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Why is Life insurance so expensive — to process?

KAREN MONKS | May 21, 2019 | 102 views

Thoughts on the underwriting costsOne of the benefits of being part of Celent is getting a view into the insurers that we support. Recently, Karen Monks and I published a report Upping the Bar: Key Metrics in Life New Business and Underwriting . This is a refresh of reports we did in 2016 and 2017. The goal of this blog is not to recap the entire report for you. That's what the report is for!I wanted to focus on one area: cost. The report focuses on other areas such as staffing and cycle time, and has many insights. We sliced and diced the data from multiple perspectives. But let's look at costs. First, the cost allocations.

Spotlight

Vouch Insurance

Vouch Insurance is a new kind of insurance platform for startups. Built by founders for founders, Vouch’s fully digital coverage takes minutes to activate. Vouch is trusted by the biggest names in the startup economy — such as Y Combinator and Silicon Valley Bank — who partner with Vouch because everything from onboarding to claims is designed for startups by experienced founders. Because Vouch is an insurance platform, and not a broker, it works with its clients to manage, mitigate, and avoid risks. Vouch’s founders have built and backed high-growth companies, such as FundingCircle and Root Insurance, and its team of technologists and risk experts come from SVB Capital, NerdWallet, Travelers Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, Lyft, Google, and more. The company has offices in San Francisco and Chicago, and can also be found at vouch.us and on Twitter @Vouch_Group.

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CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT

How the Blockchain is Revolutionizing the Auto Insurance Industry

Article | September 22, 2022

The blockchain has penetrated the mainstream. We predicted this in our 2019 article “Blockchain-as-a-Service: the Accelerator for Blockchain Adoption” where we talked about the technology's ease of integration. Companies can seamlessly adopt blockchain technologies by referring to existing use cases like smart contracts, data authentication, and asset management. They can also take advantage of open-source materials. With the blockchain's accessibility on top of its formidable qualities, it’s no surprise that the digital ledger system is being integrated into every industry–from banking and healthcare to gaming and cybersecurity. As a cornerstone of the rise of financial technology or fintech, another industry it’s now serving is auto insurance. Here’s how the blockchain is revolutionizing the auto insurance industry: Benefits of the blockchain in auto insurance Multiple back-and-forths can slow down the manual processing of both insurance contracts and filed claims. Blockchain-based tools can speed this up by accessing necessary information through the data network. Insurers can easily access and verify the personally-identifiable information (PII) required for insurance contracts via the blockchain, as well. This means no lengthy coordination with other parties, shorter queuing time, and less paperwork. Moreover, the blockchain helps those who buy auto insurance worry less about their PII being used by malicious individuals and organizations. Monash University asserts blockchain security effectiveness by pointing out how its design can alert any network of even the most minor changes to the data it contains. This is because blocks containing data are marked with hashes–input strings of computation characters–that become invalid when information is modified. When hashes become invalid, the network is notified. With such a prompt and responsive alert system, insurance agencies can easily detect hacking activities to protect sensitive data. Blockchain applications in auto insurance The most significant benefit of the blockchain’s application in auto insurance arguably lies in optimizing property and casualty (P&C) insurance verification processes. Sound Dollar defines property and casualty insurance as coverage for any damage the possessions stipulated in your contract incurs. Blockchain-based tools, like smart contracts, can immediately gather relevant information from an insurer's network to verify damaged possessions. It can also identify which ones are covered by your insurance contract. This streamlined verification process saves insurers billions of dollars in operational costs and makes filing a claim much easier for the client. The blockchain can also be used to minimize and prevent fraud. Some of the best blockchain-based tools can identify whether an individual claims payouts from multiple insurers. These tools cross-check PII and non-PII with salient information from claims filed elsewhere to check for similarities. Moreover, the Insurance Innovation Reporter found that advancements in anti-fraud blockchain technology can detect third-party helpers, such as garages and brokers. This enables insurers to expand their data on fraudulent networks and prevent future cases of fraud. Challenges to full implementation of the blockchain in auto insurance Before full-on integration, developers and businesses have to address data integrity. While blockchain data cannot be edited, it does not ascertain that encoded information is true. This means data has to be verified before it's encoded on the blockchain. Blockchain-based technology is also expected to become more expensive in the coming years. As it becomes mainstream, demand for the technology and relevant development research will further drive operation and maintenance costs upwards. There is still much work to be done if the auto insurance industry wishes to fully integrate the blockchain into its workflows. But with the long-term benefits it brings, insurers and clients alike will undoubtedly look to blockchain-based technology for improved services and a better overall experience.

