Personal
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.
Products: Victor Millwell takes on Aviva’s motorhome book
Aviva has defended its decision to pass on its direct motorhome business to Victor Milwell, saying that it would consider entering into other direct schemes with brokers.
Products: UK first as Arag develops new ‘divorce insurance’
Heralded as the first of its kind in the UK, Arag has developed a divorce product with two law firms.
The 10 most stupid insurance decisions
What are the 10 biggest bloopers committed by the industry? Tony Cornell gives us his top 10 insurance calamities
Review: Extra cover for motor
Pro-Motor Rescue. 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
Solvency II could impact personal lines, survey says
A survey of 170 interim executives working in financial services has found that 90% of respondents expect the costs of Solvency II to force smaller firms to quit personal lines insurance due to being unable to make a profit.
L&G hires new broker director ahead of personal lines push
Legal & General’s general insurance business has appointed Mark Holweger to the new role of broker and intermediary director.
Regulator warns of bogus firm offering motor cover for young drivers
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has issued a warning to the public regarding Unique Car Insurance.
Significant scale change pleases Ageas chief
Barry Smith, chief executive of Ageas UK, has claimed the insurer is on track to break the 100% combined operating ratio (COR) barrier but warned again that he saw no real signs of commercial market hardening.