Patricia Wells

About 15 years ago, Dave Jones was one of the few voices urging the insurance industry to take climate change seriously. Back then, most insurers shrugged off the issue, seeing climate risks as distant concerns and not connecting them to their business. Today, the picture looks very different. Insurers across the U.S. and the world … Read more

Santa Monica city officials are considering a resolution that would declare the city in fiscal distress as it wrestles with rising costs from sexual abuse settlements that have shaken its budget. This move reflects a growing financial strain seen in other local governments facing similar settlement payouts. The trouble stems from settlements exceeding $229 million … Read more

Berkshire Hathaway’s utility company, PacifiCorp, is facing a major challenge that could affect power service for hundreds of thousands of people in Oregon. The company is involved in lawsuits tied to huge wildfires from 2020. These fires caused extensive damage, and now PacifiCorp is under the threat of billions of dollars in claims. In a … Read more

French prosecutors have stepped up their investigation into Royal Philips NV over concerns that some of the company’s breathing devices might have put people’s health at risk. The case has been handed to a magistrate with special powers to take a closer look. The move, made in June but announced recently, focuses on possible fraud … Read more

Last Wednesday, a sudden push to introduce tougher rules on hemp products in Texas set off a flurry of activity among local retailers. Staff at Austin Vape & Smoke, a store in South Austin, quickly rallied to spread the word, urging customers and colleagues to contact their lawmakers and oppose any strict limits or bans … Read more

Most insurance companies are expecting to see their revenue go up in the next year, but many are not planning to grow their staff at the same pace. According to a recent study by The Jacobson Group and Aon, 81% of insurers expect revenue growth, yet only 53% say they will increase their workforce in … Read more

Pennsylvania is set to receive a $200 million boost to its general fund following a major legal win led by Attorney General Dave Sunday. This funding comes from the Professional Liability Joint Underwriting Association (JUA), an insurance group originally created to provide coverage to high-risk medical providers who might otherwise struggle to find insurance. The … Read more

Chicago-based agency network Renaissance has launched a new set of artificial intelligence tools designed exclusively for independent insurance agents. The suite aims to make agents’ daily work easier by cutting down on repetitive tasks and helping them find new ways to grow. Independent agents often face tough challenges, and Renaissance sees AI as a natural … Read more

Independent insurance agents are facing new and growing risks related to errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. Many agents don’t realize how much these risks have increased, especially with the current tough insurance market making things harder. When insurance carriers shift policies between each other during renewals, agents must carefully review and compare the new policies … Read more

Death is something most of us try not to think about, but it brings up important questions, especially around insurance. Recently, the sudden loss of a couple—wife’s parents dying just 13 days apart—highlighted how insurance policies handle property and liability risks after someone passes away. Even when a homeowner or driver dies, the risks connected … Read more