Operations News

Ohio AG: Ruling Clears Way for State to Take AIG to Trial

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray says he is encouraged by a recent federal court ruling granting class certification in a securities litigation against American International Group Inc. (AIG). The Feb. 22 ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Southern …

Beta Testing

I’m not sure what to do.” One of the primary reasons why insurance agents don’t jump into the world of social media — such as blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and the myriad other Web-based avenues for reaching out to …

IRS, States Target Employer Abuse of Classification of Independent Contractors

The Internal Revenue Service and 37 states are cracking down on companies that try to trim payroll costs by illegally classifying workers as independent contractors, rather than as full employees, the Associated Press has learned. The practice costs governments billions …

State of Challenge: How Florida’s Surplus Lines Agents Are Faring

Interview with FSLA President Bruce Bowers Weak Economy, Insureds Going Bare, Hungry Admitted Markets and Citizens’ Low Rates Test Agents Hurricane Andrew, for all of the grief it delivered, gave wholesale broker Hull & Co. and Bruce Bowers a big …

IRS, States Target Employers’ Use of Independent Contractors

The Internal Revenue Service and 37 states are cracking down on companies that try to trim payroll costs by illegally classifying workers as independent contractors, rather than as full employees, The Associated Press has learned. The practice costs governments billions …

InsureZone Acquires Nevada Based CMS Agency

InsureZone Inc. announced that it has purchased 100 percent of the assets of CMS Agency Inc. a wholesaler based in Las Vegas. The transaction gives InsureZone, through its wholesale subsidiary AgentSecure, the opportunity to further expand its national platform in …

Tractor-Trailer Cargo Thefts on the Rise in Pennsylvania

Authorities say thieves are increasingly targeting tractor-trailers in Pennsylvania to steal their loads of electronics, food or drink, later abandoning the trailers at the side of the road. Sometimes the culprits steal trucks left idling at rest stops, or they …

Foodborne Illnesses Cost U.S. $152 Billion a Year: Study

Foodborne illnesses cost the United States $152 billion in health-related expenses each year, according to a study released by consumer and public health groups on Wednesday. Food safety advocates are hoping that the study will boost efforts in Congress to …

Leadership and Sales Culture in Insurance Agencies

Leadership is lightning in a bottle. There are as many definitions for it as there are leaders. Any rules that could be agreed upon as to what constitutes leadership could be quickly contradicted by an example of an effective leader …

America First Launches Online Learning Center for Appointed Agents

America First Insurance, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company headquartered in Richardson, Texas, has introduced an online Agent Learning Center for its appointed agencies. First American appointed agents can now register for classroom workshops and participate in virtual or …