This year, 海角吃瓜黑料 marks 20 years of serving independent agents. Celebrating Our Past and Building Our Future Together, we look back at our founding, the vision that set us apart, and how the challenges of the financial crisis strengthened our commitment鈥攆irmly establishing 海角吃瓜黑料 asThe Independent Underwriter for The Independent Agentsm
In 2005, 海角吃瓜黑料 was founded on a radical idea: to create an underwriter that served independent agents rather than competing against them. The inspiration came from Dave Ginger, who had spent decades working with both small independent agencies and large national firms. Ginger saw firsthand how national companies often viewed local agents as a revenue source rather than as true partners.
In a 2011 interview with the Times-Call of Longmont, Colorado, he reflected on the clear differences he saw between companies that aligned their interests with independent agents and those that did not.
鈥淚 had been involved with an agent-owned company earlier in my career, and the biggest thing I saw was the feeling toward the independent agent versus what I saw at the national companies,鈥� Ginger said鈥�.
A Texan with a reputation for bold action, Ginger teamed up with Bob Grubb, a Colorado businessman with experience in commercial finance, private equity, and technology-based manufacturing companies, as well as Scott Hendrickson, a CFO with a background in manufacturing, distribution, and insurance. Together, they formed 海角吃瓜黑料, a title insurance underwriter with an intriguing core philosophy: local independent agents deserve an underwriter that works for them鈥攏ot against them.
From the outset, the founders made a defining decision that set 海角吃瓜黑料 apart: it would never operate its own direct title offices.
鈥淥ur model was, we鈥檙e not going to compete against you, period. We鈥檙e going to have no direct operations, no Alliant stores,鈥� Grubb later told the Times-Call鈥�.
This AgentsFirst philosophy resonated quickly, as Grubb would later recall during a speech marking 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 10th anniversary in 2015.
鈥淭he 鈥榮eedling鈥� was 鈥榯ended to鈥� by our founding agents and the staff. We searched for, and found, agents who shared Dave鈥檚 vision and gave us a chance to prove it. We sprouted up in late 2006, gained some strength,鈥� Grubb remembered. 鈥淲e grew twice as tall in 2007 and most of 2008.鈥濃��
But just as it seemed the company was firmly establishing itself, the world changed.
Weathering the Financial Crisis
The 2008 financial crisis hit, bringing the housing market to a near standstill. The impact on the title industry was devastating.
鈥淭he land title industry as a whole did about $17.8 billion in revenue in 2007,鈥� Grubb later recalled. 鈥淏y 2010, that had dropped to $9.5 billion.鈥濃��
Transaction volumes plummeted, and some underwriters pulled back or shuttered their operations. Independent title agents across the country were left adrift, struggling to navigate a rapidly shifting market.
鈥淥ur agents were battling radical declines in transaction volume,鈥� Grubb remembered in 2015. 鈥淔or many, their underwriters were either closing their doors or indiscriminately cutting their agent base as they raced to adapt to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.鈥濃��
Unlike many of its competitors, 海角吃瓜黑料 took a different approach. Rather than retreat, the company dug in, delivering resources agents needed to survive and adapt. The upstart underwriter invested in education programs, marketing workshops, and compliance initiatives. Despite the economic turmoil, the gamble paid off. By 2011, 海角吃瓜黑料 had grown to 200 agents鈥攁 testament to the strength of its independent-focused model鈥�.
Regulatory and Industry Shifts: Strengthening the Independent Agent
The greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression was followed by the most sweeping statutory and regulatory reforms the industry had seen in decades. The Dodd-Frank Act, the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, and the rise of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reshaped the mortgage and real estate landscape. Agents faced increased compliance costs, heightened oversight, and new expectations. At the same time, the rise of cyber threats, social engineering, and wire fraud introduced new risks. Fraudsters increasingly targeted real estate transactions, exploiting gaps in communication and security protocols to misdirect funds.
