Analysis
Standardised stress tests top the list of SFCR improvement measures
Insurers have found Solvency II's public disclosure framework to be cumbersome and impractical, and stakeholders complain they're not getting what they need. Now regulators have committed to a review, David Walker asks what can be done to improve the solvency and financial condition report?
Insurers rank their most dangerous risks for 2019
Dave Ingram and Mark Mennemeyer discuss the results of their poll on which risks are considered most dangerous to insurers
Don't postpone IFRS 17 deadline again, says Allianz
Cintia Cheong asks Remo Cavegn, Allianz One.Finance programme director, about why the 2022 deadline should stay and how the German insurer is managing to stay ahead of the game
Tunaru report into equity-release mortgages may be good news for insurers
Radu Tunaru's research into how to value the no-negative equity guarantee contained within equity-release mortgages is sparking more debate about this major issue for UK life insurers. Christopher Cundy reports on the finding
Proposed changes to IFRS 17 transitional arrangements "not far enough"
David Wilson, IFRS 17 programme director at Aegon UK, tells Cintia Cheong what he thinks of the recently proposed amendments to the accounting standard, and how the company will achieve a consistent implementation while leveraging Solvency II processes
Commission reveals scope of Solvency II reforms in 2020 advice request
In its request for technical advice from Eiopa, the European Commission has given its strongest indication yet about where it might take Solvency II. Christopher Cundy shares his thoughts
US cyber insurance: plugging-in to growth
There are strong forecasts for growth in the cyber insurance markets, but insurers have obstacles to surmount if they are to be successful. Sarfraz Thind reports
"IFRS 17 is the most cross-function project we've ever had"
Erich Kruschitz, head of group finance of Uniqa, tells Cintia Cheong about the challenges the company faces with the implementation of IFRS 17 and 9 accounting standards
Australia raises its game on wildfire loss models
Ten years ago, Australia suffered one of its worst outbreaks of bushfires that burned 300,000 hectares and took 173 lives. David Walker reports on how wildfire modelling has developed to cope with this increasing threat
The unstoppable rise of insurtech in China
Technology is driving growth in China's insurance markets, particularly among millennials, and investors remain keen to back insurtech firms despite continuing losses and potential regulatory challenges. Siyi Liu reports
European regulators outline Brexit mitigation measures
As the threat of a no-deal Brexit becomes more likely, some EU countries are stepping up their preparations to ensure service continuity. Cintia Cheong spoke to regulators and governments in five big EU27 markets to find out what they have planned
How to sell an IFRS 17 lemon
Andries Beukes and Pamela Hellig explains why a fair value loss component is improbable but not impossible under IFRS 17
MPs grill Rule and Woods on equity release, ethics and Brexit
The UK parliament's house Treasury Committee yesterday questioned Bank of England chiefs Sam Woods and David Rule on a host of issues, including diversity, management ethics, Brexit - and insurers' treatment of equity-release mortgages. Ronan McCaughey and Christopher Cundy report
Silent cyber risk sparks rewording of insurance policies
AIG and Allianz are among the insurers to have undertaken a large-scale effort to exclude silent cyber risk from their portfolios. Paul Walsh looks into the process and discovers how policies have been reworded to safeguard insurers and satisfy their customers
Risk insights from outer space
Satellite and drone technology has transformed the ability of re/insurers to assess risks and losses from natural catastrophes, as Dave Fox explains
Capital models: run, review, repeat
Recent surveys by consultancies Willis Towers Watson and PwC have revealed how UK life insurers have revised their approach to capital modelling. Christopher Cundy reports on some of the highlights
Eric Cioppa, the regulator's regulator
Maine's superintendent of insurance has taken on the mantle of NAIC president for 2019. He talks to Sarfraz Thind about regulatory priorities and how he will marshal the 50 states to reach a common view
US life firms under pressure from accounting overhaul
It has been billed as the biggest change in US accounting rules for decades. But reportage of the new US GAAP LDTI standard remains sparse. Since coming into effect in August, with an implementation deadline of 2021, companies have been scrambling to assess the impact. Sarfraz Thind reports
Rebel with a cause
Former UK insurance regulator Dean Buckner has become an influential blogger with a big ambition: correcting the illogical and unethical aspects of financial markets supervision. He talks to Christopher Cundy about equity release mortgages, Solvency II and IFRS 17
Solvency II: what reforms can we expect?
Christopher Cundy examines what will change with the two scheduled reviews of Solvency II and the other issues set to influence the EU's landmark insurance legislation