Agency Management

The sale of AIG's auto unit to Zurich's Farmers Group subsidiary will not alter the personal auto landscape, but will allow Farmers to develop an East Coast presence and become a competitor in the direct writer market, experts and analysts said.

Insurers bracing for potential losses from the installation of defective Chinese drywall in homes in the Southeast may find themselves named directly in lawsuits, according to legal experts.

Independent agents are getting hit with a double whammy these days--still suffering from commission losses as a result of the persistently soft market, while simultaneously dealing with the fallout of a severe recession.

American International Group announced last week it was accelerating the spin-off of its major property-casualty insurance units into a separate company so it can sell off a minority share to the public.

Despite the best of intentions and efforts of risk capital providers and program administrators, the reality is that change is inevitable.

Despite the economic crisis, insurance buyers can expect flat rates overall into the fourth quarter, according to the latest poll of risk managers.

Wildfires, hurricanes, identity theft and floods. In most cases, these things just happen and can't be predicted. Disasters can strike anyone at any time.

During our annual valuation work for agencies and brokerages across the country, one trend we're noticing is most are forecasting significant declines in contingent income this year, even though commission revenues are holding or increasing slightly.