Insurance Journal

Hawaii Study: Nearly 75% of Wildfire Survey Participants Have Respiratory Issues

A University of Hawaii study examining the health effects of last year’s deadly wildfires on Maui found that up to 74% of participants may have difficulty breathing and otherwise have poor respiratory health, and almost half showed signs of com...

Posted: May 20, 2024

The Problem(s) With Hail Claims — Part 1: A Cautionary Tale for Insureds and Insurers

Last year while I was out of town, a roofing company showed up at my home and told my wife there had been a hailstorm recently, so they were visiting impacted neighborhoods and providing free inspection services. She let them …

Posted: May 19, 2024

The History of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society: The Origin Story of Bringing the Bes...

The Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), as it exists today, does not have a written narrative or any acknowledgment on its website about how the organization was created, the timeline, the individuals primarily involved, or all the ev...

Posted: May 19, 2024

Process Improvement Is the Secret to Recruiting Success

I see a lot of insurance agencies sink a never-ending amount of time and money into recruitment in the hopes it will solve the frustrations related to finding candidates and filling jobs. The problem with focusing too much on tools …

Posted: May 19, 2024

FTC Noncompete Ban Includes Key Revisions, But Faces Uncertain Future

When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its final rule banning the use of most noncompete agreements, many insurance agents were naturally concerned by how the regulation might harm their businesses and the Big “I” heard from hundr...

Posted: May 19, 2024

Texas Attorney Charged with Skimming $2.4M from Settlements

A Houston plaintiffs’ attorney known as “Car Wreck Clyde” is awaiting court proceedings after being charged with skimming as much as $2.4 million in client settlement proceeds over the past decade, federal prosecutors said. Clyde J....

Posted: May 19, 2024

“Dirty Dozen” Unsafe Employers Putting Workers at Risk

A retail giant, a space launch operation, a major food processor, the nation’s two biggest rideshare providers and a large healthcare system are among those entities marked as being among the most unsafe employers. The National Council for Occu...

Posted: May 19, 2024

Unifying Voices in Insurance: Forum Brings Together Industry Groups to Discuss Diversity, Equity and...

By Jahna Jacobson Bringing more diversity to the insurance industry will take intentional, deliberate effort and teamwork. That’s the encouraging outlook from a panel of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) thought leaders that inspired the cr...

Posted: May 19, 2024

Power of the Mastermind: Part Two

Editor’s note: The following article is a continuation of Part One, published in Insurance Journal’s May 6, 2024, issue in the Minding Your Business section. What is a mastermind group? A mastermind group is simply an alliance of two or &...

Posted: May 19, 2024

The Gaming Boom: Potential Risks and Insurance Implications

By Patrick Wraight You don’t have to look very far to understand that the gaming (gambling) industry in the United States is booming. What was only available for those who wanted to travel to Las Vegas or Atlantic City is …

Posted: May 19, 2024

Is an ESOP in Your Future? Don’t Overlook This Valuable Succession-Planning Tool

2024 marks 50 years since Congress passed legislation codifying the tax benefits of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Senator Russell Long, then chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, personally saw to it that ESOPs received favorable treatm...

Posted: May 19, 2024

The Relevance of Standard Carriers to Commercial Lines

Question: Are standard, admitted, insurance carriers relevant commercial markets? Arthur J. Gallagher stated in their 2020 10K that 50% of the total U.S. commercial property/casualty market is written through alternative markets. An Aon report severa...

Posted: May 19, 2024

Wildfire Risk

While the overall number of wildfires per year is declining, the increasing size and intensity of fires have led to more property damage than ever before. The average fire size has tripled over the past 30 years, according to a …

Posted: May 19, 2024

Data Privacy, Human Trafficking Risks on the Rise

The world can at times feel smaller and more connected than ever before. And though there are many tangible benefits to such intermingling of markets, people and products, potential risks nevertheless remain. With greater connectivity comes the incre...

Posted: May 19, 2024

How to Succeed in the Entertainment Insurance Business: Get creative producing with a small cast of...

By Andrea Wells Even during the post-pandemic boom in the entertainment industry, when event and live performance venue attendance reached pre-COVID-19 levels, insurance markets in the sector could be difficult. Now, the post-pandemic momentum may be...

Posted: May 19, 2024

Film and TV

When it comes to insuring the film and television industry, premiums that skyrocketed in 2020-21 have settled down, according to John Hamby, senior managing director, national entertainment practice leader, Risk Strategies/Dewitt Stern. “Rates...

Posted: May 19, 2024

People Moves: AXA XL Promotes Riha as Chief Client & Distribution Officer, APAC/Europe

AXA XL Promotes Riha as Chief Client & Distribution Officer, APAC & Europe AXA XL announced that Robert Riha has been appointed as chief client & distribution officer, APAC & Europe, effective July 1. In his new role, Riha will &#8230...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Security First Touts 5% Rate Decrease for HO-3, Renters Policies in Florida

Citing the stabilizing impact that legislative reforms have had on the Florida market, Security First Insurance Co. executives this week announced two residential property rate reductions of more than 5%. “For the first time in nine years, we&#...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Kansas Governor Cites Competition Concerns While Vetoing Bill for School Gun-Detection Technology

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a measure Wednesday that could have earmarked up to $5 million for gun-detection systems in schools while expressing concern that it could have benefitted only one particular company. Kelly’s line-item veto leaves...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Indigenous Consultant Accuses Chicago Blackhawks of Fraud, Sexual Harassment

A consultant the Chicago Blackhawks hired to improve relationships with American Indian tribes has filed a lawsuit accusing the team, its charity foundation and its CEO of fraud, breach of contract and sexual harassment. Nina Sanders filed the civil...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Inszone Acquires Texas’ JHC Insurance Agency

Inszone Insurance Services announced the acquisition of JHC Insurance Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency serving the Victoria community and beyond. Rooted in the values of independence and client-focused service, JHC Insurance Agency, Inc....

Posted: May 17, 2024

Staffing Shortages, Reduced Safety Training Fuel Risks for Company Drivers

Increased distractions, staffing shortages, and safety risks mean that 60% of company drivers are worried about their personal safety and liability behind the wheel. Over half have been involved in or witnessed an accident in the past year. According...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Deadly US Oil Blast Exposes Risks of Pushing Profits Over Safety

The explosion that rocked Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Galveston Bay oil refinery one year ago trapped Rigoberto Guillen 75 feet in the air. Stranded on a metal platform, he and a colleague crouched low as black smoke engulfed them. “I coul...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Fitch Ratings: US Cyber Premium Growth Slows in 2023

The U.S. cyber insurance market saw what Fitch Ratings called an unexpected 1% decline in direct written premiums in 2023 following a 160% increase from 2020 to 2022. According to Fitch Ratings’ U.S. Cyber Insurance Market Update, standalone cy...

Posted: May 17, 2024

Driver Says He Smoked Pot Oil, Took Meds Before Florida Crash That Killed 8 Workers

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — A man with a long record of dangerous driving told investigators he smoked marijuana oil and took prescription drugs hours before he sideswiped a bus, killing eight Mexican farmworkers and injuring dozens more, according to an &#82...

Posted: May 17, 2024