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INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

How InsurTech-Insurance Partnership Delivers New Product Innovations

Article | July 13, 2022

In 2019, InsurTech funding reached $6 billion, acknowledging the pace that technology can bring to overcome the age-old Insurance problems, the State of AI in Insurance 2020 says. While Incumbents are known for their core competencies in end-to-end insurance processes (from underwriting to claims settlement and reinsurance), InsurTechs are enticing millennials with fully digital innovative products and solutions.

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INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

The role of AI in enhancing claims experience for Insurance customers

Article | July 19, 2022

Insurance customers are most vulnerable when they file a claim. Be it life or general insurance, claims are filed in distress. This is also a critical moment for Insurers. The claims experience they deliver determines customer loyalty, which also influences referral customers in the long run. In the Insurance industry, where products and pricing among the competitors are almost the same, customer experience becomes the main differentiator.

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5 Deep Learning Use Cases for the Insurance Industry

Article | February 11, 2020

In 2010, with the launch of the Image Net Competition, a vast dataset of about 14 million labeled images was made open-source to inspire the development of cutting-edge image classifiers. This was when Deep Learning technology got it’s a real breakthrough and since then there’s been no looking back for advancements in this field.

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CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT

5 Essential Features of Policy Management Tools

Article | September 22, 2022

The blockchain has penetrated the mainstream. We predicted this in our 2019 article “Blockchain-as-a-Service: the Accelerator for Blockchain Adoption” where we talked about the technology's ease of integration. Companies can seamlessly adopt blockchain technologies by referring to existing use cases like smart contracts, data authentication, and asset management. They can also take advantage of open-source materials. With the blockchain's accessibility on top of its formidable qualities, it’s no surprise that the digital ledger system is being integrated into every industry–from banking and healthcare to gaming and cybersecurity. As a cornerstone of the rise of financial technology or fintech, another industry it’s now serving is auto insurance. Here’s how the blockchain is revolutionizing the auto insurance industry: Benefits of the blockchain in auto insurance Multiple back-and-forths can slow down the manual processing of both insurance contracts and filed claims. Blockchain-based tools can speed this up by accessing necessary information through the data network. Insurers can easily access and verify the personally-identifiable information (PII) required for insurance contracts via the blockchain, as well. This means no lengthy coordination with other parties, shorter queuing time, and less paperwork. Moreover, the blockchain helps those who buy auto insurance worry less about their PII being used by malicious individuals and organizations. Monash University asserts blockchain security effectiveness by pointing out how its design can alert any network of even the most minor changes to the data it contains. This is because blocks containing data are marked with hashes–input strings of computation characters–that become invalid when information is modified. When hashes become invalid, the network is notified. With such a prompt and responsive alert system, insurance agencies can easily detect hacking activities to protect sensitive data. Blockchain applications in auto insurance The most significant benefit of the blockchain’s application in auto insurance arguably lies in optimizing property and casualty (P&C) insurance verification processes. Sound Dollar defines property and casualty insurance as coverage for any damage the possessions stipulated in your contract incurs. Blockchain-based tools, like smart contracts, can immediately gather relevant information from an insurer's network to verify damaged possessions. It can also identify which ones are covered by your insurance contract. This streamlined verification process saves insurers billions of dollars in operational costs and makes filing a claim much easier for the client. The blockchain can also be used to minimize and prevent fraud. Some of the best blockchain-based tools can identify whether an individual claims payouts from multiple insurers. These tools cross-check PII and non-PII with salient information from claims filed elsewhere to check for similarities. Moreover, the Insurance Innovation Reporter found that advancements in anti-fraud blockchain technology can detect third-party helpers, such as garages and brokers. This enables insurers to expand their data on fraudulent networks and prevent future cases of fraud. Challenges to full implementation of the blockchain in auto insurance Before full-on integration, developers and businesses have to address data integrity. While blockchain data cannot be edited, it does not ascertain that encoded information is true. This means data has to be verified before it's encoded on the blockchain. Blockchain-based technology is also expected to become more expensive in the coming years. As it becomes mainstream, demand for the technology and relevant development research will further drive operation and maintenance costs upwards. There is still much work to be done if the auto insurance industry wishes to fully integrate the blockchain into its workflows. But with the long-term benefits it brings, insurers and clients alike will undoubtedly look to blockchain-based technology for improved services and a better overall experience.

Read More
INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

How Are Insurance Firms Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Article | July 13, 2022

In 2019, InsurTech funding reached $6 billion, acknowledging the pace that technology can bring to overcome the age-old Insurance problems, the State of AI in Insurance 2020 says. While Incumbents are known for their core competencies in end-to-end insurance processes (from underwriting to claims settlement and reinsurance), InsurTechs are enticing millennials with fully digital innovative products and solutions.

