Topic Operations
Brokerage looking to expand outside home province
February 9, 2024 by Jason ContantBritish Columbia-based brokerage AMC Insurance Services Ltd. is looking to expand outside its home province, the brokerage’s vice president told Canadian Underwriter recently. “We realized in our core business strategy that if we want to continue to be a provider…
What happened after a broker quit without proper notice
February 5, 2024 by David GambrillA B.C. broker who quit without giving proper notice under his employment contract doesn’t owe his former brokerage any money for damages, because the brokerage couldn’t prove any lost income due to the resignation, the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal has…
KPMG buys insurance claims practice
February 2, 2024 by Jason ContantProfessional services firm KPMG in Canada has purchased an insurance claims practice that offers income replacement benefit and related calculations, as well as commercial loss claims calculations for insurance companies and their customers. The acquisition of the claims practice of…
The state of bot automation in Canadian brokerages
February 1, 2024 by Jason ContantBrokerages in Ontario are rapidly embracing bots to automate repetitive tasks, the provincial brokerage association told Canadian Underwriter. “Like all new technology, it takes time to drive awareness and articulate value, but the adoption curve seems to have accelerated more…
How to be a successful manager
January 31, 2024 by David GambrillMany thorny issues arising out of managing small teams can be handled professionally by remembering the core role of a manager, which is to help team members succeed, a Facebook leader told the HBR on Leadership podcast recently. Julie Zhou,…
P&C insurance industry launches collective recruitment effort
January 25, 2024 by David GambrillCanada’s property and casualty insurance industry has launched a collaborative, industry-wide recruitment effort dubbed Project Reframe. Announced by the Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC) Monday, the public education campaign aims to portray the insurance industry as an engaging, dynamic, and…
When growing a business, is competition overrated?
January 23, 2024 by Adam MitchellA new teammate once asked me how to succeed in our industry. My response was simple: Ask questions, show humility, and it’s amazing how much people will help you. This is a close-knit industry. You’d be surprised at how many…
How smaller brokerages can level the playing field
January 23, 2024 by Jason ContantSmaller brokerages in the Canadian P&C insurance space can benefit from sharing best practices and platforms with other brokerages while still remaining independent, said the president of a family-owned brokerage in Nova Scotia. Earlier this month, Halifax-based Keyes Insurance became…
The rise and fall of the P&C industry’s financial results
January 22, 2024 by David GambrillAs the Alan Parson Project once sang, “What goes up, must come down,” and predictions about industry profitability made two years ago are unfortunately coming true — including a marked downward trend of financial results in 2023, says one veteran…
5 steps to negotiate a hybrid work schedule
January 19, 2024 by Jason ContantGiven the uptick in return-to-office mandates since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important for you to advocate for yourself as an employee who wants hybrid work, but also understand the needs of your employer if you face resistance,…
Why this national consolidator made layoffs
January 19, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWestland Insurance issued an internal email dated Jan. 15, announcing the layoff of about 30 employees, citing the inability to meet its 2023 financial targets, as well as salaries and expenses that exceeded plan. “Today, I’m sharing some very difficult…
What younger job candidates want from P&C insurance jobs
January 18, 2024 by Steve Whitelaw, Applied Systems CanadaCanada’s P&C insurance industry needs to adapt in three key areas to better recruit and retain prospects among Millennials and Gen Z. First, it should teach recruits tech skills specific to the P&C industry. Second, it should use digital technology…