Topic Brokers
Will Nova Scotia earthquake spur uptake in insurance coverage?
October 1, 2018 by Jason ContantA small earthquake that struck Nova Scotia’s western shore Saturday has again highlighted the lack of uptake of earthquake coverage in Atlantic Canada. At about 10:30 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 29, a magnitude-3.1 quake struck off the coast…
How to bring up the marijuana discussion with clients
September 28, 2018 by Jason ContantBrokers need to know what their client’s habitational lease or contract states about marijuana use to provide their best advice, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario said Thursday. Kevin O’Hare, IBAO’s education supervisor and instructional designer, said brokers need to…
Why brokers should ‘shoot the breeze’ with clients
September 25, 2018 by Greg MeckbachWhile brokers communicate with clients for a variety of reasons, such as renewals and claims, “shooting the breeze” can be just as beneficial for the business, suggests a speaker scheduled to address next month’s Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario annual…
Why cyber can be a hard sell for brokers
September 24, 2018 by Greg MeckbachData breaches are all over the news, but convincing some corporate clients to spend in the neighbourhood of $1,000 a year for insurance coverage can be an uphill battle. Some cyber insurance products cost around $100 a year, but those…
How commercial insurers are addressing this D&O coverage gap
September 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf your corporate client goes under and occupies polluted land, what happens if individual directors are left on the hook to clean up environmental contamination? This is the subject of “long, complex discussions” that Aon Canada brokers are having with…
How artificial intelligence can help brokers close sales
September 20, 2018 by Greg MeckbachArtificial intelligence could help a brokerage figure out how likely a prospective client is to actually buy insurance. At least that’s what officials with Surex Direct are hoping. Magreth, Alta.-based Surex Direct places home, auto and commercial lines and says…
More commercial brokerage consolidation could follow Marsh-JLT combo
September 19, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA US$6-billion merger between Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc could form the world’s largest commercial brokerage, and more mergers and acquisitions among commercial brokerages will likely to follow, a Canadian M&A expert suggests. Marsh…
How Intact and Aviva are preparing for a possible Canada Post strike
September 19, 2018 by Jason ContantCanada’s two largest insurers have plans in place to provide policy documents to consumers in the event of a postal strike. Workers at Canada Post may strike as early as Sept. 26 if their union cannot reach a new contract…
Why this brokerage is not looking to hire insurance experts
September 18, 2018 by Greg MeckbachWhen Matt Alston hires workers for his property and casualty brokerage, he is not looking for a walking encyclopedia of insurance. At Surex Direct, personality “always trumps technical skills and accreditations,” said Alston, Surex Direct’s co-founder and chief operating officer.…
Marsh & McLennan agrees to buy Jardine Lloyd Thompson
September 18, 2018 by Greg MeckbachIf a US$6.4-billion deal announced Tuesday is approved, commercial brokerages Marsh and Jardine Lloyd Thompson will be owned by the same company. New York City-based Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. says its board of directors has agreed to an acquisition…
Hub’s Top 3 trends for commercial brokers
September 16, 2018 by Jason ContantThere are indications the commercial insurance market in Canada is starting to see rate hardening, the president of Hub International Canada told Canadian Underwriter Friday. “It hasn’t all hit yet, so I want to be clear on that,” Tina Osen…
Why Quebec’s largest brokerage doubled up on life insurance
September 11, 2018 by Jason ContantFor its latest acquisition, Quebec’s largest brokerage decided to look outside its traditional stronghold of property and casualty insurance, which represents about 90% of its revenue base. On Aug. 8, Lussier Dale Parizeau announced the acquisition of Trinome Conseils. Patrice…