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Planning key to successful home renovation

DO IT YOURSELF OR HIRE IT OUT?
One of the first questions you may consider is whether to do the work yourself or hire a contractor. The internet is full of videos showing step by step how to complete almost any task. If you have the skills, you might get just what you want by doing it yourself. But if you’re short on time, you might be willing to pay for the services of a professional craftsman. Some projects also bring significant safety risks. If you don’t know the territory, you’re probably safer hiring out the work. Our blogger goes into detail about what to look for in a contractor.

Spotlight

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska

To millions of Americans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield represents peace of mind when its needed the most. That's because the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand represents the nation's largest and most experienced health care benefit companies. 1939 was the beginning of a long tradition of health care coverage in Nebraska. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is a mid-size Nebraska business whose mission is to lead the way in supporting patient-focused care. We see the future of healthcare as one without confusion that adds more good years to peoples' lives. As a Nebraska-based company, we believe it’s our responsibility to be an active member of the communities in which our customers live and work.

OTHER ARTICLES
Core Insurance, Risk Management

Builders Risk Insurance Vs. Liability Coverage: How Each Benefit Works

Article | September 22, 2022

For construction contractors, there is nothing more important than safeguarding your works in progress. After all, if something were to damage the property and interrupt your progress, then you might face a huge financial setback. At this point, it’s critical that you have builder’s risk insurance ready and waiting. Your policy will be there to assist you following property damage at construction sites. However, your builder’s risk policy will not offer the same coverage to injuries or property damage that you cause to other parties. In this case, separate liability insurance benefits will provide the necessary benefits. Though separate from your builder’s risk policy, liability coverage is equally important. Let’s take a closer look at how these benefits work.

