2. Insurance Planning. 2. Evaluation and Analysis of Risk Expos. Flashcards
Module Introduction
On March 28, 2000, at 6:30 PM, a tornado hit several major buildings in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Among the buildings damaged by the storm was a tall glass tower that a large bank had leased mostly for administrative offices for its 600 employees, but that also had public banking facilities on the lower floors. Because the tornado hit just after the end of the workday, there was no loss of life, but property damage to the building and its contents was extensive. Since the bank did not own the building, the bank had to arrange for access to the property after the loss through the building’s owners. Apart from the loss to the bank there were other emergencies like injured employees. Natural disasters, like the Fort Worth tornado, can cause millions of dollars in damages, not to mention the toll it can take in terms of human life. Fortunately, the bank had prepared to face such a situation by insuring the property and its personnel, and the losses they incurred were covered.
The Evaluation and Analysis of Risk Exposures module will explain how to assess and manage the risks associated with difficult situations and emergencies such as the devastating tornado described above.
The online portion of this module takes the average student approximately three hours to complete.
Upon completion of this module you should be able to:
* Explain the role of risk management
* List the steps in the risk management process
* Identify the elements of a loss control program
* Describe six risk financing alternatives, and
* Apply the risk management process to a case study.
To ensure that you have an understanding of the analysis and evaluation of risk exposures, the following lessons will be covered in this module:
* Personal Risk Management
* Business Risk Management
* Liability Insurance
Section 1 – Personal Risk Management
Risk management is essential to protect against personal losses for families and individuals. Whether you are driving to work and you accidentally crash into the car in front of you, or your house is struck by lightning and catches fire, you should have a plan for handling unforeseen events.
To ensure that you have an understanding of the above concepts, the following topic will be covered in this lesson:
* Personal Risk Management
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
* Describe the personal risk management process, and
* List and explain the three types of losses.
Describe Identify and Measure Loss Exposures in the Risk Management Plan
All exposure to loss should be identified and measured. Written decisions, legal documents (such as wills), and other valuable papers should be maintained in a secure place. In most cases, an adequate amount of insurance should be purchased after utilizing all reasonable risk avoidance and reduction alternatives.
Practitioner Advice: Risk retention is the most common approach to risk, as it includes risks that are unconsciously and/or involuntarily retained. For example, putting a trampoline in your backyard and letting the neighbors’ children use it greatly increases the risk of injury and a resulting claim against your homeowners insurance. Unemployment is a risk that you cannot completely transfer; therefore, you have no choice but to retain that risk.
Describe Regular Review of Risk Management Plan
Finally, the program should be reviewed on a regular basis. The scientific approach to the loss exposure problem is essential to individuals and families in today’s complex and changing financial environment. As situations change, adjustments to the plan may be necessary.
For example, you should monitor the cost associated with your risk management program, also known as risk administration. Risk administration includes costs such as the premiums you pay, as well as the time you spend analyzing your risk situation. As time goes by, the cost associated with your risk management program may prompt you to reevaluate your implementation strategy.
Practitioner Advice: Whenever you have a significant or “life-changing” event, you should review your Risk Management Plan. Events like marriage, divorce, having a baby, or your last child graduating from college are all reasons to sit down and look at your risk exposures and how you are handling them as they work to uphold the high standards represented by CFP® certification.
With which of the following insurance policies do most people insure their real and personal property?
* Liability
* Life Insurance
* Homeowners
* Personal Auto
Homeowners
* Most people insure their real and personal property with a homeowners insurance policy. This policy provides some extra living expense and liability coverage and can be quite flexible when endorsements for special situations are attached to the basic policy.
Disability insurance usually replaces a portion of your __ ____??____ __ while you are unable to perform your job.
* earned income
* medical costs
* insurance premiums
* daily living costs
earned income
* Many individuals purchase disability insurance to replace a portion of their earned income should they become disabled.
Define Direct and Indirect Property Losses
Direct property losses are frequently caused by perils including fire, theft and windstorm damage.
Indirect property losses include temporary housing expenditures during a period when a home is rebuilt after a fire and car rental expenses after a vehicle has been wrecked or stolen. Most property, real and personal, is insured, with a homeowner’s insurance policy. This type of policy also provides some income reimbursement and liability coverage, and can be quite flexible when endorsements for special situations are attached to the basic policy.
