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Insurtech’s Place in a COVID-19 World
Who will benefit as insurers accelerate innovation efforts?
COVID-19 has impacted every sector of the economy, and insurance is no exception. The pandemic has highlighted inefficiencies and created new friction points for carriers and customers alike -- but the experience has also validated carriers' efforts to innovate and invest in a digital future. Insurtech is likely to play a vital, ongoing role in…
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Average IRA Balance Grew More Than 22 Percent From 2013 Through 2017
But data raise concerns around extreme allocations
According to new research from EBRI, the average individual retirement account (IRA) balance increased from $93,441 in 2013 to $114,383 in 2017, an increase of 22.4 percent. The average contribution to a Traditional or Roth IRA slightly increased from $3,880 in 2013 to $3,913 in 2017. The Issue Brief, “EBRI IRA Database: IRA Balances, Contributions,…
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Impact of Covid-19 On Life Insurance Claims Management
The integration of analytics is a necessity
COVID-19 outbreak has had a devastating impact on people’s lives across the world and has caused the global economy to stall, the impact of which will be felt for a long time. As of September 15, 2020 globally there have been 29 million cases reported resulting in 933,000 deaths. The US has been one of…
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The New Uncertainty
Five ways CFOs are looking at the world
We are now five months into the COVID-19 pandemic and, while some economies are taking steps to reopen, uncertainty still prevails. The chief financial officers (CFOs) and Finance teams we work with have gotten through the initial crisis stages, but they are still trying to make sense of new economic realities.
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Americans Largely Financially Unprepared for Disaster
How much is enough to see you through?
If a disaster suddenly struck – a hurricane, pandemic, or economic crisis, for example – how well would you be prepared to meet the situation? The National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) asked of 976 individuals across the US, "How much emergency money do you have saved that you could tap into in the case of…
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Virtual Enrollment, Real Benefits: Five Tips to Help Employers Navigate the New Reality
45% of adults unsure if short-term disability covers COVID-19
Virtual graduation, Zoom weddings, sports without spectators — this year everything looks different and open enrollment will be no exception. The days of in-person presentations and paper pamphlets are over — open enrollment is going virtual. Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC) understands that this new reality and the ongoing pandemic create a greater need for education…
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Pandemic Spurs Remote Work, Raises Office REIT Cash Flow Risk
Cash flow will be affected over the near term
The acceleration of the remote working or the work from home (WFH) trend and the loss of office-based jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic is pressuring US office REIT cash flows, says Fitch Ratings. We expect recent tenant densification and the prevalence of long-term leases to lessen risk. However, cash flow will be hurt over…
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Pandemic and Systemic Pressures Impact Retirement Savings
Advisors and financial professionals favor key provision of SECURE Act: Nearly two-thirds likely to adopt in-plan guarantees
As the pandemic’s impact collides with powerful systemic pressures putting more responsibility on individuals to save for retirement, Americans’ plans for retirement have been hit by the perfect storm. Roughly-three fourths of investors (72%) say the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on how long they are able to live off their current retirement…
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Diverging US, EU ESG Regulations Could Impact Fund Returns
By translating into differing investment considerations, risks and potential returns over the longer term
Divergence between U.S. and EU/UK regulations regarding sustainable investing is increasing, as seen with the disparate interpretation and application of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rules for pension funds, Fitch Ratings says.
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COVID-19: Transitioning To Better Living
How the pandemic is fueling a growing health consciousness in Hong Kong
Amid the anxiety and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, people in Hong Kong with insurance policies are adopting healthier lifestyle habits to improve their physical health and mental well-being, while showing far greater willingness to embrace digital technology in their day-to-day lives, according to a new survey by Manulife.
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World Financial Planning Day Returns October 7
Financial Planning Standards Board Teams with Regulators Worldwide to Raise Awareness of Financial Planning
Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) and its global network of affiliate organizations will host the fourth annual World Financial Planning Day on 7 October to raise public awareness of the value of financial planning. The FPSB Network, which represents nearly 190,000 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals across 27 territories worldwide, will host a series of…
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What Are The Key Market Risks for Remainder Of 2020?
Second wave of COVID tops list of strategist concerns
In the wake of the quickest and sharpest selloff and the quickest rebound in history, investment experts across the Natixis organization share a relatively optimistic economic outlook, but consensus says a full recovery will take time, according to the Natixis Strategist Outlook piece published today by the Natixis Investment Institute.
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Climate Stress Tests Will Eventually Influence European Bank Capital
U.S. shows no sign of introducing such measures
Fitch Ratings-London-10 September 2020 -- Climate-change stress tests will eventually feed into prudential capital requirements for European banks, Fitch Ratings says in a new report. EU and UK supervisors appear the most advanced in efforts to quantify the assessment of climate risks to banks, although Japan has recently unveiled climate-risk stress tests for its largest…
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