Personal
Plum Underwriting unveils HomeWorks product upgrade
Plum Underwriting has revamped its HomeWorks product to include cover for the property owner's general contents.
Dearth of insurer clarity leaves brokers in a tight spot
The Consumer Insurance Act is less than a month old but already broker alarm bells have begun ringing.
Brokers face shift in balance of power
New Act moves the focus in consumer insurance, but is the industry ready?
Power hour: Building relationships
In the high net worth sector, success for brokers is all about nurturing long-term relationships with clients and insurers. Caitlin Morrison reports
Editor’s letter - January 2013
“Brokers need to be shouting louder about their role in the economy and the essential service they provide”
Insurers set to decide on pricing hub
Hub would provide real-time pricing from a range of insurers in one place and help brokers compete with direct writers
Reportage: Personal crisis?
The threats and opportunities in motor and household lines will be best dealt with by brokers able to evolve in 2013. Edward Murray investigates
Products: Markel and Groupama add to online offerings
Markel UK has launched a personal lines product on its broker e-trading system for the first time. The offering – designed specifically for private collectors – will provide coverage for a range of art and collectables.
Choosing an insurer: The bigger picture
Price is naturally a factor medium-sized businesses consider when choosing an insurance partner, but it's time they learned that it shouldn't be the most important.
Choosing an insurer: Avoiding the money trap
The rush to the bottom over price by customers can only hurt the industry, but brokers are well placed to stop the rot by offering their clients advice on the difference that choosing the right insurer can make.
SMEs: A web of complexity
UK companies are quick to take advantage of technological advances to create new business opportunities, and the industry must get up to speed with the many and varied risks this brings.
SMEs: Home advantage
The Olympic experience showed that flexible working is a viable option for many, but companies need to weigh up the risks as well as the benefits.
Ceta adds to non-standard household panel
Ceta has appointed Prestige, Midas and Plum to its online quote-and-buy system in a move designed to strengthen its household panel with non-standard providers.
Brokers could lose out as banks enter HNW
Defaqto study reveals invasion of high net worth market by banks and direct providers
Upside down
New laws will turn the rules governing how personal lines brokers deal with consumers on their head, explains Stephen Netherway
Broking success: What’s the ‘Gos’?
Higos has ambitious plans for growth in the South West and is on the look out for acquisitions, managing director Ian Gosden tells Caitlin Morrison
Bupa’s product pull back stuns broker market
AMII enters discussions with the UK’s largest private medical insurance provider
The Broker Business Club: At your leisure
The most recent edition in our series of Broker Business Club roundtable discussions, in association with Zurich, took place in London in July. Our panel discussed the opportunities and threats within the highly specialised leisure market.
Market moves: Blockbuster moves
Cinema-goers are currently flocking in their masses to see Batman take his final stand against deadly villain Bane. It comes just a few weeks after Spiderman came back to spin to his web once more against perilous enemy, the Lizard. What has this got to…
In conversation with Zurich: Personal lines broking
Personal lines brokers have endured endless change in insurance distribution and survived – and they continue to do so.
Personal Lines Broking: Challenges on the horizon
After facing multiple threats that promised doom and gloom, personal lines brokers are ready to face down further challenges coming their way
CII focuses on customer service with new exam
An examination unit launched by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is putting customer service at the core of its focus.
Broking success: Travelling man
Originally known for travel insurance under the Columbus brand, Collinson Insurance Group has expanded into other personal lines but, as CEO David Evans tells Caitlin Morrison, the broker hasn’t forgotten the roots of insurance
Industry backs OFT’s move to refer motor
OFT chief executive refers “dysfunctional” motor market to the Competition Commission