Digital Platforms

Boulder, Colo. — Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), an IT management research and consulting firm, released a new advisory note, “What the Economic Crisis Means for IT Security and Risk Management.” In the advisory note, EMA research director, Scott Crawford, highlights the impact of the current financial industry meltdown, and its implications for the management of security and risk in IT.

Software, personnel transfer to AQS from ISO Insurance Technology Solutions

New whole company modeling and backtesting functions are designed to help insurance companies better manage financials.

The service will supply summarization and electronic delivery of life insurance policy application medical files and associated documents to support new business process.

GLOBAL CASE MANAGEMENT

ALLIANZ SELECTS RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

Also receiving recognition this year are four leaders who have successfully driven significant project and/or process improvements within their companies.

Hurricanes may have superceded earthquakes as the catastrophe du juor, but insurers know they can ill afford to ignore quakes.

Insurers are beginning to realize that effective ERM requires a wide view of the entire enterprise.

For the third consecutive year, INN recognizes the unique accomplishments of the industry's prominent female leaders.

Popularity of business process management is driving vendors to enhance their offerings with business rules technologies.

The carrier cites market instability as it reports a $166M net loss.

Code of practice for risk management is designed to govern principles, models and processes.

Whether the customer is an agent/broker or a consumer, Datamonitor suggests insurers develop an online sales strategy to lower customer acquisition costs, as well as gain control of the customer relationship.

Association says CPP should expand to include life insurers.

Report says company rapidly spending bailout funds

To buttress its balance sheet, the insurer is accepting $3 billion euros from its government.

At the Casualty Loss Reserve Seminar attendees listened to actuarial experts discuss the effect increasing workers’ compensation medical costs will have on P&C insurers.

Conducted before the economic crisis, an ERM survey reveals that carriers face substantial work in incorporating risk management into business processes and decision-making.

New guaranteed income products can bridge retirement security gap and win assets and fees, notes Conning Research.

Wells Fargo & Co.’s deal to acquire Wachovia Corp. has not stopped Wells from launching new investment products, including a new socially responsible fund.

Industry will fight regulatory battles on several fronts, association head warns.

Insurance association says that the industry is well capitalized and should forego aid from the government.

Algorithmics has been selected as the winner in two different categories: functionality and innovation.

Key challenges include administrative hurdles and providing clear, easy-to-understand information to employees.

The retirement solutions association new service is designed to provide implementers of the STP Standards Initiative with an easy-to-use tool to expedite the testing of electronic data messages against a neutral, standard reference system.

In light of the financial services meltdown, a report says insurers should augment their governance, risk management and compliance capabilities to prepare for coming regulatory changes.

Data center pros say their organizations are unable or unwilling to meet the expectations of their green initiatives, according to a new study by Aperture Research Institute.

Topics address two critical issues facing the insurance industry: the credit crisis and new business models in new markets.

Insurer voting is in progress as INN and Celent partner on INN’s 3rd annual ranking of tech solution providers.

Association letter says that financial crisis reaffirms efficacy of state-based regulation.

The solution provides life insurance agents with access to mission-critical business processes for policy placement in a completely electronic environment.

New protection for mid-sized customers covers range of professional and pollution liability exposures

The tool will help Ironshore accurately assess the potential damage and loss from fire, smoke and water to properties in its portfolio.

The association says the role of rating agencies in financial meltdown warrants consideration.

The office in central Beijing will be headed by Zifa Wang, an earthquake engineering expert who joined RMS from the China Institute of Engineering Mechanics.

Risk Management Solutions estimates U.S. onshore and offshore insured losses from Hurricane Ike at $13 to $21 billion.

Fitch estimates that capital (and reserves) needed to support the variable annuity business in the United States has increased by up to $15 billion during 2008.

The site is designed to provide easy navigation and access to ACE Westchester’s online quote-and-bind facility specifically tailored for its key inland marine product offerings.

At INN's Insurance Business Analytics conference last week, insurers weighed how best to implement and leverage business analytics.

TowerGroup points to economic, market and regulatory volatility as the No. 1 business driver for financial institutions.

Attorney General of the State of New York sends a letter to AIG CEO stating that the insurer take action on exec payments.

Kaiser Permanente announced it has 22 hospitals, serving 4.8 million members, using electronic health records (EHR).

Aetna members will be able to log into their Aetna PHR and transfer information to a new HealthVault account.

Survey results from Fiserv Insurance Solutions also reveal that the top three most important technologies for insurers are service-oriented architecture, business process management and data accessibility layer technology.

After a trying third-quarter for the industry, insurers need to contemplate their risk management culture.

Insurance.com’s RateWatch for Car Insurance found that the lowest car insurance quotes, on average, were up 3% over the previous quarter.

If the stock market doesn’t recover from steep losses precipitated in recent weeks, the surplus decline could approach $80 billion, or 15%, by the end of the year, according to global professional services firm Towers Perrin.

The Annual State of the Market Report included a new feature this year, a compilation of organizations that excelled at providing value to the business community.

The majority PricewaterhouseCoopers' survey respondents said they could do more to reduce the chance of future industry instability. However, the survey also revealed a desire for greater transparency to accurately measure exposure to risk.

Insurers have until November to weigh in on proposed annuities changes.

A letter to the SEC chairman says calls to suspend fair value accounting are misguided.