Cyber risk and insurance continue to evolve, but the insurtech explosion is the real news at the moment, according to Gavin Souter, Editor of Business Insurance. Like all things related to technology, cyber insurance is evolving rapidly. Insurers and brokers are keen to sell cyber policies, but commercial buyers do not believe the insurance offered is enough to cover their …

According to Sean Kevelighan, President & CEO of the Insurance Information Institute (III), says catastrophes, both natural and man-made, are having a large impact on personal lines insurance carriers. An increase in natural catastrophe has an impact on auto and homeowner’s insurance, and the “vastly underserved” flood market continues to be an issue. The auto insurance market is being impacted …

In another edition of ACORD Tech Talk, Chris Ritter of Compare.com discusses how the ability for customers to comparison-shop online will continue to disrupt the insurance industry, first in the auto insurance sector and then in other peronal lines. For more on the technologies shaping the risk and insurance industry, visit the ACORD website.    

A.M. Best Assistant Vice President Greg Reisner discusses the rating agency’s ‘negative’ outlook for the global reinsurance sector and the new realities facing the market due to convergence capital and mergers and acquisitions. According to Best’s Assistant Vice President William Pargeans, the life reinsurance segment outlook remains ‘stable’ despite consolidation that has left the market top heavy with lower cession …

In highlights from a recent “First Monday” episode, A.M. Best Managing Director, Analytics Greg Carter discusses the top issues affecting the European insurance markets, including technology, product design and regulation. According to Mr. Carter, there are several overarching issues impacting the UK and Europe markets, including the fragile economies in the Eurozone amid shifting regulations. He sees long-term opportunities for insurers …

In highlights from a recent “First Monday” program, A.M. Best Assistant Vice President Rosemarie Mirabella and Financial Analyst Frank Walko discuss evolving fixed- indexed annuity (FIA) product designs and the blurring of lines between FIAs and variable annuities. Recently, A.M. Best conducted a survey of the top 10 FIA writers, which represents roughly 70% of the overall market. Ms. Mirabella says, “The …

In highlights from A.M. Best’s First Monday series, A.M. Best Senior Financial Analyst Thomas Zitelli and Financial Analyst Frank Walko discuss how the U.S. Life/Health insurance market performed in 2014, exploring positive retirement market trends amid interest rate and reinvestment risks. While the Life/Health industry demonstrated the ability to handle its business very well during a slow growth environment, it …

Shaun Crawford, Global Insurance Sector Leader at Ernst & Young, spoke with WRIN.tv at the 2015 Global Insurance Forum, about major issues facing the insurance industry, including an aging population, regulatory changes, data and cyber risk…and more.  Highlights of his discussion include: The challenges of an aging population and the burden it places on the healthcare system Regulatory standards could …

Shaun Crawford, Global Insurance Sector Leader at Ernst & Young, speaks with WRIN.tv during the 2015 Global Insurance Forum, about growth opportunities presented by demographic changes and ways to prevent catastrophes. Mr. Crawford sees opportunity for insurers in changing demographic and retirement. When a person retires in a developed market at 60-65 years of age, they will likely live another …

At the 2015 European Insurance Forum, WRIN.tv asked Arjen de Boer, the Founder of ITDS Business Consultants for his take on technology trends affecting insurers and for his advice on the industry’s use of social media. According to Mr. de Boer, the decline in insurance penetration these days is due, in part, to the economic recession. In England, he says …

WRIN.tv speaks with Dr. Aubrey de Grey during the 2015 European Insurance Forum. He is a biomedical gerontologist and Chief Science Officer at the SENS Research Foundation, and discusses the latest in regenerative medicine and what longer life expectancy means to the insurance industry. Dr. de Grey says regenerative medicine refers to stem cell therapy and tissue engineering, or the …

Mergers and Acquisition activity shows no signs of slowing down. Here Assistant Vice President William Pargeans and Vice President Robert DeRose discuss the motivations of insurers, across sectors, to seek out mergers and acquisitions. According to Mr. Pargeans the life insurance industry is very mature and the only way for insurers to grow in this sector is to buy blocks …

Assistant Vice President Rosemarie Mirabella in a recent edition of A.M. Best’s First Monday series discusses Variable Rate Annuities and the concerns over legacy blocks of business. According to Ms. Mirabella A.M. Best’s concern is “primarily centered around the tail risk as it relates to the embedded richness of the guarantees, the equity market risk, interest rate risk and… policyholder …

Patricia Kwan, a Director at S&P Insurance Ratings, joins WRIN.tv to discuss the hurdles to revenue and profitability growth insurers face, outlined in a recent report by S&P entitled “Pursuing Global Insurance Profitability Amid Tempered Economic Growth.” According to Ms. Kwan, the most common headwinds impacting insurers’ quest for profitability are “interest rates, excess supply of capital, and tighter capital …

WRIN.tv’s Monday Morning Headlines, compiled by SNL Insurance, is a video digest of the news you need to know about the U.S. Insurance industry. Today’s Monday Morning Headlines: U.S. regulators say international capital standard must be good for U.S. Premera Blue Cross working with FBI after cyberattack affecting 11 million NAIC keeps captive financials confidential to stem public confusion Life …

Life insurers and regulators reached a compromise on the use of sales illustrations for indexed universal life insurance policies. The NAIC draft position reins in what some insurers claimed were excessively speculative return rates for these products.

Premera Blue Cross was the target of a cyberattack that began in May 2014…and affects some 11 million people. The health insurer is working with the FBI on the investigation…and is taking steps to improve the security of its IT systems.

The low-interest rate environment has had a negative impact on Life and Annuity insurers causing them to redesign and re-price products with less generous features. In highlights from A.M. Best’s First Monday series, Vice President Steven Irwin and Assistant Vice President Rosemarie Mirabella review the challenges and opportunities within the U.S. Life/Annuity sector. According to Mr. Irwin “A.M. Best has …

WRIN.tv’s Monday Morning Headlines, compiled by SNL Insurance, is a video digest of the news you need to know about the U.S. Insurance industry. Today’s Monday Morning Headlines: Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center for public-private cybersecurity Anthem cyber breach should be wake-up call for vulnerable health insurers NY State to strengthen regulations on insurer cybersecurity Connecticut Governor concerned about DC negotiating Covered …

As part of the First Monday series, A.M. Best’s Vice President Stephen Irwin discusses the rating agency’s rationale for a “Stable” outlook for the Life/Annuity sector. According to Mr. Irwin, the “Stable” outlook is due to “a number of positive signs including the improving U.S. economy, relatively low inflation, improving employment picture…(and)  very low credit impairments, which is a positive to reported …