A sign that insurers are actually investing in technology
December 11, 2020 by Adam MalikInsurers have talked about the need to be more digital for years now but there is one clear sign that they’re actually following through on their plan, according to a KPMG insurance expert: A significant number of them are investing…
Who is funding many of these insurance mergers
December 4, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe industry continues to consolidate and pension funds are one major source of capital for insurers, a Montreal-based merger and acquisition expert observes. “One or two notable [carrier M&A] transactions per year has slowly transformed the Canadian landscape, including the…
Aviva CEO sides with science against fruitless conjecture around climate risk
November 27, 2020 by Adam MalikAviva Canada CEO Jason Storah has no time for arguing about the validity of climate change and the threats facing the planet that are affecting the insurance industry. Instead of debates about climate change based on speculation and conjecture, he’d…
A sneak peek at the new brand for La Capitale/SSQ
November 25, 2020 by Greg MeckbachThe new name of the mutual insurer formed through the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance will not use either of the existing monikers, an executive for the Quebec City-based firm suggested Tuesday. “In 2020, we started working on…
The case for using data for diversity and inclusion in senior ranks
November 25, 2020 by Jason ContantInsurance companies are used to collecting data, but they need to do a better job of using data around race and gender to build diversity and inclusion in their senior ranks, speakers said Tuesday at KPMG’s 2020 Insurance Conference. Insurers…
The Herculean task required to reduce liability claims involving autonomous vehicles
July 30, 2020 by Adam MalikAutonomous vehicles need their own space to operate, a report says, and auto executives agree that putting them on the same roads as human-driven cars in a mixed-use environment will only increase liability claims. “As autonomous technology develops and matures,…
What risks keep mining clients up at night?
July 20, 2020 by Greg MeckbachIf you have clients in the mining sector, chances are their biggest concerns are how much their customers will pay for their products and how easily they can raise investment capital. Commodity prices and access to capital placed first and…
Brokers urged to plan now for eventual return to the office
May 4, 2020 by David GambrillCanadian brokers are now turning their minds towards returning back to the office safely while the novel coronavirus pandemic is still underway and a vaccine has yet to be developed. Brokerages across Canada will need to be aware of what…
The impact of the pandemic on insurance mergers
March 24, 2020 by Greg MeckbachBrokerages negotiating a merger or acquisition don’t have to stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Canadian M&A advisor suggests. “A good deal can get done. I suspect it may take a bit longer,” said Georges Pigeon (pictured), Montreal-based deal…
How Canada’s insurance industry fares in diversity & inclusion
December 19, 2019 by Greg MeckbachThe industry is not “horrible” when it comes to diversity and inclusion but more can be done, speakers suggested at KPMG Canada’s recent insurance conference. Diversity and inclusion have to be “directed from the very top,” said Heather Masterson, president…
Why you need to consider open banking
December 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachAs open banking makes it easier for other players to access your clients’ financial data, now is the time for insurance professionals start thinking about how they can take advantage of this new model, an actuary advises. “A number of…
Three reasons fintech is driving brokerage acquisitions
December 11, 2019 by Greg MeckbachDisruption by fintechs will be one driving force behind mergers and acquisitions among insurance brokerages, industry executives say.“I think fintech will help perpetuate this continued consolidation trend because I think at the small end of the market, fintech is viewed…