101 FASB/AICPA Update
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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102 Economic Update & State of the Industry
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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103 Social Networking: Boon or Bust?
Session Leader
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Leah Hollstegge, Ward Group
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Panel Members
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Ara Trembly, Ara Trembly, The Tech Consultant
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|
Piyush Singh, Great American Insurance Group
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Mike Sciole, Burlington Insurance Group
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Todd Young, ProspX
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Social networking is all the rage in technology today, with sites like Facebook and Twitter grabbing headlines, both good and bad. Many believe that insurers should take advantage of the customer exposure offered by such sites, but others contend that information security on such sites is an issue that insurers and brokers cannot ignore. Is the benefit of increased exposure worth the risk of having systems and customer data compromised by attacks such as have already taken place on these sites? This panel of insurance IT experts and consultants will examine the phenomenon of social networking and debate its place in the insurance world.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to summarize the benefits to carriers associated with social networking.
- Attendees will be able to identify the security risks from being an active participant in social networking.
- Attendees will be able to evaluate appropriate social networking strategies.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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104 Fair Value Accounting Issues
Session Leader
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Teri Henry, Pendo Systems
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Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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105 Actuarial
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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106 Compare/Contrast GAAP/Stat/IFRS for Insurance
Session Leader
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Ken Hugendubler, ParenteBeard LLC
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Panel Members
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Brad Shofran, PMA Capital
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This session will compare and contrast the U.S. GAAP, U.S. Statutory accounting principles and International accounting standards that have the most impact on insurance companies. This topic will be especially timely given the ongoing developments in accounting for insurance contracts and financial instruments.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to differentiate between GAAP, statutory accounting principles and IFRS for insurance companies.
- Attendees will be able to account for insurance transactions under the differnt standards.
- Attendees will be able to improve their understanding of insurance accounting parctices.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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107 Risk Focused Exam:What Regulators Expect
Session Leader
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Norlyn Baker, Eide Bailly
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Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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108 Reinsurance Contract Design
Session Leader
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Timothy Corley, Inpoint Services
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Panel Members
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Jonathan Morris, Inpoint Services
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This session will outline the different forms of P&C reinsurance contracts and provide an overview of the mechanics and function of each type. The framework for each type of contract will be discussed, including the purpose or function that the reinsurance contract can serve. Understand why a company might choose one type of reinsurance contract over another based on the desired benefits and financial implications. In addition, various provisions included in a reinsurance contract, including those typically required in various states and/or by codification, will be briefly discussed.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to list the various types of reinsurance and their usage
- Attendees will be able to differentiate between prorata and excess reinsurance
- Attendees will be able to evaluate how their current reinsurance program operates
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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121 How to Excel at Managing and Supervising People - Session 1
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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221 How to Excel at Managing and Supervising People - Session 2
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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271 Successfully Leaving a Legacy: Strategies & Tactics for Core System Replacement & Modernization
Session Leader
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Anthony O'Donnell, Insurance & Technology
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Panel Members
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George Grieve, CastleBay Consulting
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Eric Eckert, Discoverture Solutions
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Faced with increased competition, changing regulatory requirements, newer delivery mechanisms and aging legacy technology, replacing the core processing systems is no longer an option for insurers, but a necessity. Each year, insurance companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase and replace mission-critical core processing systems. Unfortunately, high project failure rates have made legacy replacement projects both risky and expensive. Whether you are considering an enterprise implementation or a best-of-breed strategy, ensuring a healthy project is critical to your bottom line and competitive advantage, and it requires careful consideration of critical tasks before and throughout any implementation – business process reengineering, complete and consistent data requirements analysis, data migration or conversion, multi-vendor coordination, integration and interoperability with other systems, limited scope creep, and a focus on delivering expected results. During this session, insurance experts will share their experiences in managing and maintaining a healthy legacy replacement project including the review key upfront planning principles that will help to keep your legacy replacement project on track.
Objectives:- Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to prepare for and implement a successful legacy replacement effort.
- Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to avoid common implementation pitfalls, project delays, and overruns.
- Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to identify best practices that will ensure a best-of-breed or enterprise. implementation can be successful.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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272 Business Intelligence and Dashboards • Visibility to Your Data
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Bob Lasher, iPartners
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Kurt Bonigut, Frontline Homeowners Insurance
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Chris Sawyer, LexisNexis
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Business Intelligence and Dashboards have become hot topics in the insurance industry over the past couple of years. Some insurers continue to stand on the sidelines; others are putting their toe in the water, while some have already jumped into the deep end of the pool.
Regardless of where the attendee is in the adoption of these new technologies, they will benefit from the real world experience of these speakers that have been part of the community adopting and implementing these technologies to successfully improve business.
In this session, the speakers will review their respective projects with one focused on business intelligence and the other on dashboards. The business intelligence case study will include market evaluation to solution selection, through implementation and business results. In the dashboard case study, the speakers will share how they consume data differently now that they have the dashboard visibility into their business.
Objectives:- Better understand how they can effectively use data as an asset for analytics/business intelligence to make more informed decisions
- Evaluate their dashboard and business intelligence opportunities and potential value
- Identify and apply best practices and must do's for a successful implementation
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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273 Head into the Cloud: Classic Insurance Applications for Cloud Computing
Session Leader
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Ara Trembly, The Insurance Tech Consultant
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Panel Members
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Andy Scurto, ISCS, Inc.
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Steve Boyd, Arrowhead Insurance Group
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Aaron Harris, Intacct Corp.
|
Cloud computing is a potentially equalizing approach to technology that can allow smaller insurance companies access to the same applications, functionality and services via “the cloud” that larger IT shops have access to in-house. Cloud computing will level the playing field, enabling small to mid-size insurance companies to have 24x7x365 fully-redundant systems securely available to internal staff, agents and policyholders as well. This revelation is bringing more competition to the insurance industry, forcing better pricing for all and letting IT management rethink how to utilize and optimize resources. There are classic applications for cloud computing in insurance that your company should be considering. It’s time to dismiss the apprehensions of the past around data security and control and find out how your competitors are beginning to leverage this technology.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify key insurance applications which may be a good place for a company to start implementing cloud computing.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to discuss the security concerns insurance companies may have about cloud computing and explain ways these concerns can and already have been overcome.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to explain ways in which cloud computing can provide top-level services to small and mid-size companies at the same cost as larger companies.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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274 On Time, On Target and On Budget: Successful Implementation Management
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Victor Arocho, The Responsive Auto Insurance Co.
