There is more to selling insurance than writing policies. When done right, you can build a successful business that affords you a lifestyle most people only dream about. Why try to figure it out on your own when you can learn from someone who has already been there and done that? Jeff Hastings knows insurance, and he knows how to build a profitable business. Since starting as a file clerk with Farmers Insurance Group in 1985, Jeff has built an extraordinary business, consistently receiving top awards, including District Manager of the Year in 2005. He and the agents in his district have achieved phenomenal success, and now he shares the keys to their success with you. Many of the business tools you will need are included such as licensing guidelines, a business plan, employment contracts, an employee handbook, business forms and more. If you are serious about building your own insurance agency, So You Want to Be an Insurance Agent gives you a complete system to develop, manage and grow your business.

Banking markets have experienced a general trend towards conglomeration in recent years which has been facilitated by the deregulation of banks' activities. A particular feature of financial conglomeration has been the diversification of banks into insurance activities, and especially life insurance. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept and market characteristics of the bancassurance phenomenon. It also evaluates the impact of banking risks associated with diversification into insurance business.

This book is the culmination and synthesis of Viscusi's distinguished work in the social regulation of risk.

Predictive modeling uses data to forecast future events. It exploits relationships between explanatory variables and the predicted variables from past occurrences to predict future outcomes. Forecasting financial events is a core skill that actuaries routinely apply in insurance and other risk-management applications. Predictive Modeling Applications in Actuarial Science emphasizes life-long learning by developing tools in an insurance context, providing the relevant actuarial applications, and introducing advanced statistical techniques that can be used to gain a competitive advantage in situations with complex data. Volume 2 examines applications of predictive modeling. Where Volume 1 developed the foundations of predictive modeling, Volume 2 explores practical uses for techniques, focusing on property and casualty insurance. Readers are exposed to a variety of techniques in concrete, real-life contexts that demonstrate their value and the overall value of predictive modeling, for seasoned practicing analysts as well as those just starting out.

This book analyses investment management policies for institutional investors. It is composed of four parts. The first one analyses the various types of institutional investors, institutions which, with different objectives, professionally manage portfolios of financial and real assets on behalf of a wide variety of individuals. This part goes on with an in-depth analysis of the economic, technical and regulatory characteristics of the different types of investment funds and of other types of asset management products, which have a high rate of substitutability with investment funds and represent their natural competitors. The second part of the book identifies and investigates the stages of the investment portfolio management. Given the importance of strategic asset allocation in explaining the ex post performance of any type of investment portfolio, this part provides an in-depth analysis of asset allocation methods, illustrating the different theoretical and operational solutions available to institutional investors. The third part describes performance assessment, its breakdown and risk control, with an in-depth examination of performance evaluation techniques, returns-based style analysis approaches, and performance attribution models. Finally, the fourth part deals with the subject of diversification into alternative asset classes, identifying the common characteristics and their possible role within the framework of investment management policies. This part analyses hedge funds, private equity, real estate, commodities, and currency overlay techniques.

This book provides an introduction to investment appraisal and presents a range of methods and models, some of which are not widely known, or at least not well covered by other textbooks. Each approach is thoroughly described, evaluated and illustrated using examples, with its assumptions and limitations analyzed in terms of their implications for investment decision-making practice. Investment decisions are of vital importance to all companies. Getting these decisions right is crucial but, due to a complex and dynamic business environment, this remains a challenging management task. Effective appraisal methods are valuable tools in supporting investment decision-making. As organisations continue to seek a competitive edge, it is increasingly important that management accountants and strategic decision-makers have a sound knowledge of these tools.

In the 1990s, large insurance companies failed in virtually every major market, prompting a fierce and ongoing debate about how to better protect policyholders. Drawing lessons from the failures of four insurance companies, "When Insurers Go Bust" dramatically advances this debate by arguing that the current approach to insurance regulation should be replaced with mechanisms that replicate the governance of non-financial firms.

