If we are to learn anything from the Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami, it’s that the time has come to take a closer look at the nuclear power plants in the United states and their locations near known fault lines and fault regions.

Fortunately for the insurance world, executives are hungry for this information and are convinced that getting a 360 degree view of their customer—both agents and policyholders—is worthwhile. They actively take this information and turn it into strategies for attracting new business, rejecting old business, and sorting through claims.

Insurance accounting manual processes eliminated—and compliance issues solved—thanks to financial software.

Insurance accounting manual processes eliminated—and compliance issues solved—thanks to financial software.

I’m sure the phones were ringing in the offices of insurance carriers based in Illinois when the announcement came last week that secretary of the treasury Timothy Geithner had selected Michael McRaith to be the first director of the Federal Insurance Office.

Buckeye Insurance Group is a small company with some big technology plans. As an insurer, Buckeye writes $60 million in premium in eight states, mostly in the Midwest. But Buckeye is more than an insurer. The group’s latest addition is an IT services company, Marias Technology, which will offer its...

The insurance industry has developed into a perfect storm of increased competition, lackluster investment income, high consumer expectations, and a diversifying market. This combination of factors is making it difficult for many insurers to show consistent profits.

Last week’s events in Japan has the world—and the insurance industry—reeling. Not only has Japan seen an enormous earthquake and the resulting tsunami, but the country is still trying to avoid what could be an even bigger catastrophe—failure of one or more nuclear power plants.