Operations

Why brokers should ‘shoot the breeze’ with clients

While brokers communicate with clients for a variety of reasons, such as renewals and claims, “shooting the breeze” can be just as beneficial for the business, suggests a speaker scheduled to address next month’s Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario annual convention. “Touch base just for the hell of it,” advises author and speaker Stuart Knight. […]

By Greg Meckbach | September 25, 2018

2 min read

Why cyber can be a hard sell for brokers

Data breaches are all over the news, but convincing some corporate clients to spend in the neighbourhood of $1,000 a year for insurance coverage can be an uphill battle. Some cyber insurance products cost around $100 a year, but those are “very rudimentary,” suggests Ray Arndt, president of Lyon & Butler Insurance Brokers Ltd., based […]

By Greg Meckbach | September 24, 2018

3 min read

How artificial intelligence can help brokers close sales

Artificial intelligence could help a brokerage figure out how likely a prospective client is to actually buy insurance. At least that’s what officials with Surex Direct are hoping. Magreth, Alta.-based Surex Direct places home, auto and commercial lines and says it can deliver 10 quotes online in 10 minutes or less. If a person gives […]

By Greg Meckbach | September 20, 2018

2 min read

More commercial brokerage consolidation could follow Marsh-JLT combo

A US$6-billion merger between Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Plc could form the world’s largest commercial brokerage, and more mergers and acquisitions among commercial brokerages will likely to follow, a Canadian M&A expert suggests. Marsh & McLennan – Marsh Inc.’s New York City-based parent – announced Tuesday it agreed to […]

By Greg Meckbach | September 19, 2018

3 min read