- A potential inside-the-Beltway equivalent of a best-seller at least for some people is likely to roll off the presses in the next few weeks.

Unlike, say, the latest from John Grisham, this volume won’t cost its readers a cent other than their share of whatever tax money goes into its production.

The long-anticipated publication, at least long anticipated among some in the insurance industry, is the Federal Insurance Office’s report on modernizing and improving insurance regulation. Read more…

InsuranceHeadlines Breaking News/Chicago – Allstate Corp., trying to improve profits in its homeowners’ insurance business, will launch a new product called House & Home that will deal with losses caused by poorly maintained roofing, its chief executive said Thursday.
 
The Northbrook-based insurer, whose stock whose stock closed up 3.3 percent Thursday on an otherwise flat day for the market, has been hiking homeowners’ premiums and that trend will continue, Allstate has said.
 
During the fourth quarter, homeowners’ rate increases averaging 7.8 percent in 17 states were approved as Allstate continued to try to make its homeowners’ book of business more profitable, the company disclosed Wednesday.
 
Speaking to analysts on Thursday morning, Chief Executive Tom Wilson said the company “must continue to raise returns from the homeowners” business. Th Read more…

Allstate Corp., Travelers Cos. and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. are among insurers raising homeowners’ rates after damage from natural disasters defied industry projections.

Allstate, the No. 2 U.S. home insurer, boosted prices for its namesake brand of home policies by 5.6 percent in the nine months through Sept. 30 and has said more increases are coming. Travelers is raising rates after re-evaluating U.S. storm risk. State Farm, the largest U.S. home insurer, has charged homeowners more nationwide for three straight years.

Near-record-low interest rates cut insurers’ investment income, and tornadoes, wildfires and Hurricane Irene increased claims costs in the U.S. las Read more…

Peter Brodnicki, chief executive of the Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) told delegates at its annual conference they must take advantage of one of the biggest growth areas in the market.

He said: “There are angles and opportunities to talk to clients about in this business. Think of clients that were sold to but didn’t take out any protection in the first place or those on joint policies that are maybe looking to split those and put into trusts – they will need someone to advise them.

“The European Union Gender Directive will see pricing become neutral for males and females at the end of next year. Again

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