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Ruth Mazur, The Hartford
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There’s never time to do it right, but there’s always time to do it over. But with system implementation, if it’s not done right there might not be enough money to do it over. This session will show how to manage best of breed implementations with multiple vendors; minimize delays, rework, cost, and frustration; optimize opportunity and resources; adopt a broad perspective; plan strategically; define requirements; choose the right system; engineer the right processes; manage projects effectively; test thoroughly; and make your technology practice perfect.
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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275 Frameworks, Architectures & Infrastructure Strategies for Modern Insurance Companies
Session Leader
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robert Buhrle
|
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Robert Firoz, Nippon Life Benefits
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Panel Members
Today, insurance companies must compete on more than just the best price. Buyers are making purchasing decisions based on factors that include which companies offer self-service options, products targeted specifically to consumer needs, automated billing and policy processes, faster turnaround on quotes and claims, and much, much more. The technology frameworks, architectures and infrastructure strategies chosen by an insurance company can make the difference in being able to offer these services, or not. Whether you choose to build, buy, outsource or assemble, whether you invest in the IAA Framework or utilize a services-oriented architecture (SOA) approach, you must integrate with existing systems or tie into new components. Further, integrating multiple technologies demands you utilize a standard messaging infrastructure in order to ensure success. Keep in mind there is no single solution that will work for every insurance company. This session will provide options and ideas that you can use to evaluate which approach is right for you when it is time to replace a legacy system or upgrade to a more modern solution.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to define benefits to be realized by modernizing technology infrastructure
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify types of infrastructures and architectures that may be best suited to their company’s specific needs and goals.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to discuss ways incorporating standards into your technology infrastructure can help you integrate systems seamlessly.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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276 Tweet, Tweet, Ping, Ping: Social Media Strategies for Insurance
Session Leader
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Jennifer Overhulse-King, St. Nick Media Services
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Panel Members
Many people are still figuring out just how social media works, what benefits it can have and what drawbacks come with it. For insurance companies, it is essential that someone is managing the way that employees are using social media and how social media is used strategically on a corporate level for marketing, selling, brand establishment and recognition, event recruitment, agent-carrier interaction, demographic and preference information about potential customers and much, much more. Who controls the use of your company name? Can employees establish their own LinkedIn groups with your company name? Can agents Twitter from what looks like a corporate account? What about limits on personal content? If you can answer these questions you are a step ahead of most of your competitors. Many insurance companies have dipped the proverbial toe in the water, but have yet to find the right mix of sharing information and protecting the privacy of employees and policyholders alike. With more traditionally personal sites like Facebook and YouTube now challenging LinkedIn and Twitter for business users, it is more important than ever for your company to have a strategy that covers all aspects of social media. Join industry analysts, insurance company social media experts and media professionals during this session as they discuss the different types of social media available to insurance companies today, the ways these various sites and channels are being used productively, and things you should avoid at all costs.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to assess whether participation in social media can have benefits for their company.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify appropriate social media tools and internal resources that will make the company’s participation in social media a success.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to steer clear of privacy issues and image problems that can be created through uninformed participation in social media.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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277 Juggling the Budget: Delivering Results While Controlling Costs
Session Leader
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Mark Hansen, Horace Mann Insurance Companies
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Kim Wilkes, Robert E. Nolan Company
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Panel Members
CIOs, like all department leaders, are being asked to deliver more with less. What are the best techniques for identifying and implementing cost-savings in IT, without sacrificing delivery capability? Attend this session to learn the fundamentals, and hear from a successful carrier that took a back-to-basics approach to reducing IT expenses, while actually improving IT capacity and delivery.
Objectives:- Identify and validate cost-saving opportunities in IT
- Specify the impacts and trade-offs of implementing an expense-management effort
- Prioritize actions based on impact and timeframe
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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301 NAIC Reporting Update
Session Leader
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Norlyn Baker, Eide Bailly
|
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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302 Fraud & Forensics
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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303 Orange Blank Topics
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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304 FHLB, Better Liquidity Options for Today’s Insurance Industry
Session Leader
Panel Members
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James Eibel, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
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|
Doreen Koning, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis
|
The Federal Home Loan Bank system has been in place since 1932 and has been a stable provider of liquidity to financial insitututions through economic crisis and prosperous times. Insurers are incorporating FHLB membership into their liquidity and risk planning. Is it itime that you learn the benefits of membership with this GSE?
Objectives:- Educate attendees on the Federal Home Loan Bank system and how they provide liquidity to financial institutions such as insurance companies.
- Provide examples of funding strategies that can assist insurers in keeping fully invested and manage capital.
- Address questions from attendees on their ability to become members and the membership process.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
305 Model Audit Rule-From Various Aspects
Session Leader
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Kevin Sullivan, Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LP
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Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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306 No Session in this time slot
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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307 P&C Tax Update
Session Leader
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Alice Lowry
|
|
Richard Bland
|
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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308 Under the Microscope: How to Survive Increased Reinsurance Audit Scrutiny
Session Leader
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Paul Jaouen, AEGIS Insurance Services, Inc.
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Panel Members
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Becky Roth, MICA
|
|
Criag Robinson, StoneRiver
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|
Karlyn Carnahan, Novarica
|
The new world of financial oversight means more audit requirements as well as more emphasis on board and management responsibility. With reinsurance recoverables representing a major portion of a company’s assets, the management and timely collection of these recoverable amounts are demanding greater effort, and will certainly be an increased area of focus when audits are performed. SOX and the Model Audit Rule will put significant pressure on companies to demonstrate that they have adequate controls over their reinsurance recoverables. Additional emphasis on ERM will increase concerns over credit risk and security. This session will explore the changes in financial control standards and how they may be addressed. Whether your company is a virtual insurance company where all business processes are outsourced, or you have a single back office process that handles reinsurance accounting, your focus needs to be on improving the management of this valuable resource and be able to survive increased audit scrutiny.”
Objectives:- Attendees will get a greater awareness of changes in financial control standards affecting reinsurance recoverables.