Read More
Insurance Technology

Time to Overcome Barriers in Your Decision-Making with Data Analytics

Article | August 9, 2022

A quick Google Trends search on data reveals that data analytics, data and analytics, data analysis, and predictive analytics have steadily grown in popularity among businesses across industries. These terms peaked when business leaders searched for ways to increase ROI and reduce business costs and tech-based investments. The insurance industry is amongst the industries actively leveraging data analytics. The rising importance of analytics in insurance has made CMOS take note too. As agility became more important in the insurance industry, more than 85% of global businesses shifted to a data-driven model. The purpose of taking you back is to emphasize that, as a CMO, now you need to churn accurate data and turn it into relevant information. This is a necessary model to practice to make the right decisions or will improve the decision-making process. Without data analytics, you are deciding in a void, and that’s not considered good practice. Forrester reports that 41% of insurance companies faced challenges in extracting data and making decisions based on it in 2020. Take a look at how and what you can do with insurance analytics to cater to better insights into your decision-making process and, finally, ROI generation. Bring Data to These Key Levels of Departments Marketing Analytics in insurance raises the bar in terms of marketing. As you know, marketing results frequently fluctuate, making data insights challenging to capture. CMOS who base their decisions solely on outcomes usually loses sight of making sound decisions due to unstructured data. Therefore, it is essential to have an aligned platform for data analysis in insurance. To begin with, marketers must understand the various types of data analytics available. Most insurance marketers employ descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, among others. This will assist them in strategizing based on continuous data insights from various sources for any given initiative. Sales Sales leaders can also improve how they spend their time by using data analytics to create more accurate sales forecasts. However, the question is, how will they do it efficiently? CRM software is the answer and solution to them. The software performs best because of its analytical capabilities in combination with data visualization, particularly predictive functions. It generates enormous amounts of data on customer interactions, which can then be used to inform decisions. You can assemble relevant data and use it to make some decisions, such as: Acquisition and management of leads Lead segmentation Sales funnel optimization There is enormous value in optimizing productive data by focusing on prospects likely to become loyal customers. Operations Utilizing data analytics in insurance boosts insurance operations. Small changes help to align a wide range of core processes. You can access data obtained from operations, observe key aspects of the overall processes, and make appropriate decisions. A targeted, timely, and data-driven approach will help you make decisions about these key functions, which can lead to business growth in the long run. Bain's research in 2019 reports that seventy insurers were polled. They say data analytics will reach 58% in the marketing funnel and 45% in business operations. Begin with Overcoming Barriers to your Decision-Making Process Use Data to Identify Customer Patterns Information from data can identify patterns. As mentioned above in the sales section, CRM's predictive modelling and the popular Google Analytics' descriptive overview are the two best platforms for identifying customer patterns. What is the best way to get pertinent data? Data mining is the answer to it. Do you want to know about it? Then read data mining for pattern evaluation now! As a CMO, you're probably aware that behavioral patterns are highly predictable and can sometimes result in unsatisfactory outcomes. This occurs when you are unable to obtain relevant data. And you end up performing ineffective marketing activities. To assist you in overcoming it, an AI-enabled platform can reduce the level of effort and provide the necessary data to study your customers' patterns in real-time. This is how you will notice a significant increase in sales. According to research by McKinsey and Company, automation saves 43% of insurance employees’ time. Segmenting Sales Plans Following the establishment of your customers' patterns, segmenting the insurance sales plan is a necessary step. In this process, analytics provide detailed information about customers, allowing you to make decisions about sales functionalities. This will undoubtedly reduce the time, energy, and effort you previously spent. Accurate customer segmentation and sales forecasting can also help tailor marketing efforts, improve the sales funnel, and keep sales strategies in check. When Media 7 contacted Vishal Srivastava, Vice President (Model Validation) at Citi, here’s what he said about data segmentation through data analytics. CMOs must ensure that adequate data quality checks have been performed, The goal is to ensure a scientific approach to data segmentation, sampling methodology, and data outliers, which can significantly impact revenue forecasts.” Pricing & Savings Analytics in insurance marketing can help CMOs make cost-cutting decisions and become more cost-effective in marketing efforts. It can set price ranges based on historical, current, and predictive performance. Also, analytics will help you figure out how to price things in the future, which will be good for ROI. Keep Improving with Data to Stay Abreast with The Decision-Making Process Better data organization in your business boosts productivity." Warren Buffett, an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. This phase is best suited to the current business environment. Implementing data analytics in insurance now will open up tremendous opportunities in the future. To make the most of them, you, as a CMO, must stick to a data-driven model for marketing actions. Aside from that, it appears that the data analytics you select for your business must be capable of informing and driving performance. Performances ranging from risk assessment to sales forecasting and a plethora of actionable insights assist businesses in thriving. Frequently Asked Question How are data analytics used in insurance companies? Data analytics empowers insurers to optimize each function and also assess risks. It also identifies trustworthy customers, which further boosts engagement. What does data analytics mean in insurance? Data analytics empowers insurance professionals by providing them with the business intelligence to understand their customers better, build better products and services, and thus, boost business growth. How are insurance companies using data? Insurers can use data to gain insights from customers’ profiles. They can review their history, behavioral pattern, and marketing needs to develop strategies and provide marketing services.

Read More
Insurance Technology

Reinsurance Market Maintaining Its Firming Trend

Article | July 15, 2022

Despite economic pressures on reinsurers and cedants, nearly all buyers were able to secure coverage during the reinsurance renewal period. However, attachment levels and the cost of ceding risk were higher than most buyers desired, and supply constraints in some lines and territories caused stress not seen in years. As a result, according to Gallagher Re's latest 1st View renewals report, the reinsurance market has maintained its firming trend. Despite mostly positive H1 2022 results, the combination of inflation and rising interest rates has caused reinsurers to adjust their balance sheets and reserves while also taking into account how a recessionary environment may increase claims frequency. These economic factors, combined with sustained loss levels, allowed reinsurers to maintain upward pricing pressure as they sought to reduce their appetite for volatility. Key Contributions to Understanding: Natural disaster capacity decreased overall as reinsurers continued to shift away from low-level layers, which differed by country and region. Reinsurers were seen assessing cedants' inflation-related actions and applying carefully calculated loadings to relevant treaties. The Russian invasion of Ukraine increased interest in cyber and war contract provisions. Long-tail casualty placements remained popular among reinsurers, but there was more debate about ceding commissions than in recent renewals. Higher ILS risk transfer prices have attracted net new capital, but this has not resulted in market softening. The inflation discussions have been detailed and technical, with reinsurers eager to challenge cedants' model outputs. Most reinsurers are assessing reserve adequacy as interest rates rise, in addition to their concerns about primary rate adequacy in the new inflationary environment. They are experiencing effects simultaneously on the asset and liability sides, which has strengthened their resolve to maintain the pricing momentum of the previous two years.

