I N & V   A R C H I V E

2006 

December 2005

December 22, 2005   

Big Win For the Big "I" on TRIA
Underinsured Consumers Prevalent
A Year Marked by Hurricanes and Investigations
Pension Protection Act: What it Means to You
How to be a Sales Mentor

December 15, 2005   

A Look Back, a Look Ahead
S&P: Negative Outlook Possible Regardless of TRIA Extension
Independents Unite: Cross-Market with Other Independent Businesses
Look to Your Small Business Clients for New Opportunities
Back-to-Basics Selling

December 8, 2005   

House Approves Terrorism Backstop Bill
Safeco Names New CEO
Zurich Looks to Unify Companies with New Brand Campaign
St. Paul Travelers Disclosure Moves to the Web
Catastrophe Insurance Discussion Dominates NAIC Meeting
Industry, Top Leaders Mourn Carroll Campbell
No Two Snowflakes are Alike: Build on Your Clients’ Unique Traits
25 Tips to Improve Your Telephone Cold Calls

December 1, 2005  

SwissRE/GEIS Combo Gets Thumbs Up
Allmerica Name Change to "The Hanover" Official Today
Greenberg Will Not Face Spitzer Criminal Charges
BlackBerry’s Future in Jeopardy
Not the Season to Sit Idle
Soto Testifies Before NCOIL on Natural Disasters

November 2005

B R E A K I N G   N E W S  

November 18, 2005: Swiss Re Acquires Big "I" Agency E&O Book

November 17, 2005  

Big "I" Supports Flood Bill Containing Agent-Backed Reforms
House, Senate Move Forward on Terrorism Backstop
Prominent Regulators Convene Natural Disaster Summit
Upland Mutual Insurance Newest Trusted Choice® Company Partner
Do You Offer Retirement Risk Management?
17 Ways to Build Your Personal Lines Book

 

November 10, 2005 

P&C Outlook Remains Sunny Despite Hurricanes
California Drops its Pursuit of Controversial Producer Regulations
Big "I" Member is Virginia’s Next Lieutenant Governor
What’s Ahead for Internal Revenue Code Changes?
Don’t Get Trapped by Selling Pitfalls

 

November 3, 2005 

Gen. Colin Powell to Address Big "I" Convention
What Hurricane Katrina Taught the Industry
Big "I" Salutes Oxley
McGavick Makes it Official
Survey Confirms Americans’ Retirement Worries

 

October 2005

October 27, 2005 

Hurricane Update
Latest Storm Adds to Unprecedented Season
Insurance Industry Image Tarnished Post-Hurricane
Tax Reform Heading into 2006
Amendment Defunding Controversial Crop Insurance Plan Included in AG Bill
Do Carriers Put Their Best Cyber-Foot Forward?

October 20, 2005 

P&C Sector Maintains Stable Outlook
NFIP Under Congressional Review
Changes Ahead: 2006 Social Security Payments
Create a Winning Insurance Web site
The Effects of Disasters on Your Employees
Question Surround Rented Motor Homes, U-Haul Trucks and Trailers

October 13, 2005 

Lessons From Katrina: Communications & Technology
Texas State Court Orders Allstate to Cover Expenses of Rita Evacuees
Should You Buy Katrina Catastrophe Bonds?
Permanent Estate Tax Repeal in Doubt
Michigan Governor Threatens Insurance Marketplace
Top 10 Reasons to Purchase the Rental Car CDW/LDW

October 6, 2005 

Katrina Losses Could Exceed 10% of Industry Surplus
Katrina Now Ranks No. 1 Costliest Natural Disaster
Change the ‘Charge It’ Cultural Attitude
Progressive Returns to New Jersey After 22 Years 
Make a Commitment to Your Agency

September 2005

September 29, 2005     

Rita Packs a More Manageable Punch 
Industry Meets Miss. AG’s Suit with Indignation
Connecticut AG Sues Marsh for Bid-Rigging
Scoop Up Clients Others Deem Too Small
OFC-ers Try to Use Hurricane Fallout to their Advantage
SEC Postpones Sarbanes-Oxley Requirements for Smaller Companies

