Advanced Search

Use the Advanced Search to locate companies matching criteria you establish. Define your query parameters using fields in Best’s Financial Suite or Best’s Insurance Reports. Criteria can contain fields from multiple databases. View the Advanced Search results as a temporary -Search Results- list or save the criteria as a dynamic company list. Use the temporary company list or saved criteria list in any BestLink reporting features.

Note: Rating-related information displayed for AM Best Rating Units identified with a (G) or (SG) in the Company Name are derived from its legal entity group members.

For Best's Schedule F and S subscribers, use the Filing Company Search or Reinsurer/Cedent Search from the Explore Schedules menu to locate companies filed in another insurer's financial statements.

For Best's Schedule D subscribers, Use the Investment Search from the Explore Schedules menu to locate investments data.

For Best's Insurance Reports or Global Standard subscribers, use the Officers & Directors Search from the Search menu to locate companies based on management information.

Note:

1. - See Currency Units for specific information on how currency values are displayed.

Access Advanced Search from the Search menu.

Create a Financial Search:

- Step 1: Create New Search or Select Existing Criteria:

Click on the drop-down to perform a New Search or to select a previous saved list for your search. Existing criteria can be modified and saved as a new criteria list.
Note: Only criteria based on the products in Advanced Search will display for selected saved criteria.

1. - Select Saved Criteria:

Select the previously created criteria list from the Select Saved Criteria drop-down list.
The saved criteria list populates in the Results section.

If necessary, repeat steps 1 through 6 until all desired field parameters are added.

- Step 2: Search Within:

Select the desired Product from the Search Within section.

The active database appears in the Product drop-down. The database selected determines the fields available for query. Selecting the All Products option will display general information field lists that are not specific to an individual product.

- Step 3: Select Population (Optional):

The following options are available to limit the results to a specific population of companies. Not all options are available for all databases.

1. 1. Select a saved Custom Company List, Shared Company List or Public Shared List from Lists Type drop-down box. The financial search results are limited to the companies within the Custom Company List or Shared Company List selected. Market Filters are available when using Global Standard as the active database.
  2. Select the desired list from the Lists drop-down.

- Step 4: Select Aggregation
- - Select the Aggregation from the Select Aggregation section. The selection determines the base population for the search.
    Note: this option will display as Select Consolidation Type when using Best Insurance Reports or Non-US products as the active database.
- Step 5: Select Field List:

1. - From the Select Field panel, select a Custom Field List, Shared Field List, Standard Field Lists, Statement Pages, Standard Reports, Quantitative Analysis Report or Best Ratio Report. Available field lists are determined by the selected database. Use the Expand and Collapse buttons to assist in locating the desired fields list.

The fields within the selected list display in the Select Field section box. When selecting All Financial Fields a fast find search box opens to assist in narrowing down the desired fields for your query.

- Step 6: Select Field:

1. - Select the field to query upon. Use the Search Fields... or the alphabetize features to assist in locating items. If selecting Statement Pages, use the Select Column and Line drop-downs to easily find the desired field.

The selected field populates in the Create or Edit Criteria section.

- Step 7: Create Criteria or Select Saved Criteria:
- - Create Criteria:

1. 1. 1. Select your query parameters in the Create Criteria section.
      - Financial Data Search ValueFinancial Data Search Value
        
        a. Determine if you wish to perform a Numeric Range or a Top query.
        
        Select the Numeric Range from the Range option. Type the value in the Enter Search Value text field. Use the Between range to search for a specific minimum to maximum numeric range value.
        
        or
        
        Select the number of companies from the Top drop-down.
        Note: Top searches may result in more companies than requested when criteria values are zero and/or equal.
        
        b. Select the Data Period from the drop-down.
        
        c. Select the Currency for your query, if necessary. (Global Standard and Best's Insurance Reports - Non-US)
        Set a default Currency selection within Company Overview Currency on the Preferences page.
        
        d. Select your Lookup items, as required. (State/Line, IEE, and Best's Statement - UK)
        Select individual states/lines or select a previously saved summation.
        