Read More
Core Insurance

Unlocking the potential of deeper customer-agent-insurer relationships

Article | December 27, 2021

Mr. and Mrs. Garcia purchased their first life insurance policies from their agent more than a decade ago, when their eldest son was born. They soon bundled their home and auto policies for a discount. A few years later, when the Garcias started a small business, they worked with their agent to establish commercial insurance. As the business thrived, the family set up fixed indexed annuities and mutual funds to put their growing savings to work. All of their policies and accounts are easily accessible via an online platform, and when a new need arises, they simply message their agent to discuss a new policy. The agent also reaches out regularly to make sure the Garcias’ evolving needs are always met. The experience of the hypothetical Garcia family shows how simple it would be for insurers to build deeper customer relationships. But many insurers continue to struggle to develop relationships with their customers that span multiple products. In fact, limited successes in this area have convinced some insurance executives that there is limited value in cross-sales initiatives. In our experience, however, a more coordinated approach can unlock huge opportunities to meet customers’ comprehensive needs through a principal adviser.

Read More
Core Insurance, Risk Management

5 Essential Features of Policy Management Tools

Article | September 22, 2022

For construction contractors, there is nothing more important than safeguarding your works in progress. After all, if something were to damage the property and interrupt your progress, then you might face a huge financial setback. At this point, it’s critical that you have builder’s risk insurance ready and waiting. Your policy will be there to assist you following property damage at construction sites. However, your builder’s risk policy will not offer the same coverage to injuries or property damage that you cause to other parties. In this case, separate liability insurance benefits will provide the necessary benefits. Though separate from your builder’s risk policy, liability coverage is equally important. Let’s take a closer look at how these benefits work.

