Published: July 2011

The Leaders Issue

Top Traits This is our special Leaders Issue. Inside you will find A.M. Best C. rankings of the top property/casualty, life/health, European and publicly traded North American insurers, as well as the top 50 global reinsurers. By Lynna Goch. Editor's Prologue. Page 1.

Top 200 U.S. Property/Casualty Writers 1. State Farm Group. By Staff. Property/Casualty. Page 22.

Top 200 U.S. Life/Health Writers 1. Metropolitan Life & Affiliated Cos. By Staff. Life. Page 27.

Top 50 Global Reinsurers 1. Munich Reinsurance Co. By Staff. Reinsurance. Page 31.

Top European Insurers 1. AXA S.A. By Staff. Commercial. Page 35.

Top 75 North American Public Insurers Ranked by 2010 Assets. 1. MetLife Inc. By Staff. Commercial. Page 37.

Top 75 North American Public Insurers Ranked by 2010 Revenues. 1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. By Staff. Commercial. Page 37.

Top Global Insurance Brokers 1. Marsh & McLennan Cos. By Staff. Agent/Broker. Page 41.

Standing the Test of Time 59 property/casualty insurers and 11 life/health insurers have maintained a Best's Financial Strength Rating of A or higher for at least 75 years. By Staff. Best's Ratings. Page 48.

The Path to Success 21st Century Pacific Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1936. By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 53.

A Legend Lives On Aviva Life and Annuity Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1929 By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 54.

After the Fire Country Life Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1933. By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 55.

Stronger Than the Storms Hastings Mutual Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1961. By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 56.

Continued Commitment New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1936. By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 57.

Urban Risk-Taker The Philadelphia Contributionship has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best since 1961 By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 58.

From Modest to Global Principal Life Insurance Co. has been rated A or higher by A.M. Best Co. since 1928 By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 59.

Finding the Bottom Steady decline continues for life reinsurance cession rates, according to the latest industry survey by Munich Re By Staff. Standing the Test of Time. Page 60.

RGA Angles Toward Group Life Insurance In January 2010, RGA acquired the REliaStar group life, accident and health reinsurance business from ING, adding a significant group insurance dynamic to its U.S. operations. By Al Slavin. Reinsurance. Page 63.

How to Get There Insight Column: Strategic decisions in a slow economic recovery still depend on choices about markets, distribution and infrastructure. By Robert Stein. Life. Page 65.

Benefits for Living New Products: Insurers introduce products with features for various life scenarios. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 66.

Consultant: Set up 'Life Funds' Consultantant and former insurance executive Robert MacDonald calls for a more fundamental structural change to the life insurance product. By Ron Panko. Life. Page 67.

Estate Preservation Selling Insight: Life insurance can be a viable tool given the uncertainty looming over estate tax laws. By Channing Schmidt. Life. Page 69.

Recovery Time Voluntary work site benefits sales slid last year due to layoffs and economic worries. By Gil Lowerre and Bonnie Brazzell. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 70.

Work Site Marketing at a Glance Voluntary New Business Annualized Premium By Gil Lowerre and Bonnie Brazzell. Health/Employee Benefits. Page 71.

How to Compete Against Software Sophisticated programs are gradually duplicating or surpassing human experience, judgment and skill. By William H. Panning. Loss/Risk Management Insight. Page 72.

Innovative Past Has a Future As catastrophes trend upward, strides made in fire prevention exemplify the industry's problem-solving initiative. By Frank J. Coyne. Underwriting Insight. Page 73.

Future Impact How provisions of the health insurance reform act will affect the medical professional liability market. By John F. Gibson and Vicki A. Fendley and David Kaye and Dorothy A. Woodrum. . Page 74.

Get Ready U.S. insurers should gear up now for the possible switch to International Financial Reporting Standards By Robin R. Beckwith and Linda M. Leinicke and Joyce A. Ostrosky and W. Max Rexroad. Regulatory/Law. Page 79.

Stormy Weather for Small Business Selling Insight: Agents must show their comercial clients how to survive a catastrophe. By Marc Schmittlein. Agent/Broker. Page 81.

Searching for Innovation Former AIG, Zurich executive launches around new product development By Al Slavin. Agent/Broker. Page 82.

Searching for Innovation Specialty Producer: Former AIG, Zurich executive launches consultancy around new product development. By Al Slavin. Agent/Broker. Page 82.

A 360 Degree View Commercial Lines: Coupling analytics with enterprise data management may help drive insight, hindsight and foresight in the insurance industry. By John Lucker. Property/Casualty. Page 84.

2011 PIAA Medical Liability Conference Complete coverage from teh 2011 conference held in Scottsdale, Ariz. By Al Slavin. Property/Casualty. Page 87.

The Call of Duty Legal Insight: Drivers owe each other 'ordinary care' to avoid causing unreasonable risks. By Frank N. Darras. Regulatory/Law. Page 89.

Building a Digital Edge Automation gains are increasing leverage in the underwriting space. By Al Slavin. Technology. Page 90.

Building a Digital Edge Data Analytics: Automation gains are increasing leverage in the underwriting space. By Al Slavin. Technology. Page 90.

Out of the Box Technology Insight: Insurers find ways to cope with 'Bright, New Shiny Object Syndrome.' By Robert Lewis. Technology. Page 95.

Brewing Business The rapid growth of craft brewers has created a niche insurance opportunity for agencies and insurers. By Rick Cornejo. The Last Word. Page 96.

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