Brokers are justified in thinking independence is shrinking due to increased consolidation in the P&C industry, according to Lorie Phair, president of the Canadian Broker Network (CBN), Canada’s largest network of independent brokers. To think ownership does not influence a…
Canada likes to see itself as a leader in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). And while it may be ahead of certain countries, some Canadian brokerage industry employees said they have faced various forms of workplace discrimination.…
Finding qualified talent is the biggest challenge facing almost seven out 10 Canadian brokerages right now. And the talent crunch is getting even tighter. Sixty-nine per cent of brokers report finding qualified workers their biggest challenge – a 7% increase…
Inflation could prolong the hard market in Canada’s property and casualty lines, brokers caution. RMS Canada reports that inflation will hit 5% in 2022 before approaching 3% by the year’s end. “Persistent inflation is primarily due to supply constraints and…
A major shortage of seasoned commercial underwriting staff is impacting broker relationships and productivity, some brokerages have reported. For an industry already struggling with a country-wide talent crunch exacerbated by the pandemic, renewed M&A activity and a hard market, brokers…
For boutique D&O coverages, a law firm says companies should be bringing in a lawyer to look at the contract coverage and not just rely on the opinion of the insurance broker about coverage. This is particularly true in business…
Ontario brokerage Mitchell & Whale is allowing its staff to return to the office in any way they choose, a hybrid work model inspired by the 1998 best-selling book, Who Moved My Cheese? Authored by Dr. Spencer Johnson, Who Moved…
Risk and insurance professionals need to address two common client misunderstandings about how the property and casualty insurance industry works, a risk professional suggested to Canadian Underwriter Tuesday. First, clients may not fully understand the interconnectedness of the P&C industry,…
Caution and single-steps forward are not what brokers need from their insurance carrier partners as the industry accelerates into the digital age. The importance of digital distribution following the COVID-19 pandemic is undeniable. As a result, insurers need to keep…
Mired in a hard market, brokers need to give twice the typical amount of lead time these days when contacting underwriters to secure directors and officers (D&O) coverage for clients, according to a broker expert. The D&O market will remain…
BFL Canada’s founder, Barry F. Lorenzetti, is giving $500,000 to establish the Barry F. Lorenzetti Centre for Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership at Concordia University in Montreal and to endow research grants and scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. “Entrepreneurship involving…
Brokers exploring new ways to protect their commercial clients should be making “malicious attack” coverage part of the conversation, a risk expert advises. But it can be a tricky conversation for brokers to have. Clients may think they can’t afford…