National Underwriter P&C February-26, 2009
Cover Story
'Going Green' Boosts Bottom Line, As Insurers Cultivate New Crop Of Policies
While some may dismiss talk about environmental sustainability as a misguided or even bogus agenda for liberal activists, the economic reality is that "going green" means new, potentially lucrative
Opinion
-
Is Global Warming Just Our Catastrophe Du Jour?
Ever since the infamous Chicken Little freaked out about the imminent descent of the sky, alarmed people everywhere have taken a certain morbid delight in anticipating the next great catastrophe to
-
Agents Hit With Cheap Shot
Is the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America lobbying against federal regulation out of fear it would facilitate more direct sales via the Web and telephone, thus bypassing its members?
News
-
NAPSLO Actively Monitoring State Court Rulings
In addition to efforts to secure passage in Congress of legislation reforming and modernizing regulation of the surplus insurance market, NAPSLO representatives said several state issues are also on
-
AIG Bailout Impact Reverberates In Specialty Insurance Market
Not since 2001 has the date of one of the biggest events on the E&S/specialty lines market calendar coincided with what may be a turning point for the market and the property-casualty insurance
-
Business, Personal Health Advice On Tap For NAPSLO Mid-Year Meeting
Whether you have questions about your personal health or the health of the industry, or are looking for tips on running your business, the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices
-
Licensing In Focus
As surplus lines associations push for federal legislation reforming and modernizing regulation of the surplus insurance market, they are keeping a close eye on state producer licensing issues,
-
When P-C Markets Harden, Wholesalers Can Provide Emergency Care For Agents
Specifically, there are signs that our country's financial crisis, coupled with last year's catastrophic losses and an overall deterioration in combined ratios, will halt the erosion in price, terms
-
Letter From The President
Welcome to the Mid-Year Educational Workshop for the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO). Over the years, I've found this meeting to be an excellent opportunity to
-
Top E&S/Specialty Story Of 2009: It's The Economy Stupid, Execs Say
Glancing in a rearview mirror to look back on the events of 2008, and gazing into their crystal balls to forecast what's ahead, the consensus was that the top story that will impact the E&S/specialty
-
London Needs To Wake Up To U.S. MGA Tech Issues, Group Says
Members of the automation committee of the American Association of Managing General Agents shared their views on the two automation barriers in September during the annual convention of the National
-
Environmental Insurer Opportunities In Emerging Technologies and Pollution-Free Initiatives
While economy-related slowdowns in construction and merger-and-acquisition activity have adversely affected writers of environmental liability coverage in the short term, growth opportunities for the
-
NAPSLO Launches Executive Leadership School
Continuing its efforts to expand educational opportunities for member firms, the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices, Ltd. announced the launch today of the NAPSLO Executive
-
Harder Market, But Tough Year Ahead In 2009, NAPSLO Members Predict
When Tap Johnson III, president of TAPCO Underwriters in Burlington, N.C., shared that prediction with NAPSLO Daily, his view of the timing of the return to hard market conditions was typical of
-
Industry Executives Reflect On 2008 Lessons
The fall of insurance industry giants in 2008 and the unraveling of the banking and credit markets provide our industry with an opportunity to learn some valuable lessons, according to executives of
-
Insurers Can Learn From Other Financial Institutions, Navigators Exec Says
Before NU NAPSLO Daily interviewed executives to hear their views on the lessons of 2008, Stanley Galanski, president and chief executive officer of The Navigators Group, delivered his own
-
From Levees To Nudist Camps, E&S Writers Take On Most Unusual Risks
Specialty players share some of their challenging and interesting
-
NAPSLO Resumes Push To Secure Regulatory Standards Bill In New Congress
Insurance associations representing brokers who sell excess and surplus lines say they will move aggressively this year to secure passage in Congress of legislation reforming and modernizing
-
Builders Risk Insurers Left In Lurch As Recession, Credit Crisis Cut Projects
The construction industry continues to struggle in the current economic downturn, with new project starts down in both the residential and commercial sectors. Securing builders risk coverage for
-
NAPSLO Members Brace To Weather Economic Storms Ahead
What do you believe will be the most important events or major trends that will impact the E&S/specialty segment in 2009? How will each event or trend impact your business and the E&S segment
-
PCI Says Bailout Bucks Give AIG Unfair Competitive Edge
However, for the record, at least one industry group--the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America--filed a complaint against any further federal support, urging Washington to rethink plans to
-
Optional Federal Charter Called A 'Useful Idea' For Insurers By Fed Chair
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke told House members last week it would be a "useful idea" to create a federal charter option for insurers, "particularly for large, systemically critical
-
New Coalition Formed To Protect 'Main Street' In Regulatory Reform
A pair of insurance company and producer associations has joined forces with the largest credit union trade organization to form an interest group aimed at making sure financial services regulatory
-
MMC To Focus On Small-Agency Buying
Marsh & McLennan's focus this year will be on building its small-commercial market insurance agency business--a niche the company's chief executive said should be highly profitable, but which he
-
MMC To Pay $83.5 Million To Settle Bid-Rigging Litigation
Marsh & McLennan Companies will pay more than $83.5 million to settle a class-action suit filed by those who were clients of the firm's insurance brokerage arm while it engaged in alleged bid-rigging
-
NAIC Task Force Adopts Climate Change Survey To Assess Impact On Insurers
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Climate Change and Global Warming Task Force voted last week to adopt a mandatory "Climate Risk Disclosure Survey" that would query insurers on how
-
Stimulus Benefits Seen For P-C Insurers
Workers' compensation will likely be the property-casualty line to benefit most from the economic stimulus package signed into law by President Barack Obama, although it may be quite awhile before
-
Systemic Regs Urged Before Insurance Fix
Congress should concentrate on drafting legislation to reduce systemic risk to the financial system before tackling solvency and consumer protection in the stable insurance sector, the Property
-
Entries Due By March 9 For NU Agency Tech Award
Time is running out to enter the second annual National Underwriter "Agency Technology Achievement Award" program, run in partnership with the ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum, as multiline
Market Report
-
Viewing The World Thru Green-Colored Glasses Shows Insurers New Opportunities
The "green" movement is becoming progressively more relevant to the insurance industry as consumers react to reports about the impact of climate change, and as President Barack Obama launches his
-
Insurers Can Rise To Climate Challenge
Underwriting cited as most profound problem in coping with environmental
-
NAIC Task Force Adopts Climate Change Survey To Help Assess Impact On Insurers
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Climate Change and Global Warming Task Force voted last week to adopt a mandatory "Climate Risk Disclosure Survey" that would query insurers on how
-
Insurers 'Walk The Walk' On Environment
Selling "green" insurance products might be just another niche for a carrier. But to effectively market coverage for such exposures to true believers, it helps to "walk the walk" if you're going to
