Analysis
Acquisitions on the rise
“We’ve seen more activity this year than last. Everybody I speak to wants to buy books of business, get in new teams or do small acquisitions. There is certainly the appetite out there for buying up businesses”
See you in court?
The demise of no-win no-fee could leave many SMEs unable to pursue claims in court
UK plc disadvantaged by bribery crackdown
If the FSA pursues firms over bribery it could lead to UK companies losing business abroad
Balance of power
While many brokers believe commercial will outperform personal over the next year, insurers are still investing in personal lines.
End of the road for referral fees
Brokers who are reliant on referral fees should be looking for alternative revenue sources.
What next for construction?
With another underwriter pulling out of construction and a shift in the type of building work being funded, the sector is at a crossroads.
Has the FSA got too much on its plate?
Concerns raised over FSA’s committment of resources to FSCS Review.
Market moves: Aviva moves fuel the rumour mill
Like a moth to a flame, broker attention this month has been grabbed by Aviva. The decision of Mark Hodges to move to Towergate has set the rumour mill into overdrive as to why exactly he took the leap. Meanwhile his replacement as Aviva’s chief…
Market moves: Team players and fresh faces
They say a problem shared is a problem halved. And the same, elusive “they” also say that many hands make light work. Clearly the insurance community has been spending a lot of time with “they” as teamwork has been the buzz phrase in this month’s…
How to… Mentoring
In a nutshell: Finding and retaining staff is key to success in an industry where nearly a third of broker owners are over 60. Mentoring programmes may help to strengthen the bond between staff and company making them less likely to move.
Market moves: a clean swoop is the trend for teams
It used to be that individuals would leave one company to join another and miraculously several colleagues would appear by their side a few months later.
View from the summit
From recession to combating fraud, the Broker Summit provided much food for thought, writes Emmanuel Kenning
Management: extra protection
Managing risks for our customers plays a pivotal part in developing strong, long-term relationships, argues Ashwin Mistry, and the process will also drive sustained profitability for brokers and clients
How to... prepare for an interview
Once you’ve secured that all important interview, remembering the motto ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ will hold you in good stead. However how do you do it well and what are your interviewers likely to be looking for?
Market moves: Winds of change sweep the country
Snow flurries in Scotland were matched only by the blizzard of job announcements in the region with Lockton, Heath Lambert, Aspen and RSA all unveiling changes.
News analysis - online: Brightside comparison site plans spark aggregator debate
The intention of Brightside Group to build a commercial aggregator following its purchase of technology company Quote Exchange, has reignited the debate over whether or not aggregators can eat into the broker commercial lines arena.
News analysis - numbers: rival brands NIG's new pricing policy 'suicidal'
"We are certainly looking to grow our book of business and that means making it clear that we have an appetite"
Management - social medis: meeting for coffee
Social networking is by no means a new phenomenon. Tim Grant explains how brokers can take inspiration from Edward Lloyd's coffee shop model to gain value from today's social media.
Regulation: Abiding by the rules
As the list of financial regulators grows so, it appears, does the size of their rule books. Branko Bjelobaba hopes a review of the FSA
News analysis - HNW: four-in-one personal lines cover targets busy individuals
Direct Line has targeted the mid (MNW) to high-net-worth (HNW) personal lines market with the release of Direct Line Select Insurance.
HNW: a stealth attacker
High-net-worth clients are often well protected against potential theft but may find more common threats such as water and accidental damage catch them off-guard, writes Edward Murray.
News analysis - regulation: increasingly oppressive FSCS costs could hamper recruitmentConcern that jobs may be lost as brokers struggle to foot rising bill
The recent increase of over 50% in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) levy for brokers has raised fears that it could cause redundancies in the industry.
News analysis - regulation: new regulator confidentiality proposal could spell trouble
Brokers have been warned that the recent announcement of a change in name of their future regulator, from the Consumer Protection and Market Authority to the Financial Conduct Authority, has come with a potential sting in the tail.
Reportage - SME: SMEs under the regulatory spotlight
The risks that the SME sector faces on a daily basis have increased significantly over the past 10 years. Rising regulation and an increasingly litigious society mean that such businesses are facing an ever-growing rate of claims often not covered by the…