Read More
Insurance Technology

3 Signs Your Policy Management Software is Not a Good Fit

Article | August 9, 2022

A quick Google Trends search on data reveals that data analytics, data and analytics, data analysis, and predictive analytics have steadily grown in popularity among businesses across industries. These terms peaked when business leaders searched for ways to increase ROI and reduce business costs and tech-based investments. The insurance industry is amongst the industries actively leveraging data analytics. The rising importance of analytics in insurance has made CMOS take note too. As agility became more important in the insurance industry, more than 85% of global businesses shifted to a data-driven model. The purpose of taking you back is to emphasize that, as a CMO, now you need to churn accurate data and turn it into relevant information. This is a necessary model to practice to make the right decisions or will improve the decision-making process. Without data analytics, you are deciding in a void, and that’s not considered good practice. Forrester reports that 41% of insurance companies faced challenges in extracting data and making decisions based on it in 2020. Take a look at how and what you can do with insurance analytics to cater to better insights into your decision-making process and, finally, ROI generation. Bring Data to These Key Levels of Departments Marketing Analytics in insurance raises the bar in terms of marketing. As you know, marketing results frequently fluctuate, making data insights challenging to capture. CMOS who base their decisions solely on outcomes usually loses sight of making sound decisions due to unstructured data. Therefore, it is essential to have an aligned platform for data analysis in insurance. To begin with, marketers must understand the various types of data analytics available. Most insurance marketers employ descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, among others. This will assist them in strategizing based on continuous data insights from various sources for any given initiative. Sales Sales leaders can also improve how they spend their time by using data analytics to create more accurate sales forecasts. However, the question is, how will they do it efficiently? CRM software is the answer and solution to them. The software performs best because of its analytical capabilities in combination with data visualization, particularly predictive functions. It generates enormous amounts of data on customer interactions, which can then be used to inform decisions. You can assemble relevant data and use it to make some decisions, such as: Acquisition and management of leads Lead segmentation Sales funnel optimization There is enormous value in optimizing productive data by focusing on prospects likely to become loyal customers. Operations Utilizing data analytics in insurance boosts insurance operations. Small changes help to align a wide range of core processes. You can access data obtained from operations, observe key aspects of the overall processes, and make appropriate decisions. A targeted, timely, and data-driven approach will help you make decisions about these key functions, which can lead to business growth in the long run. Bain's research in 2019 reports that seventy insurers were polled. They say data analytics will reach 58% in the marketing funnel and 45% in business operations. Begin with Overcoming Barriers to your Decision-Making Process Use Data to Identify Customer Patterns Information from data can identify patterns. As mentioned above in the sales section, CRM's predictive modelling and the popular Google Analytics' descriptive overview are the two best platforms for identifying customer patterns. What is the best way to get pertinent data? Data mining is the answer to it. Do you want to know about it? Then read data mining for pattern evaluation now! As a CMO, you're probably aware that behavioral patterns are highly predictable and can sometimes result in unsatisfactory outcomes. This occurs when you are unable to obtain relevant data. And you end up performing ineffective marketing activities. To assist you in overcoming it, an AI-enabled platform can reduce the level of effort and provide the necessary data to study your customers' patterns in real-time. This is how you will notice a significant increase in sales. According to research by McKinsey and Company, automation saves 43% of insurance employees’ time. Segmenting Sales Plans Following the establishment of your customers' patterns, segmenting the insurance sales plan is a necessary step. In this process, analytics provide detailed information about customers, allowing you to make decisions about sales functionalities. This will undoubtedly reduce the time, energy, and effort you previously spent. Accurate customer segmentation and sales forecasting can also help tailor marketing efforts, improve the sales funnel, and keep sales strategies in check. When Media 7 contacted Vishal Srivastava, Vice President (Model Validation) at Citi, here’s what he said about data segmentation through data analytics. CMOs must ensure that adequate data quality checks have been performed, The goal is to ensure a scientific approach to data segmentation, sampling methodology, and data outliers, which can significantly impact revenue forecasts.” Pricing & Savings Analytics in insurance marketing can help CMOs make cost-cutting decisions and become more cost-effective in marketing efforts. It can set price ranges based on historical, current, and predictive performance. Also, analytics will help you figure out how to price things in the future, which will be good for ROI. Keep Improving with Data to Stay Abreast with The Decision-Making Process Better data organization in your business boosts productivity." Warren Buffett, an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. This phase is best suited to the current business environment. Implementing data analytics in insurance now will open up tremendous opportunities in the future. To make the most of them, you, as a CMO, must stick to a data-driven model for marketing actions. Aside from that, it appears that the data analytics you select for your business must be capable of informing and driving performance. Performances ranging from risk assessment to sales forecasting and a plethora of actionable insights assist businesses in thriving. Frequently Asked Question How are data analytics used in insurance companies? Data analytics empowers insurers to optimize each function and also assess risks. It also identifies trustworthy customers, which further boosts engagement. What does data analytics mean in insurance? Data analytics empowers insurance professionals by providing them with the business intelligence to understand their customers better, build better products and services, and thus, boost business growth. How are insurance companies using data? Insurers can use data to gain insights from customers’ profiles. They can review their history, behavioral pattern, and marketing needs to develop strategies and provide marketing services.

Read More
Insurance Technology

Cybersecurity Material for Private Companies

Article | July 15, 2022

Despite economic pressures on reinsurers and cedants, nearly all buyers were able to secure coverage during the reinsurance renewal period. However, attachment levels and the cost of ceding risk were higher than most buyers desired, and supply constraints in some lines and territories caused stress not seen in years. As a result, according to Gallagher Re's latest 1st View renewals report, the reinsurance market has maintained its firming trend. Despite mostly positive H1 2022 results, the combination of inflation and rising interest rates has caused reinsurers to adjust their balance sheets and reserves while also taking into account how a recessionary environment may increase claims frequency. These economic factors, combined with sustained loss levels, allowed reinsurers to maintain upward pricing pressure as they sought to reduce their appetite for volatility. Key Contributions to Understanding: Natural disaster capacity decreased overall as reinsurers continued to shift away from low-level layers, which differed by country and region. Reinsurers were seen assessing cedants' inflation-related actions and applying carefully calculated loadings to relevant treaties. The Russian invasion of Ukraine increased interest in cyber and war contract provisions. Long-tail casualty placements remained popular among reinsurers, but there was more debate about ceding commissions than in recent renewals. Higher ILS risk transfer prices have attracted net new capital, but this has not resulted in market softening. The inflation discussions have been detailed and technical, with reinsurers eager to challenge cedants' model outputs. Most reinsurers are assessing reserve adequacy as interest rates rise, in addition to their concerns about primary rate adequacy in the new inflationary environment. They are experiencing effects simultaneously on the asset and liability sides, which has strengthened their resolve to maintain the pricing momentum of the previous two years.

