Topic Management
Do digitally efficient brokerages make better acquisition targets?
December 2, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoBrokerage owners shouldn’t just invest in digitization for its own sake, says one financial advisor. They should do it to make a purchase and integration easier for consolidators. Consolidators don’t necessarily expect small brokerages to digitize before acquisition, said Alex…
Meet BFL Canada’s new president
November 30, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoBFL Canada has appointed Lisa Giannone as president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2023. She succeeds Barry Lorenzetti who founded BFL in 1987. After a 35-year tenure as president and CEO, Lorenzetti will continue to serve as…
Why financing your brokerage ownership aspirations should come last, not first
November 29, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoFinancing is usually the last piece of the brokerage ownership puzzle, suggests one P&C financial advisor, even though 57% of young brokers see financing as their biggest obstacle to ownership, according to Canadian Underwriter survey results. Broker entrepreneurs should ensure…
How young, aspiring brokerage owners can outflank the consolidators
November 24, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWith the older generation of brokers retiring, opportunities are abound for young brokers who want to buy into an existing independent brokerage, said panellists in Canadian Underwriter’s LinkedIn Live event, ‘How to become a young brokerage owner.’ “[Independent broker owners]…
Does an immuno-compromised adjuster have to return to field work?
November 23, 2022 by The CIP Society, Insurance Institute of CanadaFor almost three years, there’s been confusion around COVID-19 protocols. It’s made it hard for people to get on with their daily lives. An example of how these stresses burden our industry is illustrated in a dilemma faced by a…
Why being a good broker alone won’t cut it for ownership
November 23, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWant to own your own brokerage? Get familiar with the business side of things first, said a P&C financial advisor in a Canadian Underwriter LinkedIn Live panel discussion. “When I think about what makes a successful brokerage owner, most brokerage…
Behind the upcoming CEO change at Westland
November 15, 2022 by Jason ContantWestland Insurance Group is looking to evolve its leadership and talent by bringing in different backgrounds and perspectives, the brokerage’s outgoing CEO, Jason Wubs, told Canadian Underwriter in a recent interview. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Jamie Lyons will become president…
Three options for selling your brokerage
November 11, 2022 by Philip PoradoA consistent stream of property and casualty brokerage acquisition announcements over the past few years likely has a lot of brokerage owners thinking about how they’ll eventually exit the business. For most sales transactions, there are three basic options. One…
Aspiring brokerage owners share the biggest obstacles for ownership
November 8, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWhat’s the biggest barrier to brokerage ownership for the 30% of brokers who aspire to one-day buy their own firm? Financing, according to results from a Canadian Underwriter online survey. Of the 30% of broker respondents who want to own, exactly…
How to develop the P&C industry’s future leaders
November 8, 2022 by Jason ContantIt’s important for women in Canada’s insurance industry to hear stories about the paths other women leaders have taken to achieve success, said the winner of a national leadership award from the Insurance Institute of Canada. “We need to give…
What happens to wealth advisors when P&C brokers buy them out?
November 4, 2022 by Philip PoradoSuccession planning is a key component of the acquisition strategies employed by P&C brokers buying wealth management, retirement planning and employee benefits advisories. That said, P&C brokerage buyers aren’t looking for the sellers to leave right away after the sale.…
The best way to support young prospective broker owners
November 4, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoMentorship and training are the best ways to support young brokers who aspire to senior leadership or brokerage ownership roles, say brokers responding to a Canadian Underwriter online survey. However, brokerage principals and their employees aren’t fully aligned on how…