Topic Brokers
Two ways brokers can tame the market-consolidation juggernaut
June 28, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoBuilding relationships across the industry and offering consistency can help brokers overcome a slew of future challenges, including quickening market consolidation, an impending recession, diminished capacity and the hard market, say broker executives. “In order to be able to meet…
Post-Kenney, will the auto rate cap return after the next AB election?
June 27, 2022 by Jason ContantOutgoing Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s announcement last month that he will step down following a leadership review is raising concerns among brokers in the province about the possibility of another auto insurance rate cap. In 2017, Alberta’s NDP government under…
How the industry can better promote 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion
June 27, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoMany Canadian P&C companies have shown their support for 2SLGBTQ+ Pride by emblazoning their company logo in rainbow colourways. But creating employee-resource groups, recruitment practices and marketing that embraces 2SLGBTQ+ employees, stakeholders and policyholders is critical for moving the dial…
Digital-only for P&C consumers after the pandemic? Not so fast…
June 24, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoDespite online insurance gaining popularity, consumers still need — and want — personalized advice from their insurance companies and brokers, executives observed during a recent industry panel discussion. “I had really thought at the end of 2020 that digital…
Broker or insurer: Who’s responsible for letters of non-renewal on auto policies?
June 23, 2022 by Jason ContantThe issue of how much responsibility an Ontario broker has for sending out non-renewal notices to auto insurance clients is in the spotlight, featuring an online discussion focused on adequate notice time and the possibility of errors and omissions (E&O)…
Don Forgeron to retire from Insurance Bureau of Canada
June 23, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoDon Forgeron will retire as president and CEO of the Insurance Bureau of Canada after a tenure of almost 30 years. He will also retire as a member of the IBC’s board of directors. The search for Forgeron’s successor will…
Water damage dispute: Why the court wouldn’t end three-year dispute resolution
June 22, 2022 by David GambrillB.C.’s Supreme Court has denied a claimant’s attempt to bail out of two mandatory dispute resolution hearings with multiple insurers in a three-year dispute over the value of water damage in her strata unit. “The plaintiff is understandably frustrated by…
How much of the industry will change hands in five years: Intact exec
June 22, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoCanada’s largest insurer thinks 15% of insurers will undergo ownership changes in the next five years. “We predict that about 15% of the existing market shares will change hands in the next five years,” said Louis Gagnon, CEO of Intact…
Commissions may not compensate brokers for rising workloads
June 21, 2022 by David GambrillCommission structure doesn’t always compensate for the time brokers must spend preparing for prospective business, only to have a client reject the proposal, said a broker responding to Canadian Underwriter’s latest National Broker Survey. “If I go to a dentist,…
Three key issues facing the broker channel
June 21, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoExpect the quickening pace of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity to present a big challenge — or advantage — to brokers, Joseph Carnevale, president at Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, said at the Young Brokers Conference. The Insurance Broker…
Yes, COVID-19 really did boost broker workloads
June 20, 2022 by David GambrillWhile the pandemic created extra work for brokers, it also highlighted the value of the broker proposition, which includes, choice, advice and advocacy, according to Canadian Underwriter‘s 2022 National Broker Survey, which asked more than 250 brokers nationwide about challenges…
How the industry is addressing service level challenges
June 20, 2022 by Alyssa DiSabatinoConsumer behaviour, supply chain issues and staffing shortages are among the reasons why service levels have been challenged in recent months, but revamping outdated technology and insourcing claims may help ease the backlog, say industry executives. Processing claims in-house helps…