National Underwriter P&C May-24, 2010
Cover Story
Foreign Firms Post Biggest U.S. Gains In Shrinking E&S Insurance Market
Non-U.S. organizations vaulted up a premium ranking of writers of excess and surplus lines insurance in the United States in 2009, although industrywide U.S. E&S premiums shrank for the third straight year.
Opinion
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Ode To Tom Slattery
If it weren't for my former editor, Thomas J. Slattery, I would not be writing this blog today.
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Agencies Face Generational Problems & Opportunities
One grim reality faces Americans today in a way not felt for generations--there are simply not enough jobs to go around.
News
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Insurers Put Back On The Hot Seat In House Probe Of Credit Scoring
Insurer use of consumer credit scoring for underwriting and pricing personal lines coverage was back under the glare of a congressional spotlight this month, with industry officials fending off attacks on the accuracy and fairness of such rating tools.
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Chinese Drywall Maker Settles Lawsuit
After seeing damages awarded against it in one lawsuit, a Chinese drywall maker announced last week that it settled a case brought against it by U.S. homebuilder Beazer Homes for an undisclosed dollar amount.
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Tom Slattery, Former Editor Of NU, Passes Away At 68
Thomas J. Slattery, for many years the editorial leader of National Underwriter, passed away on May 14 of respiratory failure at the age of 68.
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Top Brokerages Report Mixed Results
The three biggest insurance brokerages reported mixed results for the first quarter, with Aon seeing a big drop in net income, Marsh & McLennan reporting a substantial gain, and Willis a more modest jump.
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Agency Award Entries Invited
Independent agencies are invited to enter the 2010 Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year Award program, run by National Underwriter and American Agent & Broker, with entries due by July 1.
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AmWINS Gets Bigger; New Wholesalers Launched By Veterans Ryan, Hargrove
A soft market hasn't stopped excess and surplus lines industry veterans from building and launching businesses--and wholesale brokerages have been as active as carriers in the early part of 2010.
Market Report
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Fresh Thinking From Insurers Can Help Boost A Sluggish Homebuilders Market
Signs of life may be returning to the residential construction industry, but the recession has left banks and developers suffering an unpleasant hangover.
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Program Carriers Remain Selective Even As Most Program Administrators Stay Put
Joseph Peloso, a veteran of the program business segment, remembers a time when unsolicited program proposals flooded the desks of property and casualty underwriters, offering more business than they could possibly handle.
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New E&S Insurance Operation Kinsale Launched In Growing Richmond Hub
With Richmond, Va., continually growing as an excess and surplus lines insurance hub, the newest E&S carrier to set up shop there will distinguish itself with a "contrarian underwriting strategy," the company's chief executive says.
Technology Trends
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Agency Leaders Positioned To Take Real-Time Campaign To Next Level
Think of real-time technology processing--the ability to access carrier information through an agency management system immediately--as a recently planted lawn with lots of young grass, but also some patches of brown.
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Consumer Demand Will Speed Up Real-Time Adoption By Agents, Carriers
In the insurance industry, good communication between carriers and agents has always been essential, particularly when a carrier's ability to work effectively with agents has such a clear bottom-line impact.
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Best-Of-Breed Strategy Boosts IT Success
For property and casualty insurers looking to replace or renew core information technology systems in this challenging economy, best-of-breed solutions offer a compelling alternative to one-size-fits-all suites.
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