- Attendees will be able to evaluate methods to improve the management of reinsurance recoverables
- Attendees will be better prepared to survive increased audit scrutiny.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
321 Branding Yourself for Career Success
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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371 Automated Underwriting • Better Submissions, Better Quotes, Better Business
Session Leader
Panel Members
|
Mark Breading, SMA Strategy Meets Action
|
|
Sundar Vallinayagam, Jarus Technologies
|
One of the key challenges facing the insurance companies is the cost and time involved in the underwriting process. While underwriting is something every insurance company must do, it should not be looked upon as a simple function. Doing it efficiently can provide a distinct competitive advantage while improving the bottom line. Insurance companies face many challenges within the underwriting process itself, including frequent changes to underwriting criteria, complex pricing and risk selection. By automating underwriting processes, your company can create consistency in pricing and risk selection, decrease policy processing times, and improve overall customer service and satisfaction levels. This session will discuss ways insurance companies can automate underwriting, incorporate business rules, utilize predictive modeling in the underwriting process and enable agents to quote and bind in a single session.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to explain how automating underwriting can enable agents to quote and bind in a single session
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify ways to incorporate predictive analytics modeling into real-time underwriting processes.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to discuss how business analysts can maintain and test rules using advanced frameworks.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
372 Improving ROI by Thinking Outside the Box: Unconventional Uses for a Conventional ECM System
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
373 Sign on the Invisible Line: eSignature
Session Leader
Panel Members
In the current electronic age, the traditional paper-based business transaction systems are moved online. But these electronic transactions have a few concerns like knowing whom you are dealing with (identification), who is authorized to access what information (entitlements), and how individuals will be held accountable for their online commitments (digital accountability). eSignatures are being widely recognized as a best practice for ensuring digital accountability for electronic transactions. eSignatures are the most effective, secure, and easy-to implement method of providing accountability while enabling electronic transactions. eSignatures deliver e-business advantage.
Often, the agent electronically generates the insurance application / policy with the prospective customer, ideally at the customer’s office or home. However, in order to complete the transaction, the customer must sign the agreement, which involves printing the policy.
Therefore, the agent has to return to the office to print and mail the application to the customer for signing. The requirement of a handwritten signature prolongs application-processing time, involves paper handling and significantly increases costs. An e-signature solution can be applied to sign the documents, using which both the agent and the customer can instantly sign electronically -anywhere, anytime. Using e-signature online insurance applications can be developed which’ll enable applications to be completed and approved online, improving customer service options.
eSignature technology can also be smoothly integrated into business transactions such as -auto financing agreements, new bank account openings, health-related paperwork, sales contract execution, mortgage and other loan applications etc.
Objectives:- To discuss new technology trends in the Insurance industry
- To provide an overview of the eSignature legalities and to give a 10 minute PPT about the 6 point framework of eSignatures.
Industry Analyst
- To discuss how to properly evaluate eSign and eVauliting technology.
- To discuss the benefits realized from adopting eSignatures
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
374 The Agility "Triple Play": How P&C Insurers Can Work Smarter, Launch Products 30% Faster and Increase Revenue
Session Leader
Panel Members
Launching new quality products and updating an existing portfolio is a team sport involving a host of players and business units-underwriters, actuaries, claims, legal, compliance, finance, marketing, sales, operations, and IT. Driven by customer demands, regulatory requirements and competitive pressures, speed on the base paths is critical and execution is the key to victory. No matter how good the game plan, dependence on manual processes alone is not enough to ensure the winning run will cross home plate in time. Learn how other teams (as in your competitors) are using product development and management solutions to lead the league in triple plays by working smarter, launching products significantly faster and increasing their revenues. Attend this session to learn how your team can outscore the competition.
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
375 Security In An Insecure World
Session Leader
Panel Members
|
Darby O'Neill, Princeton Insurance
|
|
Donald Light, Celent
|
|
Keith Beijer, StoneRiver
|
Security has been a concern ever since people began providing sensitive information to third parties. Its importance has grown along with the use of the Internet and Internet-based buying, banking and investing. With the advent of SOX, the new Model Audit Rule and PCI requirements, security has become a matter of overwhelming importance for every company.
Every business today faces security challenges, whether it does all of its business over the web, or is a more traditional operation selling face-to-face. Security threats can range from a single disgruntled employee to sophisticated Internet-based attacks. This session will discuss the various security threats that companies face today, and the strategies to counter them.
Objectives:- Identify many of the types of security threats their company faces
- Identify methods to counter security threats
- Evaluate the security of their company’s systems, and that of any third-party providers
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
376 Connecting Constituents: Becoming a Competitive Carrier of Choice
Session Leader
Panel Members
Independent agents and brokers are the most common distribution channel for property/casualty insurance companies of all sizes, but by the nature of the term “independent,” agents can choose which insurance companies they write business for and which companies within their provider base ultimately get the most business and the best risks. Independent agents are challenged to increase profitability and productivity, and learning multiple proprietary insurance company systems can be a burden. It is imperative agents be able to connect directly to carrier systems to perform endorsements, generate quotes, inquiries, submissions and other transactions. Real-time connectivity can enable superior customer service, set the standard for consistent workflow, ease problems with processing of policy transactions, and even improve E&O loss control. With a combination of real-time transaction workflow and instant sign on to carrier websites, your users will be able to process business and service customers faster. Real-time connectivity makes it easy and cost-effective for agents and carriers to do business.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify ways real-time connectivity can make it easier to acquire new independent agents as part of the company’s distribution channel.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to compete effectively for business with improved processing times and increased operational efficiencies.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to create an ease-of-doing business atmosphere in which agents can quickly perform endorsements, generate quotes and close business.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
377 Insurance for IT Professionals
Session Leader
|
Chris Belle, ITS Data Services
|
Panel Members
|
Joanne Riddle, ITS Training & Development Services
|
The insurance industry has moved well beyond the days where technology drove business decisions. Rather, in today's world, IT professionals are dealing with a customer community that is technically savvy and looking for automation solutions that support their business model. Thus it is critical for insurance IT personnel to develop an appreciation for the business they are supporting, in much more depth than in the past.
This session will provide an overview of the training that can enable IT professionals to understand the fundamentals of property and casualty insurance and become familiar with the terminology and basic concepts. The session will cover:
• the history of the insurance industry;
• a high-level overview of property & casualty insurance products;
• how marketing & sales function in the insurance industry;
• an introduction to underwriting, reinsurance, claims, and insurance accounting;
• how IT supports the business.
Objectives:- Describe why IT people working in the insurance industry need to know the business.
- Define what areas insurance training for IT professionals should cover.
- Provide a general overview of the insurance industry.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
401 NAIC Reporting Update
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
402 Implementing a General Ledger
Session Leader
Panel Members
|
Brent Parks, StoneRiver, Inc.
|
Hear from Insurance Industry Software experts on implementation of a General Ledger package. In this interactive session we will discuss processes, practices and pitfall avoidance in implementing a new General Ledger into your environment.
