Finance, Investments, and Accounting
Surplus Lines Insurers Wrote Record $82.6 Billion in Premiums in 2021
Total US surplus lines direct premiums written reached a record $82.6 billion in 2021, according to a new report from A.M. Best. The surplus lines industry’s momentum has continued thus far in 2022, the rating agency said. It was the US surplus lines market's largest year-over-year premium growth since 2003. Learn More
Property-Casualty Industry Reserves Were Largely Unchanged in 2021
An annual study of the property-casualty insurance industry's loss reserves found little change in the industry's overall reserve position from 2020 to 2021. However, the study by Conning did find changes in reserve levels by lines of business. Learn More
Property-Casualty Insurers Poised for Improved Underwriting Profits
North American property-casualty insurance companies are positioned for improved underwriting profits in 2022 due to continued commercial lines pricing trends favorable to insurers and likely stabilization of their personal auto business, according to Fitch Ratings. Read More
Ukraine Invasion Seen Having Significant Insurance Industry Impact
Russia's invasion of Ukraine will likely have a substantial impact on the global insurance industry in the near to middle terms, particularly given the fallout in the capital markets and the potential for widespread cyber attacks, according to A.M. Best. The invasion has had an immediate negative impact on stock markets. Read More
Amazon Courier Captives: A Solution That Really Delivers
Amazon's delivery model is a logistical marvel that also creates unique loss risks in its "last-mile" drivers that are well suited to captive insurance. A hard insurance market, like the one that the last-mile industry is facing, is common with relatively new risks that have clear high-risk characteristics. Read More
Insurance Premiums Increased for 16th Consecutive Quarter in Q3
Commercial property and casualty insurance premiums increased for the 16th consecutive quarter during the third quarter of 2021, according to the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB). According to the CIAB's Commercial Property/Casualty Market Index, prices increased 8.9 percent across all account sizes. Read More
Portfolio Construction, Low Yields, and Inflation
Captive insurance companies should take care in constructing their investment portfolios during times of low yields and potentially rising inflation. Too many investors make the mistake of believing in the powers of the Federal Reserve and forecasts of the experts. It can pay to be cautious. Read More