IF1.2 - The Insurance Market Flashcards
What are the 5 main types of buyers of insurance
- Private Individuals
- Partnerships
- Companies
- Public bodies e.g. schools, councils
- charities, Associations and Clubs
What is an Intermediary
A link between customers & insurers e.g. an agent or a broker
What are the two categories of intermediary
- Those who must be authorised
- Those who are exempt from authorisation
What are the main types of intermediary
- Appointed Representative
- Independent Intermediary
- Introducer AR
- Ancillary Insurance Intermediary
- Lloyds Brokers
What is an appointed representative?
An individual or company appointed by a directly authorised person under contract that specifies the scope of its role. (may act for more than one company)
I.e. someone to sell and give advice.
What is an independent Intermediary (broker)
A person who acts on behalf of clients, advises fairly & recommends based on the market
What is an introducer authorised representative
they cannot give advice but can only introduce their principal to customers and supply things such as brochures.
What is a Lloyds broker
an Independent intermediary who is registered by the council of Lloyds
What is an ancillary insurance intermediary
those who can sell insurance but not as the main part of their business e.g. travel operators
What is a consolidator
a company that buys independent small brokers
What is a broker network
An organisation that can offer AR status to those joining the network.
What are the 8 types of insurers?
- Proprietary Companies
- Mutual Companies
- Mutual Indemnity Associations (P&I club)
- Captive Insurers
- Protected cell companies
- takaful insurers
- the state
- Bancassurance
Define Proprietary insurance company
those that are owned by shareholders (PLC).
Shareholders contribute a capital, which is money for expansion (not for claims)
Define a mutual insurance company
those that are owned by the policyholders
What is a benefit of a mutual insurance company
if a company profits => lower premiums
Define a mutual indemnity association (P&I Club)
a mutual company that focusses of marine hull liability markets
Benefits of a captive insurer
A tax efficient and cost effective risk transfer mechanism for large international organisations.
Define a captive insurer
An insurance company that is wholly owned by its insured (e.g. a parent company sets up a subsidiary company to underwrite some of the parent companies insurable risk)
Define a protected cell company
A type of captive insurer who ‘rents’ their captive insurance company to other companies with similar needs.
Define a Takaful insurance company
An Islamic insurer within the Islamic financial services (any risk and profit should be shared among the participants)
Define how the state acts as an insurance company
e.g. for social welfare and pension provision
Or alternatively, it acts as a guarantor to the insurance sector in relation to terrorism risk and flood risks.
Define Bancassurance
An arrangement between a bank and an insurance company e.g. insurance products sold to banking customers.
What is Lloyds?
An insurance and reinsurance marketplace
How does Lloyds work?
members form syndicates to accept risks . Then they employ a managing agent who in turn appoints an underwriter for the syndicate.
What is a managing agent responsible for in the lloyds market?
The day-to-day running of a syndicate, including employing underwriters & claims adjustors.
What happens with a Market reform Contract (MRC) / Slip
Brokers approach as many syndicates (their underwriters) as are required until their slip is full. (scratching the slip)
What is the london market
A group that represents a variety of insurers including:
- Lloyds syndicates
- insurance and reinsurance companies
- protection and indemnity clubs
What is contract certainty
Makes all parties fully aware of the coverage of the policy before a risk starts to be covered.
What is reinsurance?
An insurer can pass any or all of a risk it holds to another insurer with the purpose to share losses.
What are the 3 categories of reinsurers?
- Lloyds
- specialist reinsurers
- insurance companies
What is a treaty?
An arrangement of reinsurance to place a range of risks that fall within an agreed set of criteria.
What is a facultative reinsurance?
A reinsurance on a single risk.
What does marketing risk involve decisions on?
- the product
- the price of the product
- promotion
- place to promote
define direct distribution
contracts arranged directly between the insured and the insurer.
Which of the two marketing mix decisions are related to distrubution?
promotion & place
Define indirect distribution
An intermediary is involved in the sales process.
examples of indirect marketing distrubution
- agents
- brokers
- consultants or advisors
positives of direct marketing distrubution
- competitive premiums (saving on commision)
- immediate cover
- insurers can control customer experience
negatives of direct marketing distrubution
- only one companies product is on offer (cover may not be obtainable)
- there may be no independent advice
- advertising costs may increase premiums
Positives of indirect distribution channels
- independent advice
- a range of services available
- prices and cover can be compared
Negatives of indirect distribution channels
- no quotes direct from insurers
- some intermediaries can only advise on one insurance product
- danger of churning
What is churning
replacing policies to frequently (a danger of indirect distribution channels)
What do Schemes and delegated authority (binders allow?
allow intermediaries to issue cover within defined parameters
What are the advantages of schemes and delegated authorities
- insurers benefit from an increased flow of business
- intermediaries give better service and can benefit from profit sharing provision.
What is another name for a price comparison site
aggregators
What is a disadvantage of an aggregator (price comparison site)
the quotes provided may not accurately represent the cost and specifics of cover.
What is an actuary
A professionally qualified person who applies statistical and probability theory to problems of insurance, investment, financial & risk management and demography.
What is an underwriter?
A person who decides how much premium to charge for insurance cover.
What are claims personnel
Those who deal with all claims quickly, fairly and cost effectively.
They must distinguish between real and fraudulent claims.
What are some experts who may be involved in claims?
- loss adjustor
- loss assessor
- forensic investigators
- surveyor
Who is a loss assessor hire by?
the insured
A loss adjustor and loss assessor are…
independent of the insurance company
What is a risk manager
a person who manages, controls and transfers risk. They also provide guidance for senior management.
what is a surveyor
someone who:
- give advice of immediate action after a loss
- makes sure recommendations as to any underwriting action necessary
- checks if advised requirements from the insurer are complied with
What is a loss adjustor
they investigate and negotiate a settlement which is fair to both the insurer and the insured
What is a loss assessor?
they present and negotiate settlement of a claim under the insurance policy
what is a forensic investigator?
Someone who in specific circumstances investigates fraud, deliberate acts or collusion by employees.
What is internal audit?
someone who provides independent and objective assessment of how well risk are being managed by a firm.
what are compliance officers?
someone who ensure the firm abides by the rules and regulations set out by the FCA