Agency Management

Just after this year's midterm election, I went on vacation overseas. My first stop was London, where a local paper greeted me with two concerning headlines.

Statistics indicate a startling rise in the number of retaliation claims brought against employers by their former and current employees.

Group medical benefits renewal rates continued to increase in the U.S. market between June and October, but brokers reported that clients are not planning to cut coverage altogether, according to a survey of insurance brokers.

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers has written to members of the House of Representatives asking that all of the Bush tax cuts be extended to eliminate uncertainty for agents and brokers.

Itasca, Ill.--based insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. said it has acquired Premier Risk Services, headquartered in Itasca. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Breaking a two-decade run of fairly consistent gains, the surplus lines industry's direct premiums written declined for a third consecutive year in 2009