WARREN, N.J.—Chubb Corp. has agreed to pay $15 million in policyholder restitution and to alter its practices—including replacing contingent commissions on all U.S. lines of business with a “supplemental compensation program” —to resolve investigations by attorneys general in New...
December, 2006
BRUSSELS—The European Commission is to investigate the sale of an Austrian bank to one of the country’s insurers. In a statement the EC said that it has launched a formal investigation under "state aid rules" into the sale of Bank Burgenland to Grazer Wechselseitige Versicherung A.G. in...
A good source for population, housing, and economic data for your area is FactFinder.Census.gov. From the 2005 data provided, I decided to compare the median value of housing to the median household incomes for various cities (with a West Coast bias). I then calculated the ratio of housing price to income and plotted them:
Here’s the actual data:
...Read the rest of Median Housing Price to Income Ratios For Various Cities
I just made an update to My Rough Guide to Money and Investing, a loose framework of some of my more general money-management tips. Hopefully this is more organized and easier for everyone to digest than trying to dig through the archives.
So you can keep up with future updates more easily, I’ve also placed it in my “Popular Posts” section on the top right of every blog page. It’s replaced my $20 Emigrant Direct Savings Signup Bonus, although that’s still going strong.
Benchmarking with specific data by insurance agents and brokers for their clients is a relatively new and growing phenomenon, and technology is driving the efficient development of effective benchmarking services for some lines of business. The concept of benchmarking in insurance is simple: provide guidance to a buyer that the terms, including coverage and cost, are reasonable relative to other similar organizations. The authors of a recent article on the topic (see here) take a broad view of benchmarking by...
Invariably this time of year, all the “tipping experts” of the world unite and tell us ignorant folk what to do. But how do I tip the trash collector? I’m never around during pickup. Put a wrapped package beside the can and hope it doesn’t get overlooked? Tape an envelope to the bucket and hope it doesn’t blow away? U.S. Postal Carriers aren’t allowed cash or anything worth over $20, so I usually give out either gift cards or I’ve also done lottery tickets. Some of them seemed really surprised to get them. I don’t have anything else - nannies, gardeners, personal trainers…
Where I used to live, people leave out a case of beer or soda for the trash collector. No ...
The American Express Platinum Business Premium Cash Rebate Card is again offering a $250 statement credit (third card from the left) after your first purchase, with no annual fee. If you got in on this last time like I did, you may not be able to get it again unless you have a 2nd business - “You may be permitted to have more than one American Express® Business Card account; however, you are eligible to receive only one promotional $250 statement credit per unique business.”
Added: I just saw this if you click on “Special Offer” in the upper-left - “Note: Only business owners who received this offer via Inc. Magazine qualify to apply for a Card through this website.” I don’t remember seeing that last time, ...
Woodbury Financial Services has agreed to acquire the assets of Diversified Financial Concepts, an investment and insurance marketing firm that has long been allied with Woodbury.
Hartford Unit Buys Financial Marketer
Source: National Underwriter (subscription required)
Topping off a year in which the interstate compact of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reached its threshold for becoming operational, the organization said Michigan is set to become its 29th member.
The Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission enables states to develop a single point of filing for life and asset-based products while also developing national standards. The compact was initiated by the NAIC in 2004 and solidified in May when Alaska became the 26th state to join.
Michigan Set To Join Interstate Compact
Source: A.M. Best (subscription required)
It is becoming increasingly difficult to open a newspaper or magazine without being bombarded with news about the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation. But the fact of the matter is, this really is big news — not only for the 76 million boomers, but also for the ongoing success of your business.
Designing a Successful Retirement Income Strategy
Source: Life Insurance Selling
