Articles by Brian H. Kern

Insurers’ Study Warns on North Carolina Beach Plan Deficit

The insurance industry has unveiled results of a report finding that the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association, a.k.a. the Beach Plan, is not financially prepared to weather a major storm. According to the report, the Beach Plan has no more …

A.M. Best, Insurers Worry Financial Crisis Could Affect Florida’s Cat Fund

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council recently rattled the nerves of insurers when it presented its 2008 October bonding estimates. David Sampson, president of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, said that while he recognizes that the FHCF …

Carvill Offers Options on Individual Named Storms

Carvill Capital Markets recently listed named storm contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, providing coverage for live hurricanes and for an entire hurricane season. Patrick Gonnelli, president of Carvill Capital Markets, said contracts are listed on the CME, allowing any …

Group Nurtures Latin Agents’ Relationships, Better Business Practices

LAAIA President Rivero Urges Agents to Strike Balance Between Technology and Direct Client Contact When the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies was establishing itself in the late 1960s and early 1970s, most of the members were recent Cuban arrivals …

Face-to-Face

Insurance carriers have not perfected the art of marketing to Latin independent agents or the Latino market. They are not terrible at it but they could be better. In a recent Insurance Journal survey (see page 50), nearly half of …

Carvill Offers Options on Individual Named Storms

Carvill Capital Markets recently listed named storm contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, providing coverage for live hurricanes and for an entire hurricane season. Patrick Gonnelli, president of Carvill Capital Markets, said contracts are listed on the CME, allowing any …

Reinsurance Executives Tour Fortified Home in Mississippi

Nearing the end of a years-long highly specialized residential construction project, one Hurricane Katrina survivor has become a regular stop for insurance industry representatives touring along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In some ways, Scott Sundberg of Pass Christian, Miss., is …

Carvill Offers Options on Individual Named Storms

Carvill Capital Markets recently listed named storm contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange providing coverage for live hurricanes and for an entire hurricane season. Patrick Gonnelli, president of Carvill Capital Markets, said contracts are listed on the CME, allowing any …

Reinsurers Tour Fortified Home During Mississippi Wind Pool Meeting

Nearing the end of a years-long highly specialized residential construction project, one Hurricane Katrina survivor has become a regular stop for insurance industry representatives touring along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In some ways, Scott Sundberg of Pass Christian, Miss., is …

How Agents Prepared and Fared as Gustav Hit Gulf States

On the morning of Sept. 1, Gustav’s eye made landfall on the Louisiana coast just shy of Category 3 status. Experts estimate Gustav caused about $8 billion to $10 billion in insured damage. On Aug. 29 as Hurricane Gustav headed …