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Independent agents are all too familiar with how challenging it can be to find success. Over the years, insurance networks have emerged as a prime way to help independent insurance agencies find their footing, connect with carriers and achieve their goals.

Hard Market and Rate Hikes: If you’ve been in the industry for any length of time, you know it’s cyclical. We are currently experiencing a hard market unlike any other we’ve ever experienced as we exit an unprecedented (at least in our modern lives) pandemic. Supply chain issues, labor shortages, inflation, inventory shortages – they’re all contributing to alter our industry’s delicate balance. 

For 13 years, Suzanne was the office manager at a local State Farm agency, until one day her boss retired. It’s a situation in which many insurance professionals find themselves.

The last three years may have forever changed the future of the insurance industry. Changes that had been taking place in an industry historically slow to adopt technology were forced to accelerate during the unexpected pandemic of 2020.

It is critical that independent agents are knowledgeable in current commercial construction loss trends to ensure that their clients are protected from potential losses and actively taking steps to avoid losses that could be costly and damaging to their businesses.  

One of my early career positions was with a Fortune 500 manufacturing company. They were innovators, market leaders and had one of the top twenty most powerful brands in the world. To my surprise what they also had were scores of partners.

Getting started as an independent agency can be challenging. Even once you’ve found success, navigating industry and market changes isn’t always easy. Allan Miles, founder of R. Allan Miles Insurance Agency, has leveraged a network partnership to help him navigate those changes and build a multimillion-dollar agency.

Feeling the squeeze from inflation, claim settlement increases, and competition from the big national personal lines carriers? It’s time to concentrate on commercial insurance. Now, writing commercial insurance does face its own headwinds

Mary Anne Connelly is an owner and broker at Connelly-Weiss Insurance Services. In fact, she’s the only broker, but an outsider would never know it. She is successfully growing her business, while also providing exceptional service and choice to her existing customers.

On the heels of another record growth year, Smart Choice® announces it has named Spencer Witcher Vice President and Western Regional Director to oversee growth strategy in its western states. The promotion helps support continued organic growth at the company.

Smart Start Commercial continues to grow and expand our portfolio of markets and products to help our agents win more new business. With the challenges of Personal Lines pushing more agencies to diversify into

Brock Miles has been named the new General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Smart Choice®. He will assume responsibility for managing the company’s contracts, agency agreements, acquisitions, licensing compliance, litigation, and other project-based initiatives.