American Agency System
Marketing of insurance through independent agents; also called independent agency system. Independent agents usually represent several insurance companies and try to insure the risk according to availability of coverage and most favorable price. Independent agents are paid a commission in the form of a percentage of the premiums generated by the policy sold. They own all the records of the policies sold and have the right to solicit renewals. They are not restricted to maintaining business with just one company and can transfer the business upon renewal to another company.
Popular Insurance Terms
Policyholder's equity share of the life insurance company's assets. The share is based on the policyholder's contribution to assets (the company's gross premiums minus cost of insurance, ...
Amendments to the water quality improvement act of 1970 that extends liability of shipowners to any hazardous substances discharged by their ships. The 1970 act made shipowners responsible ...
Cost of replacing damaged or destroyed property with comparable new property, minus depreciation and obsolescence. For example, a 10-year-old living room sofa will not be replaced at ...
Equity of shareholders of a stock insurance company. The company's capital and surplus are measured by the difference between its assets minus its liabilities. This value protects the ...
Intense combustion resulting in a flame or glow. In order for the fire peril to be covered under property insurance, the fire must be a hostile fire, not a friendly fire. ...
Mathematical determination based on the expectation of loss and the benefits to be paid in such an eventuality. The premium charged will vary directly with the probability of loss. ...
Market in which buyers dominate trading and force financial asset prices up. ...
Transfer of rights under an insurance policy to another person or business. For example, to secure a debt, it is not uncommon for the policyowner to transfer to the creditor his rights to ...
Requirement that the insured must have stayed in a hospital or other health care facility for at least a specified period of time before being entitled to receive insurance benefits. This ...

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