News Analysis
Aviva’s Yabantu: Work to be done, but underinsurance message is cutting through
Aviva’s new director of mid market, schemes & regional speciality Michael Yabantu, believes that its efforts to raise the profile of the underinsurance issue are getting through to brokers and end-customers.
IFAs who mis-sold pensions to steel workers fear insurers will reject PI claims
Financial advisers who mis-sold pensions to British Steel workers ‘are concerned that their professional indemnity insurance may not respond to claims’, it has emerged in a regulatory update.
FCA launches phase two of enhanced oversight programme for newly authorised firms
The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed the start of phase two in its Early and High Growth Oversight programme and an expansion to feature 300 firms.
Fitch warns of deteriorating outlook for UK insurers
Fitch Ratings has delivered a split forecast for 2023 with the outlook for company market insurers deteriorating while London Market players have a ‘neutral’ ranking.
FCA sinking 'into a quicksand’ – brokers react to latest threat on fair value
The Financial Conduct Authority is sinking 'into a quicksand’ as it ups the ante over insurance firms failing to offer customers fair value.
Insurers face fresh broker scrutiny on fair value amid latest FCA data
Brokers have been told the Financial Conduct Authority’s latest release of fair value data raises searching questions over whether their insurer partners are offering fair value.
‘We expect insurers to pay’ – FCA agrees compensation for steel workers to trigger IFA claims
The FCA today agreed compensation for British Steel workers, meaning brokers are now braced for professional indemnity claims from financial advisers who gave them poor pensions advice.
Meet the MGA: Specialty MGA
With a USP of providing brokers and their clients with "immediate and predictable answers," Specialty MGA UK’s chief underwriting officer Philippe Bara outlines his plans for the new business.
Ardonagh restructures UK commercial and retail MGA offerings
Ardonagh has reorganised its UK commercial and retail MGAs, with businesses and brands aligned by client type across its platforms, Insurance Age can reveal.
FSCS maintains broker levy at £5.3m and forecasts no increase for 2023/24
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has kept the 2022/23 levy for brokers at £5.3m as it revealed the bill for 2023/24 is poised to be the same again.
Brokers await imminent FCA ruling which is expected to trigger claims from IFAs
A Financial Conduct Authority ruling which could trigger professional indemnity claims from independent financial advisers is expected at any moment.
Airmic CEO warns industry of challenging times ahead
Julia Graham, CEO at Airmic, has stressed the harsh market has given insurers and brokers new challenges and that difficult times are ahead.
Ardonagh free cashflow declines to £7.8m as debt payments rise
Ardonagh’s free cashflow has deteriorated to £7.8m for the first nine months of this year as it pays off interest from its £2.68bn net debts.
PIB swoops for personal lines specialist Jigsaw Insurance
PIB is poised to buy Harrogate-headquartered broker Jigsaw Insurance Services Plc for up to £24.12m in cash marking a significant step in personal lines for the consolidator.
CII denies exam costs are ‘far too high’ amid ‘recruitment crisis’
The Chartered Insurance Institute has been told its exam costs are ‘far too high’ and is being urged to cut prices to attract people into insurance amid a recruitment crisis.
Circle grows turnover and profit
Coventry-headquartered broker Circle boosted profit by a third with turnover up over 10% in its financial year ended 30 April 2022.
FCA to release crucial personal lines value data ‘imminently’
The Financial Conduct Authority is set to release value measures data ‘imminently’ that will play a crucial role in helping brokers benchmark whether their products offer value.
Bridge reports record operating profits
Manchester-headquartered Bridge Insurance Brokers has delivered a 34.2% rise in operating profit in the year to 31 March 2022 taking the total to a record £974,614.
Biba and ABI welcome IPT freeze
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers have both welcomed the decision by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt not to raise the level of insurance premium tax.
Broker Expo 2022: Insurers urged to ‘get rid’ of volume barriers on new broker agencies
Insurers have been urged to get rid of broker minimum premium commitment levels which ‘stymie consumer choice’.
Broker Expo 2022: £250,000 to set up a broker
It would cost around £250,00 to set up a broker from scratch these days, according to Brokerring CEO Stuart Randall.
Iprism buys Metier Underwriting
Managing general agent Iprism has struck its first deal buying specialist underwriting agency Metier Underwriting for an undisclosed sum, Insurance Age can reveal.
Headline makers: November 2022
The key stories from the past month all in one place.
News analysis: RSA's big challenge - turning around broker service
RSA is investing in its broker service as it aims to reverse years of decline. Having published its strategic roadmap for 2025, Saxon East discovers that although there is plenty of goodwill, it faces a battle to convince brokers it can achieve its goals