Objectives:- Learn how to plan your implementation
- Hear about pitfalls and how to avoid them
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
403 Demystifying IT
Session Leader
|
David Stanley, Technology Practice Managment
|
Panel Members
As the role of technology in business expands exponentially, it is more important than ever for CFO’s to gain a greater understanding in this area. However, too often, the technology landscape changes so quickly that the task of building an IT knowledge base can appear overwhelming. The objective of this session is to provide CFO’s and other financial managers with answers to IT questions that they need to know in order to make more informed business decisions.
Objectives:- Provide attendees with an explanation of information technology terms that they may hear from their IT team
- Supply attendees with answers to the IT questions that they need to know but may never have asked.
- Foster an understanding of the critical need for a cohesive relationship between the Financial and Information Technology teams within a company.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
404 Impairment Portfolio Modeling
Session Leader
|
Sam Mejia, SS&C Technologies
|
Panel Members
|
Joseph Parish, Sequity Capital
|
This session will help insurance accountants, analysts and back-office operations understand the decisioning and framework for valuation of structured and loan back securities particularly as it relates to 43R and OTTI considerations. This will provide insight into the methodology and inputs from a modeling perspective and generate some understanding of the impact upon accounting.
Objectives:- Attendee will be able to summarize to Sr Management on how the valuation for cashflows is derived and to defend before other interested parties.
- Attendee will be able to account for impaired securities by defining the intent and listing the assumptions used in the calculations.
- Attendee will be able to implement 43R and OTTI for both GAAP and STAT from a cause and effect perspective.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
405 Rising from the Ashes: Post-Crisis Regulatory Reforms and Implications for Insurers
Session Leader
|
Tom Finnell, Invotex Group
|
Panel Members
|
Willliam Boyd, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
|
|
Ethan Sonnichsen, National Association of Insurance Commissioners
|
If the recent credit and economic crisis has resulted in nothing else, it has triggered an avalanche of proposals for regulatory reforms to the financial services sector. Banking and other segments may likely bear the brunt of any resulting reforms, but insurers will not escape unscathed. The Obama Administration has proposed a Federal Office of National Insurance, a concept that had drawn wide support earlier, but as currently proposed includes more ominous language that could preempt state regulation in certain areas. The administration’s proposal also leaves the door open for a broader federal role.
Meanwhile, the NAIC and state insurance departments are not sitting idly by waiting for the feds to act. The NAIC has a full agenda and continues to revisit the key tools available to help states with their financial oversight of insurers and is pushing on reforms of its own, including with respect to principles-based reserves, possible revisions to the Model Investment Laws, and more.
Financial services sector reform efforts are expected to emerge, take shape and continuously evolve, so this will surely be a timely topic when IASA convenes in June 2010.
This panel discussion will include insurance regulators, trade group representatives and industry experts who will share their views on what is coming our way, why, and what that may mean for you and your company.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to understand the broad spectrum of regulatory reforms that are proposed and/or recently enacted
- Attendees will be able to understand the potential implications of those reforms to the U.S. insurance industry and by segment
- Attendees will be able to understand how they and their companies can prepare for coming changes
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
406 IFRS: Implementation
Session Leader
|
Jim Stangroom, Invotex Group
|
Panel Members
|
Pat Coyne, MassMutual Financial Group
|
This session will discuss practical aspects of IFRS implementation for insurance companies. Panelists will include company and industry representatives with hands-on experience in IFRS implementation projects.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to implement an IFRS project plan.
- Attendees will be able to design an implementation plan.
- Attendees will be able to evaluate key implementation issues.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
407 Life Tax Update
Session Leader
|
Thomas Gibbons, Pacific Life
|
Panel Members
|
James Hall, American Counsel of Life Insurers
|
|
Craig Provenzano
|
|
Stephen Baker
|
The panel will lead participants through significant current tax developments
and related tax planning for the life insurance industry. The panelists will
review recent legislative changes, judicial decisions, and rulings in the areas of federal and
state income taxes as well as premium and retaliatory taxes.
Objectives:- Summarize latest developments in federal
taxation of life insurance companies.
- Summarize latest developments in state taxation
of life insurance companies.
- Understand how latest developments
impact tax accounting, planning, and compliance
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
408 Reinsurance Market Trends & NAIC Update
Session Leader
|
Dan Gibson, Swiss Re America
|
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
421 Communication: Purpose vs. Task
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
|
471 Rating: A Strategic Asset…How do you rate?
Session Leader
Panel Members
How well an insurer determines what to charge for a specific risk and how accurate their rating function is determines how profitable and competitive they will remain. Rating is a core business function for all insurance carriers. To remain competitive in today's marketplace, insurers are re-evaluating how efficient and effective their rating is done.
A variety of different carriers each offering their own perspective of how rating technology is utilized for their own specific business operations, will be the focus point of the panel discussion.
Whether or not a rating system is utilized as a stand-alone rating system or inside a product component suite, there will be discussion on how a rating system can provide a single "anchor point" for much of the business logic used by other applications. Moderated by an industry analyst, the panel discussion will share specific insight into the following:
(1) How to achieve operational productivity by leveraging rating technology.
(2) How granular rating and tiering can give carriers the competitive edge needed to increase market share and retention.
(3) Testing, modeling and product analysis.
(4) How product configuration tools are utilized as an extension of your rating technology.
(5) Leveraging your rating data to other applications and functions such as comparison rating, form selection, commissioning and much more.
Objectives:- 1. Provide a forum where Rating Subject Matter Experts(SMEs) can share their experience and perspective of how rating technology is utilized within their specific business operations.
- 2. Through exploration of black-box rating, Commercial Lines rating, Personal Lines rating and Specialty Lines rating the discussion will provide insight on how carriers are utilizing a rating system to provide a single "anchor point" for much of the business logic used by other applications.
- 3. Discuss trends where carriers, agents and insureds are now requiring rating capability in a real-time environment to determine their insurance purchase.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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472 Commercial Underwriting Following the Data Trail
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Bob Burns, LexisNexis
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Gary Watson, Main Street America
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Insurers and agents face a conundrum in writing smaller commercial risks. On the one hand, they want to do a thorough job underwriting the risk. On the other, they can't spend a fortune vetting a risk that produces a modest amount of premium. More and better data, and predictive modeling, are the answer.
What's new and cutting edge? Bringing together more sources of both commercial and personal data (the owner's personal info is crucial in underwriting small businesses), integrating the data fully with the policy administrations system, and doing it more cost-efficiently than ever before
Besides better, faster underwriting with less human intervention, this development has some specific advantages:
• Regional carriers that specialize in small risks can move up the size scale to and stay in their
sweet spot without extensive human underwriting.
