Insurance brokers have always acted in the best interests of their customers

Insurance Business America | April 18, 2019

Earlier this month the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it had identified “significant potential for harm to customers arising from the product development and distribution approaches currently employed in some sectors of the GI market and by some GI firms.” For the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), the guilty ones – or this portion of the industry referred to by the FCA – aren’t from its ranks. In a belated response to the general insurance (GI) distribution chains report released by the regulator, BIBA pointed to where it believes the troubles are coming from, adding that industry-wide “there does not seem to be a problem.” In a statement sent to Insurance Business, BIBA commented: “Looking at the examples in the FCA paper, the issues seem to be arising from the secondary sellers; the report provides examples including car showrooms, mobile phone sellers, and tour operators.

Spotlight

No single insurer is spared by fraud. Globally, fraud is estimated to cost the insurance industry hundreds of billions of GBP per year. This figure isn’t just fraud on an individual or opportunistic scale, but also the result of insurance fraud networks who represent an industry unto themselves.

Spotlight

No single insurer is spared by fraud. Globally, fraud is estimated to cost the insurance industry hundreds of billions of GBP per year. This figure isn’t just fraud on an individual or opportunistic scale, but also the result of insurance fraud networks who represent an industry unto themselves.

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AF Group Successfully Acquires AmeriTrust Group

AF Group and AmeriTrust Group | January 10, 2023

AF Group, a widely-acclaimed holding company, recently acquired AmeriTrust Group. The acquisition, which was first announced in April 2022 and now received regulatory approval, brings together two world-class, Michigan-based insurance organizations operating in the property and casualty market. Daniel J. Loepp, President and CEO of AF Group's parent company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, commented, "Adding a trusted and respected company like AmeriTrust to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan enterprise is exceptional news for our organization." He further states, "We look forward to the expanded capabilities and talented team AmeriTrust will add to AF Group's industry-leading expertise in the property and casualty space, enabling greater service offerings to agents and customers." (Source: PR Newswire) The acquisition empowers AF Group to provide its customers with a broader range of products and services while solidifying its increasingly powerful position and standing in the market, which has grown tremendously over the last decade. Acknowledged for its financial strength as Ward's 50 company and A.M. Best's ‘A’ (excellent) rating, AF Group is also known for its award-winning people-first culture. "We could not be more pleased to welcome the AmeriTrust team to our organization," expressed Lisa Corless, President and CEO of AF Group. "The work and commitment of AmeriTrust associates has led to a very strong reputation in the industry, and we're excited to add their expertise and capabilities as we broaden our product offerings to the benefit of our partner agents and shared policyholders nationwide," she concluded. (Source: PR Newswire) About AF Group AF Group is a globally-known holding firm headquartered in Lansing (Michigan), whose affiliated insurance brands are premier suppliers of creative, specialist insurance solutions. Owing to the strength of AF Group and its brands, its customers have access to qualified insurance specialists as well as the support needed to keep prices low and workers safe. The dedicated and committed team at AF Group uses industry-leading best practices, analytics, and resources to manage risk and limit loss for its policyholders while growing relationships with its valued independent agent partners. About AmeriTrust Group, Inc. Based in Southfield (Michigan), the company is a highly acclaimed specialty, niche-focused commercial insurance underwriter and provider of insurance administration services in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry. AmeriTrust provides insurance solutions to a variety of trade, industry, professional associations, governmental entities, affinity groups, and independent agents. Carrier activities include six insurance firms that are licensed in all 50 states, both admitted and non-admitted.

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Topa Insurance Company with Exavalu Enhances Agent Experience

Exavalu and Topa Insurance Company | February 06, 2023

Topa, an insurance company, has recently announced its implementation of Exavalu's digital engagement platform for agents to enhance the productivity and experience of insurance agents and increase its business growth. In addition, it will provide a user-friendly interface with quick quote generation, eligibility checks for multiple lined businesses, and first notice of loss (FNOL) features. With a history of about 30 years, Topa Insurance Company specializes in casual and commercial property insurance, serving quality products to managing general agents (MGAs), general agents, and wholesale brokers. Exavalu, a leading digital and advisory insurance solutions provider, integrates with different insurance platforms, rating engines, and third-party services, supporting insurance agents and policyholders. With its build on Amazon Web Services (AWS), it integrates with Topa's Guidewire InsuranceNow system through MuleSoft AnyPoint's application programming interface (API) gateway, offering necessary tools to enhance productivity. Global Insurance Solutions and Delivery Leader at Exavalu, Goutam Kanjilal, said, "Exavalu's Digital Engagement Platform offers insurers a modern and intuitive portal to engage with their agents and customers through flexible and feature-rich agent and customer portals. We are delighted to partner with Topa to provide exceptional digital experiences for its agents." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About Exavalu Exavalu, a digital transformation advisory and solutions provider in the insurance industry, partners with top insurance companies, InsurTechs, TPAs, and MGAs worldwide by combining technology with insurance knowledge to automate the business of insurers' clients. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, it has been building long-term relationships with clients and companies through innovation since 2018. It specializes in Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, SAP, ERP, GDPR, CCPA, business and technology strategy, technological solutions, innovation, strategic advisory, data privacy, GRC and digital GRC, healthcare and life sciences, banking and financing services, and insurance. About Topa Insurance Company Topa Insurance Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Topa Insurance Group and a member of Anderson Holdings, offering insurance products across the wholesale market and enhancing agility, operations, and profit for continuous growth. Headquartered in Calabasas, California, it specializes in property, specialty and casualty insurance with writing commercial, personal lines, and programs since 1984. In addition, it helps businesses to grow and distribute commercial and personal insurance products through its network of insurance agents and brokers.

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Future Capital and Ease Bring Valuable Retirement Planning Services to Insurance Brokers

PRweb | March 23, 2023

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