American Agent & Broker May 2010
Cover Story
Recession hangover: Waking Up to Potential Agency E&O Exposures
While the recession might be officially over, one thing's for sure: its effects aren't going to disappear overnight.
Features
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Juggling Agency Income, Outgo and Upkeep
Even the most optimistic forecasters concede that the climb out of this Great Recession will continue to be steep and arduous.
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How Safe are Non-Compete Agreements?
Non-competition clauses in contracts between producers and agencies have long been a source of controversy and differing interpretations.
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The Rising Tide of EPLI
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced this past January that in 2009, more than 93,000 workplace discrimination charges were filed with the federal agency nationwide.
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Hijacking D&O Coverage
An increase in U.S. business bankruptcies and the expansion of entity coverage in directors & officers (D&O) policies is having a particularly troubling, yet unintended consequence.
Columns
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Surplus Lines Reform Uses National Standards
Positive change in surplus lines market regulation recently came one step closer to reality when the Senate Banking Committee included surplus lines reform language in the financial services reform legislation.
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Break Out of the Box
How frustrating is it to work on a prospect, really put your heart and soul into the client, and then not get the business? How maddening is it to be told, "I really like you, but..."
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Homeowner Query Gets Squirrely
Welcome to the merry month of May! Gardens are in full bloom, mothers anticipate their annual day and kids dream of the magical possibilities of summer vacation.
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Inflation Impacts Agency Growth
Over the past 15 years, insurance agencies have experienced inflation in two distinct forms.
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Support a Crop Insurance Program That Works
The crop insurance industry is in the midst of a major transformation. Last December, the USDA and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) released the first draft of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA)
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The New Math
Have you heard the news? The Great Recession is over!
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No Mercy for Crooked Agent
William Reed Jenkins III (Jenkins) was allowed as a result of a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney to plead guilty to only two counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. ? 1343.
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A Penny for Your Blog?
Weblogs (or blogs) have been around for more than 15 years, although you probably wouldn't have recognized them as such back in the early '90s.
Departments
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Grand Mission in Michigan
If an agency's strength is determined by its relationships with its insurers, then Berends Hendricks Stuit Insurance Agency Inc. (BHS) is going strong.
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Demystify Workflows, Policies and Procedures
In my nearly 30 years of insurance industry experience, I've learned without a doubt that size does not matter.
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More AGs Push for Role in Insurance Oversight
The insurance industry operates with a high level of oversight from public officials. That's a given.
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Study Shows U.S.Wind Capacity Greater Than Expected
A new analysis by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory finds that the U.S. capacity for wind power is significantly greater than early estimates predicted.
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The Best Place To Be Young? The Southwest
The best area of the country for young people to land jobs in a recessionary economy is the Southwest, with Austin topping the list, according to a recent study by Portfolio.com, the online division of American City Business Journals.
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SBA Warns Businesses About Loan Scams
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is warning business owners to be aware of scams involving abusive marketing practices and exorbitant fees charged by firms offering to help businesses obtain SBA loans, grants or other federal funds.
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Recession Scares Workers Into Punctuality
The economic downturn has created an upturn in employee punctuality, according to a recent survey of more than 5,000 workers by CareerBuilder.
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More Merchants Believe Economy Is Looking Up
Seven out of 10 merchants responding to a recent report indicated that today's economy was the same or better than it has been over the last 12 months.
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No Commercial Real Estate Recovery Seen For 2010
Commercial real estate vacancy rates will remain high and rents continue low throughout 2010.
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Are You Paying Your Employees What You Owe Them?
If you haven't already heard of "wage-and-hour" lawsuits, chances are you soon will.