• Less work, better results for agents. Carriers are asking agents and brokers to do more
data gathering and take on more underwriting responsibility. With this system, the agent just
needs to put in a couple of pieces of key information and the rest of the application is
prefilled with information - instead of having to manually fill out a multipage application.
At the end of this session, Attendees will understand:
• How data integration increases underwriting accuracy and optimize resources
• What types of data provide the most impact
• How, when, and where the data used in the underwriting process
Objectives:- How data integration increases underwriting accuracy and optimize resources
- What types of data provide the most impact
- How, when, and where the data used in the underwriting process
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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473 Enhancing the Agent Experience: Collaboration Content with a Transactional Focus
Session Leader
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Jennings Carpenter, Mennonite Mutual Insurance Company
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Panel Members
It is clear that industry conditions are less predictable than ever before and insurers must focus on everything from distribution and customer service to efficiency and compliance. In order to succeed in today’s market; carriers must be comfortable with ups, downs and sudden changes. Executives must be able to use and reuse data and information within their organization to compete effectively. This session will discuss how Mennonite Mutual Insurance Company (MMIC) has been able to use technology to become a carrier of choice and ease the process of doing business. MMIC’s agents have continually ranked them number two or three in terms of how easy it is to work with and the functionality of their systems. MMIC has been able to combine SharePoint and transactional content management (TCM) to provide agents access to virtually all information they need to do business with MMIC. Everything from transactional documents like claims and underwriting content to business information like newsletters and manuals are accessible. For agents, virtually every interaction with MMIC can be completed via the SharePoint portal. From submitting applications to making payments to viewing commission statements – everything an agent needs to do business can be found online. Keeping agents happy is an issue insurance carriers of all sizes face. Providing self-service tools for agents and exceeding their expectations helps create a competitive advantage.
Objectives:- Discover how leveraging existing technologies like your Enterprise Content Management system can help you be easier to do business with.
- Learn how to provide your agents access to virtually all information like claims and underwriting content quickly and easily.
- Hear how providing self-service tools for agents and exceeding their expectations helps create a competitive advantage.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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474 Servicing Multiple Distribution Channels Shouldn't Mean Multiple Headaches
Session Leader
Panel Members
This session will help attendees to better understand how to effectively approach this multiple distribution channel challenge. Developing and getting new products into the system is one thing, but getting them in the hands of multiple distribution and service channels is quite another challenge. Even with new technologies and rules-based systems offering Speed-to-Market, insurers often still find themselves in a quandary to effectively and efficiently get these products and services into the hands of the agents, brokers, consumers, and customer service reps. Each user channel requires a unique and high quality experience, capability and process requirements, security needs, user rights, functionality, varying languages/currency and more. speakers will review how carriers and brokers are turning to technology to re-architect their user-facing solutions to provide unique, easy-to-use, high quality user experiences. The panel will also share real-world examples of the competitive benefits and bottom line results of an effective multi-channel strategy and supporting technology architecture.
Objectives:- Upon completed this session, attendees will:
- Understand how to deal with managing multiple channel user interfaces and how to re-architect the user experience
- Learn how to extend existing and acquired legacy systems to the Web
- Better know how to deal with multiple languages and currencies, security across channels, and browser technology changes
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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475 Utilizing Social Networking Software to Support Distributed Development Projects
Session Leader
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Stephen Korow, Decision Research Corp.
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Panel Members
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Richard Williams, Beazley Insurance
|
Social Networking software is often thought of as a drain on productivity and something to be banned during office hours. But some companies are utilizing these same technologies to increase productivity and reduce expenses -- distributed companies who need a way to capitalize on expertise that may be anywhere in the world. Social networking can be utilized to easily and economically connect resources once thought remote or unavailable, enabling the tight coordination of a distributed team of talent. This session with review development projects that spanned multiple time zones yet stayed on budget and on time partly through the prudent use of social networking software to connect resources and create virtual environments that supported the creation of a team.
Objectives:- Upon completing this session, the attendee will:
- Better understand distributed development tools and the problems to be aware of managing distributed projects
- Be better able to monitor remote teams to ensure project success
- Learn best practices through case studies and the speakers’ real world experiences.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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476 Driving Operational Efficiencies & Improving Cross Selling Using A Producer Distribution Channel Management Solution
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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477 No Session In This Time Slot
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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501 NAIC Accounting Update
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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502 Using Best Practices and Peer Intelligence to Improve Performance
Session Leader
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Leah Hollstegge, Ward Group
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Panel Members
In the current economic market, insurers are challenged with growing premium while managing expenses. Strategic planning paired with competitive intelligence can direct a company toward optimal performance. Can these tools provide the navigation necessary to survive these uncertain times? This session will center around the competitive intelligence component. It will explore the concept of best practices and common challenges companies face when trying to implement. This session will also identify key financial and operational benchmarks and their application within an insurance company.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to improve their communications with managers and departments on how to measure and manage operational performance.
- Attendees will be able to identify relevant best practices for their companies.
- Attendees will be able to evaluate their performance against the industry and peer companies.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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503 No Session in this time slot
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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504 Impairment Accounting
Session Leader
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John Vercellino, SunGard iWorks, LLC
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Panel Members
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Dennis Lebar, SunGard iWorks, LLC
|
|
Maria Bifulco, Prudential Insurance Company
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In response to the confusion and concerns regarding writing down impaired securities and recognizing losses on these securities, the FASB has recently issued new guidelines on when and how to recognize other-than-temporary impairments. The new rules significantly change the recognition and accounting for other-than-temporary impaired securities. This sesion will explore the new GAAP accounting rules as well as recent pronouncements from the NAIC regarding impaired investments. See how insurance compaies are dealing with these issues and benefit from the experience of others who are dealing with these new complex rules.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to evaluate securities for potential impairment
- Attendees will learn how to account for securities that have been impaired based on the new accounting rules.
- Attendees will be able to quantify how impaired securities will affect the financials of their organization.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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505 ERM- Risk Identification, Assessment & Monitoring
Session Leader
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Kevin Sullivan, Amper, Politziner & Mattia LP
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Panel Members
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Kenneth Pavlick, Selective Insurance
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Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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506 IFRS-Technical-IASB Discussion Paper on Ins Contracts
Session Leader
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Carol Rideout, Norfolk & Dedham Group
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Panel Members
A look at the IFRS and what it will mean to insurance companies. Scheduled for implementation in 2011 this project could make codification look easy.