Rather than immediately addressing the minutiae of supervision, Guillaume Plantin and Jean-Charles Rochet first identify a fundamental economic rationale for supervising the solvency of insurance companies: policyholders are the "bankers" of insurance companies. But because policyholders are too dispersed to effectively monitor insurers, it might be efficient to delegate monitoring to an institution--a prudential authority. Applying recent developments in corporate finance theory and the economic theory of organizations, the authors describe in practical terms how such authorities could be created and given the incentives to behave exactly like bankers behave toward borrowers, as "tough" claimholders.

Mit Hilfe der agentenbasierten Modellierung (ABM) lassen sich komplexe Systeme wie Finanzmarkte, Gesellschaften, Infrastrukturnetze, Organisationen oder ahnliches detailliert darstellen und anschliessend realitatsnah simulieren. Aufgrund der zentralen Fahigkeit der ABM, das Zusammenspiel einer Vielzahl heterogener Agenten miteinander sowie mit ihrer Umgebung recht einfach zu modellieren, koennen Phanomene auf der Makroebene durch Ereignisse auf der Mikroebene verstandlich erklart, zuverlassig prognostiziert oder auch in experimenteller Weise erkundet werden. Diese computergestutzte Methode bietet zahlreiche Vorteile, weshalb sie heutzutage bereits in vielen Anwendungsbereichen erfolgreich eingesetzt wird. So kann beispielsweise, abhangig von der gewahlten Modellierungsumgebung bzw. der verwendeten Software, eine grundlegende Einarbeitung ohne groesseren Zeitaufwand und vor allem auch ohne entsprechende Programmierkenntnisse autodidaktisch geschehen. Diese interdisziplinar angelegte Einfuhrung ermoeglicht einer breiten Zielgruppe einen Einblick in die Grundlagen der ABM.

Die Situation der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung ist bekanntlich katastrophal. Daher ist es unbedingt erforderlich, fur das Alter vorzusorgen. Versicherungsvermittler haben das Know-how und die Moeglichkeiten, Menschen an diesem Punkt zu helfen. Die Betriebsrente ist ein sehr geeigneter Weg. Jurgen Hauser zeigt klar die wesentlichen Erfolgsfaktoren auf, die fur den Verkauf betrieblicher Altersversorgung entscheidend sind. Neu in der 3. Auflage: Anleitung und Freischaltcode fur die Sofware "SV-Countdown". Unternehmer koennen hiermit leicht und centgenau ihre Sozialversicherungsersparnis bei Einrichtung eines Systems der Entgeltumwandlung berechnen.

Throughout history, innovators have disrupted existing financial services norms to change the landscape of the marketplace. Disruptive Fintech briefly traces fractional reserves, the creation of bank currency that traded at a premium to bullion value, central bank regulation, securitization of assets and loans, the current state of digital currency and electronic payments. The author then looks toward the future of fintech and the forces of disruption that will change the landscape of financial life as we know it. Using over 100 interviews with thought leading CEOs, this book develops a methodology to identify financial services that are ripe for innovation and discusses how innovative thinking can be used as a disruptive weapon to attack incumbents and create effective new fintech models. The book discusses How to relate historical innovations and disruptions in financial services to the current landscape How to follow a process to identify the threats facing incumbent processes and businesses, and how innovative thinking can be used as a disruptive weapon to attack incumbents and create effective new fintech models How many fintech innovations will be constructed by re-arranging or re-purposing existing core processes In this insightful book, author James Deitch, CPA CMB, argues that some of today's high-flying fintech innovators will flourish, but many may perish as the fire of innovation consumes those fintechs that are slow to monetize their promises.

