Finance and Equity

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June 14, 2023

May Inflation Drops to 4% Year-over-Year Increase, Signaling Inflation May Be Cooling

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 4% year over year in May, a significant decline from 4.9% in April. This is the lowest annual pace since 2021 and slightly below economists’ expectations of a 4.1% increase, according to Refinitiv, global provider of financial market data and...

January 30, 2023

Start 2023 Off Right with Strategic Planning and Goal Setting

Strategic planning and goal setting are incredibly important for businesses of all sizes, as well as for business owners themselves. This process should connect your goals with “why” that goal is important to the activities that people do within the company.  A good business coach will guide you through the goal setting process, facilitate the...

December 20, 2022

Economic Factors Will Dictate Risk Trends for 2023

While there are varying measurements of what qualifies as a recession, the consensus is that rising interest rates and high inflation will continue to put the financial squeeze on Americans in the new year. In these economic conditions, it’s likely insurance companies will see an uptick in claims related to inflation and the heightened cost...

December 14, 2022

It’s a Wrap: Key Issues Insurers Faced in 2022

Insurers faced some tough challenges in 2022, including a few that threatened their very existence. Astronomical jury verdicts, AI deep fakes, seemingly unending numbers of claims seeking compensation for coronavirus business shutdowns — more than a few industry lawyers spent sleepless nights beating back litigation that targeted the very core of the industry’s stability. Here’s...

December 8, 2022

Businesses Advised to Review D&O, Other Policies for ESG Risks

Businesses should review their directors and officers liability insurance and other policies to better understand how they would protect them from a widening array of claims arising from environmental, social and governance risks, a panel of experts said Wednesday. Heightened SEC enforcement actions against investment advisers, on whistleblower tips, and on company disclosures, show the...

July 15, 2022

2022 Midyear Market Outlook: Cyber Insurance

The past year has seen a rapidly hardening cyber insurance market as cyberattacks have surged in both cost and frequency. This increase in attacks has, in turn, resulted in a rise in cyber insurance claims and subsequent underwriting losses. Amid these market conditions, most policyholders experienced higher cyber insurance rates at their 2022 renewals, with...

May 25, 2022

Construction Costs Outpacing Property Rate, Limit Increases

Property insurers are not raising coverage limits and rates to keep pace with inflating construction costs, according to a Moody’s Investors Service report. Rising costs for construction materials and labor means elevated loss severity for insurers because repair and replacement work are more expensive. “Higher costs for construction materials and labor have caused elevated loss...

May 18, 2022

Why Are US Commercial Insurance Rates Continuing to Climb?

A new report from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) has looked into the impact of inflationary pressures on commercial lines insurance in the US and identified three main drivers of commercial insurance rate increases. “Insurers and agents continue to look for ways to reduce costs while still meeting all obligations to policyholders, but as claims...

March 1, 2022

5 Trending Captive-Insurance Considerations for 2022

If 2020 and 2021 showed us anything, it’s that the unexpected can and will happen — whether it’s a global pandemic, a cargo ship blocking one of the world’s busiest trade routes or a storm creating a widespread power outage. These unforeseen risks are difficult to predict and insure against, which made captive insurance, with its ability...

February 28, 2022

What to Know About Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Small Business Owners

Small business owners play a vital role in the U.S. economy. As of 2019, small businesses generated about 44% of the U.S. economic activity—employing nearly every type of worker in every type of industry, from construction and restaurants to insurance, marketing, and media. But while small businesses are a lifeline for the economy, owning a small business...