“Clicks and Mortar”
July 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorThere is little wonder to why insurance company leaders are reluctant to embrace e-commerce wholeheartedly. Having being struck a double whammy of first “panel beating” their multi-million dollar legacy-based systems into shape for Y2K, then being told these same platforms…
Alberta brokers change course
July 1, 2000 Vikki SpencerRob Clarke, the newly elected president of the Independent Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta (IIBAA), says his organization is as prepared as it can be for the pending implementation of changes to that province’s Insurance Act. Foremost on Clarke’s agenda…
Integrated Product Distribution: Crossing the lines
June 1, 2000 Vikki SpencerFuelled by mergers, acquisitions, alliances and regulatory change, the idea of one-stop financial services shopping is becoming a reality south of the border. With caution, several insurers and brokers in Canada have broadened their focus to “test the market” on…
RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BEYOND
March 1, 2000 Sean van Zyl, EditorSusan Meltzer, president of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) for the 1999/2000 term, bridled in her opening comments in the panel discussion to a previous reference made by a seminar speaker at the RIMS’ “Operational Risk Management” conference…
Coming Events (January 01, 2000)
January 1, 2000 by Canadian UnderwriterAnnouncements in Coming Events are run free of charge as a service to the industry. Items should be submitted by the first of the month prior to the month in which the announcement is to appear. Ontario Risk & Insurance…
Learning From the Masters
January 1, 2000 Lowell ConnThe independent adjuster faces an array of challenges in the year ahead, concedes new Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association (OIAA) president Christina Welton. Greater regulatory scrutiny on licensing, a pending court case that could introduce more liability for claims professionals, and…
Scrambling for loose business
December 1, 1999 Lowell ConnSports insurance is a specialty-lines oddity. It is unprofitable business marred by rising loss payouts not accurately balanced by the premiums generated. It is a competitive market where premium prices should be two or three times their current rate, insiders…
FOCUSSING EDUCATION
November 1, 1999 by Canadian UnderwriterThe IBAO will continue pursuing its provincial “off-site” education program, which was launched at the association’s 1998 Convention, says Rodney Hancock, education chair. And, while the program has proven “highly successful” for a first year, he adds that some fine-tuning…
Identifying and Managing Risk
November 1, 1999 Jane Voll, director of policy and research, and Andrew Keppen, rThe Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) recently completed a survey in conjunction with management consultants Deloitte & Touche to identify what internal risk control procedures property and casualty insurers have or should be applying in evaluating strategic, operational and capital…
RAISING the tide of EDUCATION
October 1, 1999 Lowell ConnKen Orr, incoming president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO), believes brokers need to invest further in continuing professional development. Despite a successful launch of the IBAO’s “travelling education road show” in the past term, early returns suggest…
Money Laundering Legislation with BITE
October 1, 1999 Nikki McManus, a freelance writerCanada is big business — amounting to some $17 billion each year. And, although Canada’s money recycling black market is minor in global terms (which the U.N. estimates to be $1 trillion worldwide), there are weaknesses in the current financial…
INVESTING in a low interest market
October 1, 1999 Cameron Laird, senior vice president of securities investment atWith the potential of gaining profit on underwriting limited by the soft market, property and casualty insurers are increasingly looking at ways of boosting their investment earnings. However, in today’s volatile investment markets, coupled with a low interest rate environment, the task of achieving an above average return is easier said than done — but not impossible. Appropriate risk rating and investment strategy implementation can generate higher gains.