Objectives:- Be informed of the progress and final decisions
- Learn the current timeiline and how to evaluate the impact on your reporting.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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507 Tax Financial Accounting & Reporting Update
Session Leader
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Fred von Rueden, Deloitte Tax LLP
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Gary Lau, Assurant
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Panel Members
This panel will provide an update on tax accounting developments in GAAP, STAT, and IFRS, including a discussion of any current issues.
Objectives:- Have an awareness of the basic issues arising from tax accounting developments in GAAP, STAT, and IFRS.
- Understand the significant tax considerations surrounding accounting developments in GAAP, STAT, and IFRS.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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508 Basic Reinsurance Accounting
Session Leader
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Tim Corley, Inpoint Services
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Panel Members
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Jonathan Morris, Inpoint Services
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Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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521 Business & Social Media Victories
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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571 Achieving New Claim Management Efficiencies through Modern Technologies
Session Leader
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Keith Inouye, BlueWave Technology
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Panel Members
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Karen Pauli, Tower Group
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Mike Anselmo, Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (NBIC)
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Ernie Pearson, SECURA Insurance Companies
|
Fast, consistent claim handling results in lower claim processing costs, and improved customer service follows as a result of decreased cycle times, but in many cases, insurance companies will need to revamp processes, workflows and even existing systems to accomplish these goals. Today, insurance companies can leverage modern, innovative claims technologies to support the transformation of internal organizational structure and business processes with lasting and measurable results. By introducing modern technologies to handle core business services, insurance companies can begin to benefit from reduced leakage, improved operational efficiency, consistency in claim handling, compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements, plus reduced IT costs. What is the best way for you to evaluate the impact these technologies could have on your organization? Case study details and perspectives from other industry experts will help point you in the right direction.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to effectively explain how modernizing claim technologies and processes can lower operational costs
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to reduce leakage by tightening integration with other internal core processing systems.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to promote consistency in claim handling resulting in improved customer satisfaction and retention rates.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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572 Data Management and BI 2.0
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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573 Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Cool Ways Insurance Companies are Using Modern Technologies
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Carlos Correa, Liberty International Underwriters
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Patricia Speer, Insurance Networking News
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Times are tough. Insurance companies, just like everyone else, are looking for new methods of selling products, new ideas about emerging markets, and new ways of identifying potential customers. Technology can be a great enabler, and there is little doubt the ideas for new ways of utilizing technology and innovative applications are out there, but which ones will work for you? Is your company actively mining social networks for information that may lead to new customers or new product ideas? Are you using geospatial data in your underwriting process to help you better assess risks? What about cloud computing? During this session, industry experts and observers will discuss new ways technology is being used, innovative ideas not brought to fruition yet, and how other industries are using technology that might work for your company.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify new technologies that may have applications in an insurance company IT shop
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to discuss ways other industries are using existing technologies that could benefit insurance companies.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to think strategically about how technology can improve sales and penetration of emerging markets or market segments.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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574 Agile Development-Successful Delivery & Implementing Across the Enterprise
Session Leader
Panel Members
While insurance software development and implementation is never going to be easy, it can be made less difficult with Agile methods versus traditional project management and waterfall development methodologies. In this session, insurer, consultant and vendor will each share their perspective, insight and experience with Agile development and implementation projects.
Objectives:- We will review the guiding principles behind the Agile way of software development and implementation – an approach that opts to eat the elephant one bite at a time by taking a more incremental, iterative and collaborative approach.
- Speakers will also share common pitfalls and successful strategies for enabling an organization to be agile across a wide spectrum of projects and programs. Topics covered include the role of outsourcing and offshore development, the challenges of being agile in a matrixed organization, improving skills needed to become more agile, the challenge of governance, managing agile programs, gaining commitment and resources from the business, and obtaining the right resources to enable project success.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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575 Implementing a Reinsurance Systems: Do's, Don'ts & What to Expect
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Melissa Jones, StoneRiver
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Deborah Smallwood, SMA Strategy Meets Action
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Jason Duellman, Sentry
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Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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576 Portals Pony Up Positives in Profitability and Proficiency
Session Leader
Panel Members
Please excuse our alliteration, but attendees for this session should expect to learn how agent and consumer portals can be perfect solutions for their growth and profitability objectives. Whether you are a carrier with an independent agent channel that needs real-time integration through a modern, connected portal; a direct-to-consumer carrier that needs a modern, user-friendly self-serve portal; or reflecting a current trend, a carrier that requires both, this session addresses what is needed for success.
Presentations from senior IT experts at two mid-sized carriers are complemented by presentations from two industry experts. With this broad scope they will touch upon what is working; necessary conditions for success; information on what independent agents & policy holders are seeking; and overall market trends.
Agent portals need to meet agent needs for ease-of-doing-business, offering full functionality, real-time transaction processing, access to carrier expertise, and workflows that reflect an agent “sales’ environment. They also need to ensure a carrier need for accurate, complete, & eligible information. With a modern, connected portal these needs can align, so that profitable, sustainable growth can be achieved.
Consumer, self-service portals face just as complex an environment. Policy holders and prospective policy holders want the on-line functionality they experience from others like Amazon, Banks, heck, even your local grocery store. By meeting their need to “do-it-themselves” they can reduce wait times, reduce costly dependence on internal staff, and effectively serve themselves. Carriers can improve customer satisfaction levels, involve stakeholders directly in their processes and reduce operating costs. To do so, they need to get it right, and this session talks about best practices to do so.
After all, where else can you hear us pronounce that profitable portals make perfect sense.
Objectives:- Hear firsthand what carriers are doing to profitably grow with new customers, new products, enter new jurisdictions, or with their current customer base, all while controlling their internal expenses. Participants in this session will hear from two successful carriers what they do, why they did it, how they achieved success and how they plan on sustaining it.
- Learn what is happening in the market based upon recent research studies, carrier input and the input from industry experts. The market is changing rapidly. Changing customer expectations are a huge driver of this change. Web savvy retailers are setting the bar high for all firms – not just their competitors, but for everyone who interacts with homeowners, automobile owners and business owners. Participants in this session will better understand what is happening and why it is happening.
- Most carriers undertake major technology changes on an infrequent basis. Many of the current, operational Policy Administration Systems were implemented in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Learning about new systems & new technologies, and “who is doing what” is important. This session helps keep attendees current, and identifies some important lessons learned that can help them when it is their turn for a major new technology project.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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577 Achieving Business Agility and Promoting Growth with a Modern Policy Administration System
Session Leader
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Meaghan Kenagy, OneShield, Inc.
