Regulation
Our Network signs more brokers during expansion
Our Network, which was launched by broker-owned insurance management company Broker Direct in August, has signed up 60 brokers in under two months.
PB Week: Calling all broker managers
Professional Broking has arranged four management events across the country - free to UK’s general insurance broker managers, and we hope to see you there to discuss some interesting times, writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor, Professional Broking .
Lloyd's profits slashed
Lloyd’s has announced a huge drop in pre-tax profits in its 2008 interim results.
PB Week: AIG attempts to reassure brokers
On Monday evening I returned from Spain to find the financial world seemed to have turned upside down, writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor, Professional Broking .
AIG faces ratings downgrade
AIG’s recent instability has led to a rating downgrade despite a $20bn injection of liquid investments.
Credit crunch may accelerate hardening market
Insurance rates across most lines of business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region continued to soften in the first half of 2008 according to a report released today by Marsh.
PB Week: Wagons, wheels and automobiles
Katherine Brandon, reporter, Professional Broking
New claims solution from Axa Corporate
Axa Corporate Solutions has developed Panorama, a claims remote account management product designed to provide contract certainty for all parties specifically for use in the UK.
PB Week: Bridget, Peter and Martin
There has been plenty of late August and early September activity in the insurance market (and of course the football transfer market) and many will be returning from holiday catching up with the news, some shaking their heads in disbelief, writes Andrew…
FSA bans three directors for misusing client money
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned three directors of a London-based insurance business, BPS Insure, for failing to inform the FSA that BPS had a deficit of approximately £3m in its client account and had misused client money.
CEO reveals fashion sense
Gossip from the industry
The carrot and the stick
Many brokers feel that they are faced with a carrot-and-stick scenario when it comes to communicatin...
TCF MI failure raises questions
With the second deadline of the year looming, Katherine Brandon reviews the issue of management information for Treating Customers Fairly compliance
Tribunals - Achieving a fair hearing
An ex-employee, who claims that they were dismissed unfairly, took a close friend of mine to tribunal. As a broker owner, I want to ensure that disciplinary procedures are both correct and fair and that I steer clear of litigation. How do I ensure this?
Conflicts of interest - In your best interests
We have authority from some insurers to discount or match rates in order to secure business and I have been told that this should be declared in our conflicts-of-interest policy. Is this correct?
Confusing language is a barrier
I have just received another jargon-filled email from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) introdu...
Dispensing regulation
Although most brokers have come to terms with regulation, Paul Lang explains there is still a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction in the market over how the Financial Services Authority has handled the situation
You can run but you can't hide
Commission disclosure is believed by some to be the one of the largest threats to independent brokers since regulation came into force. Martin Friel explores if an industry-led solution is feasible in a market split by opinion
The benefit of reflection
Although it has been several years since the Financial Services Authority came on the scene, many general insurance firms are still getting to grips with regulation. Sarah Hills explains how the experiences of the independent financial adviser market…
Dare to dream
Owning a second home overseas is a dream for many British people, but their level of understanding of their duty of care for guests is minimal, especially with regard to health & safety. This power hour explores the difficulties of catering for this…
Merger creates Harrisbalcombe
Harris Claims Group and Balcombe Group have merged to create Harrisbalcombe. Both companies said the...
Bring home the business
Keith Wardell calls on brokers to consider which insurer partners are the safest - firms that are registered in the UK and come under the jurisdiction of the Financial Services Authority or offshore companies?
RK Shipman has claimed its new quote-to-buy ..
RK Shipman has claimed its new quote-to-buy commercial insurance for small businesses is the first t...
FSA imposes fines on motor retailers
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has imposed fines totalling more than £175,000 on five motor ...