Recognizing the challenges and deep confusion agents faced, 海角吃瓜黑料 went to work again, providing training materials, webinars, and white papers to help agents adapt. The company also set the benchmark for security compliance, becoming the first title insurance underwriter in the nation to obtain SSAE 16鈥攏ow SSAE 18鈥擳ype II certified status. It later completed its first ISO 27001 audit and went on to become the first title underwriter to obtain ISO 27701 certification for data privacy.
20 Years Later: A Company Built on Care and Innovation
Today, 海角吃瓜黑料 is, in many ways, a very different company than it was in its early years. It now employs about 100 people, operates in 32 states and Washington, D.C., and serves thousands of title professionals; but while its reach has expanded, its core mission remains the same. 海角吃瓜黑料 CEO David Sinclair says that while the company has 鈥済rown up鈥� in terms of systems and capabilities, it remains fiercely committed to its founding ideals鈥攃ontinually looking for ways to put AgentsFirst.
鈥淎s a company grows, it鈥檚 always challenged to hold on to its vision and culture,鈥� Sinclair noted. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 something different about this place. The commitment of this team to that vision is remarkable, and together we鈥檝e done a lot of work around articulating the culture that helps us deliver on our fundamental commitment to our agents.鈥�
That culture is built around the three Cs: Competence, Care, and Commitment. Sinclair says the team at 海角吃瓜黑料 strives to embody these principles every day, ensuring that the company’s mission is more than just words. At the center of it all is Care鈥攃are for team members, stakeholders, and most importantly independent agents.
鈥淲e all know there are a lot of places to spend a career in this industry,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淭he people who work at 海角吃瓜黑料 choose to be here because of the care we show.鈥�
And as in past challenges, that philosophy of care has led to new innovations. It is what drives the company to continually improve and develop new solutions to support agents in a changing industry. One example is SecureMyTransaction庐鈥攄eveloped to help agents combat the latest fraud threats. The company is also working to expand its title production capabilities and improve its digital education offerings.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for what鈥檚 ahead鈥攏ot just for 海角吃瓜黑料, but for our agents and the industry,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淭his company is a special place, and I鈥檓 honored to be part of it. But at the end of the day, it鈥檚 always about the agents. That was true in 2005, it鈥檚 true today, and we鈥檙e making the investments to ensure it remains true for the next 20 years.鈥�
In the battle for attention, here’s how your agency can stand out.
Our current media moment is defined by paradox. On one hand, there have never been more channels you can use to promote your agency. But on the other, it has never been harder to separate yourself from the crowd and gain media attention. There are multiple reasons for this, including information overload and a changing media landscape. This doesn鈥檛 even account for how algorithms prioritize content, preventing many important stories from gaining the coverage they deserve. Yet amidst these challenges, an effective use of earned media can break through the clutter and increase public awareness for your agency. Join us as we explore the details of what this looks like!
Earned media: what is it and why is it important?
As we鈥檝e talked about before, there are many different types of media that you can use to promote your business 鈥� each with its own pros, cons and tradeoffs.
First, there is owned media, which is any type of media that you control. This could include things like your website, your social media feeds or your email newsletter. Owned media offers advantages like creative control and cost-effectiveness but also requires continuous effort and delivers slow results.
Second, we have paid media 鈥� basically media you put an ad spend behind, like search, social and display ads. Paid media also carries significant advantages for business. For one thing, it can deliver quick and easy wins for a company, but if you鈥檙e not careful, those results can come with a sizable cost that harms overall ROI.
Lastly, we have earned media 鈥� publicity you gain from sources you neither control nor pay for. Guest blogging, podcast appearances and press release placements are all examples of earned media in action. Earned media is especially valuable because it often appears more trustworthy and less self-serving than other types of media. It can also deliver tangible benefits like improved SEO and greater reach. It has drawbacks as well, with lack of control and dependence on third parties being among them.
