If you're a principal in a privately held insurance agency, establish a value creation quota for each shareholder. Here's how: A month before your next planning retreat, provide each shareholders with a statement showing the value of his or her share of the agency's stock. If you don't have an appraisal, simply use your best estimate.

Here's a quick investment quiz: Which of the following investments will provide the best financial return over the next five years?
A.Microsoft stock
B.Coca-Cola stock
C.Citigroup stock
D.A newly hired Property & Casualty producer

The answer is D. No kidding.

MANAGING PERSONAL LINES by Carol Hammes Continuing fierce competition in commercial lines is making the personal lines niche look much more attractive to those agencies searching for viable growth...