Opinion
Markel's Moi on the dangers of 'miscellaneous' Asian professionals
What do wedding planners, property managers, and skin beauticians all have in common? They are considered as 'miscellaneous professionals' in the eyes of the insurance industry.
Lloyds Bank's Bill Cooper on M&A in a challenging market
The government's recent decision to lower the discount rate from 2.5% to -0.75% took the market by surprise and generated many column inches of newsprint in the mainstream press.
Axa's Brendan McCafferty on the consequences of the discount rate
There must be a better time to start your role as the CEO of an insurance company. A few weeks into the job, I arrived at work on a Monday morning knowing a decision had just been made that would simultaneously hike premiums for millions of motorists and…
ABI's James Dalton on sorting out the discount rate mess
I am living the discount rate at the moment. I have lost count of the number of meetings I have attended, legal opinions I have read and conversations with insurance company CEOs I have had on this complex issue.
Charles Manchester on brokers using unrated insurers
Brokers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, so they don't really come into contact with the Prudential Regulation Authority, which is primarily concerned with the soundness of insurers, ensuring protection for policyholders.
Legal Update: Robotic surgery - cutting through the insurance implications
With advances in robotics and artificial intelligence taking hold of the medical industry, do the benefits of robot-assisted surgery outweigh the risks - especially for insurers?
Aviva's Lindsey Rix on building trust and demystifying insurance
Let's be honest: insurance isn't the most exciting subject and it's often seen as a grudge purchase, something we have to have just in case the worst happens.
Editor's comment: Not ageing well
With the countdown to my next ‘big’ birthday already started, I’m the first to admit that none of us are getting any younger.
Airmic's John Hurrell on why insurers should assess risk culture
It is a well-established practice for underwriters to take into account risk management performance when assessing the risk profile of a business.
RSA's Thomas on how partners can serve your customers better than branches
The future of overseas trading for UK businesses is somewhat clouded by the uncertainty of a post-Brexit world. But what's clear is that it is not just the giants of UK industry that have to grapple with how to work within new rules and channels for…
Week in Post: Moves and booze
For the first time ever, I had to purchase home insurance this week and despite working with the insurance industry, I had no idea how to go about it. So I ended up on an aggregator site.
Dual's Hillier on the opportunities for title insurance providers in India and the US
While they differ in scale, legislation and stage of development, today’s US and Indian title insurance markets have one important commonality: both offer interesting new opportunities for growth.
Blog: Pokémon no go - the rules of the game for construction professionals
How can an app where players catch animated characters affect the insurance industry?
Junction’s Gary Duggan on how the data revolution can benefit consumers
The vast amount of data available to insurance providers in an increasingly digital world offers extraordinary potential for our industry, allowing us to understand our customers better, to refine our pricing and to improve and personalise the…
Legal Update: Motor's waiting game
The motor claims market is currently sitting in that state of indecision that business - and pilots - like to call ‘a holding pattern' as it awaits three major government consultations. These, to push the aviation analogy to its fullest, are hovering…
AIG's Baldwin on why the industry should put heads together for mental health
Resolutions come thick and fast in January. Most don’t stick until February.
Bila's Castle on the prospect of collective redress in the UK
The prospect of a full-blown, opt-out US class action culture, funded by a Plaintiff Bar made fat from its cut of the damages, is not one that most UK insurers would relish.
Aon's Andrew Tunnicliffe on holding up the mirror
You may have heard or read that McKinsey reported in its 2015 Diversity Matters report that gender diverse firms were 15% more likely to outperform those that were not diverse, but here's something more interesting.
Cryonics: premium on immortality?
The world of cryonics, and the freezing of human tissue, is proving a tricky one for the insurance industry.
Nexus Group's Colin Thompson on the evolution of MGAs
With more than 300 UK-based managing general agents underwriting roughly £5bn - circa 10% of the UK general insurance market - the MGA is already firmly established within the London market providing a key access point to local markets and the ability to…
Ageas's Boisseau on the importance of using technology for transparency
Mis-selling of payment protection insurance has done little to help our industry and the issue of trust for insurance providers.
Rebalancing and building trust in China's economy
As the Year of Rooster starts, it is a good time to reflect on China's evolving economy.
Editor's comment: The concept of power
Another year and another Power List from your team at Post.
Spotlight: Claims Assistance: Ignore at your peril
Dissatisfaction over clarity during the claims process has been highlighted by the recent Financial Conduct Authority review. What can the industry do to make the system work better?