Tom Mulligan, executive vice president of Western World Insurance Company, talked with Insurance Journal’s Chris Boggs about the soft market and the continued importance of excess and surplus lines carriers and brokers. Mulligan relates the differences between this soft market compared to past soft markets pointing out that no two are ever alike; but, just like in past markets, the E&S industry is being called on to solve problems.
One of today’s biggest insurance trends is green insurance as businesses look at ways to become more sustainable and cut costs. According to underwriters, the regulatory environment for green is changing dramatically as well. For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is requiring publicly traded businesses now disclose their climate risks and what they’re [...]
Listen to agency owner Claudia McClain explain why even in today’s social media world success involves more than just putting up a Facebook Fan Page. Claudia explains how her agency has continued to grow and prosper even in this difficult economic time. Her secret – an agency culture built around strong customer service and a [...]
Commercial roofing, already complicated, is getting more so as new types and materials are being introduced. Kenneth R. Gilvary, a senior engineer with Dallas-based Haag Engineering, specializes in assessing roof losses for insurers. Gilvary says claims professionals need to keep up with how green technology, including vegetative rooftops, and new building standards are changing the [...]
Based in San Diego, Jack in the Box Inc. was founded in 1951 and is the first major fast-food chain that started as a drive-thru. Today, it has approximately 43,000 employees with more than 2,200 quick-serve restaurants in 18 states. In this episode, Jack in the Box deputy general counsel of 12 years, [...]
The Internet makes it easier to get into business but it also makes it easier to steal others’ ideas. The Web is also expanding the notion of what materials, images and designs need to be protected. Intellectual property attorney David Branfman advises agents on questions to ask clients about intellectual property exposures and warns about [...]
Moving companies face a number of exposures in their daily operations, including workers compensation, cargo, fleet and general liability. Priority Moving in San Diego, Calif. is no exception. A Wheaton Van Lines agent, Priority Moving has created a series of internal procedures, reinforced by a strong employee screening process and training program. Analytics software [...]
Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Swett & Crawford Group, the nation’s oldest and largest wholesale
Independent agents can help in the fight against insurance fraud, according to speakers at the 2009 National Association of Insurance Commissioners Insurance Fraud Training Seminar. In this exclusive interview with Insurance Journal, Fraud Bureau Chief Cindy Schmell of the Iowa Division of Insurance and Anti-Fraud Division Director Ted Clark of the Kansas Department of Insurance [...]
As critical as it is for managing an agency today, customer retention alone is not enough. According to Juan Andrade, executive vice-president for sales and distribution at The Hartford, after customer retention, sales should be the next priority. He tells Insurance Journal’s Andy Simpson that agencies are most likely to grow if they [...]