All articles by LII editorial
LII editorial
AIA embarks on big spend in Taiwan
One focus of the capital expenditure will be the establishment of a series of iCenters which will deploy technology systems in areas such as policy processing and sales and account management
Low interest rates maul US pension funds
Based on the consulting and actuarial firms Pension Fund Index, which monitors 100 of the US largest funds, 2011 ended with the funds nursing a record $464.4bn combined deficit
Indian regulator takes comparative ULIP shopping mobile
Life has become easier for tech-savvy Indian consumers looking for the best deal in unit linked insurance policies (ULIP), thanks to a new service introduced by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)
AIG consolidates for growth in US employee benefits sector
On the hunt for enhanced operational efficiency, American International Group (AIG) is to create a new group benefits operation in the US through the merger of the group benefits units of its core US life business, American General Life Companies (American General), and its general insurance business, Chartis US Accident and Health According to AIG, AIG Benefit Solutions will offer about 24 insurance products and programmes, many available on both employer-funded and voluntary, employee-paid platforms, as well as underwriting, enrolment and plan administration
ACLI calls for US to put reform pressure on Japanese government
Japans expression of interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement has created a lobbying opportunity for the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) Using the membership application as a platform, the ACLI has called on the US government to use it as an opportunity to put pressure on Japans government to introduce reforms in the countrys life industry.
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China’s life insurers on the hunt for new capital
Joining a steady stream of Chinese life insurers seeking to bolster their depleted capital resources, Ping An, Chinas second-largest life insurer, has announced plans to issue up to CNY26bn ($4bn) through a convertible bond issue
Sanlam and Shriram shuffle assets in India
In a reshaping of its interest in India, South Africas second-largest life insurer, Sanlam, is to sell its 26% stakes in Shriram Life Insurance and Shriram General Insurance to its joint venture partner, Shriram Capital
The Hartford exits private placement insurance sector
Turning its back on the ultra-high net worth private placement insurance sector, US insurer The Hartford Financial Services Group has sold its Hartford Life Private Placement (HLPP) unit to Philadelphia Financial Group (PFG) in a $117.5m cash deal.
Tough times ahead for US insurers
Future growth in the US life insurance is a matter of managing capital and risk in an uncertain environment, Ernst & Young (E&Y) has emphasised in their new Global Insurance Center US Outlook Those life insurers that manage the associated multiple variables will be the winners of the tumultuous years ahead, predicts the professional services firm. Laying the groundwork for future growth while wrestling with low interest rates and volatile equities markets presents a significant challenge for insurers, but it is critical they begin to size up opportunities ahead, E&Y advised.
UK advisers testing the social media water
The common perception amongst many IFAs is that social media is a time-wasting fad, but large numbers are now fully embracing it as an important business tool,” said Philip Calvert, founder of IFA Life, an online business and financial social networking website dedicated to IFAs, mortgage brokers and financial planners.