Issue 2009-43 -- Ocotber 27, 2009
This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry, insurance products and the marketplace. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.
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Distribution
Keal Technology Launches Premium Financing Software for Canadian Brokers.
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada - October 21, 2009 - Today, at the 89th Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) Annual Conference, Canadian insurance software provider, Keal Technology announced the launch of a new premium finance software, premiumXP. Keal Technology?s flagship application, sigXP, a Broker Management System (BMS), is integrated with premiumXP to maximize broker efficiencies and expedite finance agents? end-to-end workflows.
ASCnet Honors Carriers for Real-Time Interface, Standards, Download.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 16, 2009) - Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet), the user group for Applied Systems agency management technology, today presented awards to insurance carriers in recognition of their work to implement download and real-time interface technology with agencies and brokerages.
Anti-spam legislation: Restricts freedom to conduct legitimate business, says Advocis.
October 19, 2009 - Toronto - In its brief to the federal government's Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology which is reviewing the Electronic Commerce Protection Act, Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, stated that financial advisors and planners need to be able to continue to use current technology to conduct legitimate business. If this legislation proceeds as drafted, legitimate business activity will be prevented and advisors and planners will be unable to communicate effectively and efficiently with potential clients.
Sun Life Financial asks - does your advisor revolve around you?
TORONTO, Oct. 20 2009 - Consumers are in the driver's seat with the launch of a new online program that allows them to choose an advisor who meets their individual financial needs. Advisor Match is Sun Life Financial's new, unique website service that revolves around the user - see how easy it is to find an advisor who clicks with you.
Product Announcements
Manulife helps Canadians plan for their long-term healthcare needs.
WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 21 2009 - To address a growing need for millions of Canadian baby boomers, Manulife Financial has introduced a unique product feature that allows its new and existing individual disability insurance customers to switch their coverage to long-term care insurance. Until now, Canadians could purchase insurance to protect their employment income in case they became disabled. But that insurance automatically expired at retirement (typically age 65) when the need ended.
Policy and Product Management
American Family Insurance Selects Guidewire for Policy Administration and Billing.
SAN MATEO, California - October 20, 2009 - Guidewire Software, a leading provider of flexible core systems to property/casualty insurers, today announced that American Family Insurance has selected Guidewire Insurance Suite™ products, Guidewire PolicyCenter® and Guidewire BillingCenter® to deliver policy administration and customer billing services.
Co-operators Life Insurance Company Selects SunGard's iWorks to Help Grow Group Business.
ATLANTA et REGINA, le 23 oct. 2009 - Co-operators Compagnie d'assurance-vie a choisi la suite iWorks de SunGard comme plate-forme d'entreprise pour l'administration de ses contrats d'assurance collective. iWorks Compass de SunGard fournira à Co-operators Vie une plate-forme unique qui facilitera la gestion des avantages de groupe, en plus de permettre l'expansion future de ce secteur grâce au soutien offert pour les produits collectifs liés au patrimoine ainsi que pour les produits facultatifs individuels comme l'assurance vie, les produits du patrimoine et l'assurance voyage.
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Consumer Information
Canada introduces toughest testing ever for child car seats: Transport Canada.
October 10, 2009 - OTTAWA - The Government of Canada took action today to improve the testing of child car seats and ensure children have the best protection possible in vehicles. Canada's Transport Minister John Baird introduced new amendments that, once passed, will make Canada's testing standards of child seats unprecedented and world-leading.
Ontario's new distracted driving bill takes effect: Insurers offer tips for drivers: IBC.
Toronto, ON - October 22, 2009 - Ontario's Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act comes into effect on Monday, October 26, 2009. Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) commends the government for taking this important step to combat distracted driving.
Marketing and the Market Place
Sun Life Financial study finds Canadians have tightened purse strings in 2009.
TORONTO, ON (October 22, 2009) - Canadians are facing the economic downturn with resolve and have changed their spending habits as a result, according to the second edition of the Sun Life Financial Canadian Unretirement? Index. Sixty per cent of Canadian workers have reduced their debt, with almost the same number (59 per cent) saying they have spent less since January.
Aviva Makes $500,000 Pledge to "Insure" Positive Community Change.
TORONTO, Oct. 21 2009 - Today Aviva Canada Inc. announced the launch of the Aviva Community Fund - a unique competition that will seek to lead, empower and support positive change in communities from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Victoria, British Columbia. Supported by a significant $500,000 pledge from Aviva, the Aviva Community Fund provides a forum where individual Canadians can band together to really make a difference today.
Canada's First-Ever National Championship for Club Curlers: The Dominion.
TORONTO, Oct. 19 2009 - The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company today announced further details of The Dominion Curling Club Championship: Canada's first-ever national championship for club curlers. The inaugural event runs from November 24 to 29, 2009, at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Business of Insurance
Manulife-Sinochem Expands Again in China - New license approved for Shantou.
TORONTO, Oct. 19 2009 - Manulife Financial today announced that it is expanding again in China, with confirmation that Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co. Ltd. has received approval from the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) to operate in the city of Shantou. The new license will expand Manulife-Sinochem's operational presence in China to 38 cities across 11 provinces. Shantou has a population of five million and is located in southeast Guangdong province.
Conning & Company Announces the Close of its Acquisition by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC.
HARTFORD, CT., October 13, 2009 - Conning & Company (?Conning?), a leading global provider of asset management and consulting services to the insurance industry, today announced the closing of its acquisition by funds managed by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC (?Aquiline?), a New York-based private equity firm investing in the financial services sector.
from Doug:
The Dutch research we were doing over the last two weeks was in Amsterdam and nearby cities. The train service is unbelievable - over our nine days there we took five day-trips to different cities, most of which various of my wife's ancestors had resided in at some point. It brought a unique sensation when we visited a cathedral where two children of one such couple had been baptized, almost 400 years ago. We wandered through surrounding parts of the city where they presumably lived, shopped, visited, worked and played, and saw several buildings - city hall, cathedral, other churches, meat market and many lesser buildings - which they too would have seen.
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