Canada's #1 Blog for Life & Health Insurance Information
/ ThinkAdvisor provides financial advisors, registered investment advisors and wealth managers with comprehensive coverage of the products, services and information they need to guide their clients in making critical wealth, health and life decisions.
Article 0 Comments Following the “paradigm-shifting” Los Angeles wildfires in January, the 2024-2025 wildfire season will be remembered as a turning point for the insurance industry, and a warning that “wildfire is no longer a seasonal or rural phenomenon,” a new outlook asserts. The rest of 2025 poses severe wildfire risk in numerous states thanks to developing drought conditions, including high risk in wildfire-prone California, according to a report from ZeztyAI. The L.A. wildfires killed 29 people, and damaged or destroyed thousands of properties. The fallout of the fires included large losses for major California insurers, including State Farm. The carrier is asking the California Department of Insurance to approve a large rate increase. According to the California Department of Insurance, 37,749 claims have been filed related to the fires and $12.1 billion has been paid out. However, the wildfire perils weren’t only in California. Related: Homeowners Suing USAA and AAA Insurers Over LA Wildfires “From New Mexico, where one of the state’s most destructive wildfires validated early high-risk forecasts, to blazes in the Midwest and Southeast, the 2024 season revealed wildfire’s expanding geographic footprint, relentless pace, and increasingly unpredictable behavior,” the report stated. “For insurance carriers, it exposed the...
Article 0 Comments Waymo has suspended service of its ride-hailing service in downtown Los Angeles after its vehicles were set on fire during protests against immigration raids in the area. Waymo doesn’t believe the protests are related to the company specifically, according to the company. It has removed vehicles from downtown Los Angeles with guidance from the Los Angeles Police Department and won’t be serving the area, the company said. At least five Waymo vehicles had been set on fire as of Sunday evening, according to local news station KTLA. The self-driving car service is owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc. E-scooters operated by Lime were also set on fire, according to TechCrunch. “For the safety of all involved, we implore everyone to refrain from using our vehicles for anything other than their intended purpose,” Lime said in a statement. The company is monitoring the situation and will “respond accordingly to keep our teams, vehicles and the broader LA community safe.” U.S. President Donald Trump sent National Guard troops to the city on Sunday to respond to the protests. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell has said that demonstrations on Sunday were largely peaceful, but crowds have clashed with...
Belleville, ON (June 9, 2025) – RRJ Insurance Group Ltd, o/a KRGinsure, is pleased to announce that Desroches, Visser Insurance Brokers, located in Mississauga, Ontario, has joined our organization. This addition will enable the Desroches, Visser team to support their loyal client base by bringing expanded capabilities, additional markets, digital connectivity and market support. Desroches, Visser Insurance Brokers is a third-generation brokerage out of Mississauga servicing a loyal client base for 70+ years. The ever-changing insurance landscape, along with the evolving risk environment and fast pace of technological advancements, led to the decision to team up with a larger brokerage in KRGinsure. “The added support for our existing team, additional insurance markets and offerings for clients, along with expertise available with the RRJ Insurance Group Limited team allowed me to make this decision with ease,” said Desroche Visser’s owner, BJ Visser. Andrew Godden, Vice President of Sales at KRGinsure confirmed this amalgamation supports the organization’s continued growth strategy and strengthens its presence in Southern Ontario. “Known for its decades-long commitment to client service in Mississauga and the surrounding communities, the team at Desroches, Visser share the same core values as KRGinsure with their emphasis on relationships and being solution-providers to...
/ ThinkAdvisor provides financial advisors, registered investment advisors and wealth managers with comprehensive coverage of the products, services and information they need to guide their clients in making critical wealth, health and life decisions.
Article 0 Comments Hub International Ltd. acquired the assets of Wycoff Insurance Agency Inc. in Mount Vernon, Washington. Wycoff Insurance will be referred to as Wycoff Insurance Agency, a Hub International company. Chris Eisses, president, Donnie Keltz, vice president, secretary and treasurer, and the Wycoff Insurance team, will join Hub Northwest. Wycoff Insurance is a locally owned insurance agency providing commercial and personal insurance. Chicago, Illinois-based Hub is an insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Washington Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article. Submit No Thanks Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it. Submit No Thanks Here are more articles you may enjoy. Interested in Mergers? Get automatic alerts for this topic.
