IS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP RIGHT FOR YOUR AGENCY? PART II by Carol Hammes Offering your employees the opportunity for agency ownership can help attract and retain quality people. Sooner or later,...

Many producers, whether they're involved in agency management or not, depend on CSRs to help maintain their current book and deal with...

The international insurance market offers a variety of benefits to independent agents and brokers. It provides a perfect tool for solidifying your Commercial Lines accounts and insulating them from inroads being made by alphabet house brokers. International insurance operations also offer an entree to new product lines and markets that will expand your facilities abroad. For example, U.S. agents can introduce their expertise in such lines as Auto, Medical, Surety, and Workers' Compensation to third-world countries that are privatizing these coverages. Canadian brokers can expand their expertise in out-of-country private Medical insurance and, potentially, Workers' Compensation.

LEGAL OUTLINE FOR CALIFORNIA INSURANCE AGENCIES CHAPTER FIVE TRANSFERRING AGENCY INTERESTS BY SALE, ETC. 5.1 Objectives of buyers and sellers of agencies. In the typical ...

LEVERAGE YOUR TIME! by Mitch Axelrod Time is the most important leverage point because, next to our health and loved ones, time is our most precious resource. Once we use it...

LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR DIRECTORS by George Nordhaus The best-run agencies I know have outside directors. There are lots of good reasons to have them. You get an outside point of view. You get objectiv...

MENTORING FOR AGENCY GROWTH by Mona Carpenter According to Webster's, a mentor is 'a loyal advisor entrusted with the care and education of a student ... a wise and trusted counselor.' I...

OWNERSHIP ISSUES AND COMPENSATION by Carol Hammes During the past several months we have been addressing methods for compensating agency staff, managers, and salespeople. How should...

OWNERSHIP OF A PRODUCER'S BOOK: A BETTER WAY by Larry Morrison and Gary Jacobson Some agencies choose to offer key producers an 'ownership' interest in the producer's b...

One of the toughest financial decisions agency owners face is how much to pay themselves. It's especially tricky for agencies with multiple principals, because it's rare that all owners make identical contributions to the organization. Deciding what's equitable compensation for each individual may cause unnecessary conflict.