Digital Platforms

After hearing reports from across the industry last week at both IBM's IMPACT conference and Software AG's SOA Summit, it's apparent that SOA is very much alive and kicking.

The insurer announces loss, albeit greatly reduced from 2008, and an agreement to sell its prime real estate holding in Tokyo to Nippon Life Insurance Co.

America's Health Insurance Plans is one of five organizations supporting a cut in the annual health care spending growth rate.

Industry payrolls were 2.275 million in April, down from a seasonally adjusted 2.279 in March.

Traveling in a custom-decorated Agent Insight Tour truck, the AgencyPort team will conduct interviews with more than 100 agents in more than 50 towns and cities.

A new study cites improvements in producer licensing but says challenges remain in market conduct examinations.

The measures are designed to reduce the duplication of efforts and costs for regional insurers.

Mary Schapiro last Friday came out in favor of the plan outlined earlier in the week by FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair.

Westfield, Liberty Mutual, CNA and Chubb Group heads discuss InVEST, technology and future of the insurance industry.

The firms announce a number of downgrades, affirmations and upgrades to AXA and CIGNA, among others.

INN issues a call for nominations for its award program recognizing excellence, leadership and professional performance among women in insurance.

NAVA believes this week’s developments with the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program (SCAP), conducted by the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and FDIC, may be a turning point for the nation’s economic crisis.

Weatherford cites spate of recent economic news as positive indications for investors.

Apple’s operating system is neat and sports several advantages over Windows, but the company’s irresponsible public persona ensures that it will not dominate.

Dueling coalitions, representing domestic and foreign reinsurers respectively, are amplifying their positions in advance of pending legislation.

Insurance executives and regulators consider the costs and regulations required to expand coverage at roundtable discussion.

At a hearing Wednesday, FDIC Chair Sheila Bair suggested the creation of a systemic risk council composed of existing regulators that would have the "teeth" to intervene when necessary.

Maurice “Hank” Greenberg says he will sell his nearly 12.9 million shares in AIG to Starr International, a company he still controls.

In a move to head off creation of a government insurance plan, health carriers agree in principle to reduce rates for women.

The current economy is affecting new car buying and decisions about coverage on older vehicles, a trend that raises important insurance and maintenance considerations.

Given insurers' knowledge of consumer lifestyles, they should be utilizing predictive analytics to better identify ideal customers and sell them higher-value services.

Given the reporting reforms sure to come out of the financial crisis, now is the perfect time for insurers to start making their data center greener.

Underscoring the risk regulator’s role, Fed Reserve policymaker tells panel: Give regulator adequate power or find other ways to limit systemic risk.

Risky behavior has become the norm for this generation of computer users.

First State Bank in Webster City, Iowa, has purchased 15 agencies in the past 25 years—14 in the past 17 years.

Latest financial ratings reports prompt the question: Are some insurers paying for the sins of their competitors?

Continuing expense pressures and expanded service offerings by offshore business process providers my spur more offshoring, says Conning Research and Consulting.

Even for the many insurers still dependent upon legacy systems, it's possible to adapt their systems to realize the benefits of automated decisioning.

May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month, and research shows Americans are vulnerable to serious financial hardship in the event they were to become disabled.

Industry representatives and consumer advocates trade barbs at a public hearing hosted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Fiserv's CEO says the company would like to capitalize on Fidelity National Information Services's planned acquisition of Metavante Technologies Inc.

The troubled insurer announced that in an effort to cut costs, it's ending sales of variable annuities in Japan and the U.K.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY FOR RISK INSPECTION

Iterative methodologies and sound product architectures reduce risk, and yield faster return on investment.

MANULIFE INKS OUTSOURCING DEAL WITH THOMSON REUTERS

Legislative moves to squash systemic risk may portend a heavier hand in insurance regulation.

Celent's recent survey of independent agents and insurers found that 60% of respondents said less than half of their sales and issuance activities are automated.

Due to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, federal regulators may now require written policies and procedures and periodic compliance reviews.

An AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co. survey finds that 61% of men and 51% of women said they planned to shift the asset mix of their investments in response to the changing markets.

The data supporting its use are statistically irrefutable, and the benefits to consumers are significant, Hartwig says.

Physicians offer advice on how to define “meaningful use” of electronic health records.

The prediction of a Swine Flu pandemic brings to light an urgent and dire need for electronic health data.

Virtualization offers significant financial benefits, but it may also involve significant risk.

Insurers are among coalition advocating efforts to reduce risks in storm-prone areas.

New York Insurance Superintendent Dinallo says that mergers are likely for weakened insurers.

Solution highlighted by Web-based reporting and analytics platform designed to track risk exposure, compliance violations, financial statements and investment performance.

A new study shows the Web is the channel of choice for people seeking price information about auto insurance.

Despite insurance's yawn-inducing rep as a consumer brand, Forrester believes that since 75% of U.S. consumers use social technologies, the opportunity is there for insurers to capitalize.

A new study finds that while newly keen for bargains, consumers are not eschewing insurance coverage altogether.

An NICB report shows suspicious car fires up 27%, slip-and-falls up 77% and hail damage claims soar 407%.

The troubles at AIG continue to hold the headlines, as investigators are now digging into whether Joseph Cassano, the former head of London-based AIG Financial Products, and two of his top deputies--EVP Andrew Forster and Connecticut-based managing-director Thomas Athan--committed securities fraud and other federal crimes, reports the Wall Street Journal and CBS News.

Conning Research & Consulting suggests individual annuity insurers rethink their product risk, distribution, asset management functions and cost structures in a changing competitive environment