Feature
A mutual future?
Regulations like Solvency II will have a significant impact on mutuals across Europe. Francesca Nyman asks whether the model will survive.
Accounting Standards: Slow but steady
Eight years since the 'interim' International Financial Reporting Standards were introduced, progress is still slow on final implementation.
Spotlight On Medical & Health: The heart of the matter
The barriers of medical science are constantly being pushed back, and third-party liability is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cover required for research and development projects.
Spotlight On Medical & Health: The long-life experiment
With an ageing population presenting new challenges, how can the insurance industry turn the problem of increased longevity into an opportunity?
Roundtable: How can fraud be halted at the underwriting stage?
There has long been a focus on fighting fraud at the claims stage, but could more be done to discourage would-be fraudsters at an earlier juncture?
Commercial Property: Too little, too late
Property underinsurance creates a real headache for insurers and their clients, often not discovered until a claim is made. So, where does the buck stop for accurate valuations?
Spotlight On Medical & Health: Trial and error
Clinical trials on humans is witnessing great technological advances, but they can be dangerous, as the Te Genero case proved in 2006. With compulsory insurance required, how can insurers manage the risks involved?
Loss adjusting: A standards issue
Direct regulation of loss adjusters has been on the agenda for more than a decade but, with Europe ready to step in, is the industry prepared to be governed by forces on the continent?
Executive remuneration: For what it's worth
Executive remuneration in insurance has come under the spotlight following a shareholder revolt at Aviva, but what went wrong and how will its impact be felt throughout the wider industry?
Telematics: the data challenges
The gender ruling is only six months from enforcement, and Catherine Barton asks whether telematics and its data capture can be a real solution.
Managing general agents: A surge in popularity
Managing general agents are certainly on trend and increasing their interaction with insurers but, with some companies still suspicious of their value, will their popularity last?
Flood cover: Sink or swim?
The expiry of the Statement of Principles is a year away, and the industry is looking for a replacement to cover the impact of flooding. Two ideas have been floated, but which will sink and which will swim?
Broker Focus: Fraud - First line of defence
Insurers are often called to bear arms in the battle against fraud, but should brokers be doing more to defend the industry?
Telematics: Ready for the mainstream?
Telematics remains in its infancy, but many in the industry have high hopes for its growth. But is the technology ready to make the leap into the mainstream?
Political risks: Economic unrest triggers interest and questions over cover
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain have all been re-rated 'medium risk' from 'low risk' by Aon Risk Solutions, as part of a downgrade of 37 countries in the firm's annual Terrorism & Political Violence map.
High Net Worth: Asia's growing wealthy and insurers gradually waking up to opportunities
The population of wealthy people in Asia is continuing to soar, creating significant opportunities for insurers offering premium products catering to their needs.
Application fraud: Revving up rates
In an effort to bring down premiums, many drivers are telling 'white lies' on their application forms, compelling brokers to beef up their own fraud detection alongside insurers.
Analytics: Cultivating customers with tailored data
Customers need to be offered more than just a cheap deal to persuade them to stay with an insurer, and tailored data can help achieve an increase in retention rates.
Terrorism and civil unrest: Risky business
With several parts of the world engulfed by violence and civil unrest, is traditional terrorism and political risk cover increasingly irrelevant?
Dispute resolution: Cutting in the middle man
Financial savings and court support have never been sufficient to switch insurers onto alternative dispute resolution in big numbers. Will the Jackson reforms provide the essential incentives?
Workplace Stress: Under pressure
With an estimated 18 000 financial services employees taking time off work due to stress in 2011, how can companies protect themselves in financially fraught times?
Communicating Change: Preparing to be purchased
Groupama UK and its broker subsidiaries were put up for sale in January. How has its management communicated the process to ensure that positive commercial momentum is maintained?
Opening the Takaful market
Initial forays into the Takaful market in the UK have so far met with failure. Despite this, there is still a conviction that a relevant Takaful market exists.
Social Media: The social media circle
With a culture of risk aversion, insurance is not a major social media player. But will the emergence of innovative German player Friendsurance change things?