Practitioner Advice: If your client is a tenant, it is important to encourage them to purchase Renter’s Insurance, a very inexpensive form of homeowner’s coverage. In addition to covering clothes and furniture, Renter’s Insurance also provides liability protection.
Section 1 – Personal Risk Management Summary
In summary, every individual and family should develop a risk management plan. All exposure to loss should be identified and measured, and adequate amounts of insurance should be purchased.
The current legal and economic environment, with its increased chances of liability and crime losses, makes a personal risk management plan or a personal financial plan a necessity.
In this lesson, we have covered the following:
A personal risk management plan involves the following steps:
* Establish Objectives
* Identify potential loss exposure
* Measure potential loss exposure
* Develop a risk management plan
* Implement a risk management plan
* Regularly review the plan
Three basic categories of losses are:
* Property losses (both direct and indirect),
* Liability losses, and
* Income losses related to human life contingencies.
Each of these play an important role in risk management EXCEPT:
* Personal risk.
* Loss prevention.
* Risk avoidance.
* Loss reduction.
Personal risk.
* Personal risk does not play a direct role in the risk management process.
* Loss prevention, risk avoidance, and loss reduction all play important roles in personal risk management as the current legal and economic environment has elevated the chance of liabilities and losses.
Match the insurance type to the correct policy for coverage.
Health Insurance
Personal Property
Personal Liability
* Umbrella policies
* Homeowners insurance policy
* Employee benefit plan
- Health Insurance - Employee benefit plan
- Personal Property - Homeowners insurance policy
- Personal Liability - Umbrella policies
Section 2 – Business Risk Management
As discussed earlier, risk management is defined as the logical development and execution of a plan to deal with potential losses. The focus of a risk management program is to manage an organization’s exposure to accidental losses and to protect its assets. Risk management benefits all types of organizations facing potential losses, including business firms, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and families.
To ensure that you have an understanding of business risk management, the following topic will be covered in this lesson:
* The business risk management process
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
* Describe the business risk management process, and
* Explain the factors to be considered when evaluating a risk management plan.
Describe Business Direct Property Losses
Risk managers can identify potential direct property losses in different ways. A walking tour of a factory, store, or hospital can reveal many property loss exposures. Risk managers often arrange regular interviews with knowledgeable employees, such as the production manager or accountant, to identify significant changes in property holdings.
The risk management procedures manual should establish a system for notifying the risk management department when property is acquired or sold. An analysis of financial statements, as well as the supporting accounts, can highlight assets exposed to loss, as can an analysis of past losses.
Practitioner Advice: Most insurance companies that offer workers compensation and other business-related policies will do a site visit and make suggestions on how to prevent losses, as well as how to reduce the impact of any losses.
What will insurance companies pay for when rebuilding at the same location?
* Replacement cost with a depreciation deduction
* Actual cash value
* Fair market value
* Replacement cost with no deduction for depreciation
Replacement cost with no deduction for depreciation
* When rebuilding at the same location, insurance companies will pay replacement cost with no deduction for depreciation.
Each of the following are potential problems firms face with international operations EXCEPT:
* Valuation of property
* Lack of local insurance facilities
* Currency fluctuations
* Potential for profitability
Potential for profitability
* Valuation of property due to currency fluctuations and lack of local insurance facilities are potential problems that firms with international operations may experience.
The __ ____??____ __ is the most likely maximum amount of damage a peril might cause under average circumstances.
* maximum probable loss
* policy limit
* maximum possible loss
* hazard threshold
maximum probable loss
* The maximum probable loss is the most likely maximum amount of damage a peril might cause under average circumstances.
* The maximum possible loss refers to the total amount of financial harm a given loss could cause under the worst circumstances.
Describe a Business’ Loss of Key Personnel
If a business loses a key person due to unplanned retirement, resignation, death, or disability, the effect may manifest in lost income. If several key employees die, are disabled, or leave simultaneously, the results could devastate a firm. When the success of a business- or, in some instances, its very existence -depends on one or more persons, the risk manager must identify these people and be ready to take steps to solve the problem if a loss occurs.
Part of identifying the key-employee exposure is developing an estimate of where, at what cost, and how quickly a replacement may be hired and trained. The cost of the replacement would give the firm an estimate of the value of its exposure to loss.
Key employees should have well-trained subordinates when this is possible. Key personnel may be identified using an organizational chart or a flow chart.
Estimating the cost of key-employee losses is difficult because finding and training a replacement is a function of the job market.