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Panel Members
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Don Cahalan, Marsh Consumer Connexions
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|
Roger Soppe, Oracle Insurance
|
In the past, insurance companies implemented work arounds to compensate for legacy system limitations, paving the cowpaths so to speak. Today’s dynamically shifting insurance landscape demands insurers have the ability to introduce new products quickly, make adjustments to existing products and maintain competitive pricing. To ensure this necessary business agility and promote growth, insurers must re-evaluate and re-engineer business process and move toward more modern policy administration systems that take a holistic view of product development, provide a flexible environment for product support, and deliver measurable cost savings. During this session, insurance company professionals and industry experts will discuss how insurers can leverage best practices to mitigate risk, while enabling rapid product innovation through a modern policy administration system. Session participants will share real-world experiences about successfully migrating to a modern policy administration platform, lessons learned and how new systems can help to support growth and profitability.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify ways replacing a legacy system with a more modern policy administration solution can deliver agility and growth potential for their companies.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to begin an evaluation of which processes and systems should be re-engineer or replaced in order to improve speed-to-market and product support.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to explain how leveraging best practices to mitigate risk during a migration to a modern policy administration system
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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601 SEC Update
Session Leader
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Norlyn Baker, Eide Bailly
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Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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602 Competitive Analytics
Session Leader
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Thomas Noh, Farmers Insurance Group
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Panel Members
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Denis Mrkva, Farmers Insurance Group
|
Analytics is the competitive edge that is required to perform in the current insurance market. Analytics range from business intelligence, predictive analytics, and performance management. The insurance industry is leveraging this technology for understanding profitable market segments, growth opportunities, cost efficiencies, and for various other competitive actionable insights. This session is an introduction to competitive analytics and provide understanding of tools, skills, and resources to successful implement a Competitive Analytics program.
Objectives:- Understand basic type of competitive analytics like business intelligence, predictive analytics, and perfromance management
- Understand the fundamentals of building a competitive analytic function: data warehouse or single version of the truth, leveraging technologies, building multi-variate models, and making analytics actionable.
- Understand the risk and opportunities of implementing a competitive analytics program through case studies of actual implementations.
- Understand what analytics can and cannot do
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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603 Healthcare-Paper
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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604 Investment Strategies for These Changing Times
Session Leader
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John Vercellino, SunGard iWorks, LLC
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Panel Members
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Jeffrey Sims, Madison Scottsdale Investment Management
|
|
Anjanette Fowler, Madison Scottsdale Investment Management
|
|
William Fain, Madison Scottsdale Investment Management
|
With the financial and economic disasters of 2009 finally in the rear view mirror and the effects of the unprecedented government bail out programs and Fed actions beginning to have an impact on the capital markets …now may be a good time for insurers to reassess their investment strategies. In this session we explore this issue from a financial, investment and economic perspective.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to compare their investment management policy against the new realities of the market.
- Attendees will be able to improve their investment management strategy to take advantage of new investment vehicles.
- Attendees will be able to prepare to position their investment management strategy to take advantage of new trends in investment vehicles.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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605 Accelerating Your Actuarial Processes
Session Leader
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Paul Jaouen, AEGIS Insurance Services Inc.
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Panel Members
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Cyril Tuohy, Risk & Insurance
|
|
Bill Freitag, Agile Technologies
|
A recent Wall Street Journal listed actuary as one of the top five careers in the United States, a fact not missed by insurance companies that place great importance on the actuarial function. Actuaries use in-depth knowledge of financial security systems and often mathematical equations to evaluate contingencies and hopefully minimize losses. Actuaries working for insurance or reinsurance companies are responsible for two critical functions, pricing and reserving. That said, it should be obvious that by accelerating your company’s actuarial functions through automation you can improve risk management and perhaps the status of your bottom line as well. By optimizing your company’s pricing and reserving processes, you can add transparency, speed the financial closing process, improve cash flow, model and automate processes for maximum efficiency, and get a real-time look at how your business is performing. What would your company be capable of achieving if your actuaries could look at the business predictively and proactively instead of through a rearview mirror?
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to list the key ways in which technology can impact the actuarial process.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to explain the challenges inherent in improving and accelerating actuarial processes.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to begin to develop a company-specific strategy for accelerating actuarial processes such as pricing and reserving.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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606 Investment Accounting Issues: A Comparison/& Contrast GAAP/STAT/IFRS
Session Leader
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Sam Mejia, SS&C Technologies
|
Panel Members
This session will continue last years theme in bringing to the forefront for new attendees and returning attendees updates on major changes for investmetn accounting. The current regulation(GAAP/STAT and to a lesser extent IFRS) has been rapidly evolving and is very topical for all accountants who want to have the macro and to some extent micro perspective the understanding of the impact on investment accounting across the different accounting bases. The major thrust will be revolving around OTTI, 43R and SSAS 100.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to implement 43R and SSAS 100
- Attendees will be able differentiate regulatory nuances for investment accounting between GAAP/STAT and IFRS
- Attendees will be able to plan for IFRS considerations mid-term and long term
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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607 Treasury Management-Payment, etc.
Session Leader
Panel Members
Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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608 Reinsurance Accounting Advanced
Session Leader
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Timothy Corley, Inpoint Services
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Panel Members
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Jonathan Morris, Inpoint Services
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Objectives:
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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621 Taking the Lead: Critical Success Factors for New Project Managers
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Ernie Pearson, SECURA Insurance Companies
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|
Larry Wright, SECURA Insurance Companies
|
As a new project manager, it is important for you to understand the concepts, tools and behaviors critical for driving project success. The 4th Edition of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) contains over 400 of pages describing the project management discipline – a good read, some might argue essential, if you are a professional project manager. But what about those who are called upon to manage projects occasionally or to serve as part of a project team? What are the critical elements of project management that you must understand to be successful? This session focuses on the key elements of the five major project management processes – from initiating, planning and executing to controlling and closing. We’ll discuss constraints that may make achieving success more difficult, effective team behaviors for managing and controlling a project, and project management tools such as roles and responsibilities, project scope statements, work breakdown structures, risk profiles, and more. Improve your chance for success…learn the skills necessary to achieve the project outcomes necessary for both you and your team from experts with years of hands on experience and the scars to prove it.