Get your financial life in order. This comprehensive and objective guidebook will help you grow your net worth on a steady and increasing basis, regardless of your income level. This new and expanded edition covers changes and strategies to maximize financial benefits and planning resulting from the recent tax legislation, beginning January 2018, and changes to the Affordable Care and Protection Act of 2010. Covering all the financial bases you can reasonably expect to confront in your lifetime, such as insurance, investing, income tax planning, Social Security, Medicare, and more, this vital resource begins with techniques to protect a consumer's personal and business assets. It then transitions into the wealth accumulation process and outlines tax management measures, as well as the distribution of wealth for higher education, retirement, and estate planning purposes. Written by an expert and long-standing educator in the field of personal financial planning, Plan Your Financial Future is a no-nonsense, straightforward, and holistic view of the financial planning process. It is the one resource you need to become a more knowledgeable saver and translate those savings into the accumulation of future wealth. What You'll Learn Insure yourself, your family, and your property against the possibility of significant loss Invest in financial or real assets-or both Implement effective tax planning and management techniques Distribute your estate at death to your intended beneficiaries in a tax-efficient manner Discover strategies to maximize financial health taking into consideration the new tax legislation, effective January 1, 2018 Who This Book Is For Regardless of whether you are a recent college graduate or have spent the past several decades in the working world, this book will give you the smart, commonsense advice you need to get your financial life in order.

Dieses essential gibt einen allgemein verstandlichen UEberblick uber ausgewahlte Erkenntnisse der modernen Verhaltensoekonomie und erlautert insbesondere die Bedeutung dieser Erkenntnisse fur die Versicherungswirtschaft. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf vom Idealbild des homo oeconomicus abweichenden Verhaltensmustern, die fur die Versicherungsbranche relevant sind. Die Autoren zeigen, wie die Erkenntnisse der modernen Verhaltensoekonomie dabei helfen koennen, die Bedurfnisse und Entscheidungsprozesse von Versicherungskunden besser zu verstehen und so die Akzeptanz bedarfsgerechter Versicherungsprodukte zu erhoehen.

Wer sich als Vermittler selbstandig macht, muss gerade am Anfang einige ungewohnte Hurden uberwinden. Doch wem ein guter Start gelingt, wird schnell die ersten Erfolge verbuchen koennen. Dieses Buch macht fit fur eine erfolgreiche Agenturfuhrung. Es zeigt Schritt fur Schritt, wie selbstandige Vermittler oder Agenturinhaber in der Assekuranz ihr eigenes Unternehmen optimal entwickeln koennen. Der Themenkomplex "Mini- und Midi-Jobs in der Agentur" wurde komplett aktualisiert. Ausserdem enthalt die Betrachtung der Gewinngestaltung einer Agentur alle wichtigen AEnderungen, die sich aus der Unternehmensteuerreform ergeben haben. Die Neuauflage enthalt zudem Tipps, wie Agenturinhaber Social Media wirkungsvoll in ihre Arbeit integrieren koennen. Ein provokanter und impulsgebender Ratgeber, der durch die praxisorientierte Darstellung eine unmittelbare Umsetzung ermoeglicht. Mit zahlreichen Beispielen und Checklisten.

A straightforward guide to the evolution, benefits, and implementation of Solvency II

Providing a guide to the evolution, practice, benefits, and implementation of Solvency II, "Executive′s Guide to Solvency II" deftly covers this major European regulation which ensures that insurers can meet their risk-based liabilities over a one-year period to a 99.5% certainty. Part of the Wiley and SAS Business series, this book will guide you through Solvency II, especially if you need to understand the subtleties of Solvency II and risk-based capital in basic business language. Among the topics covered in this essential book are: Background to Solvency IILearning from the Basel ApproachThe Economic Balance SheetInternal ModelsPeople, Process, and TechnologyBusiness Benefits of Solvency II

"Executive′s Guide to Solvency II " has as its aim an explanation for executives, practitioners, consultants, and others interested in the Solvency II process and the implications thereof, to understand how and why the directive originated, what its goals are, and what some of the complexities are. There is an emphasis on what in practice should be leveraged upon to achieve implementation, specifically data, processes, and systems, as well as recognition of the close alignment demanded between actuaries, the risk department, IT, and the business itself.