September 22, 2005    

Industry Predicts Post-Katrina Market, Braces for Rita
Miss. AG Sues Insurance Companies for Invoking Policy Exclusions After Katrina
E&O Catastrophe Extra Expense Coverage: 30-Day Deadline Approaching
The Myth of the Safest City in America
Eight Insurance Execs Indicted for Bid Rigging, Fraud
Katrina’s Far-Reaching Financial Impact on Taxes, Bankruptcy
ChoicePoint Seeks Court Approval for Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit with Insurance Agents

September 15, 2005 

Industry CEOs Tackle Katrina, Soft Market, TRIA
Rudy Giuliani Addresses Disaster Response Efforts, Federal Role in Insurance
Outlook on Katrina’s Impact Worsens
It’s Getting Hot in Here: Global Warming & Insurance
Katrina Inspires Financial Planning Introspection
Big “I” Agent Briefs Congressional Committee on Katrina

September 8, 2005 

Storm and Flood Damage Estimates Skyrocket
Katrina Ignites Wave of Coverage Concerns
Educate Katrina Victims on Tax Considerations
Big "I" Establishes Katrina Relief Fund
NFIP Tries to Weather Katrina
Carry Through Your Theme to Align Employees

 

B R E A K I N G   N E W S

September 2, 2005  Big "I" Establishes Katrina Relief Fund

September 2, 2005                                              

Hurricane Katrina Causes Unprecedented Damage
Big “I” Ready to Respond
InsurBanc to Offer Special Loans to Affected Agencies
Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Reaches Agreement with Connecticut
INTEGRO: Caveat Mathematica Attitude is Everything
CBO Questions Adequacy of Proposed Asbestos Fund
Engage Your Associates

August 2005

August 25, 2005                                        

Questions Surround Life After Contingencies
Pulling All-Nighters at Work Can Take a Toll
Help Customers Deal with Transition
Spitzer Advocates McCarran-Ferguson Repeal, State-Based Regulation Preservation
Best Practices: Develop a Vision for Change-Part III
State Farm Auto Repair Parts Case:
       Illinois Supreme Court Reverses Award of More than $1 Billion to Policyholders
Class Action Lawsuit FAQs Answered

August 18, 2005                                     

Carriers Face Credit Score Setback
Industry Shoulders Increasing Percentage of Weather-Related Losses
Is There an Insure Mae in the Offing?
Retirement Planning Goes to the Beach
Frist to Call for Cloture Vote on Death Tax
Best Practices: Develop a Vision for Change

August 11, 2005                                   

Marsh's Contingent Indigestion
Spitzer's Guilty Plea Spree
Deferred Annuities Oversight Increases
OFC Supporters Look to Senate
Family Member Autos: A Hidden E&O Exposure

August 4, 2005                               

S&P Insurance Stocks Mixed: Flea Market of Tiffany Class?
Marsh’s Slow Recovery Time
Big “I” Hails House Passage of Medical Liability Reform
Good Old Days of Retirement
Best Practices: Successful Agency Management and Effective Leadership 

 

July 2005

July 28, 2005                                

Strike Back Against Identity Theft
Ace Restates Earnings, Spitzer Faces Critics
Beam Me Up: Understanding Customers’ Personality Traits
Stiglitz Testifies Terrorism Risk Extends Beyond Urban Areas
Home Sweet Motor Home…

July 21, 2005                             

McGavick Steps Down from Safeco, Steps Up to Possible Senate Run
Greenberg Speaks Up on So-Called ‘Error’
Annuities: We Hate to Say We Told You So…
Big ‘I’ Takes Fed Terrorism Backstop Push to the Press
The Client Next Door

July 14, 2005                           

Wasting Away the Work Day...
Hurricane Dennis Not So Much a Menace
Congress Mulls Over Terrorism Backstop, NFIP
Just Ask the Experts
Junk Fax Prevention Act Signed

July 7, 2005                         

Congress Looking at Terrorism Backstop Options
Liberty Mutual Combines RAM, Wausau, Surety into New Unit
Tailor Your Financial Planning Game Plan
Box It Up: Insuring Property in Storage
Should You Document Service Standards?

