Last September, Robert P. Hartwig, president of Insurance Information Institute, gave a presentation titled “How to Live to be 100 in the Property-Casualty Insurance Industry.”
The presentation was an analysis of the reasons why some insurance companies have managed to survive for more than 100 years while others fail. One of the more interesting portions of the presentation dealt with characteristics of insurers that stand the test of time. These included a highly focused business model; community interest and commitment; relatively slower growth and smaller size; and a measured commitment to maximizing profit.
But a very revealing characteristic: an ownership structure or culture embodying a mutual or cooperative concept. This last point was dramatically illustrated by data that confirmed that nearly 64 percent of insurers 100 years old or older are mutual or reciprocal insurers. In sum, the characteristics combine to emphasize long-term perspective, consistency and stability.
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