Read More
Core Insurance

Unlocking the potential of deeper customer-agent-insurer relationships

Article | December 27, 2021

Mr. and Mrs. Garcia purchased their first life insurance policies from their agent more than a decade ago, when their eldest son was born. They soon bundled their home and auto policies for a discount. A few years later, when the Garcias started a small business, they worked with their agent to establish commercial insurance. As the business thrived, the family set up fixed indexed annuities and mutual funds to put their growing savings to work. All of their policies and accounts are easily accessible via an online platform, and when a new need arises, they simply message their agent to discuss a new policy. The agent also reaches out regularly to make sure the Garcias’ evolving needs are always met. The experience of the hypothetical Garcia family shows how simple it would be for insurers to build deeper customer relationships. But many insurers continue to struggle to develop relationships with their customers that span multiple products. In fact, limited successes in this area have convinced some insurance executives that there is limited value in cross-sales initiatives. In our experience, however, a more coordinated approach can unlock huge opportunities to meet customers’ comprehensive needs through a principal adviser.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska

To millions of Americans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield represents peace of mind when its needed the most. That's because the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand represents the nation's largest and most experienced health care benefit companies. 1939 was the beginning of a long tradition of health care coverage in Nebraska. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is a mid-size Nebraska business whose mission is to lead the way in supporting patient-focused care. We see the future of healthcare as one without confusion that adds more good years to peoples' lives. As a Nebraska-based company, we believe it’s our responsibility to be an active member of the communities in which our customers live and work.

Related News

Core Insurance, Risk Management

Confie Expands Portfolio with Two Acquisitions

PRnewswire | June 13, 2023

Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S., announced the acquisition of Sanborn's Insurance within its general agency brand Bluefire Insurance, and Atlantic Insurance Agency within its national brand Freeway Insurance to further expand their growing portfolios. Sanborn's Insurance is a multi-location retail insurance agency and wholesale general agency. Since its establishment in 1948, Sanborn's has provided non-standard tourist auto insurance, personal property, and casualty insurance to thousands of drivers across the southwestern US. Atlantic Insurance is a rapidly growing, family-owned agency serving Chicago residents. "Sanborn's Insurance has a strong 75-year legacy in the industry, and Atlantic Insurance further grows our footprint in the Chicago area," said Cesar Soriano, Confie CEO. "We are excited to welcome both organizations to our Confie family." Sanborn's Insurance offers auto insurance directly to consumers and through appointed independent agencies. With the acquisition, Sanborn's will continue operations under its current brand and Confie will retain all current employees. "Joining with Confie creates a path for accelerated growth," said Pablo Steinman, Sanborn's President. "With this partnership, we share a commitment to provide the best insurance solutions for our customers." Founded in 2014, Atlantic Insurance Agency is an independent agency in Chicago, Illinois. They provide non-standard auto insurance, home insurance, boat insurance and much more. "We continue to grow into new markets and are always looking for agencies to join our family of brands. We want to be in the communities our customers live in," said Chad Maxwell, SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Confie. About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are – with more than 900+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com. About Freeway Insurance Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States. The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 530 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freewayinsurance.com or by calling (800) 777-5620. About Bluefire Insurance Bluefire Insurance offers a wide variety of innovative solutions in multiple states, with a focus on providing consumers with an excellent insurance product with great coverage at affordable rates. Bluefire's number one priority is, and will always be, to ensure an unsurpassed customer experience to our agents and insureds at every interaction. For more information about Bluefire Insurance, please visit www.bluefireinsurance.com.

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Core Insurance, Life Insurance

Estrella Insurance Acquired by Personal Insurance Leader Confie

PRnewswire | May 18, 2023

Estrella Insurance, a leading property and casualty insurance agency and national franchisor, has been acquired by Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S. Confie leadership says the move will "greatly expand" the company's presence in Florida, and will fall under Confie's Freeway Insurance division. Estrella's more than 190 offices and employees across the U.S. will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with the acquisition. According to Confie CEO Cesar Soriano, "Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers and business owners alike. Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands." "Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and growth plan," said Nicolas Estrella Jr., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella." Estrella Insurance operates in Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. For over 40 years, the agency has provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health. Confie, which has more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs in 2022. Their leadership adds the Estrella acquisition is part of Confie's larger growth and development expansion plans. "Estrella has aggressive growth plans that will only be strengthened through our affiliation with Confie," says Nicolas Estrella, Jr., CEO of Estrella. "We are thrilled to be part of the Confie organization and see great potential ahead." About Estrella Insurance Miami-based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S., it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information on franchise ownership, visit www.estrellafranchise.com. About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are – with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com.

