Expert Commentary

Ethics

Insurance Evolution: Response to a Changing World

George Head | December 1, 2007

Dr. George Head wonders whether the rise in natural/manmade catastrophes and the industry's response will effect fundamental industry change.

Enterprise Risk Management

Risk Management's Chief Audit Executive

Mark Layton | December 1, 2007

Mark Layton and Terry Hisey explain that a risk intelligent firm recognizes both rewarded and unrewarded risks, and is savvy about the risks it takes.

Property Insurance

Demystifying Appraisal: Getting through the Process

Jay Levin | December 1, 2007

Jay Levin examines methods appraisers, umpires, and parties use to make the process proceed more smoothly and maximize the likelihood of a fair award.

Risk Management: Protecting Assets When Home Ownership Is Transferred to a Trust

Jack Hungelmann | December 1, 2007

Jack Hungelmann explains the insurance coverage dangers when a trust owns tangible property, like a residence, and offers a solution.

Market Practices

Risk Assessments and Peer Reviews

Peter Polstein | December 1, 2007

Whether conducted in-house or by an outside consultant, a risk and insurance review is a good idea. Peter Polstein explains.

Intellectual Property

Trade Secret Protection: Good Risk Management

Sanford Warren | November 1, 2007

Sanford Warren advises taking precautions, both offensive and defensive, to protect your trade secrets and those of others.

Captives

Has the IRS Lost Its Collective Mind?

Donald Riggin | November 1, 2007

The recently proposed IRS regulations for single-parent captives are a step in the wrong direction. Don Riggin explains.

Valuation of Insurance Organizations

Property/Casualty Insurer Valuation Insights

Jeff Balcombe | November 1, 2007

Jeff Balcombe provides greater insight property and casualty insurer valuation and the market's current pricing.

Captives

Captive Insurance Exit Strategy

Michael R. Mead | November 1, 2007

Mike Mead warns that ending the use of a captive is not so simple as ceasing to do business with it or funding its operations.

Environmental

Epoxy Fumes Are Unambiguously Excluded from Coverage as "Pollutants" under the CGL Total Pollution Exclusion

Kent Holland | November 1, 2007

Kent Holland relates a case on the CGL total pollution exclusion and the definition of "pollutants," "discharge," "dispersal," "seepage," "migration," "release," and "escape."