A PERPETUATION PLANNING PRIMER by Tom Doran No one expects the current frantic pace of merger and acquisition activity to last forever. When it does cool off, more agency own...

CLUSTERS - ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU? by Val Jordan As an independent agent, you know that it's becoming increasingly difficult to find products and services. Carriers have incr...

Headlines in trade magazines and major newspapers announce thrift charters being approved for insurance companies, agreements being reached between federal bank regulators and state insurance departments, and financial services reform. In many ways, banks continue to increased their involvement in the Property/Casualty insurance market.

You've made the decision to form a captive premium finance company. You've also chosen to run your operation either by outsourcing to a third-party vendor or using software to run the operation in house. Chances are that your lending arrangement and state licensing are also in place. You're now ready to get started and you want to book your first loan. Before you open your doors for business, take a moment to consider some important factors in this new frontier of insurance premium financing.

PRODUCER CONTRACTS AND COMPENSATION CHECKLIST I. Elements in the agent-producer agreement a. Employment status - employee vs. independent contractor vs. owner b. Assig...