Opinion: Preparing for future risk? Look to what’s happened in the past
August 20, 2020 Robert Muir-Wood, RMSWhen evaluating unexpected catastrophe risks, our experiences can be sparse. Widening our knowledge by going back in time, by exploring the ‘near-misses’ and by expanding our geographic horizons is critical. Fortunately, big catastrophes are rare. This is good in that…
What back to the office looks like for Canadian brokerages
August 20, 2020 by Jason ContantAs businesses across the country continue their staged approach to reopening in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, many brokerages are looking at what this “new normal” means for their company and staff. Some brokerages plan to reopen in…
Intact’s Brindamour: Why the hard market could last for up to two more years
August 20, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA hard market in reinsurance is among three main reasons why primary insurance rates will continue to rise for brokers’ clients for at least another year or two, Intact Financial Corp. CEO Charles Brindamour suggests. In a recent virtual fireside…
How COVID-19 could permanently alter Marsh & McLennan
August 19, 2020 by Greg MeckbachTravel and entertainment spending could be down permanently for Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., though it’s sure to rise again somewhat later this year, suggests CEO Dan Glaser. “I am not sure we will go running back to hopping on…
Is the pandemic hiding your commercial client’s under-insurance issues?
August 19, 2020 by Adam MalikThere may be fewer instances of under-insurance related to business interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic era, but brokers can’t let the issue of purchasing the right amount of cover to fall off the radar when advising their commercial clients. In…
Are your clients using the pandemic to terminate staff? A primer on their liability exposure
August 18, 2020 by Adam MalikJust because staff members are not choosing to return the office, that doesn’t mean employers can terminate them, an employment lawyer warned. If P&C organizations or their commercial business clients are culling employees for the wrong reasons, they could be…
How the largest commercial brokerage views its COVID E&O exposure
August 18, 2020 by Greg MeckbachAlthough some commercial clients may start “suing everybody” because their business interruption insurance did not cover income lost during the pandemic, brokers could not have obtained broad-scale pandemic coverage for all clients even if they wanted to because the exposure…
Reinsurers discuss the hard market, new bricks-and-mortar locations
August 18, 2020 by Jason ContantGiven the persisting novel coronavirus infections and the economic fallout from the pandemic, it seems unlikely any reinsurers would want to set up new physical locations this year, but that’s exactly what may happen, speakers said recently during an A.M.…
Experts say COVID waivers unlikely to shield private schools from legal action
August 18, 2020 Cassandra Szklarski - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – Some private schools afraid they’d be blamed if a student gets COVID-19 are considering waivers to absolve them, but experts say that wouldn’t stop a parent from suing or a school from racking up legal bills. Toronto lawyer…
With the pandemic abated, OSFI restarts work on IFRS 17
August 17, 2020 by David GambrillThree things in life are inevitable — death, taxes, and the transition to IFRS 17. With the country now over what appears to be the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic thus far, Canada’s solvency regulator, the Office of the Superintendent…
Insurtechs urge P&C industry to keep foot on the gas with innovation
August 17, 2020 by Adam MalikInnovation in the insurance industry has shown to be critical over the last number of months, and insurtechs are urging brokers and carriers not to lose the momentum they’ve established. Insurtechs called for closer collaboration between the property and casualty…
What an insurance solution for pandemic risk might look like
August 17, 2020 by Jason ContantThe P&C insurance industry has technical expertise it could bring to bear in covering future pandemics (risk management and claims adjustment experience, for example), but the financial losses would best be covered through public-private partnerships, speakers said recently during an…