Finance Exam 1 Flashcards
defined as uncertainty concerning the occurrence of a loss
RISK
any situation or circumstance in which a loss is possible, regardless of whether a loss actually occurs
LOSS EXPOSURE
defined as the relative variation of actual loss from expected loss.
OBJECTIVE RISK
defined as uncertainty based on a person’s mental condition or state of mind
SUBJECTIVE (perceived) RISK
defined as the probability that an event will occur.
CHANCE OF LOSS
the relative variation of actual loss from expected loss OR refers to the long-run relative frequency of an event based on assumptions of an infinite number of observations and of no change in the underlying conditions
OBJECTIVE PROBABILITY
the individual’s personal estimate of the chance of loss
SUBJECTIVE PROBABILITY
defined as the cause of loss EXAMPLES: property damage because of fire, windstorm, or lightening, or damage to your car because of a collision with another vehicle.
PERIL
a condition that creates or increases the frequency or severity of loss
HAZARD
a physical condition that increases the frequency or severity of loss
PHYSICAL HAZARD
dishonesty or character defects in an individual that increase the frequency or severity of loss
MORAL HAZARD
carelessness or indifference to a loss, which increases the frequency or severity of a loss.
ATTITUDINAL HAZARD (MORALE HAZARD)
refers to characteristics of the legal system or regulatory environment that increase the frequency or severity of losses.
LEGAL HAZARD
defined as a situation in which there are only the possibilities of loss or no loss.
PURE RISK
defined as a situation in which either profit or loss is possible.
SPECULATIVE RISK
a risk that affects only individuals or small groups and not the entire economy
DIVERSIFIABLE RISK
risk that affects the entire economy or large numbers of persons or groups within the economy. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE MAY BE NECESSARY TO INSURE THIS TYPE
NON-DIVERSIFIABLE RISK
is a term that encompasses all major risks faced by a business firm. Such risks include pure risk, speculative risk, strategic risk, operational risk, and financial risk.
ENTERPRISE RISK
refers to the uncertainty of loss because of adverse changes in commodity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and the value of money.
FINANCIAL RISK
is the risk of collapse of an entire system or entire marked due to the failure of a single entity or group of entities that can result in the breakdown of the entire financial system.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WITH RESPECT TO LARGE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TOO LARGE TO FAIL WITHOUT DOING MAJOR FINANCIAL HARM TO THE US ECONOMY
SYSTEMIC RISK
combines into a single unified treatment program all major risks faced by the firm.
ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT
Describe the major social and economic burdens of risk on society.
- The size of an emergency fund must be increased.
- Society is deprived of certain goods and services
- Worry and fear are present
a financial loss that results from the physical damage, destruction or theft of the property, such as fire damage to a home.
DIRECT LOSS
Commerical risks to firms (5)
- PROPERTY RISKS
- LIABILITY RISKS
- LOSS OF BUSINESS INCOME
- CYPERSECURITY AND IDENTITY THEFT
- OTHER RISKS - HUMAN RESOURCES EXPOSURES, FOREIGN LOSS EXPOSURES, INTANGIBLE PROPERTY EXPOSURES, GOVERNMENT EXPOSURES
RISK CONTROL TECHNIQUE: you can avoid risks by not participating in associated activities. Examples include avoiding divorce by not getting married and avoiding car insurance claims by not driving.
AVOIDANCE
RISK CONTROL TECHNIQUE: a technique that reduces the probability of loss so that the frequency of losses is reduced
LOSS PREVENTION
RISK CONTROL TECHNIQUE: strict loss prevention efforts can reduce the frequency of losses; however some losses will inevitably occur.
LOSS REDUCTION
RISK CONTROL LOSS REDUCTION TECHNIQUE: This technique refers to having back-ups or copies of important documents or property available in case of loss.
DUPLICATION
RISK CONTROL LOSS REDUCTION TECHNIQUE: the assets exposed to loss are separated or divided to minimize the financial loss from a single event.
SEPARATION
RISK CONTROL LOSS REDUCTION TECHNIQUE: -this technique reduces the chance of loss by spreading the loss exposure across different parties
DIVERSIFICATION
RISK FINANCING TECHNIQUE: an individual or business firm retains part or all of the losses that can result from a given risk – risk retention can be active or passive
RETENTION
RISK FINANCING TECHNIQUE: the risk is transferred to a party other than an insurance company; it can be transferred by several methods including: transfer of risk by contracts, hedging for price risk, incorporation of a business firm
NONINSURANCE TRANSFERS
RISK FINANCING TECHNIQUE: the most practical method for dealing with major risks.____is a practice or arrangement by which a company or government agency provides a guarantee of compensation for specified loss.
