Bright Grey scoops Employer of the Year award
Insurance firm Bright Grey has been named employer of the year at the National Business Awards for Scotland.
The insurer beat off competition from eight other finalists to scoop the much sought-after award.
Employer of the Year is given to the business that demonstrates best practice in applying its human resources to achieving commercial success.
Gordon Watson, Bright Grey spokesperson, attributed the firm’s success to a “real team effort”.
He cited the ‘walking in their shoes’ programme as an example of Bright Grey’s innovation with human resources.
“Staff spend time experiencing other roles in different teams to deepen their understanding of colleagues’ roles,” Watson explained.
The firm also invites IFAs to deliver training sessions, ensuring that staff “are fully aware of the needs of our customers and have an understanding of the ideal customer experience.”
The National Business Awards for Scotland, held in Glasgow, aim to recognise the efforts of ethical, innovative, and resilient Scottish businesses.
Hannover Re expects to hit 2009 targets
Hannover Re’s newly appointed chief executive said he expects the firm to hit its earnings targets for 2009 despite an estimated payout of €30 million for the recent Air France plane crash.
Ulrich Wallin said he is confident the reinsurer will meet its target of a €600 million net profit after a good first half.
Business was “good” in the first six months of 2009, Wallin said, adding that the firm expects major claims to be under 10% of net premiums for the second quarter.
Returns from capital investments were ’stable’, he said.
The financial crisis has helped to boost turnover, Wallin added, because insurers who lost money in the credit crunch are buying extra cover from reinsurers.
Hannover anticipates a 20% growth in gross premium income for 2009, with expected earnings per share at €5.
“The price increases in the reinsurance market have continued on June 1 and July 1 but not at the rate we expected,” Wallin said.
Obama Presses Case For Health Reform
President Barack Obama pitched his health reform proposal Wednesday at a town hall meeting in Annandale, Va., asking the public and Congress to deliver on health care reform. The Associated Press reports that Obama put “a human face” on health care reform by hugging a cancer patient, but gave few new details on his health care reform plans.
HELP Democrats Draft New Bill With Public Plan And Employer Mandate That They Say Is Cheaper
Democrats on a key Senate committee are readying a plan that has a government-run insurance option and a $750-per-worker annual fee on larger companies that do not offer coverage to its employees, The Associated Press reports. “In a letter outlining the details, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.
AMA President Calls For Congress’ Insurance Plan For All Uninsured Americans
While CNN reports that the American Medical Association’s new president, J. James Rohack, is open to a government-funded health insurance option, others report that the system the AMA now endorses is not a public plan, but the heavily managed private plan that federal employees participate in.
Direct Travel Insurance warning over online flight booking
Travellers booking their flights over the internet have been warned to be cautious by Direct Travel Insurance.
The warning follows media coverage of some sites contravening EU law by automatically adding the costs of travel insurance when flights are booked online.
Direct Travel Insurance has recommended that those going abroad browse thoroughly and when booking make sure to check for tick boxes that might involve the cost of travel insurance being added.
Head of Marketing Sally Wilkinson has expressed her view that although the convenience of buying insurance along with tickets may be appealing, the process should be made more transparent.
By ensuring the process is clearer consumers would be able to see precisely what they are being charged for and decline travel insurance if they are already covered.
Some airlines operate an opt-out policy, meaning if the consumer fails to spot the insurance option then it is taken out automatically and charged for.
Earlier in the year cut-price airline Ryanair had been forced to desist its former practice of including insurance costs as a matter of course when consumers booked its flights.
Setanta Insurance on course for 100,000 customers
Setanta Insurance is on course to achieve 100,000 policyholders by the end of the year, cementing its position as one of the most rapidly growing insurance firms in Ireland.
Setanta Insurance is based in Malta and Dublin and in May its policyholders numbered 45,000 with over €25m written premiums.
The firm is less than two years old, and puts its phenomenal success down to its strategy of exclusively selling via brokers rather than opting for direct selling.
Another important aspect contributing to Setanta Insurance’s rapid growth is its strong IT system, which has proved extremely well-liked by brokers and can generate quotes in seconds.
The firm has recently revamped its website, emblazoned with new slogan “insurance changed for good”.
Chairman and CEO, Mike Matthews, has stated that the firm’s swift success has occurred due to the business’ professional and friendly approach coupled with products popular with both brokers and customers.
Health Care Reform: What Small Business Wants
“As Congress prepares to do battle over health reform, a parallel dispute is shaping up among small-business groups that are staking out opposing positions on a key element of reform proposals: whether Uncle Sam will take on a bigger role in offering insurance coverage or leave the field to the private market,” CNN Money reports.
White House Reform Chief Was On Boards Of Health Companies With Suspect Practices
Before taking her job as the White House health reform director, Nancy-Ann DeParle earned more than $6 million serving on the boards of major health care corporations, some of which were accused of fraud, mismanagement and regulatory violations during her tenure, the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University reports on
Financial Advisor, Registered Representative, Account Executive at New York Life Insurance (Brooklyn, NY)
New York Life is one of the strongest and most respected life insurance companies in America today. New York Life is … Life and Annuity products sold by the field force represent the Company’s main engine.
Original article : http://www.simplyhired.com/job-id/l3tlsf3535/financial-advisor-jobs/