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Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. Adds Brian Phillips to Team

posted Mar 29, 2017, 1:20 PM by web admin [ updated Mar 29, 2017, 1:21 PM ]

For Immediate Release

Denver, Colorado

March 27, 2017

Eric Morgan, President of Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATGF) of Denver, Colorado, is pleased to announce that the company has named Brian Phillips as Associate General Counsel. “Brian brings a wealth of real estate and title insurance experience to our team. He’ll be a tremendous asset and resource for our agents” said Eric Morgan.

In his new position, Mr. Phillips will act as senior underwriting and claims counsel for the company for Colorado and Utah. Prior to joining ATGF, Mr. Phillips was Vice President and Senior Claims Counsel for a major national title insurer. He is licensed in Colorado and Texas and will soon be licensed in Utah.

“Brian’s skills and experience are tremendous, and he’s a great fit for our culture of agent support and innovation. He’ll be a key contributor in shaping ongoing enhancements to the support services and technology we offer our agents,” said Morgan.

Mr. Phillips’s extensive experience includes land use disputes, title claims, defense of title insurers, as well as acquisitions, development and finance. He has a proven track record assisting clients and achieving desired results. Mr. Phillips is a graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the University of Colorado.

About Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.

Founded in 1960, ATGF has been providing best in class title insurance underwriting and services for more than 50 years. The company’s mission is helping agents succeed through trusted products and services, innovative technology and amazing support. The company currently pursues this mission by underwriting, training and supporting agents in Colorado, Utah, Minnesota and North Dakota. ATGF has maintained a strong Financial Stability Rating® (FSR) of A, Exceptional, from the independent rating agency, Demotech, Inc.

For more information on ATGF, contact ATGF’s president, Eric Morgan at emorgan@atgf.net or 303-383-4321. www.atgf.net

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ATGF Reports Record Profits

posted Mar 6, 2017, 1:37 PM by web admin

For Immediate Release

Denver, Colorado March 3, 2017

Eric Morgan, President of Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATGF) is pleased to announce the 2016 annual statement reports a net profit of $553,870, the company’s best financial performance in more than a decade.

Eric Morgan attributed the strong 2016 financial performance to several factors, including reduced claims on business done in the company’s proprietary title software, strong revenue growth and obtaining licenses in two additional states. “We had a very successful year on a number of fronts, including expanding our agent base and gaining our Certificate of Authority to operate as an underwriter in two additional states, which is already boosting our bottom line.”

Morgan points to the company’s proprietary web-based EPIC (Electronic Policy Issuance Capability) title production and underwriting system as the primary driver of the company’s upward trajectory. “The single most important aspect of the transformation of the company in the last few years has been the deployment of the EPIC system to all of our agents. It has had a tremendous impact in several ways, including a dramatic reduction in claims expense in recent policy years since we moved all our agents onto the system. It’s also created tremendous efficiencies for both ATGF and our agents.” The company provides the system to all its agents free of charge.

Morgan also added the company remains steadfast in its commitment to independent agents. “That’s really what we are about, supporting independent agents. That’s why everyone on our team gets up and comes to work in the morning – to help our agents succeed. It’s the absolute core of our company culture.”

About Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.

Founded in 1960, ATGF has been providing best in class title insurance underwriting and services for more than 50 years. The company’s mission is helping agents succeed through trusted products and services, innovative technology and amazing support. The company currently pursues this mission by underwriting, training and supporting agents in Colorado, Utah, Minnesota and North Dakota, ATGF has maintained a strong Financial Stability Rating® (FSR) of A, Exceptional, from the independent rating agency, Demotech, Inc.

For more information on ATGF or EPIC, contact ATGF’s president, Eric Morgan at emorgan@atgf.net or 303-383-4321. www.atgf.net

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ATGF Added to the Approved Master Title Underwriter List of Wells Fargo Mortgage Banker Finance Group

posted Jan 25, 2017, 5:48 AM by web admin

January 18, 2017

I’m pleased to announce that Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. has been added to the Approved Master Title Underwriter List of Wells Fargo Mortgage Banker Finance Group (WFMBFG). This is a significant achievement for all of us as it recognizes the value WFMBFG places on an ATGF policy. It is also a result of the continued support that you and all our agents have shown to ATGF over the years.

This is also significant because WFMBFG is the warehouse lender to a wide variety of mortgage brokers and bankers who rely on WFMBFG’s analysis of title underwriters. These mortgage companies accept or deny the agent’s underwriters based on the Approved Master Title Underwriter List, which I’ve attached to this email for your records.

We do not anticipate any issues, but if you receive a lender rejection letter, let us know immediately and we’ll get in touch with the lender involved and attempt to resolve the issue.

This announcement is a terrific way to start the year and I believe it signals a strong 2017 for all of us as the U.S. economic forecasts point towards solid growth. This follows our recent underwriting approvals for Minnesota and North Dakota in 2016. We are also developing innovative new offerings to help you remain competitive in 2017 and beyond. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Eric Morgan

President

| Attachments: MBFG Approved Master Title Underwriter List.pdf

ATGF Grows in Minnesota and North Dakota

posted Dec 12, 2016, 5:09 AM by web admin

Dec 12, 2016

We're proud to announce that ATGF is now a licensed underwriter for North Dakota, effective immediately. Our expanded capability is in addition to the underwriting approval we received earlier this year in Minnesota. Read the full announcement below.

| Attachments: ATGF-Announcement-Grows-NorthDakota-Minnesota-Dec2016-Web.pdf

Immediate feedback requested by LTAC on the Colorado DOI Sunset Review

posted Oct 22, 2016, 11:45 AM by web admin

This is a message forwarded on behalf of the Land Titles Association of Colorado (LTAC).

