ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 11, 2010 — Future One, a collaboration of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) and leading independent agency companies, announced that Westfield Insurance has joined the coalition.
"Westfield is powered by our independent agency partners,” says Patricia Schiesswohl, Westfield Insurance Group marketing leader. “Our support for Future One is an investment in the success of our partnership as together we strive to grow business by delivering value to customers.”
Established in 1981, Future One is the largest, and longest-standing, agent-company coalition in the country. It conducts a biennial Agency Universe Study that investigates and analyzes trends affecting the Independent Agency System and the decisions of consumers relative to the purchase of insurance. This study, first conducted in 1983, is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and authoritative investigation available on the independent agency distribution force. Carriers then use this information to develop and refine industry-specific BEST practices.
“We are excited to have Westfield Insurance join Future One and look forward to gaining their valuable perspective as we work together on important issues that impact the independent agency system and its company partners,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Future One brings industry’s stakeholders together to develop policy consensus on both national and state-specific issues and works to implement changes in insurance law.”
Future One remains committed to undertaking state and federal legislative/regulatory issues. Recent involvement includes: credit scoring, efforts to repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act’s antitrust exemption, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), natural disaster legislation, agent licensing reform, systemic risk/resolution authority, certificates of insurance, excess & surplus lines reform, and health care reform.
Westfield Insurance has been in business for more than 160 years and provides property and casualty insurance in 19 states and surety services to customers in 31 states making them one of the nation's 50 largest property and casualty insurance groups. They are represented by a network of over 1,100 independent insurance agencies. Westfield is rated "A" (Excellent) for financial strength by A.M. Best and has $3.6 billion in consolidated assets and $1.7 billion in written premium. For more information, go to www.WestfieldInsurance.com.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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