Loose Cannons.

The article reports that the insurance industry is moving from company-employed agents toward freelancers juggling multiple brands with varying degrees of honesty or craft. In 1990 most agents worked directly for insurers, ten years later it was the reverse, with an estimated 480,000 independents versus 178,000 company types. Only six states have broad standards for selling policies suitable to customers. A National Association of Insurance Commissioners panel is developing a model act for all states to consider adopting. Insurers are resisting, believing their legal liability would worsen.