Digital Platforms

However, LIMRA warns that the industry won’t return to 2008’s sales figures until 2013.

As subsidies expire, House removes health insurance spending to ease passage of broader bill.

Insurers are simplifying variable annuities to reduce risk and cut costs, but most investors still want living benefits.

Exhibitors acknowledge improvements, but daunting challenges remain.

Observers say the assignment for financial agencies is unprecedented and, eclipses past government overhauls, such as Sarbanes-Oxley.

We all know the power of ratings and reviews. Many cinephiles base their weekend viewing on what critics favor at a given moment, as do music aficionados when browsing through the latest releases. But nowadays, you don't need to be a well-respected reviewer or influential blogger to influence people's decisions. The advent of social media is enabling everyone to wax poetic, or raise or lower their thumb in judgment of anything they choose. Facebook last month even made it possible for members to "like" items on a wide variety of partner sites, furthering both the rating phenomenon as well as its own reach. So, how does this new trend help an insurer looking to improve interactions with its customers or boost sales?

In wake of the economic crisis, financial risk managers will need to rely on process and technology innovation, as well as a dose of introspection.

Recent deals for technology software and services.

Accenture survey finds that insurers plan to spend an average of $84 million to improve multi-channel strategies.

As lawmakers head into the Memorial Day recess, they are leaving behind some unfinished business. The latest extension of the beleaguered National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is due to expire on 12:01 am, June 1.

Accounting standard-setters issued new rules Wednesday that could have profound effects, not just on how assets and liabilities get valued but on how banks and financial services firms do business.

Guidewire, IBM, InsPro Technologies, Exigen among vendors touting new offerings and services at this week’s ACORD LOMA Systems Forum.

Customer Stream is designed to help carriers keep tabs on business partners.

New research points to financial institutions' responses to the financial crisis, regulatory changes and a desire to combat financial crime.

Duck Creek and Pitney Bowes partner on policy administration; Guidewire forges alliances.

Insurers watch as accounting standard setters prepare to issue new rules that could have profound effects on their business.

Carriers need to spend to optimize current business processes while simultaneously laying the foundation for future growth.

Only half of insurance CEOs surveyed believe their companies are adequately prepared to successfully navigate complex, uncertain business environment, an IBM study says.

A surprising reprimand of national politicians and a less surprising disregard for the industry highlighted the conference’s first day.

Insurers focused on expanding relationships with existing technology solution providers.

Fitch affirms Markel, S&P revises outlook on Mutual of Omaha and A.M. Best affirms Unitrin ratings.

The partnership grants RiskMeter users access to RMS’ Average Annual Loss and Probable Maximum Loss data.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the No. 2 Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, was named as a conferee instead of Sen. Mark Warner.

INN’s 2010 Vanguards in Insurance Practices Awards represent true votes of confidence by insurers who rate the value provided by technology solution providers.

Bank-owned life insurance assets totaled $134.6 billion in 2009, up 0.6% from 2009, says new report.

Reform passage means a federal insurance regulator is on the horizon.

Early disclosures include only property losses, affecting earnings rather than capital; no rating changes currently expected.

The Software-as-a-Service analytics program is intended to serve the property/casualty industry.

Commercial lines market to remain stable, but concerns over natural catastrophes, and volatile political and economic environments persist, according to new report.

Industry cautiously optimistic as Senate passes financial services overhaul.

The bill must now be reconciled with the House version.

Gartner study shows the IT marketplace is still operating in a cost-optimization mode.

The successful cloture vote means senators have a maximum of 30 hours to debate the bill.

We provide insurance for those whose identities are stolen, so why not add preventive services?

What do annuity sales and base runners have in common? Both continue to slide.

IBM and Accenture are the front runners, with other major players steps behind, says new report.

For a bill that has already seen its fair share of fits and starts, regulatory reform legislation hit a wall Wednesday as it failed a key procedural vote in the Senate.

Insurers watch as the amendment could affect use credit scores for underwriting.

Agency adjusts the guidelines by which it rates both property/casualty and life insurers.

As legislators ponder lifting cap on damages resulting from oil spill, Senate Majority Leader Reid suggests abolishing it altogether.

Onus is on them to address the “elephant in the room,” manage reality-based models, and shape organizational culture in post-crisis world, says Swiss Re.

Religious funds have grown in the past decade due to a larger number, and wider range of investors, analyst says.

Life insurers are adjusting the way they calculate capital requirements a new study from New York-based Towers Watson finds. The report, Evolving Capital Management Practices, queried 30 CFOs and found they expect to make greater use of economic capital when determining capital requirements.

The amendment preserves state attorneys generals' role protecting their citizens against abusive practices.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City’s integration of Tuo Underwriting system is part of a marketing strategy to leverage Tuo and Microsoft Dynamics.

Minneapolis-based Wolters Kluwer Financial Services reports that it will incorporate its insurance compliance information and analysis technologies with FINEOS Claims for Workers’ Compensation.

Facebook remains an intriguing channel and marketing tool for insurers, and this debate with regulators underlines just how important it could be.

Insurers must work harder to educating advisors on how their products work if they want to boost sales, LIMRA says.

S&P affirms Liberty Mutual Group Inc., A.M. Best downgrades Town and Country Mutual Insurance Co. and Moody’s upgrades Unum Group.

SMA report says agencies may open wallets to improve areas such as product development and premium volume rebounds.

After rebuilding balance sheets following a costly 2008, P&C insurers hope to not face further financial risks.

The question of how to handle security identification is a thorny one.