June 2005

June 30, 2005                       

Carriers Voice New Disclosure Policies
Don’t Let Disability Derail Your Client’s Financial Future
Cautious Optimism, Concern Greet Treasury’s TRIA Report
Big "I" Testifies on Premium Reduction Plans
How the Junk Fax Prevention Act Will Affect You
Test Your Customer Service Savvy

June 23, 2005                    

Trusted Choice^® Reaches 5,000^th Agency Member Milestone
AMS Acquires InStar
Annuities: ‘No Free Lunch’
Geico Solicits ‘Independent Contractors’ for Field Representative Program
Mortality Risk Management
Hearings Under Way On SMART Act

June 16, 2005                  

Annuities are Growing by Leaps and Bounds—Do You Sell Them?
The Regulatory Investigations’ Upside
AIA Taps Former Governor, RNC Chair as CEO
Big "I" Takes On Pro-OFC Lobby
More Than Just Beach Reading

June 9, 2005                

The Two Faces of Agency Growth 
Investigation Nabs Guilty Plea
Selling L&H in the Land of Oz 
FACT Act Spells Out New Requirements for Agents & Brokers
Monitoring the Mod

June 2, 2005              

Tech and Loss Control Top Non-Producer Gains
AIG Restates Earnings, Faces Civil Lawsuit
Who’s the Better Investment: You or Buffett?
Asbestos Bill Moves Out Of Committee
How Much Debris Removal Coverage is Enough?

 

May 2005

May 26, 2005            

Non-Producer Comp: Show Me the Bonus
Civil Charges Just Around Corner for AIG
Graduations, Barbecues, and COBRA
Big "I" Continues Push Against Federal Regulation
The CGL Marlboro Man Exclusion

May 19, 2005          

Hurricane History to Repeat Itself
AIG, Gen Re Execs’ Jobs Status in Question
Retirement Funding Perfect Storm?
Asbestos: Democrats Call for Trust Fund Review
When ‘Forever into the Future’ Expires      

May 12, 2005        

Industry Faces Increased Federal Investigations
Insurance Industry: "You Look Marvelous, Darling"
Pros and Cons of Nonqualified Plans
Menzies Outlines New AMS Management, Goals
Asbestos Discussions Continue in Senate Judiciary Committee      
Completed Operations and the CG 20 10

May 5, 2005      

Measuring Up Among the Elite

AIG Errors Amount to $2.7 Billion

The Benefit of Selling Benefits, Not Features

Big “I” Testifies in Crop Insurance Hearing

Business Auto Coverage Games

Shea Resigns as President of AMS

April 2005

April 28, 2005 

In the Limelight
AIG Under Pressure
Establishing Consistent Health Care Strategies
Senate Judiciary Committee Moving Forward on Asbestos
Producer Equity: Good or Bad Idea?

April 22, 2005

President Bush Addresses the Big "I"
Future of Contingent Commissions Debated
Billionaires in Insurance: How Do They Stack Up?
HIPAA Security Rule Primer
The Rollercoaster Stock Market
Hold Productive Agency Staff Meetings

B R E A K I N G   N E W S

April 15, 2005: President Bush to Speak at Big "I" National Legislative Conference

April 15, 2005

Greenberg, Buffett Appear Before Regulators
This is Only a Test
Hands Off: Supreme Court Issues Ruling on IRAs
Big "I" Role in Busy Legislative Week
Close the Sale in Five Easy Steps

April 7, 2005 

AIG Still Feels Heat, But Likely to Avoid Criminal Charges
New Version of Asbestos Bill Possible This Week
Tort Reform in Action: Follow Mississippi’s Example
Is the Inflation Beast Back at the Gate?
You’re Selling the Wrong Thing!

