Articles by Jonathan Swift
Brokers warn insurers they risk losing more business to MGAs
Mainstream insurers need to heed the lessons of the post pandemic decline in service or face losing more market share to managing general agents.
Insurance market pays respects to ‘true character’ Terry Wellard
The insurance industry has paid its respects following the passing of former Edgar Hamilton Group chairman and well-known insurance personality, Lloyd’s broker and philanthropist Terry Wellard, aged 82.
Brokers should push for 12-month BI indemnity periods to be extended
The 12-month indemnity period in business interruption insurance cover should be consigned to history and replaced with a minimum 18- to 24-month one as standard.
Brokers can no longer rely on insurer ‘pipeline’ to win war for talent
Brokers need to build their own pipeline of staff to win the war for talent because insurers are not going to do it for them anymore.
Brokers waiting on insurers and tech vendors to demonstrate value of AI and ChatGPT
Brokers are unlikely to actively embrace artificial intelligence and explore the potential of ChatGPT until insurers and technology vendors have demonstrated their value, and none need fear that they will replace them in giving advice.
Meet the MGA: Burns & Wilcox UK
Stuart Kilpatrick, managing director, Burns & Wilcox UK explains how creating an empowering environment and building long-term relationships with partners have been key to its success
Editor’s letter: Cash flow underwriting – stupidity over substance?
Having written about insurance for more than 25 years, I have learned that many things related to the sector are cyclical.
My Insurance Downtime: Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift
We know people in insurance are among the most dedicated and passionate when it comes to loving where they work. But everyone deserves a bit of downtime, which is where this new Insurance Age feature comes in as we focus on what you do in your spare time.
Cobra CEO Tedstone aims to hit £1bn by 2025
The boss of broking network Cobra has said that it has identified a pipeline of 700 potential ‘unicorns’ as it seeks new members to meet its target of £1bn of premium by the end of 2025.
Blog: Who will replace Steve White as Biba CEO?
Seven days on from Steve White dropping the biggest Biba Conference bombshell since Boris Johnson announced he was running for the Tory leadership, Jonathan Swift considers who might be among the early front runners to replace White as the trade body’s…
Meet the MGA: NBS Underwriting
NBS has doubled the number of agents it works with over the past 12 months. CEO Stan Kaznowski explains how both making ‘brokers’ lives easy’ and getting ahead of the curve with data have been key to the company’s success.
Editor’s letter: Sorry insurers, your staff ain’t worth stealing
In the weeks leading up to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference, I had a number of ‘state of market’ meetings with brokers
Education and client conversations key to reducing underinsurance in the HNW space
The high-net-worth sector is playing catch up in making sure clients are not underinsured as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic pause on site visits – and policyholders are having building work done on their properties and possessions accruing more value.
FCA’s Brewis: brokers key to helping curb unjustifiable freeholder commissions
The Financial Conduct Authority recommended insurance brokers interrogate property managers more to justify their commission with the publication of its latest paper on multi-occupancy buildings insurance.
Brokers need to get on the front foot and mirror fee increases of lawyers and accountants
Brokers should follow the lead of other professional services and not be sheepish when it comes to putting up client fees to reflect the value they add.
Aviva still weighing up Lloyd’s re-entry as part of GCS strategy
A Lloyd’s market re-entry is still under consideration by Aviva, according to its CEO of UK & Ireland general insurance, Adam Winslow.
Meet the MGA: Loadsure
After two decades in the London market Johnny McCord decided the time was right to set up his own business. The Loadsure CEO and founder explains how a light bulb moment led him reinventing cargo insurance as a ‘true’ insurtech.
Clear Group buys first international broker with MBC deal
Clear Group has acquired Irish commercial broker McAuliffe Barry & Collins Ltd (trading as MBC Insurance and Techinsure.ie), its first deal outside the UK, Insurance Age can reveal.
Editor’s letter: Marking the FCA’s muted 10th birthday
However, perhaps they were so optimistic about them being successful they were confident that the date would ultimately never come back to haunt them in the shape of unpleasant headIf the government and law makers of the time could go back to 2013, they…
The FCA: 10 years on has it been a success, failure – or somewhere in between?
On 1 April 2013 insurance brokers faced a new regulatory dawn as the baton passed from the Financial Services Authority to the Financial Conduct Authority. Insurance Age canvassed opinion throughout the market to find out views on how the first decade…
Saga in 'exclusive' sale talks with insurtech over Acromas underwriting arm
Over-50s specialist Saga has confirmed that it is in exclusive discussions with Australian insurtech Open to sell its insurance arm Acromas.
Meet the MGA: Fusion Specialty UK
As Fusion Specialty UK begins trading, managing partner Josh Cowen and partner Sam Shirley discuss why technology is key to their plans for the SME-focused mergers and acquisitions MGA.
Brokers key to new UK regulated insurer Lumun’s success, says CEO Bilney
The CEO and founder of the proposed new UK regulated motor insurer Lumun has outlined the importance of brokers to its success.
Editor's letter: Broker offshoring - will it reach a full scale ‘Boom’?
Writing about insurance at the beginning of the 21st century, offshoring was very much in vogue.