For the inland marine market, business is good…and emerging technology, new educational opportunities and growth in the construction market all point to a strong year ahead. In this AAIS Advisory Report, AAIS President and CEO Ed Kelly speaks with Kevin O’Brien, President & CEO of IMUA, as well as Rich Soja, the Global Head of Inland Marine at Allianz Global Corporate …

Chuck Chamness, President and CEO of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), says the industry can take a victory lap after renewal of the Terrorism and Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) for seven years. Social Inflation and “nuclear verdicts” are on everyone’s mind now, according to Mr. Chamness, and NAMIC is studying the causes and potential solutions to judgments …

There were significant insured losses from natural disasters in 2019, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU). While there $45 billion in losses reported, it is difficult to say home much is that was driven by climate change. Still, climate change is affecting occurences of flood, wildfires and …

“The reinsurance market continues to be robust” according to Frank Nutter, CEO of the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA). Brokers report that capital in the market has increased, and it was a relatively “low catastrophe” year. Among the concerns and challenges facing reinsurers, cyber exposure, the reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), and the retrocessional market. The industry …

David Sampson, president and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), discusses the current state of the “dysfunctional, hyper partisan” U.S. government, and that there is little on the horizon that suggests polarization will end any time soon. Still, Mr. Sampson points to several successes over the past year, including the reauthorization of TRIA (Terrorism Risk Insurance Act). …

Mica Cooper, CEO & President of Aisus/InsureCrypt opens up about so-called ‘disruption’ in the insurance industry. According to Mr. Cooper, we’re not seeing it… Mr. Cooper notes how much people are talking about innovation, disruption, evolution and revolution in the insurance industry. He sees innovation artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. He points out that some innovation is “not legal”, …

Companies are challenged to find opportunities for growth in a competitive landscape. According to BMS Re U.S. CEO Steve Korducki, the differentiator lies in technology and customer service. Mr. Korducki sees growth for insurers in cyber coverage and insurtech, particularly when organizations utilize tech-focused risk mitigation technology. Changing consumer demographics and market shifts, combined with technology advancements, mean a change …

Insurance Information Institute (III) Chief Administrative Officer Laura Favinger shares her thoughts on major issues facing the U.S. insurance industry, including insurer and policyholder resilience, technology and cyber risk, the industry’s talent gap and global economic and political upheaval. For insurance customer, including homeowners and renters, Ms. Favinger addresses the need to ensure proper insurance coverage, “the right types, the …

National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) President and CEO Chuck Chamness shared his thoughts on recent legislative successes and challenges during the recent NAMIC’s Annual Convention in National Harbor, MD. Mr. Chamness highlighted the Disaster Recovery and Reform Act (DRRA), signed into law in 2018, as a significant legislative success benefitting insurance companies and the members they serve. DRRA, …

In this edition of “Focus”, WRIN.tv speaks with Bob Rusbuldt, President & CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) about the health of “Independent Agents”, which Mr. Rusbuldt describes as “robust and well.” Mr. Rusbuldt notes an Agency Universe Study of the independent agency system, conducted by the “Big I”, which found that revenues are up, …

The U.S. reinsurance market is very healthy. That according to Frank Nutter, President of the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA). Mr. Nutter says capital positions have been “strong and growing” thanks, in part to alternative capital vehicles. Market conditions are “very competitive” due to the amount of supply outpacing demand. Catastrophe losses continue to be a challenge, a threat, for …

In this edition of “Focus”, WRIN.tv looks at trends in “Claims Management with Rohit Verma, Global Chief Operating Officer of Crawford & Company, where the process is tailored to the needs of industries using a combination of technology and people on the ground. At the January 1 renewals, insurance companies did not see much difference in the rates they were …

According to Stefan Holzberger, Chief Rating Officer at A.M. Best, the property-casualty sector of the insurance industry saw improvements in performance. And with levels of capitalization “robust”, A.M. Best is maintaining a “Stable Outlook” on the Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Reinsurance sector from a credit perspective. The reinsurance sector was only recently upgraded to “Stable” from “Negative”, despite heavy …

David Sampson, president and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), discusses the challenges he faces in dealing with a dysfunctional government, the priorities for the year ahead, and the strength gained by the recent merger of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) with the American Insurance Association (AIA). During the 2019 Federal Government shutdown, Mr. …

The year was 2000, and the annual reinsurance industry’s St. Patrick’s Day party, held at Jim Brady’s pub in Manhattan, becomes the first St. Baldrick’s event. The goal of shaving 17 heads and raising $17,000 turns into 19 bald heads and $104,000 donated to fund the research of the Children’s Oncology Group. NAMIC CEO Chuck Chamness explains the history of the …

During the IBM Blockchain Summit for Insurance in New York, AAIS CEO Ed Kelly, and Craig Bedell, IBM Global Insurance Industry Executive, as well as Bertrand Portier, a Distinguished Engineer in IBM’s Financial Services Sector all commented on the promise that blockchain holds for the insurance industry. Mr. Kelly believes it’s the inherent features of blockchain itself that make it …

The uptick in GDP has had a positive impact on the insurance industry, according to Laura Favinger, Chief Administrative Officer for the Insurance Information Institute (III). In the first half of 2018, insurance carriers nearly doubled their net income over the same period in 2017. The III sees exposures broadening a bit due to business development, consumer consumption and construction, …

The biggest issues facing reinsurance buyers today are growth, expense management and capital efficiency, according to Mike Schnur, a Partner at TigerRisk. Carriers are focused on growing profitably through new product lines, new teams, as well as mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Carriers feel that there are costs that can be reduced to reduce expense ratios. More and more carriers are …

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 …

Andrea Keenen, Senior Managing Director and Head of Industry Relations at A.M. Best Company, shares her thoughts on the “protection gap”, technology, and the impact of economic growth on insurance. The “protection gap” exists around the world, including the United States. Many people are simply not buying the insurance they need. She notes that governments around the work and the …