Published: January 2009

Standing Out in the Crowd
Insurers use YouTube and sponsorships to slice through advertising clutter.

Standing Out in the Crowd Insurance companies use unique approaches to brand themselves and stand out among their peers. By Lori Chordas. Agent/Broker. Page 26.

Sweat the Small Staff and Embrace YouTube Details matter to Nationwide. Steven Schreibman calls them touch points, or where and how customers reach out to the multiline financial services carrier. By Lori Chordas. Agent/Broker. Page 27.

Travelers Insurance on Par With Its Sponsorship Not only has Travelers created greater brand awareness for itself, but it's also breathed new life into a waning sporting event by becoming the title sponsor of a premier PGA Tour championship. By Lori Chordas. Agent/Broker. Page 28.

Rebranding to Speak With One Voice Insurance asset management and research firm Conning spent more than a year creating a new brand that identifies its unique combination of services for insurance companies. By Lori Chordas. Agent/Broker. Page 30.

Customers Remain Loyal Unless Service Fails Insurance customers are loyal. J.D. Power and Associates' Jeremy Bowler reports the industry enjoys a 90% retention rate. By Lori Chordas. Agent/Broker. Page 31.

Reason to Believe National Financial Partners Chairman Jessica Bibliowicz has no doubt that better days lie ahead for her firm. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 34.

C-Change A look at the new faces taking charge of insurance companies in 2009 By Kate Fry. Property/Casualty. Page 38.

Litigation Without Borders Business liability for globalized firms is on the rise, according to Lloyds of London By Ron Panko. Reinsurance/Capital Markets. Page 40.

Building Blocks A patchwork approach for revamping policy administration systems grows more common. By Al Slavin. Technology. Page 44.

New Year, New Rules Fifteen states enact a variety of insurance-related laws as 2009 arrives. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Regulatory/Law. Page 47.

On Equal Ground A new federal law regulates health plans and puts mental health and substance use coverage on par with physical coverage. By Lori Chordas. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 50.

Data Is First Step In Strategy Plans Understanding the forces driving the life/health market can make all the difference in sales. By Gregory J. Hoeg. Life. Page 55.

Outside In Self-directed customers are notoriously independent, but term life writers can convert them into repeat buyers. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 56.

Life Sales Bring Mixed Regults in Third Quarter New annualized premium for individual life insurance dropped 11% in the third quarter of 2008. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 57.

Lessons Learned The many people implicated in the meltdown of the financial markets have work to do. By Robert Stein. Life. Page 59.

Measuring Response An emerging academic market looks for insurance against school and campus violence. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 60.

Kidnapping: A Changing and Growing Risk Mexico has become a top destination for insurers and it's not exactly due to the country's sun-soaked coastline. Property/Casualty. Page 62.

Improving Risk-Based Auto Underwriting Advanced analytics can allow carriers to gain insight into potential underwriting risks. By Frank J. Coyne. Property/Casualty. Page 64.

Claims Against Lenders Will Rise Bad loan claims against lenders may be the next big thing to hit the industry. By Alan S. Rutkin. Regulatory/Law. Page 68.

Education Is a Took Covering professional liability takes more than having customers sign a few forms. By Jeff Klenk. Agent/Broker. Page 69.

Wait-Listed Efforts to finally pass NARAB II continue, but more urgent matters currently have Congress' attention. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Agent/Broker. Page 70.

What NARAB II Means for Agents The proposed National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2008 would simplify and streamline multistate licensing for agents nationwide, should it pass this year's new Congress and be signed by President-elect Barack Obama. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. Agent/Broker. Page 71.

Taking Cover Analytics initiatives can help insurers weather the financial storm. By Pat Saporito. Technology. Page 73.

A New Agenda The 111th U.S. Congress will need to consider several proposals involving insurance legislation. By Michael T. Griffin, Alfred J. Kritzman. Regulatory/Law. Page 74.

Insurance Groups Optimistic Obama Will Hear Their Views Despite some stark policy differences, several insurance groups are optimistic President-elect Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled 111th Congress may pursue a business agenda that accommodates their members. By Michael T. Griffin, Alfred J. Kritzman. Regulatory/Law. Page 76.

Taking a Lesson From The Financial Crisis It's time to revisit some fundamental assumptions. By William H. Panning. Property/Casualty. Page 77.

The Thin Green Line Insurers and design professionals rethink risk management on environmentally friendly projects. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 78.

'Captain's Galley' Serves First Green Construction Suits One green building project was enough for designer Keith Lott. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 80.

Measuring Up New standards help insurance companies determine their true value in a changing world. By Larry Rubin. Regulatory/Law. Page 82.

Much to Gain Two major issues that have emerged regarding the valuation of insurance businesses are the ways in which risk margins are calibrated, and the recognition of "gain at issue" or "no gain at issue." By Larry Rubin. Regulatory/Law. Page 83.

Tour de Hurricane Force RenRe's storm attraction at Disney World lets visitors ride out a Category 3 tropical cyclone. By Bonnie Brewer Cavanaugh. The Last Word. Page 88.

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