Practitioner Advice: Once key employees are identified, life insurance should be considered for them. In a Key Person policy, the business pays the premiums and receives the death benefits. These funds can then be used to recruit and train a new person, as well as cover the income lost due to an employee’s untimely death.
Section 2 – Business Risk Management Summary
Risk management is defined as the logical development and execution of a plan to deal with potential losses.
In this lesson, we have covered the following:
Risk management follows a six-step process. The steps are:
* Establishing objectives,
* Identifying loss exposure,
* Measuring loss exposure,
* Developing a plan,
* Implementing the plan, and
* Regularly reviewing the plan.
Income losses can be both indirect and direct.
* Indirect losses cannot be easily estimated.
* Direct losses can be easily evaluated.
Liability losses arise from three sources:
* Negligent injuries caused by an organization,
* The cost of a legal defense, and
* The cost of loss prevention arising from potential legal liability.
Loss control activities are designed to reduce loss cost. The risk management tools are:
* Risk avoidance,
* Loss prevention, and
* Loss reduction.
Each of the following are characteristics of a flow chart EXCEPT:
* A graphical representation of processes.
* Represents the production and distribution process.
* Helps reveal the consequential impact of losses.
* Listing of assets and liabilities.
Listing of assets and liabilities.
* A flow chart graphically represents the production or distribution process and helps analyze the consequential impact of losses that could affect the firm.
What are the property valuation problems faced by firms operating international operations?
I. Valuation of property in foreign countries due to currency fluctuations.
II. Lack of local insurance facilities.
III. Lack of trained staff.
IV. Cultural differences in trained staff.
* I and II
* III and IV
* II and III
* I and IV
I and II
* Firms with international operations have property and employees in several countries. They have to identify all their property, and transportation between locations.
Direct losses typically lead to indirect losses.
* False
* True
True
* Direct losses can lead to indirect losses.
Section 3 – Liability Insurance
America is a litigation-prone society. When disagreements are not quickly resolved to our satisfaction, we sue. Using the courts to resolve our differences is better than the alternative of personal vengeance, but it has its own drawbacks. If nothing else, it is costly. To be prepared to handle litigations, insurance is important. But where does insurance fit in this picture? Can insurance transform a hostile environment into a friendly one? Or does insurance merely transfer the costs of our hostility, making the costs so apparent we become uncomfortable? Also, examining in some depth the peril of legal liability allows us further insight into the central question presented in this lesson, “What is an insurable event?”
To ensure that you have an understanding of liability insurance, the following topic will be covered in this lesson:
* Legal Liability
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
* Describe the perils of legal liability,
* Discuss negligence, and
* Explain the different types of negligence.
Match the following terms with the correct description.
Criminal Act
Torts
Negligence
* Involve unreasonable conduct toward another person.
* Doing something a reasonable person would not do, resulting in injury to another person.
* State and Federal laws define it as a wrong against society.
- Criminal Act - State and Federal laws define it as a wrong against society.
- Torts - Involve unreasonable conduct toward another person.
- Negligence - Doing something a reasonable person would not do, resulting in injury to another person.
Define and describe Vicarious Liability
Courts can also impose liability for the negligent acts of other parties.
Vicarious Liability Example:
Assume Michael Anthony loans his car to Julien Alexander, who causes an accident. Michael might be held liable if it can be shown he was negligent in lending his car to someone he knew or should have known was a poor driver.
Exam Tip: It is important to understand that the negligence of another could create a potential liability. A vicarious liability may occur between employer-employee, or even a parent and child. In other words, vicarious liability can arise for people or organizations, when parties they hire as contractors (or subcontractors) injure others.
Audio:
* Vicarious liability – one party held liable for the negligence of another party
* Understand the definition and recognize examples
* Employer held liable for the actions of an employee
* Construction held liable for the negligence of a sub-contractor
* Parent is held liable for the action of a dependent child
Match the category of loss with the correct description.
Bodily Injuries
Personal Injuries
Property Damages
* Wages lost while the plaintiff was recovering from an injury.
* Destruction and loss of use of tangible personal property.
* Suffered when a person is deprived of his or her rights.
- Bodily Injuries - Wages lost while the plaintiff was recovering from an injury.
- Personal Injuries - Suffered when a person is deprived of his or her rights.
- Property Damages - Destruction and loss of use of tangible personal property.