INSURANCE
WHAT ARE THE 6 CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEALLY INSURABLE RISK?
- LARGE NUMBER OF EXPOSURE UNITS
- THE LOSS MUST BE ACCIDENTAL AND UNINTENTIONAL
- THE LOSS MUST BE DETERMINABLE AND MEASURABLE
- THE LOSS SHOULD NOT BE CATASTROPHIC
- CHANCE OF LOSS MUST BE CALCULABLE
- THE PREMIUM MUST BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE
What 3 things do private insurers provide for social and economic benefits to society?
- Indemnification for Loss
- Enhancement of Credit
- Source of Funds for Capital Accumulation
What are the 3 major costs of insurance?
- COST OF DOING BUSINESS
- FRAUDULENT CLAIMS
- INFLATED CLAIMS
WHAT TYPE OF INSURANCE COVERAGE: Emily, age 28, is a single parent with two dependent children. She wants to make certain that funds are available for her children’s education if she dies before her youngest child finishes college.
LIFE INSURANCE
WHAT TYPE OF INSURANCE COVERAGE: Danielle, age 16, recently obtained her driver’s license. Her parents want to make certain they are protected if Danielle negligently injures another motorist while driving a family car.
LIABILITY AUTO INSURANCE
INSURANCE COVERAGE: Jacob, age 30, is married with two dependents. He wants his income to continue if he becomes totally disabled and unable to work.
DISABILITY COVERAGE
WHAT TYPE OF INSURANCE COVERAGE: Tyler, age 35, recently purchased a house for $200,000 that is located in an area where tornadoes frequently occur. He wants to make certain that funds are available if the house is damaged or destroyed by a tornado.
HOME OWNERS INSURANCE
WHAT TYPE OF INSURANCE COVERAGE: Nathan, age 40, owns an upscale furniture store. He wants to be protected if a customer is injured while shopping in the store and sues him for the bodily injury.
LIABILITY COMMERCIAL INSURANCE
is a corporation owned by the policyholders. There are no stockholders. The policyholders elect a board of directors who appoint executives to manage the corporation. A _____ insurer may pay dividends to the policyholders or give a rate reduction in advance.
MUTUAL INSURER CHARACTERISTICS
Identify the major types of mutual insurers.
- ADVANCE PREMIUM MUTUAL
- ASSESSMENT MUTUAL
- FRATERNAL INSURER
means that one insurer is absorbed by another insurer or that two or more existing insurers are blended into an entirely new company.
MERGER
means that a mutual insurer is converted into a stock insurer
DEMUTUALIZATION
is a company that directly or indirectly controls an authorized insurer
MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY
EXPLAIN THE BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LLYODS OF LONDON
- Lloyd’s technically is not an insurance company; rather, it is a group of members (corporations, individuals, and limited partnerships) who underwrite insurance in syndicates.
- The insurance is written by the various syndicates that belong to Lloyd’s.
- New individual members, or Names, who belong to the various syndicates now have limited legal liability.
- corporations with limited legal liability and limited liability partnerships are also members of Lloyd’s of London.
- members must also meet stringent financial requirements.
- Lloyd’s is licensed only in a small number of jurisdictions in the United States.
can be defined as an unincorporated organization in which insurance is exchanged among the members (called subscribers).
RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE
someone who legally represents the principal and has the authority to act on the principal’s behalf.
AGENT
is someone who legally represents the insured even though he or she receives a commission from the insurer. Does not legally have the authority to bind the insurer.
BROKER
systems in which commissioned agents solicit and sell life insurance products to prospective insureds- majority of life insurance policies and annuities sold today are through this type of distribution
PERSONAL SELLING SYSTEMS
use commercial banks and other financial institutions as a distribution system to market life insurance and annuity products.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
a marketing system by which life and health insurance products are sold directly to consumers without a face-to-face meeting with an agent. Potential customers are solicited by television, radio, mail, news-papers, and the Internet.
DIRECT RESPONSE SYSTEM
Life insurers also use a variety of additional distribution systems to sell their products. Including:
WORKSITE MARKETING
STOCK BROKERS
FINANCIAL PLANNERS
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY SYSTEM?
