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Canadians feel unsafe in their communities as auto theft crisis escalates 0

Canadians feel unsafe in their communities as auto theft crisis escalates

Study finds more than 80% of Canadians say they are concerned about community safety due to the auto theft crisis, while the number of stolen vehicles continues to increase after historic highs in 2022 Vancouver, BC (Oct. 13, 2023) – Équité Association has released its First Half of 2023 Auto Theft Trend Report and it is clear that Canada’s auto theft crisis is getting worse. Furthermore, according to a recent survey, the continued rise in auto theft is having a significant impact on Canadians’ sense of safety. The survey, which was conducted among members of the Angus Reid forum in September 2023, found that: 84% of Canadians say the rise in auto theft makes them concerned about the increase in crime in their community 69% say the rise in auto theft makes them concerned about their personal safety and/or the safety of their family 65% say that government, auto manufacturers, law enforcement and the courts need to work together to fix this issue “Canadians are feeling vulnerable,” said Terri O’Brien, President & CEO of Équité Association. “The majority of Canadians are clearly worried about how this alarming increase in auto theft will impact the crime rate in their communities, and they are especially concerned for their...

13 Scary Retirement Stats to Read in the Dark: 2023 0

13 Scary Retirement Stats to Read in the Dark: 2023

Start Slideshow The Halloween season has once again arrived. While many people will say their biggest fear this year is not finding the perfect costume or eating too much candy, for many late-career Americans, there is another frightening specter to grapple with this fall season: their lack of retirement preparedness. In fact, for many workers both young and old, the association between retirement planning and a vague but persistent feeling of dread is all too real. In a world where pension plans are in decline and there are big questions about the future of Social Security, much more pressure is being put on the shoulders of individuals to provide for themselves during life in retirement — and workers are feeling the pressure. The good news is that Americans have an increasingly diverse set of retirement investing tools and services to rely on, and those who commit to retirement savings early and persistently stand at least a decent chance of achieving a dignified retirement. Still, there is no doubt that Americans are worried about retirement and the possibility of running short of money at a vulnerable time, when returning to work is scarcely possible. See the accompanying slideshow for 13 scary...

Satisfaction with Life Insurance and Annuity Products Climbs as Customers Embrace Digital: J.D. Power 0

Satisfaction with Life Insurance and Annuity Products Climbs as Customers Embrace Digital: J.D. Power

State Farm ranks highest in Individual Life Insurance satisfaction, F&G ranks highest in Individual Annuity satisfaction: J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Individual Annuity Study Troy, MI (Oct. 12, 2023) – Could the latest generation of mobile apps and websites hold the keys to solving the decades-old challenge of customer apathy toward life insurance and annuities? According to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Individual Life Insurance StudySM and the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Individual Annuity StudySM, customer satisfaction is climbing as more customers make use of digital tools and start using life insurance and annuities for financial planning in addition to final planning (e.g., death benefits, burial insurance). “Sales of life insurance enjoyed a brief surge in popularity during the height of the pandemic, while sales of annuities have more recently soared,” said Breanne Armstrong, director of insurance intelligence at J.D. Power. “But outside of that, customer satisfaction and engagement have generally declined the longer customers hold onto these products. Now, however, with more customers than ever engaging with life insurance and annuity providers more frequently via digital channels, we’re starting to see a real evolution. Customers who interact with the digital offerings of their providers are more engaged, have higher levels...

Texas’ QuoteWell Announces Launch of Brokerage Operations 0

Texas’ QuoteWell Announces Launch of Brokerage Operations

Article 0 Comments QuoteWell, a tech-enabled commercial insurance wholesale brokerage that is at the forefront of innovating the distribution side of insurance, announced the launch of its brokerage operations to serve independent retail agents. QuoteWell helps agents who are often overlooked and given poor customer service due to low premiums associated with their accounts and provides best-in-class in-house brokers to efficiently find and place the risk. In the lead-up to its public launch, QuoteWell, founded in 2021, has secured over $15 million in Series A funding led by New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA). Goldcrest and Floating Point also participated in the round. The new capital will be used towards expanding the company’s brokerage team and enhancing the infrastructure that underpins automation and operational efficiencies. QuoteWell leverages a semi-automated approach to servicing its customers by combining human capital and technology. To date, the company has hired 12 licensed brokers to support submission flow and uses AI-backed models to assist in coverage recommendations from its panel of over 45 carrier partners. As a result, QuoteWell’s brokers can recommend coverage quickly and respond to agents in less than two hours. Source: QuoteWell Topics Texas Agencies Was this article valuable? Thank you! Please tell...

Philadelphia Reports Cyber Incident Affecting Email 0

Philadelphia Reports Cyber Incident Affecting Email

Article 0 Comments The city of Philadelphia has released a notice about a cyber incident that occurred in May and July involving personal health information. On May 24, 2023, city officials initially became aware of suspicious activity in its email and launched an investigation, with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity specialists, to determine the nature and scope of the event. The investigation is ongoing. However, to date, the investigation determined that between May 26, 2023 and July 28, 2023, an unauthorized actor may have gained access to certain email accounts and information. On August 22, 2023, the city became aware that the breach included email accounts that may contain protected health information. The city did not report the number of emails or individuals affected. The information affected varies by individual but may include name, address, date of birth, social security number, and other contact information; medical information, such as diagnosis and other treatment related information; and limited financial information, such as claims information. The city says it will work to confirm the identities and contact information for potentially impacted individuals and provide notice through a written letter. The city said it is also reviewing its existing policies and procedures and...

