Global reinsurers are looking at the current rise of managing general agencies (MGAs) with a critical eye, questioning whether the phenomenon will be long-lasting, or simply a fad rooted in a hard-market demand for capacity. “At the risk of sounding…
Brokerage M&A has been hectic so far in 2022, with one firm bringing eight brokerages across Canada under its wing during the summer. Navacord today announced it closed eight acquisitions during July and August that expands the company’s presence in…
Canadian managing general agencies (MGAs) have developed a new real-time, online platform that allows brokers to match their quote applications with MGAs underwriting that specific class of business. Once the match has been made, the platform promises to shave days,…
Synex Business Performance plans to end this year with more than $1 billion in premium, a far cry from its humble beginnings of $3 million in premium just seven years ago. Currently, the Quebec City-based holding company has about $800…
Navacord Corp. has entered into a new province with the acquisition of Winnipeg-based ONYX Financial Group. ONYX’s portfolio encompasses benefits consulting and wealth management services, “and they have fortified a well-known presence within Manitoba and [northwestern] Ontario because of their…
One cyber insurance specialist is warning brokers and clients of a ransomware attack method that subverts common cybersecurity controls by tricking victims into phoning a call centre – rather than clicking a link – and instructing them to download malicious…
Canadian Insurance Services Regulatory Organizations (CISRO) will soon be engaging Canada’s national MGA association to find out the emerging risks for the sector, the regulator said during a recent industry event. “Later this year, CISRO will be engaging CAMGA [Canadian…
Here’s some cyber security advice for your clients: time to install multi-factor authentication (MFA). In the future, that advice may morph to: Please send us a scan of all your tech vulnerabilities, so we can see what cybercriminals see. As…
Modern tech companies are moving along at a much faster pace than the insurance policies designed to protect them, says Michael Brunero, head of tech, media and intellectual property (IP) at CFC Underwriting. “We started to realize the policy that…
For years, insurers have poached commercial underwriters from one another amid M&A activity, an aging population and hard/soft markets. But that’s left the industry with less seasoned talent and slower investment in acquisition, training and retention. “Suddenly, more so than…
Although the industry achieved a highwater mark financial result in 2021, industry executives are cautioning insurers to keep their powder dry and not reduce pricing drastically to grow market share. “I just look through the windscreen, all the things coming…
Staying one step ahead of cybercriminals seems to be a never-ending battle for insurers and insureds, cyber experts said during an industry event Wednesday. “The problem is, as we increase our cyber hygiene and become better insureds, the criminals adapt…