IA Magazine

Opportunity Cost: The Hidden Cost of Staying Still

Avoiding a decision can feel like maintaining the status quo. In reality, standing still might mean falling behind, losing a competitive edge or missing new opportunities.

Posted: Feb 17, 2025

Does a PAP Cover Stepdaughter Borrowing Car and Living in Different State?

A client owns a car, which is titled in her name, and gives it to her stepdaughter to drive. How should the personal auto policy be written?

Posted: Feb 17, 2025

3 Easy Ways to Promote Your Agency on Social Media

Social media is a great opportunity for agents to meet customers where they are. Here are three ways agents can use social media to promote their agency.

Posted: Feb 12, 2025

Couples Consider Joint Insurance Equivalent to Tying the Knot

While engagements and cohabitation have long been the hallmarks of commitment, a recent Nationwide survey found 42% of renting couples see sharing an insurance policy as a modern equivalent to marriage.

Posted: Feb 11, 2025

2025 Big ‘I’ Legislative Conference: Registration Now Open

Join other agents and speak to legislators in a unified voice at the premier event for independent agents, taking place April 30-May 2 in Washington, D.C.

Posted: Feb 11, 2025

Building Resilient Homes While Keeping Homeowners Coverage Up to Date

It's important that homeowners who undertake home improvements talk to their agent about what they're planning to do or what they have done to better understand how that affects their insurance premiums and coverage.

Posted: Feb 09, 2025

AI Changes Phishing Attacks: How Firms Can Protect Themselves

Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to make phishing harder to detect. Here are four security practices that small and midsize businesses can use to protect their organizations.

Posted: Feb 09, 2025

How Insurance Agents Are Embracing a Broader Advisory Role

Transforming customer relationships with total protection and proactive risk management.

Posted: Feb 09, 2025

Bipartisan Bill Incentivizes Disaster Mitigation

The "Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025," reintroduced in the U.S. Senate, aims to exempt qualified catastrophe mitigation payments from being considered taxable income.

Posted: Feb 05, 2025

Reconstruction Costs Up 60% Since 2014

Residential reconstruction costs climbed 64% over the past decade and commercial reconstruction costs have risen by 58%, according to a Verisk report.

Posted: Feb 04, 2025

5 Things to Remember When Setting Up Social Media Accounts

Setting up business accounts and maintaining a consistent presence on various platforms can significantly boost your online visibility and engagement.

Posted: Feb 04, 2025

Nationwide Expands Smart Home Offerings with LeakBot

The new product enables smart home technology to help customers add an extra layer of protection against water damages.

Posted: Feb 02, 2025

3 Tips for Agents to Increase Their Environmental Insurance Expertise

Here are three tips for agents looking to navigate the environmental market and assist clients in meeting their sustainability goals.

Posted: Feb 02, 2025

4 Strategies for Agents to Enhance Customer Value in the Current Market

How independent agents can add value through comprehensive consultation and risk mitigation.

Posted: Feb 02, 2025

Agency Nation Meets: Brenden Corr

As the co-founder of Project 55, a nonprofit launched in January, Brenden Corr is committed to reshaping how mental health is addressed in workplaces.

Posted: Jan 31, 2025

Building Demo: Coverage for Damage to Surrounding Buildings?

An insured has hired a company to demolish an old building, on which they have liability coverage, that has a common wall with the property next door.

Posted: Jan 30, 2025

House Takes Action to Address Wildfires and Study Insurance Market

As legislation to reduce wildfire risk moves through the U.S. House of Representatives, the Big “I” has created a Q&A to address questions about the California wildfires and their impact on the overall insurance market.

Posted: Jan 29, 2025

Legislation to Eliminate FIO Introduced in House

The Big “I" endorsed the “Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act" introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT).

Posted: Jan 28, 2025

5 Cybersecurity Prevention Steps Businesses Can Take Now

Cyber risks are the top concern for U.S. businesses, according to the “2024 Travelers Risk Index," with 1 in 4 businesses reporting that they have been victimized by a cyber event or data breach.

Posted: Jan 26, 2025

Concierge Cyber Launches Companion D&O Risk Management Product

The new policies provides access to managed threat intelligence to protect against cyber, reputational and physical risks, helping organizations reduce their digital exposure.

Posted: Jan 26, 2025

Agency M&A Down 10% in 2024

Insurance agency and brokerage mergers and acquisitions in 2024 were down 10% from the 833 reported in 2023, according to a report from OPTIS Partners.

Posted: Jan 26, 2025

Consumers Want Phone Communication But Often Don’t Pick Up

Consumers believe phone calls are important for communicating with businesses, but fear of fraud prevents many from answering calls, according to a TransUnion study.

Posted: Jan 21, 2025

Top 10 Business Risks in 2025

While the top 10 business risks are increasingly complex and interdependent, ​cyber risks, business interruption and natural catastrophes are the risks that most concern businesses for the year ahead.

Posted: Jan 15, 2025