14 Signs Wealthy Prospects Are Ready to Commit 0

14 Signs Wealthy Prospects Are Ready to Commit

Start Slideshow Wealthy prospects are still prospects, after all. The dollar amounts might be larger, but the signs expressing interest in doing business can be universal.   What are these signs? First, a story: Many years ago, I had clients with a weekend house in the country, about an hour outside New York City. They invited us to visit, and the itinerary included a tour of the area, a dinner party and other meals out. They also introduced me to their friends, and one shook hands and said, “I understand you are my new broker” and handed me a manila envelope filled with account statements. No, it is not going to be that easy. The situations in which a wealthy prospect is ready to commit can be broken down into three broader categories: Social conversations with friends who want to work with you Early stages of the prospecting relationship Meeting with the prospective client People give off signals. Often, they do not know it is happening, and you need to be alert and pick up on opportunities. See the accompanying slideshow for 14 signs along the way. Start Slideshow

Trufla Introduces Marketplace: Brokerages Gain Digital Storefront for Pure Revenue 0

Trufla Introduces Marketplace: Brokerages Gain Digital Storefront for Pure Revenue

Calgary, AB (Oct. 16, 2023) – Trufla, a pioneer in insurance technology solutions, is thrilled to unveil Marketplace, a game-changing platform that redefines the insurance sales landscape for brokerages. This isn’t just an innovation; it’s a revolution. Marketplace is poised to disrupt the industry, offering brokerages an unprecedented opportunity to increase monthly reoccurring revenue without the overhead costs. With Marketplace, Brokers earn full commission on all products. It’s the first of its kind, unique to brokers, and sets a new standard for the industry. Seamless Online Purchasing Marketplace, exclusively accessible through the truMobile app and portal, marks a seismic shift in insurance sales. It empowers customers with a seamless, effortless way to purchase insurance products online. What sets Marketplace apart is its unique capability to enable brokers to effortlessly offer small insurance products without any broker intervention . Plus, it eliminates the cumbersome overhead costs historically associated with insurance sales. Empowering Brokers with Marketing Tools Beyond its revolutionary purchasing experience, Marketplace equips brokerages with potent marketing tools to amplify awareness and sales, including: Push Notifications: Engage customers through targeted push notifications, ensuring they’re always informed about new products and opportunities. Email Drips: Implement email drip campaigns to nurture leads and...

Texas Cities Struggle to Quit Coal Power as Demand Rises and Market Incentives Favor Fossil Fuels 0

Texas Cities Struggle to Quit Coal Power as Demand Rises and Market Incentives Favor Fossil Fuels

Article 0 Comments Two dates in recent memory have shaped the uncertain future of the Fayette Power Project, a coal-fired power plant near La Grange. First, on March 26, 2020, the Austin City Council approved an emissions-reduction plan that called for its city-owned utility to shut down its portion of the plant by the end of 2022. The second, after missing the 2022 goal, was on August 17, 2023, when Austin Energy made $11 million from the plant on that day alone. Austin has already moved away from fossil fuels faster than the rest of the state, and today, the Fayette plant is responsible for most of Austin Energy’s remaining carbon emissions. But closing the plant in the name of fighting climate change has proven easier said than done. The fact that it’s still running illustrates the legal, economic and technological obstacles cities face in their quests to eliminate emissions — and the market incentives working against that goal. Rising demand for power in Texas and changes to the state’s electricity market are making coal power – the dirtiest energy source from a carbon emissions perspective – even more financially valuable. In an August public meeting, Austin Energy General Manager...

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Help Plan-Sponsor Clients Meet the Demand for Annuities

What You Need to Know Workers have noticed the headlines about Social Security solvency. They see in-plan annuities as a good supplement. But where are the in-plan annuities? Concern among retirement savers about the future of Social Security is certainly not new. This continued perception that the system might run out of money is leading to interest in other sources of retirement income. A majority of Americans who are participating in an employer-sponsored retirement plan now say they would take advantage of “income solutions” (read: annuities) if they were offered as investment options, according to the 2023 Schroders US Retirement Survey. This year’s Schroders survey, conducted by 8 Acre Perspective, polled 2,000 investors nationwide between the ages of 27 and 79. Only 10% of those who aren’t retired said they will wait until the full retirement age of 70 to begin receiving maximum Social Security benefits. The most popular reason given for this decision (by 44% of non-retired respondents) was concern that Social Security could run out of money or stop making payments. As a result, the Schroders survey found that eight out of 10 investors currently participating in 401(k) and other defined contribution plans view in-plan “retirement income solutions”...

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What’s Crushing Wealth Management Results at the Wirehouses?

What You Need to Know In Q3, wealth units at Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Wells Fargo all underperformed relative to 2022. Executives blame high interest rates encouraging retail investors to keep more of their assets in cash and cash alternatives. But they also see signs that things will turn around in 2024. After years of strong growth, including through last year’s tumultuous market, wealth management divisions at some of the largest financial institutions have finally come up short of expectations.  As firms reported earnings, results from the wealth businesses at Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Wells Fargo all underperformed relative to 2022. Executives at the firms blame high interest rates encouraging retail investors to keep more of their assets in cash and higher-yielding cash alternatives.  Morgan Stanley brought in $35.7 billion in net new assets during the third quarter of 2023, 45% less than it brought in during the year-ago period and 60% less than the previous quarter. Net revenue dipped 4% from the previous quarter and total assets under management fell 2%. While revenue and client assets are up 5% and 16% year over year, respectively, it’s a far cry from October 2022, when Morgan Stanley...