Skip Navigation Links.

IRMI Insights

New in 2008, the IRMI Insights column consists of white papers written by industry experts on various risk management and industry topics. In PDF form, we encourage readers to share the IRMI Insights link with others. Learn about new articles with IRMI Update, a free, twice-monthly e-mail newsletter containing article links, risk tips, and other news. The IRMI Insights articles are listed below.

Learn about becoming an IRMI Insights Contributor or how to reprint or reproduce material from IRMI Insights, IRMI.com, or other IRMI publications.

All opinions expressed in IRMI Insights articles are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the author's employer or IRMI. Also, your use of IRMI.com ratifies your acceptance of the Terms of Use.

Risk Management—Why and How (October 2009)

Explore the risk management process and its ramifications in a detailed case study, written by Dr. George Head, a highly respected pioneer of risk management education. This 72-page primer supposes that a fire in an apartment complex garage results not only in the collapse of the garage and the demolition of the apartment building, but in the death of the resident who accidentally caused the fire. Dr. Head explains the risk management process and illustrates how properly managing risk could have prevented the fire, death, and implosion. Further, assuming the accident could not be completely avoided, Dr. Head shows the steps that could be taken to minimize the damage and ensure a financial recovery by the owners. IRMI is pleased to provide this to the industry at no charge; feel free to share this publication with your colleagues, clients, and others.

The Insurance Industry Talent Crisis: Investing in Risk Management and Insurance Graduates (February 2009)

This white paper discusses the talent crisis in the insurance industry caused by impending baby boomer retirements. It offers compelling reasons for recruiting new talent from universities with proven risk management and insurance undergraduate educational programs, explains how to evaluate the quality of a program, and provides strategies for ensuring the best hires. It also builds a case for providing financial support to these risk and insurance educational programs as a way to help attract new talent into the industry in the future. The author is Brenda Wells, an associate professor of risk management and insurance, licensed agent, and industry consultant.

IRMI Directory of Risk Management and Insurance Programs at U.S. Colleges and Universities

Provided as a complement to "The Insurance Industry Talent Crisis: Investing in Risk Management and Insurance Graduates," this directory provides snapshot overviews of schools with a risk management and insurance educational program that places major emphasis on RMI studies. It includes information to help you evaluate a program and determine whether to pursue its students. Contact information for the risk management and insurance department heads and web site links are also provided.

Florida Flirting with Hurricane Insurance Disaster (August 2008)

Brent Winans, a Florida insurance agent and consultant, discusses Florida’s use of a hurricane catastrophe fund to cover the risk of costal storm losses, the inherent risks to taxpayers, and some of the facts that lawmakers might consider when dealing with the situation. Like other risk professionals, he expresses concern that the current system will collapse if “the big one” hits. Mr. Winans concludes with the hope that legislators will seriously consider the 13 recommendations made by the chair of the House Committee on Insurance.

Analog Adjusting in a Digital World (May 2008)

William S. (Sandy) Rodgers, AIC, has spent over 40 years in the insurance industry. In this article, he provides a historical review on the evolution of the claims professional away from seasoned practitioners to the least experienced and poorest paid individuals. He emphasizes that a change must take place, or the future of property insurance claims adjusting will be in jeopardy.

© 2000-2009 International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI). All rights reserved.