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Smart Choice was honored with the 2023 Inc. Power Partner Award for outstanding support to independent insurance agencies. See why this recognition matters.

Learn about the growing financial burden of dog bite claims in the U.S. and the factors contributing to this increase in costs. Discover the impact on homeowners, including the potential exclusions in Homeowners Insurance policies, and the need for additional coverage. Find out how businesses are also affected by dog bite claims and what steps can be taken to prevent such incidents. Gain insights from experts at Burns & Wilcox on mitigating risks and understanding insurance coverage.

Many insurance agents start in the captive insurance model, learning the ins and outs of the industry, and building their knowledge of selling. The hard market, exacerbated by the pandemic and record inflation, has made providing client coverage difficult, and in some cases nearly impossible without having access to a broader range of products – making many captive agents ponder making the leap to independence.

Chris Workman is the president of Workman Insurance Group, a Louisiana-based agency that he opened in 2016. In the years since he’s been in business, the Louisiana market has experienced an insurance crisis, as carriers move out of the storm-battered state. Thanks to his partnership with Smart Choice and access to excess and surplus, and specialty lines carriers, Chris has managed to thrive during difficult times.

Key trends shaping the P&C insurance landscape in 2024. Explore the impact of technology, consumer behavior, and risk guidelines, and discover proactive strategies to navigate the evolving industry successfully.

In today's globalized insurance industry, effective client communication is crucial for building trust, fostering strong relationships, and meeting the diverse needs of clients from different cultural backgrounds. As insurance professionals, it is essential to understand and adapt to the cultural nuances of your clients to communicate effectively and provide them with exceptional service.

A cash award of $10,000 will be given to the 10,000th member to partner with the fastest growing insurance network in the nation. Approximately 9,900 have already joined, so the milestone is expected to be reached in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Pivoting Your Agency: Finding New Revenue Streams in a Hard Market

In the first half of 2023, 760 agencies partnered with the fastest growing insurance network.

As an insurance agency owner, your journey to success within an insurance agency network or alliance partnership demands a strategic blend of factors such as finding the right fit, strategic planning, fostering client relationships, and capitalizing on available opportunities. Here, we delve into several pivotal considerations tailored to agency owners, aimed at maximizing your potential for success while leveraging your network to nurture your insurance agency.

Learn strategies to increase your agency’s value through benchmarking, acquisition, and succession planning.

The insurance industry operates in cycles, alternating between periods of a soft market (lower premiums, increased capacity) and a hard market (higher premiums, reduced capacity). A hard market poses unique challenges for an insurance agent, particularly for captive insurance agents who work exclusively with one insurance company. In this post, we will explore the disadvantages a captive agent faces during a hard market and how they can navigate these challenges.