Read More
INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

4 Aspects of Cyber Insurance that SMBs Must Know

Article | July 19, 2022

Insurance customers are most vulnerable when they file a claim. Be it life or general insurance, claims are filed in distress. This is also a critical moment for Insurers. The claims experience they deliver determines customer loyalty, which also influences referral customers in the long run. In the Insurance industry, where products and pricing among the competitors are almost the same, customer experience becomes the main differentiator.

Read More

5 Deep Learning Use Cases for the Insurance Industry

Article | February 11, 2020

In 2010, with the launch of the Image Net Competition, a vast dataset of about 14 million labeled images was made open-source to inspire the development of cutting-edge image classifiers. This was when Deep Learning technology got it’s a real breakthrough and since then there’s been no looking back for advancements in this field.

Read More
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Spotlight

Vouch Insurance

Vouch Insurance is a new kind of insurance platform for startups. Built by founders for founders, Vouch’s fully digital coverage takes minutes to activate. Vouch is trusted by the biggest names in the startup economy — such as Y Combinator and Silicon Valley Bank — who partner with Vouch because everything from onboarding to claims is designed for startups by experienced founders. Because Vouch is an insurance platform, and not a broker, it works with its clients to manage, mitigate, and avoid risks. Vouch’s founders have built and backed high-growth companies, such as FundingCircle and Root Insurance, and its team of technologists and risk experts come from SVB Capital, NerdWallet, Travelers Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, Lyft, Google, and more. The company has offices in San Francisco and Chicago, and can also be found at vouch.us and on Twitter @Vouch_Group.

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CORE INSURANCE, COMPLIANCE

Utmost Group Upgrades Financial Compliance Capabilities with Napier

Napier and Utmost Group | February 01, 2023

On January 31st, 2023, Utmost Group, which offers insurance and savings solutions, enhanced its financial compliance capabilities in collaboration with Napier, a customizable anti-financial crime compliance provider. Napier's client screening solution, which started operations in just 21 days, was implemented to bolster the company's existing compliance strategy and to facilitate future expansion. The Napier team met these stringent deployment deadlines to meet the time constraints imposed by the expiration of licenses held by the outgoing partner. The Client Screening solution from the company will enhance existing systems by automatically screening clients against sanctions, PEP (Politically Exposed Persons) lists, and other essential watchlists at appropriate intervals. In addition, the AI capabilities will allow for faster screening and help lower the number of false alarms. Paul Smith, Chief Risk Officer at Utmost International Isle of Man, shared, "We needed to rapidly migrate and then implement our existing screening protocols to the new system, so we were delighted that Napier was able to merge two legacy systems neatly into a single hosted instance while levelling up our capabilities. This really made the difference when managing the upgrade of systems that were being made end-of-life earlier than expected." He added, "Compliance requirements inevitably evolve over time as risks also change and criminals become more sophisticated, so we are delighted to have a robust system now in place that will keep us one step ahead of our obligations and enhance our overall services." (Source – Business Wire) About Napier London-based Napier is a compliance technology specialist that operates a platform based on extensive experience and in-depth knowledge. Combining big data technologies with AI and machine learning, the company offers products that improve efficiency and reduce risk. Its strategy underpins the client's policy, process, and procedure, allowing them to concentrate on specific outcomes. The compliance platform is quick, scalable, easily configurable, and intuitive. It rapidly bolsters AML defense and trade compliance capabilities while achieving the compliance requirements and challenges of any industry. About Utmost Group Utmost Group, headquartered in London, is a leading insurance and savings solutions provider. The company offers innovative, adaptable solutions that help clients secure their financial futures. The main divisions of the Group are Utmost International, Utmost Life and Pensions. The key business lines of Utmost International consist of Utmost Corporate Solutions and Utmost Wealth Solutions. The Group has approximately £58 billion in AUA and 550,000 customers as of June 30th, 2022, with over 1,500 employees across all its businesses.

