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Uber, Lyft, DoorDash Prevail in California Gig-Worker Ruling

Article 0 Comments Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. can keep classifying California drivers as independent contractors, after the state’s top court said a company-backed law passed by voters doesn’t wrongly curtail the legislature’s power over worker protections. The unanimous ruling upholding California’s Proposition 22 was released Thursday. The favorable ruling for the gig economy companies removes what investors regarded as a major regulatory overhang. Had the judge ruled to invalidate Prop 22, the companies would have faced the threat of millions of dollars in additional cost to pay drivers if they were to be reclassified as employees, upending their business models and potentially raising user costs in one of their biggest US markets. Related: Uber Loses Challenge to California Gig Work Law in Appeals Court Shares of Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart all spiked on the news. Lyft saw the biggest gain, with a 7.4% jump in share price. Justice Goodwin H. Liu in May oral arguments said the law doesn’t necessarily preclude workers from ever receiving workers’ compensation, a system to help workers injured on the job that the state legislature has constitutional power to oversee. The case was brought specifically over the constitutionality of this provision, but...

Blink Parametric launches parametric travel InsurTech solutions with Heymondo 0

Blink Parametric launches parametric travel InsurTech solutions with Heymondo

Blink Flight Disruption solution will be offered in Spain with immediate effect Travel assistance cover to be underwritten by global insurance, reinsurance and services company – MAWDY Cork, Ireland (July 25, 2024) – Blink Parametric has launched its Flight Disruption assistance solution with the travel insurance specialist Heymondo. MAWDY, a global insurance, reinsurance and services company and part of the MAPFRE Group, will underwrite the coverage. Today’s launch with Heymondo in Spain will initially serve the company’s domestic market with the Blink Flight Disruption solution now available on Single Trip policies as an optional extra product. When a two-hour flight delay occurs to a policy-holder’s registered flight, they will be offered a choice of free access to one of 1,300+ executive airport lounges worldwide or a real-time cash payout alternative of €50 euro. Blink Parametric’s real-time assistance service integrated with the Heymondo mobile app to facilitate a seamless customer experience and ease of access to push notifications for flight delay benefits. Perry McShane, Director of Strategic Accounts, Blink Parametric, “Heymondo’s mission is to make travel insurance easy. Working together, we have combined market expertise with the latest technology to deliver a real-time assistance solution that assures customers they’re in expert...

How Will Embedded Insurance Affect Agents and Brokers? 0

How Will Embedded Insurance Affect Agents and Brokers?

By Mark Breading, ReSource Pro — Agents and brokers are no strangers to whispers that their role may one day disappear. However, thus far, they continue to be a mainstay in insurance distribution and have successfully navigated significant industry transformation. But could the recent rise in embedded insurance solutions tip the scales? What is embedded insurance? First, let’s establish what constitutes embedded insurance. Here at ReSource Pro, we use this definition: “Insurance purchased in conjunction with a related product or service from a different provider during the same customer experience.” For example, you might purchase AppleCare along with your new iPhone or trip interruption coverage for your upcoming vacation. However, the breadth of embedded insurance solutions has grown significantly, primarily driven by technology, changing customer expectations, and carriers’ desire to expand their market reach. Remember that at its core, embedded insurance is like direct placement and partnering with agents/brokers – a distribution approach. What differentiates many embedded solutions, however, is their use of technology. APIs, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics help offer customers insurance solutions in places where they are already spending time. With customers seeking convenience, personalization, and a seamless experience, embedded insurance is an attractive approach for...