By Joseph D’Souza, Founder & CEO, ProNavigator — Most insurance organizations have highly experienced & tenured staff. In areas such as claims and underwriting, these people have developed an innate wisdom that drives their success. But that wisdom is often NOT documented anywhere – much of it is instinctual. This article focuses on how to retain that knowledge and use technology to capture, manage and share that knowledge across your organization. Greta The Super Underwriter Greta is the affectionate term we use to describe that one super-productive employee. The problem with Greta is NOT Greta. The problem is that what Greta knows is not documented. In this article Greta is an Underwriter, and the even bigger problem we often see, is that even Greta is not fully aware of exactly how she does it. Her decades of wisdom is ingrained in her mind and has become instinctual. Greta produces great results. She has a large network, she is able to build a steady pipeline of activity in all market types. She knows how to maintain that pipeline even when she needs to say no a lot! Brokers & agents count on her to be a source of knowledge. But there is...
McDougall Insurance enters Atlantic Canada market with latest deal Belleville, ON (June 5, 2025) – McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited is excited to announce our successful combination with Keyes Insurance Brokerage Limited in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Keyes is McDougall’s first Atlantic Canadian office, and represents a significant moment for our organization’s national ambitions. Keyes is a multi-generational family brokerage that has established itself over 45 years as a premier Halifax business and will seamlessly fit into McDougall Insurance’s culture. We are delighted to welcome them to the McDougall family. With a shared commitment to putting customers first, this deal elevates our ability to serve our collective communities, clients and staff. “We have always grown by partnering with insurance brokerages across Canada that share our core values,” said Ross McDougall, CEO of McDougall Insurance, “Keyes fits that bill perfectly. Their family roots, commitment to exceptional customer service, and dedication to their community align seamlessly with how we operate. They are the perfect partner to bring what we do to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Atlantic Canada.” McDougall is also pleased to announce that Shaun Keyes, President of Keyes, will retain his role at his family business while taking on the additional responsibility of...
Surrey, BC (May 28, 2025) – Westland Insurance is sharing advice for Canadian property owners considering renting out a cottage or cabin this summer. Whether it’s a week here and there or a full season on Airbnb, it’s a great way to earn extra income. But before the first guest arrives, there’s something important you might not know: Most standard cottage insurance policies don’t automatically include short-term rental coverage. Here’s what you need to know to avoid surprises and protect your property and peace of mind. Why Standard Cottage Insurance May Not Be Enough If your vacation home is insured as a personal-use property, that coverage typically doesn’t extend to short-term rentals, especially not those listed on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, or Booking.com. Common risks not covered under a standard policy: Guest-cause property damage Liability if a guest gets injured Theft or vandalism Loss of rental income after a claim Without proper coverage, you could be on the hook for costs your policy won’t pay out, just because you didn’t notify your provider about the rental. Occasional vs. Frequent Rentals: Why It Matters Insurers look at how often and how formally you rent out your cottage or cabin. Occasional Rentals: A...
Article 0 Comments Some homeowners who lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires have filed lawsuits against three large insurers over claims payouts they say didn’t cover their losses. The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court this week. They say USAA and two AAA affiliated insurers underestimated the replacement cost of their homes and left them underinsured and without enough money to replace or rebuild their homes after the Jan. 7 wildfires. Related: Bill to Address California Wildfire And Insurance Crises Moving Through Legislature The lawsuits allege fraud anbd negligence, and they seek unspecified damages. “These families paid their premiums, trusted their insurers, and did everything right,” attorney Gregory L. Bentley of Bentley & More said in a statement. “But when disaster struck, they learned their coverage was little more than an illusion. These companies promised peace of mind, but instead left their members stranded, homeless, and hopeless.” AAA media relations contacts have been reached out to for comment. A USAA spokesperson said the carrier just received notice of the lawsuit and they are reviewing the details. The spokesperson said they can’t comment on the specifics of the case, but said “USAA’s dedication to outstanding member...