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CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk Strategies Announces Acquisition of Tanenbaum-Harber of Florida, LLC

Risk Strategies | January 31, 2023

In a recent development, Risk Strategies, a prominent national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management organization, acquired Tanenbaum-Harber of Florida, LLC, a well-established insurance and risk management consultant for businesses and families. However, the terms of the agreement were not revealed. Tanenbaum-Harber, one of the largest independent retail agencies in South Florida, has its headquarters in Miramar (Florida). The company's history dates back to 1860, and today, it is among the most successful in the region. Tanenbaum-Harber of California, Inc.'s assets were also obtained as part of the acquisition. Headquartered in San Diego, Tanenbaum-Harber of California, Inc. provides support to developing businesses in the state. Scott Popilek, Atlantic Regional Leader, Risk Strategies, stated, "Tanenbaum-Harber brings another industry leading brand to our growing Florida team." He added, "They have terrific, highly experienced people and an approach to client service built and refined for over 150 years that perfectly aligns with our firm." (Source – GlobeNewswire) Tanenbaum-personal Harber's lines division, which helps families and individuals with their risk and liability coverage needs, has grown steadily in recent years, even though most of the company's business is with clients who want customized property and casualty insurance solutions. Fred Jove, President, Tanenbaum-Harber of Florida, expressed, "Given the long history of our firm, we wanted to find a partner that could provide a path for our people and business to scale both within the state and nationally." "Risk Strategies, having both a strong presence in key areas within our home state and more than 30 specialty practices nationally, presented both a great business and cultural fit," he concluded. (Source – GlobeNewswire) Over the past five years, Tanenbaum-Harber has seen substantial business growth in a competitive climate and challenging market conditions. The agency serves over 5,000 clients in wholesale distribution, real estate, security, hospitality, technology, and non-profit. About Risk Strategies Risk Strategies is a private, growth-focused national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management advisor. The company simplifies asset protection, benefits, and liability for businesses and individuals. Since 2018, its employees have ranked it as the 'Best Place to Work across North America'. Insurance Journal named it the 6th Fastest Growing Firm, 8th Largest Personal Lines Broker, 11th largest privately-held P&C Broker, and 16th largest US Broker for 2020. Risk Strategies is happy to be backed by one of the oldest private equity firms and a renowned insurance investor.

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CORE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

Inszone Insurance Services Acquires Austin Insurance

Inszone | January 30, 2023

Austin Insurance was recently acquired by Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly expanding nationwide provider of benefits, personal, and commercial lines insurance. Founded by Cole Austin in 2005, Austin Insurance has been providing excellent insurance services to the Grand Prairie (Texas) area for over a decade. Through the years, Austin Insurance has been able to offer a variety of insurance products to the residents of Grand Prairie and contribute to the city's continued economic expansion and new job opportunities. Inszone Insurance's Dallas office will now handle the day-to-day business previously run by Austin Insurance. As a result, customers may expect the same high quality of service from Inszone Insurance as they have in the past. Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services, remarked, "Austin Insurance has built a strong reputation across Grand Prairie as a trusted partner for residents to protect their assets." He further added, "This acquisition is another important step in our growth in the Lone Star State as we continue to identify and invest in agencies that will help provide and offer increased services and options to our customer base." (Source – Business Wire) Nevertheless, in the coming days, Inszone Insurance is likely to reveal several acquisitions in addition to opening additional facilities. About Inszone Insurance Services Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage founded in 2002 with headquarters in Sacramento (California). It offers various insurance products, including property, casualty, and employee benefits. Supported by a strong and experienced management team, it has grown both independently and by buying other companies. The organization currently has 37 sites across the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Illinois and hopes to continue expanding across the country.

Read More

CORE INSURANCE, COMPLIANCE

Utmost Group Upgrades Financial Compliance Capabilities with Napier

Napier and Utmost Group | February 01, 2023

On January 31st, 2023, Utmost Group, which offers insurance and savings solutions, enhanced its financial compliance capabilities in collaboration with Napier, a customizable anti-financial crime compliance provider. Napier's client screening solution, which started operations in just 21 days, was implemented to bolster the company's existing compliance strategy and to facilitate future expansion. The Napier team met these stringent deployment deadlines to meet the time constraints imposed by the expiration of licenses held by the outgoing partner. The Client Screening solution from the company will enhance existing systems by automatically screening clients against sanctions, PEP (Politically Exposed Persons) lists, and other essential watchlists at appropriate intervals. In addition, the AI capabilities will allow for faster screening and help lower the number of false alarms. Paul Smith, Chief Risk Officer at Utmost International Isle of Man, shared, "We needed to rapidly migrate and then implement our existing screening protocols to the new system, so we were delighted that Napier was able to merge two legacy systems neatly into a single hosted instance while levelling up our capabilities. This really made the difference when managing the upgrade of systems that were being made end-of-life earlier than expected." He added, "Compliance requirements inevitably evolve over time as risks also change and criminals become more sophisticated, so we are delighted to have a robust system now in place that will keep us one step ahead of our obligations and enhance our overall services." (Source – Business Wire) About Napier London-based Napier is a compliance technology specialist that operates a platform based on extensive experience and in-depth knowledge. Combining big data technologies with AI and machine learning, the company offers products that improve efficiency and reduce risk. Its strategy underpins the client's policy, process, and procedure, allowing them to concentrate on specific outcomes. The compliance platform is quick, scalable, easily configurable, and intuitive. It rapidly bolsters AML defense and trade compliance capabilities while achieving the compliance requirements and challenges of any industry. About Utmost Group Utmost Group, headquartered in London, is a leading insurance and savings solutions provider. The company offers innovative, adaptable solutions that help clients secure their financial futures. The main divisions of the Group are Utmost International, Utmost Life and Pensions. The key business lines of Utmost International consist of Utmost Corporate Solutions and Utmost Wealth Solutions. The Group has approximately £58 billion in AUA and 550,000 customers as of June 30th, 2022, with over 1,500 employees across all its businesses.

