Moves and Views
April 1, 2015 by Canadian Underwriter1 Totten Insurance Group Inc. has announced it has acquired the shares of Montreal-based National Brokerage Services S.C.N. Inc., a commercial insurance wholesaler. Totten Insurance Group, a subsidiary of Hub International Ltd., reports that its acquisition of NBS complements the company’s…
Gift of Giving
March 1, 2015 The CIP Society and the Insurance Institute of CanadaBusiness gifts. Are they always sincere and simple demonstrations of appreciation? Or do these gifts sometimes come with strings attached? How can rules-based, people-based and situation-based guidance help insurance professionals determine an ethical course of action?
Bringing Data Home
February 1, 2015 Craig Harris, Freelance WriterSometimes seen as the “poor cousin” to auto insurance in terms of resources and investment, personal property is now a hive of activity in data analytics. Internal and external information is being used to delve into more specific by-peril rating, loss cost development and operational efficiencies.
21st Century Brokerage
February 1, 2015 Jeff Purdy, Senior Vice President of International Operations, Applied SystemsNew entrants in the insurance industry demand that brokers reiterate their value as trusted advisors by delivering a differentiated level of client service. To help guard against commoditization in the marketplace, the 21st-century brokerage must continue to evolve into a digital workspace.
Transformative Time
January 1, 2015 Angela Stelmakowich, EditorTalk of “claims transformation” in the property and casualty insurance industry is hardly new. Talk has already turned to action for some, businesses that have updated people, process and technology to answer the evolving and inevitable demands being fuelled by customer experience. However, is transformation now a business imperative to be relevant in the future?
Electrical Potential
January 1, 2015 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorLightning strikes somewhere in Canada more than two million times each and every year. While the frequency of homeowner claims for lightning-related damage is low, occasionally, these bolts from the blue cause large losses as a result of fire and electrical surge.
Who Decides?
November 1, 2014 The CIP Society and the Insurance Institute of CanadaA broker is left feeling uneasy after a visit from an elderly client and the client’s daughter. Relying heavily on the daughter, who appears to be annoyed, the client comes across as confused and seems to be acquiescing to the daughter’s advice about changes to her homeowner’s policy, although there is no power of attorney. What should the broker do to ensure the client understands the changes and is protected?
Playing Post Office
October 1, 2014 Brenda Rose, Vice President and Partner, FCA Insurance Brokers; and Technology Champion, Insurance Brokers Association of CanadaFor the insurance industry, new approaches to presenting information through e-delivery could prove revolutionary. However, the challenge for brokers is to determine how best to ensure consumers remain protected while cost control measures unfold.
Risk Data to Risk Intelligence
October 1, 2014 Sean Van Zyl, Freelance WriterThe challenge of enterprise risk management programs for many organizations has always been how to quantify “value” and effectively harness data across the enterprise. Risk management consultants believe there is now a solution in emerging data mining and analytic modelling technology that effectively turns “data” into true risk intelligence.
Priced to Sell
July 1, 2014 Angela Stelmakowich, EditorIn times of change, it is best to be ready to respond to whatever form that change may take. For reinsurers, ever-present developments and ever-increasing competition could mean rethinking the approaches they take in the wake of stubborn downward pressure on pricing.
Multiple Engagement
July 1, 2014 Jeff Purdy, Senior Vice President of International Operations, Applied SystemsAs digital services evolve – and customer expectations increase – developing a clearly defined multi-channel customer engagement strategy will be critically important for brokers to continue to be viewed as trusted advisors.
App for That
June 1, 2014 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorCanadian property and casualty insurers have started dipping their toes in the app pool, providing customers with a few options related to home and auto insurance. But current offerings skim the surface, with the potential of mobile apps running far deeper.