Given the infinite variety of risks throughout history, it is perhaps unsurprising that insurance - the world's primary risk mitigation industry - developed a wide range of organisational forms by which it was delivered. Yet we know little about how and why different forms were chosen in the past, or why they survived or disappeared. This book is the first to examine the development of multiple organisational forms in insurance from an historical and international comparative context, and to relate historical analysis to modern organisational theory. Thirteen chapters cover eight major markets, US, UK, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Australia, South Africa, which together account for over half of all world insurance today. Each chapter is authored by an expert in their field, and several include new datasets. Major themes covered are the variety, choice, governance and regulation of organisational forms in insurance, the experience of mutual insurance in frontier economies and uncertain political environments, the long-run business performance of different organisational forms, and the problems surrounding the demutualization of modern insurance companies. The book suggests the need for important revisions to current organisational theory, and it highlights several explanatory factors that have received little attention from scholars. These include the importance of regulation and the role of the state in shaping the organisational landscape of insurance at different times and places; the role of entrepreneurship in organisational choice; the utility of organisational forms as a risk management device, and the significance of cultural preferences in the selection of organisational forms.

Structuring the Information Age provides insight into the evolution of information processing in the commercial sector and the influence of corporate users in shaping the history of modern technology. JoAnne Yates examines how life insurance firms -- where good record keeping and repeated use of massive amounts of data were crucial -- adopted and shaped information processing technology through most of the twentieth century.

"Brilliant volume... Yates's study of the adaptation of information-processing resources in insurance has greatly widened the horizons of our understanding of the dynamics of technological development in a business setting." -- Business History Review

"This timely and important work is the first scholarly history devoted to the use of information technology within a single American industry." -- EH.Net

"A welcome addition to a growing body of literature on the history of the use of computers by businesses and a good model for other scholars to use." -- American Historical Review

"Structuring the Information Age examines the history of information technology in the United States by shifting focus away from the producers of that technology and toward a kind of end user that has heretofore received little attention -- large-scale corporations, which easily rank among the leading information-technology (IT) consumers." -- Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"This valuable addition to the historiography of the computer looks at new technologies from a user's viewpoint. Here the user is the life insurance business, which is an appropriate choice because it has always been an information-intense business." -- IEEE History Center Newsletter

"Yates hascontributed another original study to the history of information technology." -- Technology and Culture

JoAnne Yates, Deputy Dean and Distinguished Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, is the author of Control through Communication: The Rise of System in American Management, also published by Johns Hopkins.

Reinsurance is a financial market that trades in the risk of unpredictable and devastating disasters - such as Hurricane Katrina, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre. Such disasters are increasing in both frequency and severity, with the cost of their losses mounting rapidly. Reinsurance insures insurance companies, enabling them to pay claims arising from these losses. It is thus a market mechanism that is a critical part of the social and economic safety net, helping to pick up the pieces after disasters. Yet, how is the risk of such disasters calculated and traded in a global market? This book brings to life the reinsurance market through vivid real-life tales that draw from an ethnographic, "fly-on-the-wall" study of the global reinsurance industry over three annual cycles. The authors shadowed underwriters around the world as they traded risks through multiple disasters. For instance, this book takes readers into the desperate hours of pricing Japanese risks during March 2011, while the devastating aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake is unfolding. To show how the market works, the book offers authentic tales gathered from observations of reinsurers in Bermuda, Lloyd's of London, Continental Europe and SE Asia as they evaluate, price and compete for different risks as part of their everyday practice. Understanding how this market for disasters works has never been more critical given the impact of climate change and increased global connectivity, where a flood in one country can trigger losses to supply chains around the world. The authors develop a novel concept of how global markets work, which advances scholarship and challenges current thinking about how financial markets trade in intangible assets such as risk. This book will be useful to readers interested in markets for disasters, insurance, reinsurance and financial markets, and academics interested in the practice of financial markets specifically or the practice of strategy and organizations generally.