency Assets Agency owners have a lot to protect. Of course, first and foremost they must protect their clients. But they must also protect their book of business. They must protect their relationships. They must protect their reputation …

Who’s Worth What in the Agency System: Time to Evaluate Frozen Salaries

Agency Salary Survey Reveals Frozen Salaries; Experts Say Time Is Right to Evaluate Compensation Any business owner knows that a great employee is worth a lot. That holds true for independent insurance agencies when it comes to great producers and …