Allstate to trim agent ranks

NORTHBROOK - Allstate Corp., the second-largest home and auto insurer nationwide, is buying agencies from some underperforming agents after the company began measuring their performance using customer loyalty as a standard, Chief Executive Officer Tom Wilson said. Customer loyalty rose in each region of the U.S. in 2009, Wilson said. Agents that didn't meet their goals "are leaving our organization," he said on a conference call with analysts and investors Thursday. Some agents are selling their business to other agents, and when they don't have that option, Allstate is buying their business.