Published: July 2008

Standing the Test of Time

A look at the insurers that have achieved "A" or higher financial strength ratings for decades -- some for a century.

Career Wise
What kind of talent management does a leading insurance company need today? By Tom Moran. Briefing. Page 18.

Standing the Test of Time
Forty-eight property/casualty insurers and 15 life/health insurers have maintained a Best's Financial Strength Rating of A or higher for at least 75 years. By Best's Review Staff. Cover Feature. Page 30.

Profit First, Then Growth
Since 1907, Federal Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best Co. Federal is a member of The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. By Lori Chordas. Cover Feature. Page 36.

Thought Leadership
The Life Insurance Company of Virginia, which has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1928, has been incorporated into Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Co. By David Dankwa. Cover Feature. Page 37.

With an Eagle's Eye
Great American Insurance Co. has maintained a financial strength rating of A or higher from A.M. Best Co. since 1908 By Meg Green. Cover Feature. Page 38.

Extra Effort Pays Off
Hartford Fire Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best Co. since 1907. By Ron Panko. Cover Feature. Page 39.

Meeting Customers
Since 1928, John Hancock Life Insurance Co. has maintained an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A or higher. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Cover Feature. Page 40.

Life Leader
MetLife has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial strength rating of A or higher since 1928. By Fran Matso Lysiak. Cover Feature. Page 41.

Strategic Trifecta
National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford - a CNA component - has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial By Lori Chordas. Cover Feature. Page 42.

Setting the Bar High
Since 1928, New York Life Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by the A.M. Best Company. By R. J. Lehmann. Cover Feature. Page 43.

Mutually Beneficial
Since 1928, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. has maintained an A.M. Best Co. rating of A or higher. By Alyn Ackermann. Cover Feature. Page 44.

Staying True to Mission
The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial strength rating of A or higher since 1928. By Chad Hemenway. Cover Feature. Page 45.

Hits Singles and Wins
Since 1918, Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Co. has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial strength rating of A or higher. By Sean P. Carr. Cover Feature. Page 46.

Change Drives
The Prudential Insurance Company of America has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial strength rating of A or higher since 1928. By Jonathan Williams. Cover Feature. Page 47.

To Their Benefit
Standard Insurance Co. has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial strength rating of A or higher since 1928. By Kate Fry. Cover Feature. Page 48.

Quality Business
The Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. has maintained an A.M. Best Co. financial strength rating of A since 1928. By Chris Sharkey. Cover Feature. Page 49.

Life Preservers
Financial advisers should take another look at guaranteed no-lapse products. By Kay I. Dempsey. Life. Page 58.

Recipe for Disaster
With a global supply chain, the U.S. food industry faces higher risks of contamination, interference and costly litigation. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Regulatory/Law. Page 60.

Staying Dry Amid A Torrent of Claims
Insurers must consider practical measures now to prepare for the coming storm related to the subprime crisis. By Alan S. Rutkin. Regulatory/Law. Page 64.

A Blurry Line
Health insurers say their wellness programs help keep people healthy. Critics call it practicing medicine. By Fran Matso Lysiak. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 66.

On the Record
Health insurance leaders explain why they're offering employers and members integrated packages of services. By Fran Matso Lysiak. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 68.

Gone Tomorrow
As broker consolidation accelerates, smaller offices are disappearing. By Alyn Ackermann. Agent/Broker. Page 70.

Best's Review's Top Global Insurance Brokers
The multibillion dollar global insurance brokerage business chugged on to ever-greater volume last year. By Best's Review Staff. Agent/Broker. Page 72.

Experience Required
By keeping it real, agents can outperform those faceless insurance marketers on the Web. By Sharon Steers. Agent/Broker. Page 81.

Falling Stars
A string of launch failures has brought the high-flying satellite insurance market back to Earth. By Ron Panko. Property/Casualty. Page 82.

Numbers and Risk
The subprime crisis shows enterprise risk management only works as well as the managers who apply it. By William H. Panning. Property/Casualty. Page 87.

What Floats Their Boat?
Marine insurance needs to evolve to lure aboard Generation Y. By Jonathan Bennett. Property/Casualty. Page 88.

Growth Factors
U.S. work-site sales have increased 150% in the past 10 years. By Gil Lowerre, Bonnie Brazzell. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 90.

At a Glance: Work-Site Marketing
U.S. Work-site sales totaled an estimated $5 billion in 2007. By Gil Lowerre, Bonnie Brazzell. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 92.

The Non-Paper Chase
Insurance departments nationwide are doing away with paper financial filings and urging both insurers and users to log on instead. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Regulatory/Law. Page 93.

What's Online?
Many of the Web sites of the state departments of insurance post some type of financial information on domestic insurers. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Regulatory/Law. Page 95.

Taking Cover
Directors and officers respond to the growing threat of cyber attacks. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 96.

Managing Risks
A big part of companies' cyber security efforts lies with risk management. By Lori Chordas. Technology. Page 98.

New Horizons
Insurers look at ways to embrace social networking as it goes mobile. By Gates Ouimette. Technology. Page 100.

Timing is Everything
Under emerging court rules, insurers' digital content must be meticulously maintained to be used as evidence. By T. S. Glassey. Regulatory/Law. Page 101.

Fair-Value Reporting
If you are an insurance accounting executive, be careful what you wish for. By Robert Stein. Regulatory/Law. Page 104.

The Benefits of Flexibility
Alternative risk mechanisms help insurers and reinsurers withstand greater risks. By Timothy W. Stalker, Michael J. Kurtis. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 105.

Climate Change Measure Advances
NAIC Summer Meeting By Sean P. Carr. Regulatory/Law. Page 108.

Divine Designs
Insurers now have a guide to help appraise high-value stained glass. By Lori Chordas. The Last Word. Page 112.

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