Description: If you’ve been reading my columns for a while, you have no doubt recognized that I tend to be consis- tently optimistic when it comes to the insurance contracts project meeting deadlines. I am constantly disappointed as the International Accounting Standards Board IASB and Financial Accounting Standards Board FASB fail to meet their own deadlines for producing exposure drafts or other papers. But this time is different.

Description: Many top-performing businesses aren’t just risk aware, but rather risk intelligent. Such a posture helps prepare companies for a major event and can demonstrate to a regulator or auditor that an appropriately strong control framework is in place. Better still, companies gain real strategic value from a “risk adjusted” understanding not only of their threats and vulnerabilities, but also the upside opportunities associated with various risks. It starts with having both qualitative and quantitative information to identify, assess and manage risks. Strategic risk management, at its core, is about creating value by increasing transparency and accountability, and quality of information. More than a mere compliance exercise, effective risk management enables more informed strategic decision making, increased accountability and transparency, a greater likelihood of organizational success, and – ultimately – competitive advantage, as borne out by many studies that correlate risk management and financial results.

Description: This article examines the relationship, future and current, between insurance agents and technology and determines that technology can enhance/optimize agents.

Description: These are the appendices to a report summarizing the results of a Delphi study to identify and debate possible new approaches or Blue Ocean Strategies to acquiring business by life insurers.

Description: This report summarizes the results of a Delphi study to identify and debate possible new approaches or Blue Ocean strategies to acquiring business by life insurers. Appendices are included.

Description: Discusses key issues to improve the retirement system in the U.S. in a primarily defined contribution environment. Focuses on age at retirement, how people retire, and covering risks including disability and longevity risk. Some ideas are feasible within current environment and some require policy change.

Description: Innovative products and business processes often come from where you least expect them. This article explores the characteristics of disruptive innovations and provides a framework for identifying and creating disruption in an existing business.

Description: Explains the more granular breakout of bond RBC factors proposed to the NAIC. Evaluates alternative asset allocation choices for insurers under the new rules.

Description: Many top-performing businesses aren’t just risk aware, but rather risk intelligent. Such a posture helps prepare companies for a major event and can demonstrate to a regulator or auditor that an appropriately strong control framework is in place. Better still, companies gain real strategic value from a “risk adjusted” understanding not only of their threats and vulnerabilities, but also the upside opportunities associated with various risks. It starts with having both qualitative and quantitative information to identify, assess and manage risks. Strategic risk management, at its core, is about creating value by increasing transparency and accountability, and quality of information. More than a mere compliance exercise, effective risk management enables more informed strategic decision making, increased accountability and transparency, a greater likelihood of organizational success, and – ultimately – competitive advantage, as borne out by many studies that correlate risk management and financial results.