Personal
November is the cruellest month
Fears of spiralling market conditions sparked as spate of unfortunate events hit brokers
Products: Biba switches its high net worth scheme provider
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (Biba) has replaced Sterling with Aqua as the provider of its high net worth (HNW) scheme for members from 1 February 2012.
Product roundup: ‘Tis the season to tackle cyber crime
While it may seem incongruous to raise such matters in the season of goodwill, this month’s products and schemes pages are dominated by cyber crime, fraud, litigation and a change at Biba’s oldest scheme as the association dispensed with Sterling’s…
Winners and losers
If the ban on referral fees goes ahead next year, the repercussions could be felt throughout the industry, explains Tony Cornell
Profile: Making the grade
Moving Groupama away from its grey man reputation to become a niche specialist was a risk, UK CEO François-Xavier Boisseau tells Emmanuel Kenning, but one worth taking
Personal lines growth drives up NWP at RSA
RSA has reported UK personal lines Q3 net written premiums were up 13% to £1 036m, with commercial lines up just 2% to £1 282m. Overall the UK was up 7% to £2 318m.
Sentiment Survey Autumn 2011
The latest Sentiment Survey indicates that dual pricing is still a concern for brokers and commercial is lagging behind personal lines in terms of rising premiums
How to… ensure scheme claims run smoothly
Members of a scheme often communicate with each other and share their experiences on all manner of subjects – including insurance. And so the well-worn saying that a claims service is the “shop window” for the insurance industry has never been truer than…
High end competition
High net worth specialist SmithGreenfield is developing routes to market and ways of differentiating itself in a competitive sector where high levels of service are expected, managing director Steve Smith tells Martin Friel
Market moves: welcome home
October saw a lot of business development action with insurers chasing brokers and brokers chasing clients in the static UK economy. While there were numerous appointments across the board, as seems to have been the case throughout 2012, Scotland and the…
Review: Keeping the wheels turning
ABC Car from LV Broker. This product has been reviewed by brokers and rated from one to five stars, based on the policy’s key benefits. * = Poor ** = Average *** = Good **** = Very good ***** = Excellent
Products: Aviva launches product to cover multiple cars
Aviva has launched MultiCar a new motor product that can cover up to five vehicles for families living under the same roof. Business vehicles can also be included provided they are all registered at the same business address.
Product roundup: Cleaning up in a commercial niche
Groupama is aiming to sweep up business in the cleaning world, an industry it believes has a turnover of £5.3bn a year. The latest addition to its Exclusively range, which is available for open market trading, allows brokers to flex their commission…
Levelling the field
Smaller brokers may be able to compete on level terms in personal lines after the introduction of new data enriching software
Profile: Two’s company...
Six months after RSA snapped up Oak underwriting, Steve Kingshott and Bob Trott tell Martin Friel how the companies’ different approaches are combining for an assault on the ultra high net worth sector
Editor’s letter - October 2011
“The government, always keen to jump on a bandwagon, has taken up public concerns over soaring premiums”
Add-ons: the next PPI scandal?
OFT’s call for evidence on ancillary products in private motor could uncover wide-spread mis-selling
Market moves: Making moves in the Midlands
The Midlands was the place to be this month with numerous appointments and promotions at all levels, with Commercial Express in particular the source of a few moves. Lorica and Oxford Insurance Brokers also added several employees to their teams.
Motor market faces OFT investigation
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched an investigation into the private motor market following the sharp increase in premiums over the last 12 months.
Products: Cover from when the hammer falls
The high net worth antique and auction market has seen a recent focus on product development for both a broker and an insurer.
Products: Lexelle fuels market with expanded range
Wholesale broker Lexelle has launched a range of new products to help brokers meet customer demand.
Motor drives combined operating ratios down but it’s not all one way traffic
Rate rises in motor boost half year results but commercial market hardening remains elusive
Power hour: High on the agenda
High net worth clients are not feeling the global downturn as much as others and are placing ever greater demands on both brokers and insurers, reports Emmanuel Kenning
Products: Young drivers benefit from telematics
Insurers have been busy building on their telematics systems in an attempt to bring down the rising cost of motor premiums for young drivers.