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The Hard Truth About Exiting the Workforce

What You Need to Know We all like to imagine leaving the job on our own terms, but that’s far from a guarantee. One EBRI survey shows just 6% of retirees worked past 70, though a quarter plan to do so. Fortunately, EBRI shows Americans are still often finding success in navigating retirement, despite leaving work earlier than expected. This is the latest in a series of columns about Social Security and retirement income planning. Surveys commonly show that many American workers plan to delay retirement beyond the traditional ages of 62 or 65 — with the majority in one recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute citing a target age of 70 or older. Nearly a quarter of workers (23%) told the EBRI research team that they will retire “at 70 or not at all,” either due to the financial challenge of leaving a paycheck or simply because they like to work. The reality, however, looks a lot different, with just 6% of current retirees having worked that long. For many of us, the timing and nature of our departure from the workforce is simply out of our hands, whether due to a health crisis, a dated skillset,...

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AM Best Withdraws Credit Ratings for Mt. Morris Mutual Following Downgrade

Article 0 Comments AM Best announced it has withdrawn credit ratings of Mt. Morris Mutual Insurance Company in Coloma, Wisconsin, less than a week after the credit rating agency downgraded the company’s ratings. AM Best said it withdrawn Mt. Morris’ ratings as the company has requested to no longer participate in AM Best’s interactive rating process. In a July 19 release, AM Best said it had downgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bbb” (Good) from “bbb+” (Good) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) of Mt. Morris. AM Best maintained the under review status for these Credit Ratings (ratings) and revised the implication status to negative from developing. AM Best said the rating downgrade “considers volatility in Mt. Morris’ key operating performance metrics throughout the past several years, driven by weather-related loss activity along with the impact of inflation on rising loss costs.” Founded in 1875, Mt. Morris provides farm, home, auto, specialty and business insurance. According to Mt. Morris’ website, the mutual began writing business statewide in 1997. AM Best originally placed Mt. Morris under review with developing implications in December of 2023, pending AM Best’s ability to thoroughly assess the financial and operational...

CSIO’s Commercial Lines (CL) Working Group Publishes Quote and Bind Requirements for Four New Segments 0

CSIO’s Commercial Lines (CL) Working Group Publishes Quote and Bind Requirements for Four New Segments

Toronto, ON (July 23, 2024) – CSIO is pleased to announce that the CL Working Group is driving CL Data Standards forward by publishing business requirements to quote and bind four more industry segments: Wholesale, Manufacturing/Processing, Education and Member Organization Services. When CL Data Standards are programmed, BMS and insurer systems talk to one another in real-time as an Application Programming Interface (API) call, enabling the accurate exchange of data in a structured format along the insurance value chain. With this achievement, there are now twelve small business industry segments with published CL Data Standards, making this an even more compelling solution for insurers, brokers and vendors. The four new segments represent the largest number of segments published by the CL Working Group in a single release and cover over 60 new IBC codes. Related business requirements are included in CSIO’s latest XML 1.47 Standards release version. The CL Data Standards created by the Working Group allow brokers to exchange data with insurers via API directly in their BMS. Insurers and BMS vendors who programmed CSIO’s Commercial Lines Minimum Data Set (CL MDS) are realizing many quoting benefits. Leveraging Member feedback, CSIO created the Adoption Scorecard, which reveals that brokers...

CHES Special Risk Launches Specialized Insurance Solution for Vacant Property Fire Protection 0

CHES Special Risk Launches Specialized Insurance Solution for Vacant Property Fire Protection

Comprehensive Coverage, Expert Support, Industry Expertise, and Broker Support as the Cornerstone Toronto, ON (July 24, 2024) – Vacant properties often face heightened risks due to their lack of supervision, making them prime targets for criminal activities and accidents. Recognizing this critical vulnerability, CHES Special Risk provides comprehensive Fire Damage Coverage for Vacant Properties. This comprehensive coverage ensures that property owners can effectively manage risks and safeguard their investments. Real-Life Scenarios Demonstrating the Importance of Protection: Scenario 1: An unoccupied building caught fire after children playing with matches accidentally ignited some nearby materials. The lack of immediate supervision allowed the fire to spread, causing significant damage before it could be contained. Scenario 2: Individuals seeking shelter in an unoccupied building started a fire to keep warm. The fire quickly grew out of control due to improper containment, resulting in extensive damage to the property. These scenarios underscore the critical need for safeguarding vacant properties. How CHES Special Risk’s Vacant Property Insurance Helps: Protect Against Fire Damage: The policy covers fire damage, allowing property owners to repair the building without financial strain, ensuring it remains suitable for future use. Protect Investments: CHES Special Risk reinforces its commitment to protecting vacant properties...