Create more earned media opportunities
With an understanding of the three main types of media, we can look at the top opportunities for generating more earned media coverage for your agency.
Human-interest stories: If you鈥檝e ever watched the news, you鈥檒l know how effective human-interest stories are at generating coverage. The reason is simple: People are emotional beings who respond to stories of human triumph and resilience. By tapping into this need, agencies can grow awareness for their businesses.
Novelty: Stories that introduce something novel can be just as effective as human-interest pieces. Pitching about new hires, products or business expansions all naturally lend themselves to potential pick-up in the media, as does staking out a position that runs contrary to the dominant perspective in your field. With the latter point, however, never try to gin up controversy just for the sake of it. People can detect disingenuousness a mile away, which will wind up hurting rather than helping you in the long run.
News jacking: As we鈥檝e discussed, there are more communication channels today than ever before. While this can be overwhelming, it also implies that there is no shortage of news stories in which a title agency could insert itself to offer its unique perspective and expertise. This is known as 鈥渘ews jacking,鈥� a straightforward process where you strategically align your brand with a trending news topic and position yourself as a subject matter expert. When done correctly, news jacking can increase your agency鈥檚 credibility, leading to more customers seeing you as a knowledgeable thought leader.
None of these techniques are easy to pull off, but each can help you overcome some of the barriers to entry that exist in the modern media landscape. No matter how many algorithms or communication channels we create, tailoring our stories to cater to human psychological needs will always be a powerful tool for achieving publicity. Similarly, news jacking can help you turn the deluge of daily news we all experience to your advantage, enabling you to hop onto an existing story or news cycle for maximum impact.
Spread the word far and wide about your business
The media environment today is challenging and ever-changing, with contours that are far more complex and fast-moving than they were even a few years ago. For many, this can feel like an impossible burden for gaining the recognition they need to succeed in an already difficult business environment. Even so, a well-planned earned media strategy that leverages human psychology and timely news opportunities can elevate your agency’s visibility, building the buzz necessary for both short- and long-term success.
Title insurance agents face waves of continuous technological evolutions, all designed to ease the agent’s work, but which can be glitchy enough to tempt title agents to abandon new protocols in favor of old habits.
Technology shows up in our work lives in several ways. For example, the options below are but an “initial round-up” (if you will) of many title agent’s interactions with technology:
Production Software 鈥� Often used by title agents to manage files, create documents and commitments, handle disbursements, communicate and share information with clients.
Electronic Records 鈥� While still not yet available in every county or title plant, most urban areas now have electronic records. Title professionals no longer have to drive to a set location to research property records. They can do research from a computer anywhere with an internet connection.
E-Recordings 鈥� Rather than taking the original documents to the County Register of Deeds to be put of record, recordings can be submitted online through various providers.
E-Signatures 鈥� E- Notaries/RON (remote online notarization) 鈥� This a rapidly evolving space and can be a major convenience for consumers and increase productivity for title agents.
Smart Contracts 鈥� SC’s are just beginning to become a reality. Self-executing contracts that follow an 鈥渋f-this-then-that鈥� protocol can streamline workflow and reduce errors.
Social Media 鈥� A powerful and ubiquitous vehicle that aids marketing and relationship efforts.
Technology is now a part of everything we do, and most every title agent recognizes the benefits of adopting some form of technology. Moving forward, technology is helping mitigate risks like wire fraud while helping us run more efficient businesses.
There can be a bit of tug-of-war over the adoption of new technology. The over 50-year-old work population has had to learn new technologies as adults, while Millennials grew up in the face of ever-evolving technology options, and the up-and-coming Generation Z has never known a life without the Internet.
Those from older generations have witnessed methods that were once industry best practices become obsolete in a brave new, technological world. In some cases, entire industries have had to evolve or risk becoming obsolete themselves.
The truth is the title insurance industry is behind, technologically speaking. Title insurance operates much like the check at the grocery store; although the check may remain an option for some time yet, it is not now, nor will it ever again be the dominate method of payment.
