Agency Management

While there are plenty of programs available for experienced customer service representatives to receive advanced instructions for specific insurance lines, programs for those new to the field have been in short supply.

The dollar value of merger and acquisition activity for the U.S. property-casualty sector grew last year by just under $2.7 million, but for all types of insurers worldwide the monetary worth of mergers declined, a consulting firm reported.

In the current economic climate, insurers who look to program business to generate additional premium volume will be conducting more thorough due diligence examinations of potential programs before agreeing to take them on.

Homeowner health complaints related to Chinese drywall products point up a need for contractors to obtain enhanced insurance coverage, but such protection may not be available, according to a brokerage expert.

Producers and carriers searching for opportunities to develop new clients may find ample opportunities through social networking over the Internet--but there are challenges as well.

Larger insurance brokers are expected to see improvements in earnings as the market cycle begins to turn, but middle-market intermediaries may still suffer from the effects of the economic downturn, according to a financial analyst's report.