How branding affected these insurers’ consumer scores
February 19, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAn insurer’s popularity among consumers can differ by brand alone, a recent J.D. Power survey indicates. “There are differences when it comes to products, when it comes to distribution, when it comes to your marketing messaging,” Tom Super, director of…
Fines struck for B.C. brokers who issued false receipts to insurers in toll bridge fiasco
February 19, 2019 by David GambrillEDITOR’S NOTE: The story has been corrected to show that FICOM’s position before the Financial Services Tribunal was that the financial penalties were deemed to be insufficient to deter brokers from misrepresenting facts. A previous version incorrectly stated that FICOM’s…
Atlantic Canada brokerage acquires family-owned operation
February 15, 2019 by Jason ContantArchway Insurance, one of Atlantic Canada’s largest brokerages, has announced the acquisition of family brokerage George Mitchell Insurance in Liverpool, N.S. Amherst, N.S.-headquartered Archway announced the acquisition Thursday. Effective Feb. 28, 2019, Archway’s latest acquisition brings its number of locations…
Hub continues expansion into employee benefits
February 12, 2019 by Greg MeckbachHub International Ltd. has bought another Canadian employee benefits operation. Chicago-based Hub announced Tuesday it has acquired the assets of Toronto-based Firstbrook Pointon Benefits Incorporated. Tuesday’s announcement comes a month after Hub acquired Vancouver-based TRG Group Benefits and Pensions Inc. Firstbrook…
How your brokerage might benefit from partnering with an innovation hub
February 11, 2019 by Jason ContantA brokerage in Nova Scotia has partnered with an innovation hub in Atlantic Canada to “up its game” in the digital space. AA Munro Insurance, which has more than 20 locations in Nova Scotia, has partnered with Volta Labs. This…
Executive challenges brokers regarding earthquake take-up rates in Quebec
February 8, 2019 by Jason ContantSparks flew during a recent conference discussion about mortgage impairment and earthquake loss, when a senior reinsurance company executive drew a link between the practices of Quebec brokers and the low take-up rates of earthquake insurance in the province. Philipp…
Intact’s appetite for cross-border mergers
February 8, 2019 by Greg MeckbachIntact Financial Corp. is not ruling out the possibility of buying a commercial brokerage or managing general agent in the United States. “We are doing a lot of work to understand the opportunities in distribution in the U.S. and will…
Why brokers hail the D/X Initiative as “the start of the revolution”
February 7, 2019 by David GambrillA “watershed moment” of industry cooperation could lead in April to what brokers are heralding as the most significant technology breakthrough in broker-carrier connectivity in decades. Representatives of every broker association across the country met in Toronto on Jan. 29,…
How clients can cash in on demutualization
February 5, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEconomical Insurance clients looking forward to cashing in on demutualization might have to hold on to their shares in the company for nearly six months. In Economical’s demutualization proposal, one restriction on common shares (issued as a benefit to demutualization)…
BrokerLink adds three Alberta locations
February 4, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAnother Edmonton-based brokerage has joined Intact Financial Corp.’s BrokerLink unit. Bridge Financial Insurance Ltd. joined BrokerLink effective Feb. 1. The announcement comes less than a month after Challenge Insurance, also of Edmonton, joined BrokerLink. “By joining BrokerLink, we know our…
Why being a broker is the best job ever
January 31, 2019 by Jason ContantThe feeling that their opinions are heard and often implemented is just one of the reasons brokers report being satisfied with their choice of career. “I truly believe that I am a valued professional advisor,” Ryan McKenna, commercial and personal…
Customer retention advice for brokers from Wawanesa
January 30, 2019 by Greg MeckbachEvery time a client submits a claim to their carrier, you as the broker need to follow up with a phone call, suggests Carol Jardine, president of the Canadian property and casualty operations of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. “I would…