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Core Insurance, Insurance Technology

Confie Acquires Estrella Insurance, Expanding its Franchising Division

PRnewswire | May 10, 2023

Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S., announces the acquisition of Estrella Insurance to its non-standard national brand Freeway Insurance. Confie's latest acquisition significantly expands its footprint in Florida and their franchise division. Estrella Insurance operates more than 190 locations across Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. For over 40 years, they have provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health. Estrella will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with their acquisition. "Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers, and business owners alike. We are excited to welcome them into our ever-growing family," said Cesar Soriano, Confie CEO. "Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands." In 2022, Freeway Insurance introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs. With more than 530 retail stores nationwide, business owners get access to the company's established business model, respected brand, a wide range of national and regional insurance carriers, and back-office resources. Shortly after, Confie acquired Velox Insurance in December 2021. Velox primarily offers franchising to business owners in the Georgia market. "Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and our growth plan," said Nick Estrella Jr., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella." In addition to its acquisitions, Confie recently announced the expansion of its business process outsourcing division (BPO) with the launch of a new service center in Tijuana, being ranked #1 Personal Lines Leader by Insurance Journal for a seventh straight year and the expansion of their InsureOne brand by way of an agency network for independent insurance agents. "Confie's expansion plans rely on strategic acquisitions and we welcome that challenge," said Chad Maxwell, SVP, mergers & acquisitions, Confie. "Identifying places where we can strengthen our presence helps us accomplish growth and development, and we are actively seeking great partners to join the Confie family." About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are – with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com. About Freeway Insurance Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States. The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 500 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freewayinsurance.com or by calling (800) 777-5620. About Estrella Insurance Miami-based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S., it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information about Estrella Insurance, visit www.estrellainsurance.com.

Read More

Core Insurance, Risk Management

Confie Expands Portfolio with Two Acquisitions

PRnewswire | June 13, 2023

Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S., announced the acquisition of Sanborn's Insurance within its general agency brand Bluefire Insurance, and Atlantic Insurance Agency within its national brand Freeway Insurance to further expand their growing portfolios. Sanborn's Insurance is a multi-location retail insurance agency and wholesale general agency. Since its establishment in 1948, Sanborn's has provided non-standard tourist auto insurance, personal property, and casualty insurance to thousands of drivers across the southwestern US. Atlantic Insurance is a rapidly growing, family-owned agency serving Chicago residents. "Sanborn's Insurance has a strong 75-year legacy in the industry, and Atlantic Insurance further grows our footprint in the Chicago area," said Cesar Soriano, Confie CEO. "We are excited to welcome both organizations to our Confie family." Sanborn's Insurance offers auto insurance directly to consumers and through appointed independent agencies. With the acquisition, Sanborn's will continue operations under its current brand and Confie will retain all current employees. "Joining with Confie creates a path for accelerated growth," said Pablo Steinman, Sanborn's President. "With this partnership, we share a commitment to provide the best insurance solutions for our customers." Founded in 2014, Atlantic Insurance Agency is an independent agency in Chicago, Illinois. They provide non-standard auto insurance, home insurance, boat insurance and much more. "We continue to grow into new markets and are always looking for agencies to join our family of brands. We want to be in the communities our customers live in," said Chad Maxwell, SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Confie. About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are – with more than 900+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com. About Freeway Insurance Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States. The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 530 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freewayinsurance.com or by calling (800) 777-5620. About Bluefire Insurance Bluefire Insurance offers a wide variety of innovative solutions in multiple states, with a focus on providing consumers with an excellent insurance product with great coverage at affordable rates. Bluefire's number one priority is, and will always be, to ensure an unsurpassed customer experience to our agents and insureds at every interaction. For more information about Bluefire Insurance, please visit www.bluefireinsurance.com.