Yet our industry has been slow to adapt and embrace new technologies. Those who would drag their feet cite concerns about emerging technology, the validity of it and what the implications could be in the result of certain claims. These are valid concerns.
But a continued resistance is creating opportunity for those outside our industry to change it for us.
While the use of new technology does open doors to risk of claims or risk of being unintentionally negligent could increase, the waves of disruption don鈥檛 look to be letting up anytime soon.
To remain relevant, title agents must get on board and move full steam ahead.
Successful SSAE 18 Type II examination validates 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 processes for approving, monitoring and reviewing its agents
LONGMONT, Colo. 鈥� 海角吃瓜黑料mpany, a unique title insurance underwriter that partners with Independent Agents to improve their competitive position in the marketplace, announces the successful completion of the Service Organization Control (SOC 1) SSAE 18 Type II examination for the fifth consecutive year.
The examination results in an AICPA endorsed report stating that 海角吃瓜黑料mpany has maintained effective controls over its Agent Quality Management System. A-Lign Certified Public Accountants of Tampa, Fla., performed the engagement and certification.
The successful SSAE 18 Type II examination validates 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 processes for approving, monitoring, and reviewing its agents, which results in its agents being designated as Authorized Service Providers or Certified Service Providers of 海角吃瓜黑料. Under this framework, 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Independent Agents are reviewed annually against rigorous quality standards.
Lenders relying upon 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 oversight of its agents and Authorized and Certified Service Provider programs receive additional assurance that processes and controls are designed and function properly and accurately.
海角吃瓜黑料 was certified to the SSAE 16 Type I standard on Dec. 1, 2013 and received compliant status to the more rigorous SSAE 16 Type II standard effective Aug. 31, 2014 and each year through December 31, 2018. That makes 2018 the fifth consecutive year of continued compliance to SSAE Type II standards. The unqualified report was issued without exceptions.
“海角吃瓜黑料 was the first title insurance underwriter in the nation to obtain an SSAE16 Type II compliant status and is the only title insurance underwriter to achieve compliant status for five consecutive years. This certification provides strong independent assurance of our agent oversight systems to lenders and all stakeholders,” 海角吃瓜黑料 President and CEO, Bob Grubb said. “Our goal is to provide unequivocal evidence of the quality of our agents through an independently audited system.”
Tracey Webb, a Senior Vice President and Southeastern Region Agency Manager for 海角吃瓜黑料, has 30 years of title industry experience and is based in Atlanta
LONGMONT, Colo. 鈥� 海角吃瓜黑料mpany (海角吃瓜黑料) recently announced that Senior Vice President and Southeastern Region Agency Manager Tracey Webb, a title industry leader for over three decades, received the National Title Professional (NTP) designation from the American Land Title Association.
The American Land Title Association advises the NTP designation is designed to recognize land title professionals who demonstrate the knowledge, experience and dedication essential to the safe and efficient transfer of real property.
鈥淭racey is a very accomplished, professional and highly regarded title insurance industry executive,鈥� said Kyle Rank, executive vice president, agency, 海角吃瓜黑料. 鈥淢eeting the NTP designation鈥檚 stringent standards and criteria is further proof of her dedication to our independent agents鈥� success.鈥�
Webb, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, is also a Certified Public Accountant and is responsible for 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 agency group in the southeast.
鈥淎dvancing our industry through education and professional standards helps us all,鈥� Webb said. 鈥淚 look forward to continuing using my skills to serve our independent agents.鈥�
The Independent Underwriter for The Independent Agent庐, 海角吃瓜黑料 believes in putting other people first. The company protects the dreams of property owners with secure title insurance and partners with 450+ trusted independent title agents as a licensed underwriter in 24 states and the District of Columbia, with annual revenues exceeding $120 million. Visit alliantnational.com/newsroom for additional information.
