There’s a cancer eating away at the core of the title insurance industry, a fact well known by anyone who isn’t busy lining their pockets by fleecing consumers with shoddy work and bogus fees or otherwise blithely trashing the standards of the industry.
While the supposed stewards of the industry were busy counting their receipts, lone voices emerged drawing attention to the disease and suggesting a cure. Slowly we’ve banded together under the banner of Independent Agents. Single voices might be lost, but a crowd is hard to ignore. And the powers that be have taken notice, not to address the problem, but to wish it away.
Independent Agents exist because a failure of leadership. Those who we entrusted to represent us – the land title associations and our underwriters have utterly failed to address the crisis that is killing our industry and destroying our livelihoods.
Those who sit a the top of the industry have developed a see no evil, hear no evil policy – hoping that ignoring the disease will drive it away. In the face of ever mounting evidence of the industry’s malaise, they are now encouraging others to willfully suspend their disbelief and reality- dismiss the messenger and hopefully the message will be lost. Our supposed leaders don’t have much of a choice – they really can’t blame the messenger, since blame so clearly lies at their feet. By denying the messenger and the message, they can buy some time – to cash in their stock options, spin off subsidiaries, and if they are lucky, retire before the problem has to be addressed.
I was dismayed to see that Mike Pryor, the soon to be past president of ALTA and someone who has been known for speaking the truth, is parroting the party line stating Independent Agents don’t exist. I believe Mike is an honorable man, and truly has the best interests of the industry at heart, what I can’t believe is that Mike would try to obscure the truth to protect the status quo. I’m disappointed that we’ve found another failed leader.
There still might be time to save our industry but only if the problems are honestly discussed and real solutions are proposed. Pending legislation in New York and involvement of the Attorney General in Pennsylvania shows us that 3rd parties are standing ready to control our destiny, and I can’t say I blame them – we don’t appear interested in cleaning up our own mess.
And Mike – I am angry and it will last – the more I’m denied the stronger I believe…
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Dave:
A wonderfully honest post! Well done.
walk softly and carry a big stick. Many atta boys Dave for expressing the sentiment of many of our associates. There are independent title agents thruout the country and they will begin to speak in unison for the change that is inevitable. The days of ” business as usual ” are over. The non existant independent agent will materalize from the ashes of the destruction wrought on our industry by the corrupt few. Lets keep the clamor going. Join with your fellow title agents and take back what is your’s/ours. Voice your opinion . Join NAILTA.
Rob & Anthony – thanks for the kind words. I think we’ve reached a point where we have to carefully guard the messengers so that the message itself does not become lost.