Q: Last year, the record-breaking attendance you had at NAPSLO's annual conference in San Diego seemed to set the tone that business was gathering steam again, and the sentiment among those with whom we spoke seemed to be that “This is a good time to be in Excess & Surplus lines.” How would you characterize the overall mood this year? What are you seeing and hearing, and how would you characterize the state of the industry from your own perspective?
All of the numbers are up: Attendance here has again increased this year; A.M. Best's report is out, indicating continued growth in surplus lines premium; we see continued strength in surplus lines ratings … things are on the rise. We see continued growth in 2014 surplus lines premiums, and the stats reported by stamping offices has also been very favorable. I also continue to see the optimism, hear the positive comments about the industry—and it's still a very good business to be in.
Q: It would seem that one of the greatest challenges for the wholesale/surplus lines industry today is to effectively communicate to the retail community as well as the buyer the value the wholesale broker brings to the transaction. How do you accomplish that, both as an organization and at the broker level?
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Shawn Moynihan
Shawn Moynihan is Editor-in-Chief of National Underwriter Property & Casualty. A St. John’s University alum, Moynihan has earned 11 Jesse H. Neal Awards, the Pulitzers of the business press; seven Azbee Awards, from the American Society of Business Press Editors; two Folio Awards; and a SABEW award, from the Society of American Business Editors & Writers. Prior to joining ALM, he served as Managing Editor/Online Editor of journalism institution Editor & Publisher, the trade bible of the newspaper industry. Moynihan also has held editorial positions with AOL, Metro New York, and Newhouse Newspapers. He can be reached at [email protected].