Read More

CORE INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk Strategies Announces Acquisition of Tanenbaum-Harber of Florida, LLC

Risk Strategies | January 31, 2023

In a recent development, Risk Strategies, a prominent national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management organization, acquired Tanenbaum-Harber of Florida, LLC, a well-established insurance and risk management consultant for businesses and families. However, the terms of the agreement were not revealed. Tanenbaum-Harber, one of the largest independent retail agencies in South Florida, has its headquarters in Miramar (Florida). The company's history dates back to 1860, and today, it is among the most successful in the region. Tanenbaum-Harber of California, Inc.'s assets were also obtained as part of the acquisition. Headquartered in San Diego, Tanenbaum-Harber of California, Inc. provides support to developing businesses in the state. Scott Popilek, Atlantic Regional Leader, Risk Strategies, stated, "Tanenbaum-Harber brings another industry leading brand to our growing Florida team." He added, "They have terrific, highly experienced people and an approach to client service built and refined for over 150 years that perfectly aligns with our firm." (Source – GlobeNewswire) Tanenbaum-personal Harber's lines division, which helps families and individuals with their risk and liability coverage needs, has grown steadily in recent years, even though most of the company's business is with clients who want customized property and casualty insurance solutions. Fred Jove, President, Tanenbaum-Harber of Florida, expressed, "Given the long history of our firm, we wanted to find a partner that could provide a path for our people and business to scale both within the state and nationally." "Risk Strategies, having both a strong presence in key areas within our home state and more than 30 specialty practices nationally, presented both a great business and cultural fit," he concluded. (Source – GlobeNewswire) Over the past five years, Tanenbaum-Harber has seen substantial business growth in a competitive climate and challenging market conditions. The agency serves over 5,000 clients in wholesale distribution, real estate, security, hospitality, technology, and non-profit. About Risk Strategies Risk Strategies is a private, growth-focused national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management advisor. The company simplifies asset protection, benefits, and liability for businesses and individuals. Since 2018, its employees have ranked it as the 'Best Place to Work across North America'. Insurance Journal named it the 6th Fastest Growing Firm, 8th Largest Personal Lines Broker, 11th largest privately-held P&C Broker, and 16th largest US Broker for 2020. Risk Strategies is happy to be backed by one of the oldest private equity firms and a renowned insurance investor.

Read More

CORE INSURANCE, INSURANCE TECHNOLOGY

Inszone Insurance Services Acquires Austin Insurance

Inszone | January 30, 2023

Austin Insurance was recently acquired by Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly expanding nationwide provider of benefits, personal, and commercial lines insurance. Founded by Cole Austin in 2005, Austin Insurance has been providing excellent insurance services to the Grand Prairie (Texas) area for over a decade. Through the years, Austin Insurance has been able to offer a variety of insurance products to the residents of Grand Prairie and contribute to the city's continued economic expansion and new job opportunities. Inszone Insurance's Dallas office will now handle the day-to-day business previously run by Austin Insurance. As a result, customers may expect the same high quality of service from Inszone Insurance as they have in the past. Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services, remarked, "Austin Insurance has built a strong reputation across Grand Prairie as a trusted partner for residents to protect their assets." He further added, "This acquisition is another important step in our growth in the Lone Star State as we continue to identify and invest in agencies that will help provide and offer increased services and options to our customer base." (Source – Business Wire) Nevertheless, in the coming days, Inszone Insurance is likely to reveal several acquisitions in addition to opening additional facilities. About Inszone Insurance Services Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage founded in 2002 with headquarters in Sacramento (California). It offers various insurance products, including property, casualty, and employee benefits. Supported by a strong and experienced management team, it has grown both independently and by buying other companies. The organization currently has 37 sites across the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Illinois and hopes to continue expanding across the country.

Read More

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