After struggling through one of the harshest winters many of us can remember, March is a welcome sight. Although the weather can still be a little dicey, at least in the Midwest, there are days of melt and thaw, when the smell of spring right around the corner turns our thoughts from mere survival to rejuvenation and new growth.

Of course, new growth is always on the minds of independent agents and brokers. Putting fresh business on the books is the reason most agents get up in the morning. But in these days of cutthroat competition, shrinking commissions and the legislative uncertainty surrounding some lines of business, it's tough to balance that quest for new business with the need to keep existing customers satisfied. That's the focus of this month's features.

In our cover story, insurance writer Dave Lenckus once again does a formidable job of breaking down a big issue and making it understandable: healthcare reform and what it means to independent agents. Although the uncertainty that surrounds this issue can still be pretty scary, some believe that adapting to the new requirements will create new synergies within agencies and present new opportunities to assist clients in navigating the law.

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