All articles by LII editorial
LII editorial
Australia looks to national disability insurance
This damning conclusion was reached by the Productivity Commission which published an enquiry report at the end of July in which it calls for radical reform of disability insurance in Australia
Education and income affects worker insurance decisions
From an education perspective, the life insurers study revealed that workers with a high school education only had the lowest level of understanding of life insurance and were least likely to sign up for this benefit (65%)
Risk transfer picks up speed in the UK
After a slow start to the year, the UKs defined benefit pension scheme risk transfer market is again a hive of activity with all signs pointing to a sustained high level of activity A prediction made at the start of 2011 by actuarial consulting firm Hymans Robertson that it would be a busy year for the UKs defined benefits pension scheme risk transfer market is proving to be correct
Allianz gives PIMCO more breathing space
In a major restructuring, Allianz is to give greater autonomy to its two key asset management operations, Allianz Global Investments (AGI) and PIMCO, which will as of 1 January 2012 function as discrete investment management businesses housed in a new division, Allianz Asset Management
US individual life application recovery remains uninspiring
Application activity in the US individual life insurance sector inched up in August, rising 0.7% compared with August 2010, research firm MIB Group has reported
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US risk retention rules spark outcry
Insurers, like all US financial services companies, are crying foul over regulators newly crafted risk retention rules for the industry Firstly, that requiring lenders of all kinds to keep at least 5% of all loans originated rather than securitise 100% if they so desire will tighten credit even more at the worst possible time
Securian strikes second acquisition deal of 2011
Continuing to take advantage of rationalisation in the US insurance market, mutual financial services company Securian Financial Group is to acquire American Modern Life Insurance Company and its subsidiary Southern Pioneer Life Insurance Company, from American Modern Insurance Group (AMIG) for an undisclosed sum
Longevity driving innovation in the US
Whether it is combination products built with long-term-care (LTC), or LTC combined with an annuity, todays product tweaks in the US life insurance market reflect the importance of longevity as the dominant variable in the marketplace
Hope for the underinsured in the US
It may be the focus of heated political debate in the US, but President Obamas Affordable Care Act appears to be the only hope for millions of Americans who have health insurance plans providing inadequate coverage Underinsured families are at nearly as high risk as the uninsured because, while they have health insurance, holes or limits in their plans expose them to often unaffordable medical costs,” said Commonwealth Fund senior vice-president Cathy Schoen
Retirement hopes are fading fast in the UK
Highlighting an overall upward shift in the age at which people anticipate being able to stop working, the asset management firm found that 37% of non-retired British adults intend to retire over the age of 61