- A BUSINESS FIRM THAT USUALLY REPRESENTS SEVERAL UNRELATED INSURERS
- THE AGENCY OWNS THE EXPIRATIONS OR RENEWAL RIGHTS TO THE BUSINESS
- THE INDEPENDENT AGENT IS COMPENSATED BY COMMISSIONS THAT VARY BY LINE OF INSURANCE
the agent represents only one insurer or a group of insurers under common ownership.
____ _____ in the property and casualty industry are also called captive agents who represent a single insurer or a group of insurers under common management.
EXCLUSIVE AGENCY SYSTEM
an insurer in which sales representatives are employees and not independent contractors, such as salaried representatives. a _____is a term to identify insurers that use the exclusive agency system for selling insurance products
DIRECT WRITER
a plan for selling individually underwritten property and casualty coverage to group members; auto and homeowners’ insurance are popular lines that are frequently used in such plans.
MASS MERCHANDISING
THE BENEFITS OF DEMUTUALIZATION
- the ability to raise new capital is increased
- stock insurers have greater flexibility to expand by acquiring new companies or by diversification
- stock options can be offered to attract and retain key executives and employees
- conversion to stock insurer may provide tax advantages
- Insurers have an easier and less expensive way to raise new capital to expand or remain competitive.
- Insurers can enter new areas of insurance more easily, such as a life insurer acquiring a property and casualty insurer.
- Stock options can be given to attract and retain key executives and employees.
THE ADVANTAGES OF MUTUAL HOLDING COMPANY TO AN INSURER
refers to the pricing of insurance and the calculation of insurance premiums.
RATE MAKING
THE PRICE PER UNIT OF INSURANCE
RATE
THE UNIT OF MEASUREMENT USED IN INSURANCE PRICING WHICH VARIES BY LINE OF INSURANCE
EXPOSURE UNIT
REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF SELECTING, CLASSIFYING AND PRICING APPLICANTS FOR INSURANCE
UNDERWRITING
THREE IMPORTANT UNDERWRITING PRINCIPLES
- ATTAIN AN UNDERWRITING PROFIT
- SELECT PROSPECTIVE INSUREDS ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY’S UNDERWRITING STANDARDS
- PROVIDE EQUITY AMONG THE POLICYHOLDERS
RISK MANAGERS SOURCES OF INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY LOSS EXPOSURE:
- Risk analysis questionnaires and checklists
- Physical inspection
- Flowcharts
- Financial statements
- Historical loss data
POST-LOSS OBJECTIVES:
- Survival of the firm
- Continue operating
- Stability of earnings
- Continued growth of the firm
- Minimize the effects that a loss will have on other persons and on society
STEPS IN SETTLING A CLAIM
- NOTICE OF LOSS MUST BE GIVEN
- THE CLAIM IS INVESTIGATED
- A PROOF OF LOSS MAY BE REQUIRED
- A DECISION IS MADE CONCERNING PAYMENT
TYPE OF CLAIMS ADJUSTER: OFTEN HAVE AUTHORITY TO SETTLE SMALL FIRST-PARTY CLAIMS UP TO SOME MAXIMUM LIMITS
AGENTS
TYPE OF CLAIMS ADJUSTER: EMPLOYEES OF AN INSURER WHO ADJUST MOST CLAIMS. TYPICALLY SALARIED EMPLOYEES AND REPRESENT ONE INSURER
STAFF CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES
TYPE OF CLAIMS ADJUSTER: AN ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL THAT ADJUSTS CLAIMS FOR A FEE
INDEPENDENT ADJUSTER
TYPE OF CLAIMS ADJUSTER: REPRESENTS THE INSURED RATHER THAN THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND IS PAID A FEE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF THE CLAIM SETTLEMENT
PUBLIC ADJUSTER
AN ARRANGEMENT BY WHICH THE PRIMARY INSURER THAT INITIALLY WRITES THE INSURANCE TRANSFERS TO ANOTHER INSURER PART OR ALL OF THE POTENTIAL LOSSES ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH INSURANCE
REINSURANCE
WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR REINSURANCE?
