United States News

Fact or Fiction? Insurance Tidbits of Known and Little-Known Information

Have you ever wondered what big events helped shape regulation of the current U.S. insurance industry? Or if drivers of certain cars have more risk? What about the most attractive insurance job in the industry? These are just a few …

Commercial Pricing Stays Flat, Management Liability Declines

Overall commercial insurance prices were flat for the seventh consecutive quarter, declining less than 1 percent, according to a survey of third quarter activity. Commercial property, directors and officers liability, and employment practices liability pricing showed declines for the fourth …

Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead at Lloyd’s

December is often a time of reflection on what we’ve achieved, where we’ve stumbled and what lessons we will take forward into the New Year. When Lloyd’s published its three-year strategy earlier this year, it was clear that one of …

It Figures

4,000 The number of independent agencies founded in 2008, 2009 or 2010, which represents approximately 11 percent of the more than 37,500 total independent agencies in the United States today, according to the 2010 Agency Universe Study by Future One, …

One way that agency owners can keep their employees happy in today’s tough times is by making their compensation more accountable to agency growth. Al Diamond, president of the Agency Consulting Group, says in agencies where owners have decided to …

Aon Benfield Releases Annual Cat Report; Insured Losses at $38 Billion

Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon Corporation, has released its Annual Global Climate and Catastrophe Report, which reviews the natural disaster perils that occurred worldwide during 2010. The survey is published by Impact Forecasting, Aon …

Congress Sends Tax Deal to Obama for Signing

Congress gave final approval late Thursday to the deal President Barack Obama and Republicans made to extend expiring tax cuts — a high-stakes gamble to create jobs at a cost of deepening the U.S. debt. Over objections from many of …

U.S. Financial Rescue Cheap Compared to Past Crises: Geithner

The price of corporate bailouts in 2008 and 2009 looks cheap compared to past crises, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday, while urging more drastic action from housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help homeowners. For …

Best Affirms Amlin AG’s ‘A’ Ratings

A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Swiss-based Amlin AG, a reinsurance subsidiary of the Amlin Group, which was formerly based in Bermuda as …

Best Affirms Allstate and Subsidiaries ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Allstate Insurance Group and its members. Best also affirmed the ICR of “a-” and debt ratings of Allstate’s parent, …