A 6.9 magnitude earthquake has claimed hundreds of lives in the Qinghai province of China, but there will be little impact on insurers, judging by past quake losses in that country.

Insurance agencies need to abandon the idea that providing value-added service will be enough of a differentiator for them to survive and thrive, the managing principal from Hales & Company said.

Insurance agents and brokers cannot expect help from firming market prices anytime soon and without a new direction to maximize shareholder value they may as well sell their businesses, a consulting executive said.

Ambac Financial Group Inc. reported a fourth-quarter net profit compared to a $2 billion loss for the 2008 period, but debt obligations cloud its future and could mean bankruptcy, the bond insurer reported today.

The growth of social media over the Internet is something insurance agents can embrace and learn to use as another tool to help grow their business experts in its use said.

AmWINS Group Inc. said it has acquired Colemont Insurance Brokers in Dallas, in a move which may make it the nation's largest wholesale brokerage, a consultant suggested.

The growth of social media over the Internet is something insurance agents can embrace and learn to use as another tool to help grow their business experts in its use said.

Insurance broker Marsh announced a client service program that will allow customers to review, analyze and compare insurance companies online.