IA Magazine

20 Years After 9/11: Q&A with RPS President Joel Cavaness

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack, Independent Agent magazine interviewed Joel Cavaness, president of Risk Placement Services to discuss the impact on the fledgling business and how the tragedy shaped the excess & surplus market.

Posted: Sep 08, 2021

Independent Agents Are Embracing the Hybrid Work Environment

The 2021 State of The Independent Insurance Agency Report survey by The Hanover Insurance group assists agents in meeting future challenges through an Independent Agent Customer Growth and Retention Checklist.

Posted: Sep 07, 2021

Take It from Grandma: Send a Card and Watch Your Agency Grow

How handwritten cards can increase your agency's retention rates.

Posted: Sep 06, 2021

Is Robbery Under the BOP Theft Exclusion for Personal Effects?

An employee's purse was stolen when she startled a robber in the middle of a break in. The carrier says the loss is excluded from the business owners policy under the theft exclusion.

Posted: Sep 02, 2021

Forward Together: Meet Your New Big 'I' Chairman

Incoming Big ‘I’ Chairman Bob Fee on technology, the talent gap, beating the competition and instilling stability in the independent agent channel.

Posted: Sep 02, 2021

AM Best: Commercial Lines Will Face Brunt of Hurricane Ida Losses

Due to Hurricane Ida's lower storm surge and improvements to the levee system protecting New Orleans, property damage and business interruption losses may contribute more heavily toward overall financial losses.

Posted: Sep 01, 2021

The Growth Flywheel: How to Create Sales Velocity

Growth can no longer be thought of as a destination to be reached—it should be a journey focused on building stronger, more resilient businesses.

Posted: Sep 01, 2021

Risk Rating 2.0: FEMA Releases More Guidance Ahead of Implementation

With Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA’s new pricing methodology for the National Flood Insurance Program, scheduled to be implemented on Oct. 1, FEMA released additional guidance to assist with the administration.

Posted: Sep 01, 2021

4 Ways to Unlock Your Agency’s KPIs with Data

Gathering data, analyzing it and developing key performance indicators gives agencies a critical advantage in a highly competitive industry.

Posted: Aug 31, 2021

How to Quote Affluent Customers

The affluent market offers a rich opportunity for independent agents. Here are five key coverages to offer when quoting affluent customers.

Posted: Aug 29, 2021

Insurers Called to the White House in the Fight Against Cybercrime

President Joe Biden met with executives from the tech, insurance, finance and critical infrastructure sectors to discuss America's cybersecurity challenges and the need for a public-private partnership to “raise the bar on cybersecurity."

Posted: Aug 29, 2021

From the Front Lines: General Liability

"Our agency is 99% property-casualty and more than 60% of our business comes from commercial accounts," says indedendent agent Tony Arneson. "General liability coverage is the core of all those clients' business insurance portfolios."

Posted: Aug 29, 2021

Amwins and Loadsure Partner to Offer Per-Load Cargo Insurance

The product offers pay-as-you-go, per-load, all-risk smart coverage that includes automated claims on a digital platform.

Posted: Aug 29, 2021

4 Pandemic-Tested Workers Comp Risk Management Strategies

The pandemic has reinforced the importance of workplace safety and the flexibility required of employers and employees. Here are four pandemic-tested risk mitigation strategies to lower workers comp risks.

Posted: Aug 29, 2021

Are Tax Stamps Valuable Papers or Money and Securities?

The underwriter says that tax stamps that go on tobacco packages are money and securities, even though they were previously insured as valuable papers.

Posted: Aug 26, 2021

Small Commercial Client: Satisfaction Declines, Interaction Insufficient

Small businesses had to work harder to get in touch with their agent in 2020, according to a study completed by J.D. Power. Nearly 1 in 3 clients said they had to exert a great deal of effort to interact with their agent, up from 10% a year ago.

Posted: Aug 25, 2021

House Democrats Pass $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution

It is widely expected that Democrats will include provisions from President Biden's American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan which include significant tax increases on both businesses and individuals.

Posted: Aug 25, 2021

Risk Rating 2.0: FEMA Issues Agent Guide and September Training Dates

The “Simple Guide for Single-Family Homes” gives agents easy access to Risk Rating 2.0 information needed when completing an NFIP flood insurance application.

Posted: Aug 25, 2021

3 Factors Buyers Look at in a Life Settlement

For seniors with changing financial needs, a life settlement is often less intrusive than selling a home or taking a large draw from a retirement account. Here are three factors life settlement buyers will take into account when valuing a policy.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Applied Epic® Transformation: Browser Version, Commercial Connectivity and Benefits

During the virtual conference, Applied revealed it has launched Applied Epic®, the new browser-native platform for agents, and has expanded Epic Quotes for Commercial Lines, creating a more efficient commercial lines quoting experience.

Posted: Aug 24, 2021

Building Inclusion Capacity: 3 Questions to Rethink Your Agency's Approach

So much to do, so much impact to make—where do you start? These three questions will help you define and reach success.

Posted: Aug 23, 2021

The Rich Opportunity of the Affluent Market

Located at the upper end of the middle class, affluent customers can benefit from the expert advice of an independent agent to protect their considerable assets. Here’s how to quote affluent customers.

Posted: Aug 22, 2021

How Workers Comp Trends Are Unevenly Impacting the Market

While pandemic-related claims and losses were reported, the overall financial impact of the pandemic has been manageable for the workers comp market. But a number of trends continue to evolve and uncertainty remains.

Posted: Aug 22, 2021

Beazley Launches D&O Product Suite for SPACs

The products offer the clear wording and transparency needed for the unique characteristics of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).

Posted: Aug 22, 2021

Cyber Events and Equipment Breakdown

Protecting equipment against breakdown in the 21st Century must encompass protecting machinery against direct physical damage caused by cyber events.

Posted: Aug 22, 2021