- INCREASE UNDERWRITING CAPACITY
- STABILIZE PROFITS
- REDUCE THE UNEARNED PREMIUM RESERVE
- PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST A CATASTROPHIC LOSS
- RETIRE FROM BUSINESS OR FROM A LINE OF INSURANCE OR TERRITORY
- OBTAIN UNDERWRITING ADVICE ON A LINE FOR WHICH THE INSURER HAS LITTLE EXPERIENCE
Mans that insurable risk is transferred to the capital markets through creation of a financial instrument, such as a catastrophic bond, futures contract, options contract or other financial instrument
SECURITIZATION OF RISK
OPTIONAL, CASE BY CASE METHOD THAT IS USED WHEN THE CEDING COMPANY RECEIVES AN APPLICATION FOR INSURANCE THAT EXCEEDS IT’S RETENTION LIMIT.
FACULTATIVE REINSURANCE
MEANS THE PRIMARY INSURER HAS AGREED TO CEDE INSURANCE TO THE REINSURER AND THE REINSURER HAS AGREED TO ACCEPT THE BUSINESS
TREATY REINSURANCE
THE CEDING COMPANY AND REINSURER AGREE TO SHARE PREMIUMS AND LOSSES BASED ON SOME PROPORTION. STATED AS A PERCENTAGE RATHER THAN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT
QUOTA SHARE TREATY
THE REINSURER AGREES TO ACCEPT INSURANCE IN EXCESS OF THE CEDING INSURER’S RETENTION LIMIT, UP TO SOME MAXIMUM AMOUNT. REFERRED TO AS A LINE AND IS STATED AS A DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SURPLUS- SHARE TREATY
DESIGNED LARGELY FOR PROTECTION AGAINST A CATASTROPHIC LOSS. THE REINSURER PAYS PART OR ALL OF THE LOSS THAT EXCEEDS THE CEDING COMPANY’S RETENTION LIMIT UP TO SOME MAXIMUM LEVEL
EXCESS OF LOSS REINSURANCE
AN ORGANIZATION OF INSURERS THAT UNDERWRITES INSURANCE ON A JOINT BASIS
- Each pool member agrees to pay a certain percentage of every loss.
- Each pool member pays for his or her share of losses below a certain amount; losses exceeding that amount are then shared by all members in the pool.
REINSURANCE POOL
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF INSURERS, INFORMATION CAN QUICKLY BE OBTAINED ON PREMIUM VOLUME, CLAIMS, LOSS RATIOS, INVESTMENTS AND UNDERWRITING RESULTS
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL OPERATIONS OF AN INSURER
ACCOUNTING
ATTORNEYS ARE WIDELY USED IN ADVANCED UNDERWRITING AND ESTATE PLANNING. THEY ALSO DRAFT THE LEGAL LANGUAGE AND POLICY PROVISIONS IN INSURANCE POLICIES AND REVIEW ALL NEW POLICIES BEFORE THEY ARE MARKETED TO THE PUBLIC
LEGAL SERVICES
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE ADVICE ON ALARM SYSTEMS, AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, FIRE PREVENTION, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, PREVENTION OF BOILER EXPLOSIONS, AND OTHER LOSS-PREVENTION ACTIVITIES
LOSS CONTROL
WHAT ARE THE THREE MAJOR SECTIONS OF A BALANCE SHEET?
ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND OWNERS EQUITY
WHAT IS THE BALANCE SHEET EQUATION?
TOTAL ASSETS=TOTAL LIABILITIES + OWNER EQUITY
WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY ASSETS FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY?
- BONDS
- COMMON STOCK
- REAL ESTATE
- CASH
- SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS
- MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES
- PREMIUM RECEIVABLE
- DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
WHY ARE THE LIABILITIES OF A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE?
THEY ARE MORE COMPLEX BECAUSE PREMIUMS ARE PAID IN ADVANCE BUT THE PERIOD OF PROTECTION EXTENDS INTO THE FUTURE
WHAT ARE THE TWO MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY?
- PREMIUMS
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR EXPENSES OF A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY?
- COST OF ADJUSTING CLAIMS
- PAYING THE INSURED LOSSES
- UNDERWRITING EXPENSES
HOW IS THE COMBINED RATIO OF A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY COMPANY CALCULATED?
COMBINED RATIO = LOSS RATIO + EXPENSE RATIO
THIS RATIO IS AN OVERALL MEASURE OF UNDERWRITING PERFORMANCE
COMBINED RATIO
HOW CAN A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY BE PROFITABLE IF IT’S COMBINED RATIO EXCEED 1 (OR 100 PERCENT)
IF THE INVESTMENT INCOME OFFSETS THE UNDERWRITING LOSS
NAME 3 WAYS IN WHICH THE ASSETS OF A LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY DIFFER FROM THE ASSETS OF A PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
- AVG DURATION OF THE INVESTMENTS - PROPERTY & CASUALTY ARE SHORT
- THE SAVINGS ELEMENT IN CASH VALUE - LIFE INSURANCE
- LIFE INSURANCE MAY HAVE SEPARATE ACCOUNT ASSETS
WHAT DO THE RESERVES ON A LIFE INSURANCE COMPANYS BALANCE SHEET REPRESENT?
