National Underwriter P&C October 22, 2012
Cover Story
Knowledge Is Power for P&C Agencies Looking to Take On Life, Health and Employee-Benefits Business
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has brought a degree of uncertainty to property and casualty independent agencies’ sale of employees benefits, but some experts say it may also be a time of opportunity for them as clients learn to navigate the new health care benefits landscape.
Cover Story
-
State of Uncertainty: Producers’ Role in the Insurance Exchanges
One of the major changes under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) will be the mandated creation of state insurance exchanges by 2014. The exchanges will be able to craft plans for individuals and small businesses that were previously paying higher premiums or unable to afford coverage.
-
Don’t Have a Life & Health Expert? Hire a Consultant
For P&C Agencies looking to expand into selling Life & Health, one alternative to hiring a full-time Life producer is working with a consulting firm.
NAPSLO
-
NAPSLO Notebook: Scene & Heard
NATIONAL UNDERWRITER had two reporters on site in Atlanta Oct. 8-10 at the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices’ (NAPSLO) annual convention: Editor-in-Chief Bryant Rousseau and Chad Hemenway, senior editor, markets. Here are their reports from the show floor, along with comments from several NAPSLO board members on what...
Special Report
-
Reinsurance Roundup: Tornado Losses Drive Demand for Aggregate Protections
Severe tornado and hail events across the U.S. have significantly impacted the results of U.S. insurers (severe storms caused $25 billion in losses in 2011), leading them to re-evaluate coverage and pricing considerations and to look for products that specifically address these risks, says Christina Cronin, senior vice president of...
News
-
KBW’s Q3 Earnings Forecast: ‘Better Than Feared,’ But Investment Income, Reserve Releases Remain Concerns
The good news for insurance companies is that, in general, rate increases may have outpaced loss trends in this year’s third quarter. But the benefits to carriers may be offset by growing reserve pressures and the continued “slow-motion collapse” of investment income, according to new analysis by Keefe, Bruyette &...
-
Plumeri Stepping Down as Willis CEO
Joe Plumeri—the man who removed the door from his office to drive home his philosophy of transparency as he returned Willis Group to public ownership—is stepping down as chairman and CEO of the world’s third-largest brokerage.
-
In 10-Year Review of Performance Metrics, Regionals Lag Behind Other Insurers
The last decade has been a rough one for regional insurers, judging by a Fitch Ratings performance review that shows regionals lagging behind other types of insurers in two key metrics.
-
Alterra Expecting Up to $15M in Q3 Cat Losses
Specialty-insurer Alterra Capital Holdings tells investors it expects third-quarter catastrophe losses of between $10 million and $15 million.
-
Independent Producers Select Acuity as Top P&C Performer for Ease of Placing Business
In a survey conducted by research and consulting firm Deep Customer Connections about carriers’ performance, 99 percent of independent agents and brokers polled reported that ease of doing business is critical in their choice of carriers—and to that end, Acuity tops their list.
-
Marsh: Excess/Umbrella Casualty Rates Up Again in Q3
Rates for Excess/Umbrella Casualty coverage continued to rise in 2012’s third quarter as more large companies faced increases, according to a new report from Marsh.
-
Brown & Brown Q3 Net Income Rises 12%
Dayton Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brown saw its net income rise 12 percent ($5.33 million) in 2012’s third quarter to $49.5 million. Revenues were up 17 percent ($43.4 million) to $303.8 million.
-
Extra Credit: Continuing Education Options for Risk Managers
The traditional defense-oriented, insurance-based role of the risk manager is giving way to an opportunities-driven approach linked to corporate strategy—a trend that is pushing risk professionals to seek continuing education (CE) courses teaching the business skills they need to stay competitive in today’s market.
Opinion
-
Scottsdale’s Michael Miller: E&S Expert
Since 2004 Michael Miller has been president of Scottsdale Insurance, a leading E&S underwriter. Miller has 35 years of insurance-industry experience, with 26 of those years spent with Nationwide, Scottsdale’s parent company. Here he talks about the current market cycle, lines Scottsdale is targeting for growth, and why E&S carriers...
-
Accident-Avoidance Tech Can Increase Claims Severity
While attending a recent car show, I came across a reproduction window sticker displayed in a mint-condition 1966 Mercury Marauder.
-
Will Health-Care Reform Help Big Brokers Steal Your Business?
Recently I had the pleasure of speaking at the third annual WorkComp Advisory Group’s “Knowledge and Networking” event. (The organization works with independent agencies to develop sales strategies, centered on but not exclusively targeted to Workers’ Comp.)
-
Aviation Insurance: Four Steps to Flight
As an Aviation Insurance broker with more than 25 years in this specialized industry, I’ve served as an Aviation resource manager at both boutique and international firms. And although the economy has caused a lot of hardship in the industry, it’s still a great specialty. In fact, your current clients...
Resource Library
View All »
Learn and Apply the Secrets of Successful Businesses to Your...
What does it take to elevate your agency to be known as the best of...
Have you outgrown your QA system?
Your claims audit tools must handle organizational growth and changing best practices. Download the "25...
Complimentary Sales Closer Questionnaires for Commercial Residential Property Insurance
Help property owners or managers compare your commercial residential property insurance coverage vs. the competition....
The Latest Business Intelligence Capabilities to Reduce Costs and Enhance...
SIMS Insight is the advanced business intelligence module of SIMS Claims. Want more information? Download...
Top Trends in Roof Risk Mitigation
Get an in-depth look at the progression of the roof problem, including a four-step path...
When Banks Won't Help, Oak Street Funding Will.
Our commission-based loans are designed to help agents and brokers invest in their business, consolidate...
Home Run Leads are Here!
Our high quality leads will have you swinging for the fences and knocking your sales...
We Have Your New Formula for Success!
Your goal is to deliver maximum impact on those critical aspects of business that drive...
Complimentary White Paper: What Makes a House a Home?
The restoration vendor is the first person on site after a disaster strikes a home...
Complimentary Case Study on Data and Analytics Solutions
Infinilytics provided their client a solution platform with an increased scope of data insight and...
Trending & Most Popular
Events
17th Annual America’s Claims Event
When: June 19-21, 2013
Where: Austin, Texas
The ONLY industry event where senior managers, practitioners & experts involved with claims operations can get the insight they need to implement effective and tactical strategies for their claims handling process.
