It has been almost three years since Eliot Spitzer–then New York's attorney general (now governor)–leveled charges against the insurance brokerage industry, beginning in October 2004 with accusations of fraud and antitrust violations against Marsh & McLennan.

The controversy over questionable business practices–especially the use of contingent commissions–rapidly affected large insurance brokers specifically, and the broader insurance industry generally.

A number of individuals confessed to, and were convicted of illegal acts, such as fraud. Several large brokerage firms made commitments to compensate their policyholder clients for their previous actions.