As an Increasing Target for Claims, Nonprofits Seek More D&O Coverage

By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com

A nonprofit organization and its directors and officers face similar risks as a for-profit board of directors, and might have more to lose. But more and more, for a variety of reasons, nonprofits seem to realize the exposures.

The Line on Pricing

By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com

A nonprofit organization and its directors and officers face similar risks as a for-profit board of directors, and might have more to lose. But more and more, for a variety of reasons, nonprofits seem to realize the exposures.

Securities Suits Edge Up in 2011, But Remain Below Average

By Mark E. Ruquet

While securities class-action lawsuits edged up slightly in 2011, primarily driven by mergers-and-acquisition activity, the total number remained below average for the third year in a row, according to a Stanford Law School report.

After ‘Year of the Data Breach,’ Carriers Increase Capacity, Competition for Cyber Risks

By Michael P. Voelker

As cyber risks increasingly become a top-of-mind issue for a wide spectrum of businesses, the market for policies is wide open—and the competition intense.

Carriers, Producers Take on Consulting Role to Help Buyers Assess Cyber Needs

By Michael P. Voelker

In order to compete in an intense buyer’s market for Cyber Liability insurance, both carriers and brokers are stressing the consulting role they can play in helping companies assess their risk.

A Lawyer’s Advice for Evaluating Your Cyber Coverage

By Scott Godes

Policyholders and insureds exposed to cyber risks would be well served to analyze carefully their insurance policies to determine exactly which coverages apply to them—and to see if any critical coverages are missing.

In Personal Lines, Weather, Economy, NFIP Top Concerns

By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com

Leaders in personal lines discuss challenges and opportunities in the market in 2012.

While Rates Should Increase in 2012, Growth Will Prove Challenging

By Mark E. Ruquet, Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com

Anumber of recent reports conclude that commercial-insurance rates were up in 2011’s fourth quarter and are likely to remain in positive territory through 2012. But factors such as macro-economic conditions and loss-cost trends will limit insurers’ ability to generate underwriting profits, and carriers will have to look elsewhere—for example, mergers...

S&P Warns of Downgrades for Workers’ Comp Insurers

By Mark E. Ruquet

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service warns that signs are pointing to more unprofitable years for the U.S. Workers’ Compensation insurance market, and downgrades could be in the future if no improvement is shown.

2011 Crop Insurance Claims Payments Could Impact Regional Insurers

By Phil Gusman, PropertyCasualty360.com

National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) says indemnity payments in 2011 surpassed $9 billion for the first time in history—and Moody’s Investors Service says this development could put smaller, geographically concentrated insurers at risk.

Agent Incentives Upward Bound: Contingent Commissions to Increase for 2012, Says Ward Group

By Mark E. Ruquet

Contingent-commission payouts are expected to be 12 percent higher this year than in 2011 as insurers make changes in the way they compensate agents, according to a report from consulting firm Ward Group.

Number of Publicly Held Brokers May Grow Over Next Two Years

The universe of publicly held brokerage firms could expand within the next two years, with two firms that are now in the hands of private-equity interests re-entering the public sphere in the United States.

Global Broker Survey: Risk Managers Concerned About Insurance Pricing, Handling Risk with Fewer Resources

By Caroline McDonald, PropertyCasualty360.com

Nearly all risk managers (96 percent) have significant concerns about the availability and pricing of coverage, according to a survey of member firms of The Independents—an international coalition of insurance brokers and risk-management-services firms.

Big Gap Still Exists Between Perceived ERM Importance and Its Adoption

By Caroline McDonald, PropertyCasualty360.com

Even though enterprise risk management (ERM) is seen as a growing need for organizations globally, companies are still struggling to implement the practice enterprise-wide, according to an industry study.

‘Friends of Eddie’ Plan Real-Time Party

By Laura Mazzuca Toops, PropertyCasualty360.com

Are you a F.O.E. (Friend of Eddie)? Lots of agents are, and now there’s a plan to help you get to know him a lot better—and to introduce him to new friends.

Agents Can Help Nonprofits Put Claims in the Right Place

By William R. Henry Jr.

As nonprofit organizations struggle to balance their missions against their budgets, they often feel as though they have a twin-size sheet for a king-size bed.

Fraud 101: Sometimes a Hunch Is All It Takes

By Christopher Tidball

There is no question that insurance fraud costs Americans billions of dollars annually. According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF), the business of fraud costs the industry an estimated $80-$120 billion each year.

Will Economic Crisis in Eurozone Affect Solvency II?

By Tom Sullivan

Many industry observers consider Solvency II to be a worthy attempt by European regulators to forge a more uniform approach to safety and soundness supervision. Its impact extends beyond Europe: It has influenced global-standard setters at the International Association of Insurance Supervisors and has even had an impact here in...

Three Key Emerging Trends in Cyber Security

By Eric Friedberg , Ed Stroz

Businesses now more than ever need to think proactively about protecting customer information, and in turn their own corporate reputation, by treating cyber security as a process rather than a one-time product.