independent agents News

Google Dupes Insurance Buyers: Insurance Agent Executive

Independent insurance agents are accustomed to competition but many are watching with heightened interest the entry of one new competitor in particular, Google Compare. Bill Wilson, director of the Virtual University at the Big “I” (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers …

Experts: Insurance Distribution Future Online and Personalized

The future of insurance distribution was discussed at the CPCU Society’s annual All Industry Day in California on Tuesday. The day-long conference at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City included panels on the economy, business interruption and cyber liability. During …

New Hampshire’s Minkler New Chairman of Big ‘I’

New Hampshire independent agent Thomas J. Minkler has been inaugurated as the new chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”), with David Walker as chairman-elect, Randy Lanoix as vice chairman and Joseph …

Project CAP Selects Phoenix Agency for Agency 2020 Program

Hester, Heitel & Associates, an independent insurance agency in Phoenix, has been chosen as the spotlight agency to represent Project CAP’s Agency 2020 program. Agency 2020 was designed to provide independent agencies with resources to help them implement a long-term …

Trusted Choice Grants Support Texas Volunteer Fire Departments

The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office announced that Texas independent insurance agents, who operate in their communities under the Trusted Choice brand, have created a grant program for volunteer fire departments (unsupported by tax revenues) to award at least six …

MarketScout Wholesale Launches E&O Program for Independent Agents

MarketScout Wholesale (MSW) has formed an exclusive independent agents errors & omissions program. In addition to professional liability, this program provides data breach/privacy protection as well as proactive risk and claims management resources. The Independent Agents E&O Plus program is …

Agents Cite Advance in Fight Against Medical Loss Ratio

A House subcommittee has advanced a bill that would exclude agency commissions from the formula that limits how much health insurers can spend on administrative and other non-medical costs. The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee …

3 Maine Agencies Included in State’s Annual ‘Best Places to Work’ List

Three independent insurance agencies in Maine have made the state’s seventh annual “Best Places to Work in Maine” list. The list is published by the Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management. It recognizes 42 local businesses …

New York Gov. Cuomo Vetoes State Agency Mailing Bill

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill (S.6285-A/A.9034B) last Friday that would have banned state agencies from disseminating ads to the public for products that relate to the subject matter of the agency — such as GEICO advertisements alongside …

Insurance Exchanges: The World Small to Rule the Big

A pair of industry experts espoused the benefits of insurance exchanges and small agencies today and in the future during the recent Insurance Industry Roundtable run by the WIAA Education & Research Foundation in Irvine, Calif. Richard Kerr, founder and …