March 2005

March 31, 2005 

Greenberg Severs Ties with AIG
NAIC Voices SMART Act Concerns
Latest Chapter in NAIC-Congressional Relations
Agents E&O and State Tort System Survey
Have You Tackled Security and Natural Disaster Preparation?
The Need for Diversification

March 24, 2005 

Bumpy Road Ahead for Asbestos and Med-Mal Reforms
AIG Continues to Make Headlines
Title Insurance: The Next Global Broking?
Are Sales Contests Next?
Selling on the Internet
ChoicePoint Faces Lawsuit Over Security Breach

March 17, 2005

Greenberg Dynasty Topples as AIG CEO Steps Down
Renderings From Cutting Room Floor
Tax Talk Brings Estate Planning, LTC to the Forefront
Help Clients See Their Big Picture
TRIA Legislation Now Before Both Houses of Congress

March 10, 2005 

 Aon Settles Trio of Investigations
 State Legislators Weigh in on Producer Compensation Debate
 Marsh Leaves 5,500 Jobs on Cutting Room Floor, Will Aon Follow Suit?
 Homeowners Rates See Minimal Increase
 Get Hopping on Asbestos Reform Before Easter, Says Specter
 Increase Profits by Getting Rid of Prospects

March 3, 2005 

TRIA Renewal on the Horizon
Marsh Announces New Business Model, More Cuts
Agent's Words for Those Who 'Saw it Coming'
FSAs: To Tax or Not to Tax?
Commercial Producer Compensation...How Much Can You Afford?

February 2005

February 24, 2005

Industry Insiders 'Saw it Coming'
Producers, Consultants or Distributors?
Dealing with 2004's Hurricanes in 2005
Maryland Dictates Med-Mal Commissions: Driving Docs Direct
Take a Page from Radio's Playbook on Demographic Segmentation
TRIA, Class Action Developments Provide Boosts for Big "I"

February 17, 2005

Insurance in the Blogosphere
Spitzer Secures Three More Guilty Pleas, AIG Hit with Two Subpoenas
Weighing in on 2005’s Market Trends
Debate Over Social Security Reform Creates Opportunities for Agents
If At First You Don’t Succeed...
The Retention Myth 

February 10, 2005

Big Moment Here for Class Action Reform?
Industry Deals with Investigations' Repercussions
"I'm From the Government, and I’m Here to Help"
Age of One-Stop Financial Supermarket Drawing to a Close
Liberty Northwest Joins Trusted Choice^®

February 3, 2005

Marsh, Spitzer Close Book on Investigation
Spitzer Fallout Continues
Tie-in Tipping Point? Massachusetts Bankers-Part II
Wrap Up Small Business Benefit Packages
Chief Deputy Whip Eric Cantor to Address Insiders’ Luncheon
Put it in Writing—How to Select a Producer Contract  

January 2005

January 27, 2005

Another Shoe Drops in Producer Comp Saga
CT Case: What Does it Say and What Happens Next?
NAIC Considers Controversial Section of Disclosure Model
Massachusetts Bankers Win One for the Feds
Drowning in L&H Paperwork? There’s Help.
Bills to Keep an Eye On

January 20, 2005

Weighing Class Action Reform's Shot in 2005
Settlement Talks Heat Up
The ABCs of LTC Insurance
CGL Change Affects Mobile Equipment, Increases Coverage Gaps
Can Autos Take a Vacation from Coverage?

January 13, 2005

Insurance Industry Remains in Spotlight
Independent Agents and Brokers See Growth in Premium and Market Share
Independent Agents, Meet Independent Contractors
Big “I” Continues Push for TRIA Renewal Amidst Troubling Development
Asbestos Bill a Good Start, but More Protections Needed
Covering PDAs, MP3 Players and Other Gadgets

January 6, 2005

NAIC Adopts Producer Comp Model Law
NAIC Model Law: Where Do We Go From Here?
Spitzer’s New Year’s Resolution: Expand Investigations
Brace Not-for-Profit Organizations for Retirement Plan Changes
Big “I” Unveils 2005 Legislative Agenda