With a new administration in power, an economic crisis in full bloom and insurance at the top of the news because of problems at AIG, there never was a more critical time for independent agents to make their voices heard in Washington.

Demand surge has little to do with economic factors after the storm and everything to do with quality and cost of claims settlements, said Anna Olsen, a researcher at the University of Colorado.

The Travelers Company Inc. management said it will begin aggressively marketing its online direct personal lines business in an effort to capture a niche market the company is missing.

The 231-year-old Greenbrier resort in West Virginia--the place where the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers was founded more than 95 years ago--filed for bankruptcy yesterday.

Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, the former chief executive of American International Group, said the executives who recently received bonuses do not deserve them because they lost money for the company.

Evaluating a corporation's risk exposure during this time of economic upheaval can not only save money but could also mean the difference between surviving and not, according to experts at Marsh.

After announcing plans to integrate its suite of technology products under one brand, Vertafore unveiled two new software developments during the 33rd annual AMS Users Group Conference in Washington, D.C.

The blurred line between social and business networking, creates challenges; the technology gives insurance agencies and companies marketing opportunities with a new base of clients, a panel of users said.