First collision reporting centre opens in Prince Edward Island 0

First collision reporting centre opens in Prince Edward Island

Toronto, ON (July 24, 2024) – Accident Support Services International Ltd. (ASSI) is pleased to announce the opening of Prince Edward Island’s first Collision Reporting Centre (CRC), in partnership with Charlottetown Police Services. Located at 10 Kirkwood Drive, Charlottetown, the CRC opened on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, and operates from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. The Highway Traffic Act requires any motor vehicle collision involving death, injury or property damage exceeding $2,000 must be reported to police immediately. Drivers involved in a vehicle collision that does not require a police officer to respond, must attend a CRC to self-report their collision. Police will still attend collisions involving criminal charges, dangerous goods, or serious injuries. All other collisions will be directed to the CRC. Supporting insurers fund the program – there is no cost to the police or the public for these services. Operating since, 1994 the Collision Reporting Centre program allows police officers to be freed up for higher priority needs in the community. Citizens will have the convenience of attending a safe, comfortable location to complete their collision report. Additionally, Accident Support Services’ Collision Reporting and Occurrence Management System (CROMS), will be provided to capture electronically...

6 Traits of People Passing Down Wealth in Next Decade 0

6 Traits of People Passing Down Wealth in Next Decade

Start Slideshow Some 1.2 million individuals with net worth of more than $5 million are expected to pass on collective wealth of almost $31 trillion over the next 10 years, according to Altrata’s Family Wealth Transfer 2024 report, which is based on data from the firm’s Wealth-X unit. Individuals with a net worth of more than $100 million will account for almost half of the amount being passed on.  The value of wealth being transferred will vary enormously across the different wealth tiers. Very high-net-worth individuals — those with fortunes of between $5 million and $30 million — will account for 87% of all the people transferring this wealth. The remaining 13%, ultra-wealthy individuals with more than $30 million, will pass on 64% of the total wealth. Altrata noted that wealth transfers are increasingly taking place during the lifetime of the head of a family, for practical reasons such as tax planning and the desire to prepare heirs for future financial stewardship. This shift, coupled with rising global wealth and younger generations’ differing values, underpins the need for families to align on succession plans early.  It also opens new opportunities for organizations that advise, prospect for and engage with the wealthy. ...

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People Moves: AXA’s Rodriguez Forero Named CEO of Newly Formed DUAL LatAm

Article 0 Comments DUAL Group announced the appointment of Marilena Rodriguez Forero as CEO for the newly established region, DUAL Latin America, effective Aug. 1, 2024. Rodriguez Forero will be a member of DUAL’s Group Executive Committee, reporting to Richard Clapham, CEO, DUAL Group. Her appointment reinforces the strategic importance of the region, where DUAL has been present since 2021. Marilena Rodriguez Forero Rodriguez Forero, who is based in Mexico, has more than 30 years’ industry experience and joins DUAL from AXA where she served as P&C underwriting director. She also held various senior roles at AXA XL. Prior to this, she worked at XL Catlin as head of Facultative Business, Latam. “Marilena’s appointment is a significant milestone in DUAL’s growth journey. Latin America is a key insurance market with great potential, and Marilena will lead and expand our business in Latin America focusing on bringing in more great talent to expand our existing teams, building a compelling proposition for brokers and carriers across the region,” commented Richard Clapham, CEO, DUAL Group. DUAL, the specialist underwriting arm of Howden Group, has underwriting teams based in Mexico, the largest reinsurance market in Latin America, and Brazil, the region’s largest economy and...