NBS 2020 Brokers during the pandemic
November 5, 2020 by David GambrillCanadian Underwriter’s 2020 National Broker Survey was a survey unlike any other. Conducted during a one-in-100-year global pandemic, we talked to 220 Canadian property and casualty insurance brokers about pressures on the distribution channel, operational challenges, best practices, optimal marketing…
NBS 2020 What brokers think about their post-pandemic financial health
November 5, 2020 by David GambrillBrokers tend to be an optimistic lot. In both 2018 and 2019, most brokers in our National Broker Survey predicted that their financial performance would be better the next year than it was the year before. The same was true…
NBS 2020 Specialization and its limits
November 5, 2020 by David GambrillSpecialization remains the name of the game in the property and casualty insurance industry. For the past three years, brokers have extolled specialization in our annual National Broker Surveys. This year was no different. We conducted our study in August…
NBS 2020 How brokers are finding their leads during the pandemic
November 5, 2020 by David GambrillPhysical distancing or no, brokers still see referrals as being the best way to generate sales leads and gain new clients. “Word of mouth,” one broker in the 2020 National Broker Survey wrote, when asked about the most beneficial way…
How to sell commercial coverage to small businesses
March 8, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokers looking to sell commercial coverage to small businesses need to keep it simple, fast and client-specific, industry professionals told Canadian Underwriter Thursday. Sometimes when buzzwords like artificial intelligence, blockchain and chatbots dominate the conversation, the cart comes before the…
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…
Common misconceptions about business interruption insurance
February 8, 2019 by Jason ContantOne strong challenge to the broker channel, according to brokers, is consumer self-education about their insurance needs and options. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of business interruption (BI) insurance, a very specialized coverage that is rife…
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…
Would you buy insurance from your own website?
January 22, 2019 by Jason ContantBefore jumping right into buying a piece of technology, brokers should first think about mapping out the customer journey, suggests the CEO of a company that helps brokers with automation. “Diving right into the software isn’t always the best because…
Do brokers receive enough tech training?
January 17, 2019 by Jason ContantAre brokers in Canada properly trained to use new technology? “It seems there is an under-investment in the human resources component of new technology,” said Jeff McCann, CEO of Digital MGA Marketplace Ltd., a Vancouver-based company that helps brokers with…
Why your brokerage needs an online presence
January 15, 2019 by Jason ContantBrokerages looking to scale their expertise should focus their efforts online, says the CEO of a Vancouver-based company that helps brokers with automation solutions. “Externally, the new standard of engagement is online,” Jeff McCann, CEO of Digital MGA Marketplace Ltd.,…
How some brokerages and MGAs attract talent
December 13, 2018 by Jason ContantWhat’s the best way of attracting qualified talent to your brokerage? Some brokerages and managing general agencies (MGAs) have cited looking outside the insurance industry or recruiting from local community colleges. McConville Omni Insurance Brokers, a personal and commercial lines…