Articles by Amy O'Connor, Elizabeth Blosfield and Stephanie K. Jones

O'Connor is the Southeast editor for Insurance Journal and associate editor of MyNewMarkets.com.
Elizabeth Blosfield is Deputy Editor for Carrier Management. She can be reached at eblosfield@wellsmedia.com.

9 Insurance Agency Start-Ups: Why and How They Set Out on Their Own

What motivates people to take a risk in an industry dedicated to managing risk? New independent agencies are born of various circumstances. Sometimes it’s about seizing an opportunity that comes along; other times, it’s about creating something out of necessity. …

Consumer Advocacy in an Age of Consumer, Insurer Options

Today’s Insurance Consumer Advocates Are Tackling Some New and Old Issues Years ago, insurance consumer advocates in the states were most often focused on getting consumers access to insurance at fair prices. They still advocate on those issues, of course, …

Beyond Nassar: Michigan State Creates Captive, Explores Other Insurance Options

Michigan State University continues to explore its insurance coverage options with regard to sexual assault or molestation claims brought against the school after rejecting renewal coverage offered by its long-term liability insurer and setting up its own captive insurer for …

New Forms, Rate Hikes Likely in 2019 Texas Homeowners Insurance Market

Texas independent insurance agents might want to warn their homeowner insurance customers that premium hikes and/or increases in deductibles could be on the horizon this year. Homeowners insurers have been filing for rate increases in the state over the past …

Beyond Nassar: Michigan State University Assessing Insurance Options

Michigan State University continues to explore its insurance coverage options with regard to sexual assault or molestation claims brought against the school after rejecting renewal coverage offered by its long-term liability insurer and setting up its own captive insurer for …

2019 Outlook: Rates, Deductibles Likely to Rise Again in Texas Homeowners Insurance Market

Texas independent insurance agents might want to warn their homeowner insurance customers that premium hikes and/or increases in deductibles could be on the horizon this year. Homeowners insurers have been filing for rate increases in the state over the past …

No Primary Assumption of Risk in Skiing, Snowboarding, Minnesota Court Says

Minnesota’s highest court has declined to expand the state’s doctrine of implied primary assumption of risk to recreational skiing and snowboarding. The Minnesota Supreme Court considered the issue in Soderberg v. Anderson, published Jan. 23, 2019. The case involves a …

Minnesota Supreme Court: No Primary Assumption of Risk in Skiing, Snowboarding

Minnesota’s high court has declined to expand the state’s doctrine of implied primary assumption of risk to recreational skiing and snowboarding. The Minnesota Supreme Court came to that conclusion Soderberg v. Anderson, published Jan. 23, 2019. The case involves a …

Lawmakers Need to Decide Nature of Texas Windstorm Insurer, Sunset Commission Says

To be the insurer of last resort for wind and hail insurance along the Texas coast — without state support and reliant on premium dollars and debt financing for funding, or to be a true insurance company that derives funding …

Texas Sunset Board: Legislature Needs to Decide Nature of Windstorm Insurer

To be the insurer of last resort for wind and hail insurance along the Texas coast, without state support and reliant on premium dollars and debt financing for funding, or to be a true insurance company that derives funding primarily …