Market Trends

Inflation and Insurance

Because of the long term nature of insurance contracts, pricing, reserving and investment policy are very sensitive to inflation trends and experience. We are currently living in a low and relatively stable inflation environment. The industry is generally able to adapt to inflation changes that occur in gradual cycles with limited peaks and valleys. It is the sudden movements that create the problems. Although the industry has survived through rapid movements and extremes in the past, most of the current generation of insurance people do not have experience with operating under high inflation conditions. As we anticipate an eventual economic recovery, we should expect a return of higher inflation rates. Depending on the progress of recovery, and government stimulus actions, we need to be prepared for a range of higher inflationary scenarios.

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Life Insurance

LIFE INSURANCE, FINANCIAL GUARANTEES AND HEDGING

Jun 06.2011 |

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CONSIDERATIONS

1. What new product opportunities are created by changes in savings, protection, investment, inflation, public policy in developed and developing countries?

2. How will proposed changes in accounting, regulatory and performance measurements affect life insurance risks and risk management practices?

3. How can insurers manage risks that policyholders seek protection from through hedging strategies and tools?

4. Is the life insurance business better off diversifying risks (e.g., longevity, investment, marketing) through integration with other financial services or by concentrating on the special needs of life insurance alone?

5. How can life insurers apply their special skills to capture a stronger position in privatized retirement savings markets?

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Economic Crisis

The Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Insurance Industry

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Considerations:

1. How have the economic crisis and aftermath affected insurance lines, e.g., higher claims, decline in sales, growth in sales, new products?

2. How has the experience in financial services affected the direction of insurance regulation? Is insurance regulation affected by mistaken assumptions about industry needs and norms, e,g., excessive restriction on the use of needed hedging facilities?

3. How will the recent experience change risk management practices in the industry?

4. Will problems in the derivatives markets reduce or change the use of capital markets for insurance activities?

5. What new market opportunities are created by the recent crisis?

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