Magazine

The smartest thing an independent agency can do is recruit the brightest employees—and keep them by fostering education throughout their careers.

“It’s much easier to consume the visual image than to read something.” Poet, painter and activist Lawrence Ferlinghetti made this observation long before YouTube and Instagram. Yet the concept is acutely relevant today when it comes to managing your agenc

Soon after purchasing Goss & McLain in 2004 with the help of InsurBanc, Deborah A. Buckley moved to expand markets by becoming part of the regional Insurance Services of New England.

Randy Wentworth, 44, is a 1987 graduate of InVEST, the Big “I” career awareness program for high school and college students. Insurance doesn’t have the hottest reputation among young people, but the former medical technician and nursing student is workin

By: Volume 111, No. 2

The number of small Best Practices agencies that report industry or product specialties has increased by 58% since 2010, and while larger agencies of all size categories have been dabbling in niches for decades, their niche revenues have also increased ov

Independent agents can expect modest increases in commercial lines pricing to continue in 2014. Rate hikes are expected to remain in the low- to mid-single digits at best—better news than a softening market.

It’s February and the open enrollment season has wrapped up—but that doesn’t mean you should stop communicating with your clients.

At face value, purchasing agency E&O coverage directly from one of your appointed carriers seems like a good deal. But serving your customers and defending your agency from E&O claims are two very separate things.

Many independent agency websites are leaving too many digital opportunities on the table, according to a recent survey co-sponsored by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology and Strategic Insurance Software affiliate Agency Marketing Partners.