Read More

Core Insurance, Life Insurance

Estrella Insurance Acquired by Personal Insurance Leader Confie

PRnewswire | May 18, 2023

Estrella Insurance, a leading property and casualty insurance agency and national franchisor, has been acquired by Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S. Confie leadership says the move will "greatly expand" the company's presence in Florida, and will fall under Confie's Freeway Insurance division. Estrella's more than 190 offices and employees across the U.S. will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with the acquisition. According to Confie CEO Cesar Soriano, "Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers and business owners alike. Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands." "Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and growth plan," said Nicolas Estrella Jr., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella." Estrella Insurance operates in Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. For over 40 years, the agency has provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health. Confie, which has more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs in 2022. Their leadership adds the Estrella acquisition is part of Confie's larger growth and development expansion plans. "Estrella has aggressive growth plans that will only be strengthened through our affiliation with Confie," says Nicolas Estrella, Jr., CEO of Estrella. "We are thrilled to be part of the Confie organization and see great potential ahead." About Estrella Insurance Miami-based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S., it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information on franchise ownership, visit www.estrellafranchise.com. About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are – with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com.

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Core Insurance, Insurance Technology

Confie Acquires Estrella Insurance, Expanding its Franchising Division

PRnewswire | May 10, 2023

Confie, the largest personal lines insurance distribution company in the U.S., announces the acquisition of Estrella Insurance to its non-standard national brand Freeway Insurance. Confie's latest acquisition significantly expands its footprint in Florida and their franchise division. Estrella Insurance operates more than 190 locations across Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. For over 40 years, they have provided affordable insurance solutions and exceptional service to their customers. Their product portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health. Estrella will continue to operate under its current brand, and Confie will retain all current employees with their acquisition. "Estrella has built a strong franchising model well-known among Hispanic consumers, and business owners alike. We are excited to welcome them into our ever-growing family," said Cesar Soriano, Confie CEO. "Franchising allows us to broaden our customer reach, and accelerate our growth into new markets. Americans are entrepreneurial by nature and we proudly will offer them the choice between three trustworthy brands." In 2022, Freeway Insurance introduced franchising opportunities to entrepreneurs. With more than 530 retail stores nationwide, business owners get access to the company's established business model, respected brand, a wide range of national and regional insurance carriers, and back-office resources. Shortly after, Confie acquired Velox Insurance in December 2021. Velox primarily offers franchising to business owners in the Georgia market. "Our franchise partners are family, and their success is our success. It was important to find the right partner that would support both our brand, customers, and our growth plan," said Nick Estrella Jr., Estrella's CEO. "Confie is a highly respected organization with years of industry knowledge and forward momentum. It was a perfect fit for Estrella." In addition to its acquisitions, Confie recently announced the expansion of its business process outsourcing division (BPO) with the launch of a new service center in Tijuana, being ranked #1 Personal Lines Leader by Insurance Journal for a seventh straight year and the expansion of their InsureOne brand by way of an agency network for independent insurance agents. "Confie's expansion plans rely on strategic acquisitions and we welcome that challenge," said Chad Maxwell, SVP, mergers & acquisitions, Confie. "Identifying places where we can strengthen our presence helps us accomplish growth and development, and we are actively seeking great partners to join the Confie family." About Confie Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are – with more than 750+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com. About Freeway Insurance Established in 1987, Freeway offers insurance policies via a "click, call, or come-in" approach that provides customers coverage throughout the United States. The company is constantly researching, growing and diversifying product offerings to stay responsive to the ever-evolving insurance market. Freeway offers a wide range of plans, from the most basic to premium plans, in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, fire, flood, homeowners, renters, small commercial, motorcycle, and recreational vehicle insurance products. In 2008, Freeway Insurance joined Confie, the leading national personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Freeway Insurance services customers in more than 500 offices. Freeway consumers access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood Freeway offices, as well as by visiting www.freewayinsurance.com or by calling (800) 777-5620. About Estrella Insurance Miami-based Estrella Insurance is a property and casualty insurance franchisor and a trusted leader among consumers and insurance companies by providing simple, cost-effective insurance solutions across its auto, home, commercial, business, life, and health insurance portfolios. With more than 190 offices across the U.S., it is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity with a proven business model that allows owners to focus directly on customer support and community engagement. For more information about Estrella Insurance, visit www.estrellainsurance.com.

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