The SECURE Act
Let ALIRT help you implement a “best practice” approach to selecting annuity carrier partners as part of your fiduciary duty and safe harbor requirements.
ALIRT Research – Three Weddings (and a Funeral?)
It is commonly held that the present six-year hard market pricing cycle has been a boon for U.S. commercial lines insurers. And this is certainly true, generally. But we must
Badger Mutual Faces Severe A.M. Best Downgrade – Regional Property/Auto Insurers Under Pressure
The worsening plight of a number of smaller regional property & casualty insurers was on full display today as A.M. Best downgraded Milwaukee-based Badger Mutual Insurance Company (BMIC) three pegs from B+
ALIRT Research – Fronting Insurers Update
Given the recent bombshell regarding fraudulent collateral issues at insurtech Vesttoo – a development which follows closely upon a $60 million collateral dispute write-down by Trisura in 4Q2022 – we provide below
Below Investment Grade Bond Exposure for Life Insurers
Below Investment Grade (BIG) bonds consist of all bonds rated BB+/Ba1 or lower by public rating agencies. In the statutory financial statement, there are four different “Classes” of BIG bonds (and their
Largest U.S. Surplus Lines Carriers Underperforming the Broader Commercial Lines Market
Last month, A.M. Best released its annual study of the U.S. surplus lines market. We thought this a perfect opportunity to review the financial quality of the largest domestic E&S insurers,
More Trouble Ahead For U.S. Property Insurers? Heeding The Canaries In the Coalmine
ALIRT recently noted the substantial downgrade of Texas property insurer Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association (GFMIA) followed closely by the liquidation of Kansas-based MutualAid eXchange (MAX). While we would normally not
Overview of Reciprocal Insurance Exchanges and Recent Market Trends
Reciprocal Insurance Exchanges (RIE; also referred to interinsurance exchanges) have long been a part of the property & casualty (P&C) insurance industry, with roots dating back to the late nineteenth century. Many
Privately-Owned Insurers in the U.S. Life Insurance Industry
In the wake of the 2008/2009 global financial crisis, the U.S. life insurance industry underwent a spate of business sales/exits, spin-offs, and product changes in the 2010s which has continued through the
Cracks Starting to Show? Fallout From Collateral Issues with Vesttoo
It’s tough times for the U.S. property & casualty (P&C) Industry. Tough times for insureds who confront ever higher rates in most lines of business, for (re)insurers which are struggling to right-size
BBB-rated Bond Exposure for Life Insurers
Life insurers significantly increased their holdings of NAIC Class 2 bonds (bonds with BBB/Baa ratings public rating agencies) in the years since the financial crisis of 2008-2009.
Prudential Agrees to Reinsure block of Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance with Somerset Re
Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) announced this week that it had entered into a reinsurance agreement to cede a $12.5 billion block of guaranteed universal life insurance business (GUL) to Bermuda based Somerset
ALIRT Update: Residual Market Trends in Higher Risk States
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Mortality for the Life Insurance Industry in 2022
In this review we highlight the increase in mortality and its continued impact on the U.S. life insurance industry.
MetLife and Prudential Cede Legacy Blocks
In the past week both MetLife, Inc. (MetLife) and Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) announced reinsurance transactions pertaining to existing products and business lines. Details regarding each transaction are highlighted below:
No Surprise – Hallmark Insurer Subsidiaries Downgraded
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No Surprise – Hallmark Insurer Subsidiaries Downgraded
As if on cue, last Friday (May 5th) A.M. Best downgraded the Hallmark Financial subsidiaries below the critical “A-” level to “B++” (5th highest), citing a “significant decline in Hallmark’s balance sheet
Lincoln National Reinsures $28 Billion of Reserves to Fortitude Re
On May 2, 2023, Lincoln National Corp. announced that it had entered into a reinsurance transaction with
Fortitude Reinsurance Company, Ltd. (Fortitude Re), a Bermuda domiciled reinsurer. The transaction comprises $28 billion
Florida Domestic Insurer Market Update
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Risk Retention Group Market Overview
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U.S. Life Insurer Exposure to Less Liquid Bonds
Life insurers have long held a mix of assets with various liquidity profiles, from the very liquid to the
nearly illiquid. Investments with the highest liquidity include investment grade bonds (especially
government
