When the time comes to write this monthly message, the selfish wish for some over-arching crisis or event is strong. However, for good or for bad, the only thing “hot” right now is the weather. Legislators are dispersed to their respective homes, lobbyists are busy checking out the bridal registry for Charlie's and Carole's gifts. Even Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty seems to be taking a breather.

To the jaded, all this inactivity is just a sign of trouble ahead — like the duck placidly swimming along, while underneath his legs are furiously churning. What challenges lurk under the water?

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is still an issue, of course. With 1.3 million policyholders, Citizens remains the elephant in the room. But until the new board is seated (after this issue goes to press), and begins to discuss and vote on how Florida's largest homeowners' insurer will move forward, everything is just speculation. Determined not to repeat the missteps of 2004, when it was universally panned for its claim-handling in that multi-hurricane season, Citizens has spent considerable time and money shoring up its claim processes and operations. It also has worked on its finances. In June, Citizens' financial adviser John Forney, a managing director with Raymond James, said Citizens has more than $20 billion in claim-paying capacity. However, consumers and industry experts remain wary. No less an authority than Insurance Information Institute President Robert Hartwig, CPCU, recently told the Florida Association of Insurance Agents that, “Every residual market has gone broke even without an event.”