RIMS 99: HOLISTIC RISKON THE HORIZON
June 1, 1999 Lowell ConnDallas, Texas was the site of the Risk & Insurance Management Society’s recent 37th annual conference and exhibition where 4500 delegates met, networked, and examined a profession undergoing large-scale transformation.
IBABC 99 AGM AND CONFERENCE: Regional Unity the Cornerstone
June 1, 1999 Sean van Zyl, EditorPromoting regional unity and getting out on the road to read member needs and concerns first hand are central issues of the Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia’s strategic growth plan for the year ahead. Although brokers should remain competitive…
Letters (June 01, 1999)
June 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterDear Editor, You are to be complimented on an excellent feature article, in the April Underwriter, on the threat posed by the big banks. The Independent Life Insurance Brokers of Canada have many members who also hold a p&c license.…
The Safety Equation
June 1, 1999 Sean van Zyl, EditorRecent months have seen increased pressure being brought to bear by the private property and casualty insurance industry to deregulate the monopoly positions of provincial government insurers. Due to its sheer size and control of one of Canada’s largest consumer…
SECURING VIRTUAL PRIVACY
June 1, 1999 Ron Lepofsky, president, PTI TelecommunicationsIn most industries, the Internet has become an important business tool. Employees have access to endless possibilities for research, for improved communications internally and externally, and to work from home. Security in access and transferring information has, however, been the…
Manitoba brokers brace for the banks
June 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterThe new president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba (IBAM) Ron Vandenbosch says the battle against banks retailing insurance is the top concern expressed by his constituents at the recent IBAM annual general meeting in Winnipeg. Asked to list…
AIG’s first Canadian Product Fair
June 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterAIG recently held it’s first Canadian Product Fair in Toronto at the Roy Thompson Hall. Greg Flood (pictured), president of AIG’s mergers & acquisitions division, was one of several speakers addressing the 600 attendees. Flood points out that the surge…
Extreme Perils
June 1, 1999 Sean van Zyl, EditorNatural disasters such as extreme weather, a volcanic eruption or an earthquake, are often quaintly referred to in the insurance world as “Acts of God”, adverse events which are seemingly unexplainable or beyond man’s control. Noticeably, the economic and insurance…
1998 in perspective
June 1, 1999 Don Smith, Chairman of Trac Insurance ServicesLast year I predicted 1998 would bring back a deteriorating trend to the property and casualty insurance industry. In addition to the January ice storm, I felt that the continuing “soft market” would have a negative impact on underwriting results.…
Storming ahead successfully
June 1, 1999 AxiomWe couldn’t have picked a worse day for the opening of my company’s new regional office. Gale-force winds had blasted into the city overnight, knocking down trees and power-lines, shutting down the airport, and tearing the roofs off new, unfinished…
Canadian insurance earnings plummet
April 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterJanuary ice storm losses, rate cutting and poor investment returns are the major culprits pointing to a 42% drop in property and casualty insurers’ earnings to $1.137 billion for 1998 compared with 1997’s earnings of $1.960 billion, says Paul Kovacs,…
U.S. Insurance Market Outlook
April 1, 1999 Sean Mooney, senior vice president at Guy Carpenter & Company InForecasting the U.S. insurance industry in recent years has been a rear view mirror exercise. The rate of growth in the industry has been in the same 2% to 3% range and profitability indicators have shown little change from year…