DOI Sunset Review – NEED FEEDBACK:

The Sunset Report for DOI has just been published and is attached. The report contains a recommendation that title insurance companies participate in a recovery fund; the discussion begins on page 61. It looks like they are contemplating a pre-funding mechanism but no details are provided as to how the pre-funding would occur and at what amount, directing DOI to fill in the blanks through rule-making.

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS to Land Titles Association of Colorado by Tuesday, October 25.

| Attachments: 2016Insurance.pdf

Colorado DOI releases draft regulations for comment

posted Oct 21, 2016, 12:53 PM by web admin

The Colorado Division of Insurance has released two new draft regulations (8-1-4 & 8-1-5) for comment. The deadline for comments is 5 pm October 25, 2016.

8-1-4 DRAFT FOR COMMENT

Attached is the draft of proposed new Colorado Insurance Regulation 8-1-4 - Title Insurance – Fiduciary Duties. The purposes of this regulation are to set forth the fiduciary duties of title entities and to create reporting requirements to assist the Division of Insurance (Division) with identifying and mitigating certain risk factors which may have an immediate and direct impact on the solvency of title insurance entities. The Division requests comments on this new draft regulation, so please submit comments to Matt Mortier at matt.mortier@state.co.us no later than 5 pm, October 25, 2016.

8-1-5 DRAFT FOR COMMENT

The Division has also released a draft of proposed new Colorado Insurance Regulation 8-1-5 - Title Insurance Agent Licensing for comment (attached below). It is believed that this is the language that is left so they may repeal 3-5-1. The purpose of this regulation is to set forth the title insurance agent licensing requirements. The Division requests comments on this new draft regulation, so please submit comments to Matt Mortier at matt.mortier@state.co.us no later than 5 pm, October 25, 2016.

| Attachments: DRAFT 8-1-4 for external 10-18-16.pdf DRAFT 8-1-5 for external 10-18-16.pdf

Change in Minnesota Trust Language - Updated

posted Jan 4, 2016, 5:43 AM by web admin [ updated Jan 4, 2016, 5:45 AM ]

Dec 30, 2015

There was a revision in the Minnesota Trust Law which became effective January 1, 2016 and affects trusts created before, or after, that date. The language in EPIC has been changed as follows:

Old Language

With respect to the conveyance to be made by _________ as Trustee of _______________, obtain the following for recording:

a. Complete Trust Instrument (together with any amendments) containing an unrestricted power of sale; OR Certificate of Trust (pursuant to MinnStat. 501B.56);

b. Affidavit of Trustee (pursuant to MinnStat. 501B.57); and

c. Trustee's Deed to ________________

New Language

With respect to the conveyance to be made by _________ as Trustee of _________________, obtain the following for recording:

a. Complete Trust Instrument (together with any amendments) containing an unrestricted power of sale; OR Certificate of Trust (pursuant to MinnStat. 501C.1013);

b. Affidavit of Trustee (pursuant to MinnStat. 501C.1014); and

c. Trustee’s Deed to _________________.

New Rate Calculator for Colorado and Utah

posted Dec 11, 2015, 8:29 AM by web admin

December 11, 2015

Introducing our NEW online rate calculators for Colorado and Utah! Go to http://www.atgf.net/agent-services/rates-fees to access the new calculators.

Webcast: ATGF's Guide to TILA-RESPA Integrated Mortgage Disclosures

posted Aug 7, 2015, 6:11 AM by web admin

Join us as we navigate through the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Mortgage Disclosure Rule and its effect on your business. We'll also show you how you can start the important conversation with your realtors and lenders and what you can do to prepare your agency for this big change. Login to EPIC for your link to the webcast. https://www.attorneydonedeal.com/atgfplus/login.asp.

Agent Advisory - Do not install Windows 10 at this time.

posted Jul 29, 2015, 11:44 AM by web admin [ updated Jul 29, 2015, 11:45 AM ]

Update Regarding the Windows 10 Release.

On July 29, Microsoft will begin the full release of its new operating system. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT INSTALL WINDOWS 10 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE FROM ATGF. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO EPIC IF YOU DO SO AT THIS TIME.

Testing of Pre-Release Versions

We have been testing pre-release versions of Windows 10 to ensure EPIC works as intended in this new operating system. However, the full release version has not yet been made available for testing. It is our strong recommendation that you do not install Windows 10 until we are able to completely test the full-release version.

Other Reasons Not To Upgrade at This Time

New operating systems often contain issues that need to be fixed in the weeks and months following release. It’s always a good idea to wait until the bugs have been fixed by Microsoft before installing.
Your PC might not meet the minimum specifications required to run Windows 10.
You will not be able to easily un-install Windows 10 to go back to Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.

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