Topic Operations
Will lack of diversity mean the end of your brokerage?
June 7, 2023 by Jason ContantInvesting in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives could literally spell the difference between survival and death for a brokerage, a panellist suggested Tuesday during a Canadian Underwriter webinar. Colette Taylor, chief operating officer at Sovereign Insurance, expressed concern about…
Easy, low-cost ways to improve DEI at your brokerage
June 6, 2023 by Jason ContantBrokerages that might not have resources to embark on large-scale diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs can start small by committing to change, a speaker said Tuesday during a Canadian Underwriter webinar. “If you’re a small brokerage, maybe don’t have…
What Canadian P&C workers look like today
June 5, 2023 by David GambrillCanada’s property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry workers are more diverse, younger, and better-educated than they were five years ago, according to the Insurance Institute of Canada’s 2022-23 demographics research report. Three-quarters of the more than 4,700 Canadian P&C industry…
How a shared-risk approach to tech can keep mutual insurers competitive
June 5, 2023 by Matthew ScottCanada’s mutual insurance industry has been around for as long as the country itself and has innovated over that time. Now it’s driving digital transformation to enable new capabilities, improve service and keep pace with market competition. These changes come…
Knowledge transfer key as senior leaders retire: Demographic report
June 2, 2023 by David GambrillDemographic patterns show an emerging need for knowledge transfer strategies while finding qualified people to fill vacated leadership and management positions due to retirement, according to a survey of industry HR professionals for the Insurance Institute of Canada’s 2022-23 industry…
How hybrid work can increase broker E&O risk
May 31, 2023 by David GambrillWorkplace flexibility, one feature of a hybrid workplace, has proven to be a selling point to attract younger brokers. But the hybrid office makes it difficult to supervise newly recruited brokers to make sure they’re doing things correctly, broker E&O…
How to start up your own independent brokerage
May 29, 2023 by David GambrillIf you want ultimate control and are thinking of starting up your own independent brokerage from scratch, you may want to think it through very carefully and not just jump into the deep end with your eyes closed, brokers advised…
Sales Column: How automation keeps brokers in front of clients
May 29, 2023 by Adam MitchellI had the privilege of interviewing Carol Jardine on a podcast at the end of her final day before retiring as Wawanesa’s president of Canadian P&C operations. What stood out for me is how our conversation illustrated the difference between…
Fifty shades of broker independence
May 26, 2023 by David GambrillIn a world dominated by growth via mergers and acquisitions, Canadian brokerages are operating under a variety of ownership models, making the modern concept of “broker independence” very nuanced, panellists observed Thursday in a Live with CU panel discussion. “I…
Why D&O brokers are looking at risk mitigation
May 19, 2023 by Philip PoradoAmid signs the recently easing directors and officers (D&O) coverage segment may gradually become a bit tougher, brokers and insurers will be taking a closer look at companies’ risk-mitigation procedures. When writing risks, Catherine Lanctot, senior vice president and national…
What’s behind Lloyd Sadd’s latest brokerage deal
May 16, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoNavacord founding partner Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers has acquired northern Alberta’s Casey Insurance, effective Apr. 1. Casey Insurance is a full-service brokerage offering home, auto and business insurance solutions to clients within the region of Peace River, Alta., and…
Definity’s McDougall merges with McFarlan Rowlands
May 8, 2023 by Jason ContantLarge Ontario brokerage McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited, a subsidiary of Definity Financial Corporation, has merged with another large provincial brokerage — McFarlan Rowlands Insurance Brokers Inc. The combination of McDougall and McFarlan Rowlands represents more than $700 million in annual…