Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a 3.8% decline in first-quarter profit, as underwriting results declined at insurance businesses and on reduced earnings from Chairman Warren Buffetts derivatives wagers.

Target Corp. Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel, dogged by questions over whether the company responded quickly enough to a data breach last year, will step down as chairman, president and CEO.

Many companies aren't willing to give up on their legacy systems just yet. The risk lies in trading the known for the unknown. Systems contain business rules that reflect decades of company history, records of products and customers, data that can be mined and other valuable assets.

"Pencil whip" has become a popular term among military personnel and auditors. But what does it have to do with the insurance industry?

Various legislative proposals to abolish the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the housing finance giants commonly known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, could establish a new federal presence in the oversight of private mortgage insurance.

Manual processes lack version control, audit processes, consistency and scalability. Today's industry warrants automation technology.

Sub-bonds offer a combination of payment and performance protection. Independent agents have an opportunity to educate their customers about the benefits of these financial tools.

Walmart is partnering with AutoInsurance.com to offer auto-insurance quotes from multiple insurers online. The service launches immediately in eight states with plans to expand nationwide.