        Note: The State Summation and Line Summation drop-down lists are only available if they have been previously created. (State/Line and IEE databases only
      - Text Field Search ValueText Field Search Value
        
        a. Select the operator from the Range drop-down list.
        
        b. Type the search text in the Enter Search Value text field.
      - Date Search ValueDate Search Value
        
        a. Select the operator from the Range drop-down list.
        
        b. Select the appropriate date using the calendar.
      - Pick List Search ValuePick List Search Value
        
        a. Choose the appropriate selection from the list box. Multiple selection is available.
        
        To select a Contiguous Group click the first item, and then drag to the last item, or hold down the SHIFT key while you click the last desired list item.
        
        To select a Non-Contiguous Group select the first item and hold down the CTRL key while clicking the desired items.
  1. 1. Click the Add button. The criterion is added to the Results section.
    2. If performing a multiple line query, select a logical Connection before adding additional lines.
      - And - Companies returned must match all criteria.
      - Or - Companies returned must match at least one criterion.
      - Minus - Results are filtered to not include companies matching the criterion from the previously entered criteria.

- Summary:
- - Edit Criteria:

The following options are available to assist in editing a financial search:

1. 1. - Click the Edit text link to modify the selected query line's Logical Connection operator and the Search Value.
    - - Update refreshes the criterion with the new selections.
      - Cancel returns the criterion to its original state
    - Click the Delete text link to delete the selected line from the query.
    - Click the Clear Summary button to remove all criterion from the Results section.

1. - Save an Advanced Search:

Save the financial search for selection in any BestLink reporting area. When the saved criteria is selected, the query is dynamically updated with the correct company counts.

1. 1. 1. Click the Save Criteria button to save the criteria.
      The List Manager - Criteria page opens.
    2. Type a name in the Enter a New Name for this list text box.
    3. Click the Save button to apply.
      The Advanced Search activates.

The saved results search is saved within the Saved Criteria list. The list is available for selection with BestLink reporting features.

1. - View Results

1. 1. 1. Take Results to option allows the user to takes the search results to a specific search results pages such as company overview, product specific wizards, standard reports or product specific profiles.
    2. Click the View Results button.
      The Results page displays all companies matching the search performed.

The companies are placed in a temporary list called -Search Results- within Custom Company List. -Search Results- list is available for selection with BestLink reporting features.

Text Search and Text Highlighting: (Best's Insurance Reports only)
Select the desired Best's Insurance Reports database from the Select Database section.
1. - Create Text Search CriteriaCreate Text Search Criteria:
    1. Select the Text Sections field list from Standard Field Lists in the Select Field section.
    The text sections appear on the right side of the Select Field panel.
    
    Note Please see Best's Insurance Reports Text Sections for additional information
    
    2. Select the text section you wish to search.
    
    3. From the Create Criteria panel, select an option from the Range drop-down list.
    
    4. Type your text search in the Enter Search Value text box.
    
    5. Click the Add button.
    
    6. If performing a multiple line query, select a logical Connection before adding additional lines.
    1. And - Companies returned must match all criteria.
      
      Or - Companies returned must match at least one criterion.
      
      Minus - Results are filtered to not include companies matching the criterion from the previously entered criteria.
    7. Repeat steps 2-6 until all text sections parameters are added.
    
    8. Save or View Results.
  - View Text Search and Highlighting ResultsView Text Search and Highlighting Results:
    1. After creating a text search criteria, click the View Results button.
    The Search Results page appears with the companies that match the search performed.
    
    2. Access Best's Insurance Reports:
    1. From the Access Company Data section on the Search Results page, select Best's Insurance Reports.
    or
    1. Select Best's Insurance Reports from the Standard Reports Menu.
    The Best's Insurance Reports page appears with the search text highlighted in the report sections specified in the criteria. The header of the report displays the number of times the keyword is located in the report.
    
    3. Use the Next and Prior buttons to locate the next/previous occurrence of the text.