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 …

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 …

BriteCore CEO and Founder Phil Reynolds provides insights into the risks, challenges and opportunities affecting the changing insurance market due in large part to data. He says many insurers simply so not understand what their data means. The data collected on policies, claims, losses and consumer behaviors is a gold mine, and most don’t even know it. He notes that …

According to AAIS Product Manager Casey Brewer, the biggest issues facing auto insurers today revolve around technology and the speed of technological change. Technology is changing the nature of the risk to the vehicle, as well as driver behavior and distracted driving and the insurer’s operations. Ironically, the opportunities auto insurers have are related to the challenges. New technologies are …

Kimberly Muccia, a Financial Analyst at A.M. Best Company, comments on the impact of catastrophic losses on the financial strength of insurers. Among the catastrophes affecting the auto and homeowner lines of business in 2018 were hurricanes and wildfires, resulting in about $17 billion for the Mutual Insurance segment alone. Despite the losses, Mutuals posted approximately a 6 percent increase …

The biggest issues facing home insurance carriers today fall into two categories, according to George Hosfield, Senior Director of Home Insurance for LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Consumer expectation is driving changes to the customer experience as well as changes to the experience for agents. Mr. Hosfield says much of that is driven by “upstart insurtech” companies raising the bar, and general …

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 …

Insurers are doing a balancing act between operational excellence and the changing insurtech landscape. Karen Furtado, a partner at Strategy Meets Action sees insurers struggling with how to adapt, how to adopt, and how to change their culture to deal with the ‘new reality’ while maintaining a high degree of service. Ms. Furtado sees endless opportunity in today’s economy. Insurers …

Chuck Chamness, President and CEO of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) admits insurance is a challenging business, and it’s changing rapidly. Among the contributing challenges facing the industry is technology, which is increasing the speed of change. The talent gap presents issues for companies looking to replace retiring workers while attracting a new generation of professionals. He …

Regulation and technology are the biggest challenges facing insurers today. That, according to Fred Karlinsky, Co-Chair of the Insurance Regulatory and Transactions Practice Group at Greenberg Traurig. On the regulatory front, Mr. Karlinsky notes a large amount of regulation affecting carriers at the federal and State level, as well as internationally at the IIAS (International Association of Insurance Supervisors). He …

Attracting talent remains biggest challenge for insurers. According to Matt Masher, EVP and COO at A.M. Best, the need for talent is greatest in the information technology (IT) area. The industry has done a lot to attract underwriting and claims professionals. But attracting the industry struggles in attracting IT talent needed to deal with insurtech issues, efficiencies in distribution and …

Fragmentation is a major issue within the insurance industry today, according to Phil Reynolds, CEO & Co-Founder of BriteCore. Traditionally carriers sold products through agents, and were backed by reinsurers. Now, insurtechs are challenging traditional distribution and underwriting models, while reinsurers are going directly to the market through MGAs (Managing General Agents). There is a lot of flux. As a …

Rohit Verma, Global COO of Crawford & Company, believes data will continue to be a big asset to insurers, and the companies that can mine data effectively will see the biggest benefit. While advanced technology is necessary to leverage data, companies need to develop the mindset to incorporate insights in day-to-day work. Mr. Verma also sees “lack of talent” as …

According to The Institutes President & CEO Pete Miller, disruption in the insurance industry “is all about data” and related technologies. Insurance is the “original big data industry”, and Mr. Miller sees a confluence of new technologies coming that will enable better decision making around data. Mr. Miller sees adoption as a challenge to the insurance industry. Those that do …

Roger Morris, Chief Communications Officer with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), says technology has been a disruptor  when it comes to insurance fraud.  Anti-theft devices have helped deter crime and provide better analytics to detect fraud. The industry also has to contend with hackers trying to defeat the system. Mr. Morris points to electronic devices that can open and start …

Roosevelt Mosley is a Principal and Consulting Actuary at Pinnacle Actuarial Resources. Data and technology represent challenges to the insurance industry, with issues like Big Data, autonomous vehicles, and usage based insurance (UBI) being likely disruptors. Still, Mr. Mosley sees “the speed and pace of change… and the ability of insurers to be able to keep up” as possibly the …

NAMIC President & CEO Chuck Chamness comments on the major disruptors affecting the insurance industry, during the 2018 Joint Industry Forum.  While he notes technology is a considerable disruptor, he suggests public policy and the political environment within Washington and the State capitals may be the biggest factor affecting insurers.  He sees the populist movement creating difficulty for an industry …

Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) president Frank Nutter comments on the evolution of the “blended model” in reinsurance with alternative capital contributing to the way reinsurance provides capacity to insurance companies, not just in the catastrophe area. He sees reinsurance companies diversifying into the insurance business, viewing capital markets as “largely competitive…and complementary.” Mr. Nutter admits that reinsurers have struggled …

Pypestream Chief Customer Officer, Donna Peeples, discusses realities insurers face as disruptive innovation creates greater symmetry between insurance companies and consumers. According to Ms. Peeples, in recent years, “the pendulum of control has swung hard away from brands in favor of customers.” Over the past hundred years, insurance has been a “low interest, low involvement category.” Insurers need to thing …