Up until 20 years ago courts did not treat insurance agents as professionals and as a result agents...

Every company faces crises that have the potential for doing serious damage to its reputation, image, and/or financial stability. Events that might’ve been minor or even unnoticed a few years ago could now wind up on the evening news or on page one of the newspaper. While some incidents are insignificant, others can be devastating. Yet when they occur it’s often difficult, if not impossible, to know whether the problem will evaporate or escalate, blow over or boomerang.

EVALUATE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS FOR YOUR AGENCY by Patricia Berry Before selling your agency, get answers to these questions. Many agency acquisitions are based on retention because b...

FINANCIAL RATINGS DON'T TELL ALL by Chris Burand In the past year, it hasn't been unusual to see reports of companies that have had their debt ratings lowered, although their ...

HOW TO STRENGTHEN AGENCY-COMPANY RELATIONSHIPS by Emily Huling Use this five-step approach to get and keep company relationships strong. Your eyes open with t...

Six reasons why mergers and acquisitions fail.

Few business transactions pack the high-stakes potential of a merger or acquisition. Done well, the deal can help an agency attain new levels of prosperity. Done poorly, it can be crippling.

SELECTING INSURANCE COMPANIES Agents Responsibility for Company Insolvency by Carol Hammes Beware these warning signs of carrier financial instability. Financial stability is ...

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT INSURER INSOLVENCY by Bill Wilson Though you carry E&O insurance that should cover carrier insolvency, recent court cases have not completely absolved agencies when p...