Economy News

Regulator: California Workers’ Comp Insurance Rating Bureau Needs to Address Challenges

The California Department of Insurance has released the audit report of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau. Recommendations made by the audit suggest that WCIRB should: Begin to collect the detailed, transaction-level data needed to perform refined analyses of …

Lloyd’s CEO Says Insurance May Play ‘Bigger Role’ in Poor Regions

Lloyd’s CEO Richard Ward, in a speech given to a meeting in Tokyo of the Geneva Association, the organization for the study of insurance economics today, called for insurance to play a bigger role in providing vital financial assistance to …

Nevada Governor Signs Bill to Change Division of Insurance Funding

Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has signed a bill that will change the funding structure of the Nevada Division of Insurance and strengthen consumer protections in the area of viatical settlements. The bill, Senate Bill 426, passed May 22 in the …

Ratings: Allianz (Italy), Hatherley, Jamaica, China Ins. (Singapore), Arab Orient

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “aa” of Allianz S.p.A. (Italy), both with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect the enhancement received from the implicit support of Allianz S.p.A.’s …

Fireman’s Fund: Focusing on Agents

CEO LaRocco, Exec Barnard Outline Insurer’s Renewed Strategy to Re-Engage Agents and Deliver Greater Value Weathering today’s economic storm has not been easy for insurance companies. Consumers are more carefully scrutinizing their coverages, while the financial sector is taking a …

State Auto: How a Regional Carrier Weathers the Storms

Super Regional CEO Restrepo Talks Catastrophe Losses, Premium Growth and Independent Agents How are regional insurance companies faring in today’s climate — financial and catastrophe? What challenges do they face? How can they grow? Why are they so popular with …

Investigators Aim to Catch Few Bad Apples in P/C Agent Ranks

As Economic Conditions Drive Up Fraud, Officials Hope to Prevent Agent Abuses from Spreading Those who track insurance criminals for a living say that as the economy has worsened, insurance fraud has been rising – and they are on the …

The Biggest Loser?

Obesity Weighs Heavily on Workers’ Compensation Claims It’s time face facts, we’re a nation of fatties. About a quarter of our citizens can be characterized as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC). And while that …

Panama Moving Slowly on Making Tax Haven Law Changes

Panama’s ruling party is unlikely to pass tighter tax legislation seen as key for the signing of a U.S. free-trade deal before President Martin Torrijos steps down on July 1, legislators said this week. A bilateral trade pact has been …

How to Re-ignite Producers – and Other Employees – Who Have Lost Their Spark

Incentive Compensation Focused on Customers, Not Premiums, Works, Consultant Says Al Diamond is one of the country’s best known and respected agency management consultants. His firm, the Agency Consulting Group, is based in Cherry Hill, N.J. Diamond consults with agencies …