Issue 2006-10: March 7, 2006
eBusiness and Technology
Compliance & Technology: Best Practices for Insurers: Report Published by Celent.
San Francisco, CA, USA - February 16, 2006 - In a new report, Compliance & Technology: Best Practices for Insurers, Celent looks at how insurers are using technology to address increasingly complex compliance requirements from state and federal regulators.
Guy Carpenter Announces Development of i-aXs™ , a Revolutionary Online Risk Management Platform for the Insurance Industry.
New York, February 27, 2006 - Guy Carpenter & Company, Inc., the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a part of the Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), announced today the development of i-aXs™ , a revolutionary online risk management platform. This new technology provides insurance executives with the ability to leverage vast data.
Distribution
CompuOffice Announces QuotesOnTap™ for PDA's.
TORONTO, ON - February 27, 2006: CompuOffice Software Inc. - a leader in the design and production of independent multiple company life insurance quotation, comparison and information software - has introduced QuotesOnTap™. QuotesOnTap™ is the most advanced and most comprehensive independent multiple company life insurance quotation and comparison software for use on PDA devices such as those using the Palm os and Windows CE platforms.
"Momentum" - CLIEDIS' Eighth Annual Seminar.
This year the seminar will occur on Wednesday May 3, 2006 at the Ontario Bar Association Conference Centre in Toronto Ontario. The use of standards in the Canadian life insurance industry is gaining momentum as efforts within the industry over the past few years are finally reaping results for companies.
Policy and Product Management
ACE USA Selects Camilion's AuthorityUnderwriter™ and ProductAuthority™.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--( Feb. 28, 2006) - Camilion Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of product management, online sales and underwriting solutions to the insurance industry, announces that ACE USA, the U.S.-based division of the ACE Group of Companies, has licensed AuthorityUnderwriter™ and ProductAuthority™. These innovative products are designed to create efficiency and ease-of-use for producers, and improve speed to market for a range of insurance products.
Claims
Farmers Mutual of Nebraska selects Symbility Solutions as mobile, on-site claims software provider.
WATERLOO, Ontario, Feb. 21 2006 -- Symbility Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Automated Benefits Corp. is pleased to announce that it has signed a 5 year contract with Farmers Mutual of Nebraska to provide the company with its industry leading mobile claims processing software replacing a competing software vendor.
Swiss Re sigma, catastrophe report 2005.
24 Feb 2006 - In 2005, more than 97 000 people lost their lives due to natural catastrophes or man-made disasters. The Swiss Re sigma statistics for 2005 counted almost 400 catastrophes, which caused damage totalling more than USD 230 billion. About one third, or USD 83 billion, was covered by insurance. In the previous year, insured catastrophe losses had amounted to USD 48 billion. 2005 turned out to be the costliest year ever for property insurers.
Education Opportunities
ICLR's Friday Forum: Project OPPortunity on Friday March 24, 2006.
The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) is pleased to invite you to participate in a workshop with Staff Sergeant Robert Cousineau of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Elder Planning Counselor designation now offered through Seneca College's Centre for Financial Services.
Toronto, February 24, 2006 - As Canada's aging population grows, the need for professionals who understand their changing needs grows too. Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology announced an agreement with the Canadian Initiative for Elder Planning Studies (CIEPS) to develop and deliver their Elder Planning Counselor (EPC) program.
Reference and Statistics
CIAB: The Council's Fourth Quarter Market Survey Shows Wind, Flood Coverage Problems for Coastal Property.
Jan. 24, 2006 - WASHINGTON - Although the overall commercial property-casualty marketplace has seen little impact from the severe 2005 hurricane season, coastal property is experiencing a sharp increase in prices for wind and flood coverage, according to the latest Commercial Insurance Market Index Survey by The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.
Business of Insurance
Focus Group Celebrates 20th Anniversary.
February 20, 2006, Toronto -- Established in 1986, Focus Group Inc. is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Conning Research: Long Term Care Insurance-Rising Opportunities, but Still in Search of Sustained Profitability.
(Hartford, CT) February 6, 2006 - The Long Term Care Insurance industry is maturing but still searching for sustained profitability as it works to market a complicated product offering, according to a new study by Conning Research and Consulting, Inc.
Consumer Information
Child Safety Information Just a Toll-Free Call Away: The Co-operators
GUELPH, ON, Feb. 27, 2006 - More than 12,000 parents contact the Infant and Toddler Safety Association's (ITSA) volunteer telephone hotline each year.Starting this month, thanks to financial support from The Co-operators, their expert child safety advice is now just a toll-free call away.
Young drivers account for 1 in 4 fatalities on the road: Royal & SunAlliance supports Drive for Life Program.
Road safety continues to plague the GTA with recent statistics confirming more than 225 people died as a result of traffic collisions last year. Drive for Life, a local organization which delivers breakthrough driver training using state of the art simulators, suggests that most traffic collisions are preventable, particularly when drivers are equipped with defensive driving skills such as proper scanning and predicting techniques and skills for controlling a vehicle under adverse weather conditions.
The Co-operators, Water Incident Research Alliance offer top 10 ice safety tips.
The Co-operators has partnered with the Water Incident Research Alliance to help promote awareness and understanding of water and ice safety issues in Canada.
from Doug:
It was a busy week last week. Our Technology Forum on February 28 was well received resulting in many good comments from both those attending and those participating.
On March 4, I presided over a semi-annual day-long heritage meeting with more than thirty representatives from across the country attending. Such a decision-making group of volunteers represents an entirely different set of circumstances and challenges than does a seminar.
Needless to say, by Saturday night, I was in need of a good rest!