The independent agency system is showing signs of continued stabilization in numbers as agencies display greater diversification in ownership, a study from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America found.
The biannual 2010 Agency Universe Study–a collaboration between IIABA and Future One, a coalition of insurance company partners–indicates that the number of independent agencies remains stable at approximately 37,500 after a steady decade-long decline that ended in 2006. When the decline began in 1996, there were 44,000 agencies, the study said.
“The 2010 Agency Universe Study reflected the combined effect of the recession, which began just as the 2008 study was underway, a prolonged soft insurance market and declining revenues,” said Robert Rusbuldt, IIABA president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Despite all of these challenges, many new agencies are forming, typically with a more diverse and younger leadership, demonstrating the strength of the independent agency system and the potential for growth.”
Recommended For You
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking insurance news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Insurance Speak podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the employee benefits and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, BenefitsPRO and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
