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, …

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 …

Autonomous vehicles will have a huge impact on the personal insurance industry. Automation, robotics and the potential for on-shoring of manufacturing could have a major impact in the commercial insurance space. That, according to Kevin Surace, renowned American technology innovator, speaker, creator of a AI Based Software QA platform, and Inc. Magazine’s 2009 entrepreneur of the Year. He adds that …

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 …

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 …

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 …

2017 has been a very active year for catastrophes…and traditional seasons are shifting. That according to Sean Kevelighan, President and CEO of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). Mr. Kevelighan points to 367 tornadoes in the first quarter of 2017, which surpasses the average of 93 by a large margin. The I.I.I. had estimated an active hurricane season, and forecasts were …

  Over the past decade, a steady flow of disruptive forces has impacted the personal auto insurance market, including telematics, the sharing economy and autonomous vehicles. AAIS Auto Product Manager Casey Brewer discusses how they are reshaping the Personal Auto insurance market, and myriad challenges and opportunities it creates for carriers.   Telematics programs provide insurers with access to vast amounts …

Saad Mered, Group Chief Claims Officer at Zurich, lays out key concerns of risk managers today including the emergence of liability internationally, the frequency of claims, and the unexpected impact of “lone wolf terror” attacks. Mr. Mered sees the rapid evolution of liability frameworks in many countries as surprising to risk managers and carriers alike. The trend is emerging even …

Petra Riga, Head of Distribution for Zurich in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), joins WRIN.tv to discuss the issues risk managers face when dealing with multinational regulations and rules and expectations of local regulators around the world. Ms. Riga says risk managers are challenged by increased international regulation. She notes that risk managers of multinational companies must consider insurance …

Chad Hollingsworth, President of Triax Technologies, discusses the impact of wearable technologies on businesses and the management of risk and claims.  In order to be more attractive to business, wearables must be easy to use, deployable with a long battery life. Triax focuses on wearables as a safety tool for construction companies. He says simply knowing the number of workers …

“We have disruption all over… (and) the insurance industry deals with it.” That, according to Sean Kevelighan, President and CEO of the Insurance Information Institute (III), who spoke at the recent AAIS Main event in Florida. He notes that the insurance industry is accustomed to dealing with natural and man-made catastrophes, even technology, which a major disruptor right now. Mr. …

According to Paul Carroll, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Insurance Thought Leadership (ITL), this is a “hugely important time in the (insurance) industry.” He describes “five stages of disruption“, which he has seen in other industries for some time. Mr. Carroll says the industry is out of the “denial phase” and now in the “Cambrian stage”, with billions of dollars being …

In part one of a two-part Tech Trends in Insurance report, WRIN.tv speaks with Bill Pieroni, President & CEO of ACORD, about the disruptive effect data and technology has had on the insurance industry. He notes that more recently, there are a number of issues that are increasing the importance of technology and data usage today. Mr. Pieroni says forces …

WRIN.tv catches up with Bradley Kading, President and Executive Director of the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers (ABIR), to discuss the state of the Bermuda (re)insurance market, international concerns over Brexit and the U.S. presidential election, and opportunities he sees on the horizon. The Bermuda market suffered from soft pricing in 2016, with the ability to earn a profit …

CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — For the first time in its four year history, the annual Workers’ Compensation Benchmarking Study identifies which claims best practices are generating better outcomes. Findings from the just published 2016 study reflect results from a nationwide survey of 492 claims leaders who report on methods that drive success in their organizations. To date, nearly …

With the property reinsurance market experiencing soft pricing for some time, WRIN.tv spoke with Jim Larkin, Head of Property Underwriting at Munich Re America, about the impact of Hurricane Matthew, and other factors affecting the market. While it is unclear if Hurricane Matthew would have any impact on reinsurance renewals, Mr. Larkin believes the storm was a reminder about the …

WRIN.tv spoke with NAMIC President and CEO Chuck Chamness during the Annual Convention of the National Association Mutual Insurance Companies in Vancouver. Mr. Chamness sees the creep of international regulation and technology among the issues facing mutual, and all insurers today. Technologies, he says, can provide ways for Mutuals to stay in touch with the customers…to help policyholders feel part …

In this edition of ACORD Tech Talk, host Johnell Johnson welcomes Kathleen Swain, Innovation Advisor at USAA to discuss the recent approval by the FAA allowing USAA to use drones and the use of drones by insurance companies. According to Ms. Swain, “USAA started researching the use of drones in 2010 and in 2014, filed for two exemptions from the FAA for …

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is transforming the healthcare and health insurance industries. Here Jessica Smythe, a Medicare Secondary Payer Act Compliance Consultant with ISO Claims Partners, discusses how the ACA is also affecting workers compensation. Ms. Smythe says the impact of the ACA on Medicare and Medicaid is far-reaching. A large portion of the ACA was designed to curb …