THEY REPRESENT AN OBLIGATION OF THE INSURER TO PAY FUTURE POLICY BENEFITS
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF EXPENSES FOR A LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY?
CLAIM PAYMENTS - DEATH BENEFITS, ANNUITY BENEFITS, MATURED ENDOWMENTS, BENEFITS PAID UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR REGULATORY OBJECTIVES IN INSURANCE RATE MAKING?
- ADEQUATE RATES
- RATES MUST NOT BE EXCESSIVE
- RATES MUST NOT BE UNFAIRLY DISCRIMANOTORY
RATING SYSTEM BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:
SIMPLICITY RESPONSIVENESS STABILITY ENCOURAGEMENT OF LOSS CONTROL EASY TO UNDERSTAND
REFERS TO THE PORTION OF THE RATE NEEDED TO PAY LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES
PURE PREMIUM
PAID BY THE INSURED - CONSISTS OF THE GROSS RATE MULTIPLIED BY THE NUMBER OF EXPOSURE UNITS
GROSS PREMIUM
WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR THE PURE PREMIUM METHOD
DOLLAR AMOUNT OF INCURRED LOSSES + LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES / NUMBER OF EXPOSURE UNITS
WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR LOSS RATIO METHOD
LOSS RATIO = INCURRED LOSSES + LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES / PREMIUMS EARNED
WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR THE EXPENSE RATIO
EXPENSE RATIO = UNDERWRITING EXPENSES / PREMIUMS WRITTEN
WHAT ARE THE 4 REASONS THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS REGULATED?
- MAINTAIN INSURER SOLVENCY
- COMPENSATE FOR INADEQUATE CUSTOMER KNOWLEDGE
- ENSURE REASONABLE RATES
- MAKE INSURANCE AVAILABLE
THIS WAS THE LANDMARK DECISION THAT AFFIRMED THE RIGHT OF STATES TO REGULATE INSURANCE
PAUL v. VIRGINIA
IN THIS LANDMARK CASE, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT INSURANCE WAS INTERSTATE COMMERCE WHEN CONDUCTED ACROSS STATE LINES AND WAS SUBJECT TO FEDERAL REGULATION
SOUTH EASTER UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION CASE
THIS ACT STATES THAT CONTINUED REGULATION AND TAXATION OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY BY THE STATES ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. IT ALSO STATES THAT FEDERAL ANTITRUST LAW APPLY TO INSURANCE ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS NOT REGULATED BY STATE LAW.
McCarran Ferguson Act
This act had significant impact on several areas of insurance regulation
Financial Modernization Act of 1999
What are the principle methods of regulating insurance companies?
- Legislation
- Courts
- State Insurance Departments
These laws regulate the operation of insurers, formation of insurance companies, licensing of agents and brokers, financial requirements for maintaining solvency, insurance rates, sales and claim practices, taxation and rehabilitation or liquidation of insurers
Legislation
They periodically hand down decisions concerning the constitutionality of state insurance laws, the interpretation of policy clauses and provisions, and the legality of administrative actions by state insurance departments
Courts
An insurance commissioner, who is elected or appointed by the governor, has the responsibility to administer these laws
State Insurance Departments
Identify the principal areas of insurance company operations that are regulated by the states.
- Formation and licensing of insurers
- Solvency REgulation
- Rate Regulation
- Policy Forms
- Sales practices and consumer protection
- taxation of insurers
What are the major types of rating laws?
- Prior Approval Laws
- Modified Prior Approval Law
- File and Use Law
- Use and File Law
- Flex rating law
- State made rates
- no filing required
All states forbid this - it is the inducement of a policy holder to drop an existing policy and replace it with a new one that provides little or no economic benefit to the client
Twisting
Majority of states forbid this- it is giving an individual a premium reduction or some other financial advantage not stated in the policy as an inducement to purchase the policy.
Rebating
What are the major arguments for federal regulation of the insurance industry?
- uniform state laws and regulations
- more effective negotiations of internal insurance agreements
- more effective treatment of systemic risk
- greater efficiency of insurers