Digital Platforms

Property/casualty agents disclose in a survey what they want from carriers in services and technology; what factors matter the most when placing business; and how investments by carriers in agent technologies make a bottom line difference in agencies.

The future of the general liability insurance market will play itself out between the cumulative effects of small to moderate losses and the rising prospect of mega-risks, according to Conning Research & Consulting.

The monthly snapshot of the underwriting activity for the North American life insurance industry indicates U.S. application activity was up +1.0% in February year-over-year.

Thomas Wilson says a federal insurance charter to cover the insurance industry could lower administrative costs and improve access to new and innovative products.

Companies point to regulatory process, court’s decision, as reasons behind decision to halt merger.

Differing visions of a regulatory structure for insurance will likely be reconciled in coming months.

After a powerhouse 2007, LIMRA points to economic factors affecting sag in 2008 individual long-term care insurance, other individual product line results.

Hitting $4.1 billion in the fourth quarter, MetLife Inc. is among several insurers contributing to a 60% year-over-year increase in fixed annuities sales.

As part of the deal, Lloyds has agreed to increase its lending by an additional £14 billion over the next 12 months, and made a similar commitment for 2010

ACORD says an individual with the ACORD Certified Expert designation has received a consistent training, passed the exams required for the designation, and is up to date on the latest ACORD standards and versions.

Fitch trims Aflac’s rating citing concerns about the insurer’s investment portfolio.

Capital District Physicians' Health Plan and Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield are the latest New York insurers to be named in the suit against Ingenix Inc.

Rep. Barney Frank says separate federal charter for life insurers under consideration.

The bill would include coverage for wind damage in coastal regions, but critics say the legislation includes unintended negative consequences.

The life insurer will use products designed to enable portfolio replication to calculate enterprisewide economic capital across its asset and liability portfolios.

A cyberliability insurance underwriter is one of 20 alternative fields where computer professionals’ technical knowledge will be advantageous, according to IT career book.

Net income dropped 67.7% for the P&C industry in 2008, while net unrealized capital losses totaled $51.7 billion for the life industry, according to a new study from Highline Data.

The scandal-ridden software provider has received the green light to sell a 51% stake of itself.

The struggling insurer reportedly is engaged in talks with Sun Life Financial to sell its life insurance and annuity operations.

Senators openly doubted whether AIG ever poised a systemic risk to the economy at a House Financial Services Committee meeting yesterday.

Majority of CIOs anticipate keeping current staffing levels.

Bill sponsor says legislation may include mandatory charter for “systemically significant” companies.

Workers in the insurers’ IT division have claimed a multi-million dollar lottery prize.

The new system will expose existing legacy assets as Web services, delivering patient liability information immediately to physicians and providers.

Association representing property/casualty insurers says creating a systemic risk regulator is a good idea.

Association says further lending to the troubled insurer will distort market.

A new study recommends that life insurers integrate a five-tiered approach to improve advisor performance.

As builders increasingly incorporate sustainability into construction projects, insurers need to be aware of the risk implications.

Although clouds are still forming over insurance giant AIG, many other insurers’ financial strength ratings continue to be ranked “stable.”

The New York-based analyst firm adds Ben Stinson as industry relations manager, bolsters insurance tech research group to more than 80 members.

On demands of accountability and oversight, the Fed chief said the AIG situation makes him angry, but justified the latest bailout move, saying the government needs to “move aggressively” to solve the economic crisis.

Just days after being downgraded by Standard & Poor’s, Lincoln National received a negative outlook from Fitch.

The goal is for every regulated financial institution to provide loss-event and tail data to regulatory authorities via an XBRL-based risk taxonomy.

Now on its fourth government bailout, the loan conditions for troubled insurance giant continue to grow more lenient.

The bank's executives are in talks with UK Financial Investments, which owns 43% of Lloyds, to secure taxpayer backing for more than £250bn of assets.

The rating agency took actions on Genworth Financial, Hartford Financial Services Group, Americo Financial Life & Annuity Insurance Co., Lincoln National, MetLife Inc., Pacific LifeCorp and Prudential Financial.

Privately funded StoneRiver comprises insurance, flood services, pharmacy, marketing and regulatory compliance divisions.

The loss in 2008 was driven by the P&C companies’ pretax operating loss, which was partially offset by income tax recoveries, the insurer says.

In the third version of the government's bailout of the firm, the Treasury Department will convert its existing $40 billion of preferred shares into new preferred shares that more closely resemble common stock.

On the eve of releasing what may be the largest reported fourth-quarter loss in history, AIG is expected to spin off up to 20% of its P&C business in an initial public offering, say sources.

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Vendors, government Web sites seek to apprise consumers of options.

The beleaguered financial giant may finally have found a buyer for some of its assets.

Federal Reserve Chairman says idea of an optional federal charter for insurance is worth considering.

A new survey suggests European insurers are smart asset gatherers, accounting for more than 27% of all assets under management and 41% of all institutional client assets.

Vertafore will reorganize around market segments rather than products by creating three business units: agency markets, carrier & MGA markets and one separate Verafore Business, Sircon.

Lawmakers are asked to recognize the value of locally based financial institutions while rewriting regulations.

Published reports say federal authorities are considering cutting up insurance giant into separate companies.

The President said reform should not stifle innovation, but must improve transparency, increase accountability and create uniform supervision.