Objectives:- Attendees will be able to describe the critical elements of project success
- Attendees will be able to identify and manage project risks
- Attendees will be able to organize and lead projects more effectively
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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671 Show Me the Money: Demystifying Billing & Payments
Session Leader
Panel Members
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Daniel Ellecamp, AAA NCNU
|
|
John Dougherty, Great American Insurance Companies
|
The fast pace of today’s 24x7 connected world has raised customer and producer expectations to new heights, and insurance companies are turning to technology to fulfill those expectations, increase process efficiencies, improve customer service and provide a significant competitive advantage. Once just a necessity of doing business, billing systems and new payment disbursement technologies have emerged as the new “it” tools for delivering the exceptional service policyholders want, expect and demand, while increasing the chance for insurance companies to personalize interactions with policyholders. Insurance company executives and industry experts will discuss how insurance companies can use new billing and payment technologies to handle outbound payments, offer cross-sell possibilities, and improve cash flow due to enhanced collection systems and processes. Don’t miss this chance to find out how your company can exploit billing and payment opportunities to give your customers what they want, when they want it while supporting overall corporate strategic objectives.
Objectives:- Discuss the impact of changing demographics on the billing and payment expectations of employees, distributors and customers
- Identify ways inbound and outbound payment processes can be streamlined
- Measure the costs associated with inefficient disbursement and billing administration
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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672 Data Conversion • The legacy replacement challenge every insurer faces.
Session Leader
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Matt Josefowicz, Novarica
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Panel Members
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George Grieve, CastleBay Consulting
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Eric Miller, Erie Insurance
|
Do it now or do it later, but you’re probably going to do data conversion as part of your legacy replacement project. While everyone in our industry knows this, no one wants to talk about it. It has no sizzle, doesn’t offer the IT staff a chance to flex their technical muscles or enhance their skills, adds no business value, usually costs more and takes longer than you expect, and is ‘once and done’ with no credit given (but, plenty of blame to go around if it goes badly.) In this session the speakers will help the attendees understand the path to successful data conversion, including: how to evaluate whether a conversion is necessary; determining which approach is best for your organization; exploring available options; the pros/cons differing approaches; minimizing the risk; what to expect from your software vendor; and how to get off square one.
Objectives:- Upon completion of this session, attendees will:
• Understand the pros and cons of the various approaches to data conversion
- • Know how to minimize the risk and increase the chances of data conversion success
- • Learn how to get the data conversion effort off on the right foot and on track
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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673 Why Predictive Analytics, Why now?
Session Leader
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Doug Bond, Agile Technologies, LLC
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Panel Members
Predictive analytics have been long held as a dark science, an R&D effort looking to find a lucky nugget of business insight once in a blue moon. But in reality this capability is being used today to solve real business solutions and optimize operations in an industry whose margins have all but vanished in the soft market we find ourselves trying to crawl out of.
Underwriting has been pressured as of late to become ever more surgical in segmentation of risk. Attractive market segments have becoming increasingly competitive as carriers look to begin again some semblance of premium growth while keeping the loss ratio in check. Predictive analytics identify creative new ways to price, provide early warning systems and automate underwriting for segments of business supporting straight-through processing, further consistency and reduced expense.
Claims is a challenge of balance between operational efficiency to handle claims quickly while at the same time providing enough review to manage claims leakage and fraud. Effective management of this balance is critical in managing loss, LAE, customer satisfaction, retention and thus renewal premiums. Predictive analytics are being used by savvy carriers to quickly size up a claim, determine the optimal workflow, improve reserving and at the same time quickly score a claim for fraudulent patterns of activity.
Other operations within today’s insurance carrier are experimenting as well. Actuarial, Sales, Marketing all have benefited by various forms of predictive analytics in automating process as well as making more informed decisions. The capability and business solutions have not only been proven, but are actively providing competitive advantage for a growing number of leaders in the industry. Can you afford to sit on the fence any longer?
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify ways leading edge insurance companies are leveraging predictive analytics for competitive advantage.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to explain how this technology can support a more streamlined, predictable and efficient business process.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to make decisions with a better ability to predict the results of those decisions before they play out.
| Draft reviewed:
No |
Presentation Materials Sent:
No |
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674 The Great Debate: Build, Buy, Outsource or Assemble-Which Method is Right for You?
Session Leader
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Ara Trembly, Ara Trembly, The Tech Consultant
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Panel Members
When it is time to modernize systems there are many options for insurance companies to consider, including building a system in-house, buying from a technology vendor, outsourcing capabilities the company currently lacks, or assembling a best-of breed solution. Insurance underwriters and IT specialists, just like carpenters and electricians, know that having the right tools for the job can define success and improve the flexibility and agility with which their company does business. It’s time to take all the possibilities into account. Is outsourcing the easiest option? How much control will you have to sacrifice, if any? Will buying a system give you faster access to more modern technologies? Is your IT shop equipped to maintain it once implementation is complete? What about best-of-breed? What industry standards, tools and common messaging infrastructure will make the transition smooth and incremental without impacting day-to-day business operations? Will your final choice be hard-coded or tool-based? Whichever option you choose, today’s modern systems must be dynamic, flexible and responsive to user and corporate demands. There is no single best solution strategy or silver bullet for every company across the board, but during this session experts will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option and offer recommendations based on company size, business goals, and available resources.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to assess internal staff capabilities and technology with an eye toward legacy replacement or modernization projects
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to define the specific benefits their companies can realize by modernizing aging core administration systems.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to determine which implementation method is the best fit for their companies.
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Presentation Materials Sent:
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675 A Practical Guide for Using Open Source
Session Leader
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Rod Travers, The Robert E. Nolan Company
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Panel Members
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David Hanley, Insurance Systems Inc.
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Chad Hersh, Novarica
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Open source has changed the way we look at implementing systems through virtual infrastructures. It offers portability and scalability, drives innovation, lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO), minimizes implementation time, and reduces maintenance costs. Organizations implementing open source can share information while combining their business and technology goals. Open source is particularly beneficial to small and mid-size carriers because it gives carriers access to the best possible systems without incurring the cost of proprietary software. Attend this session to gain a better understanding of open source options and find out how to implement open standards into your organization.
Objectives:- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to explain the benefits of utilizing Open Source options.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify the best ways to implement open standards into their organizations.
- After participating in this session, attendees will be able to use Open Source options to compete on a more level playing field.
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676 Reaching the Next Generation of Insureds
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677 No Session In This Time Slot
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701 NAIC Accounting Update
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702 Unclaimed Property
Session Leader
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Thomas Noh, Farmers Insurance Group
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Panel Members
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Josiah Osibodu, Thompson Reuters
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Kathleen Moyer, Thompson Reuters
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This workshop aims to increase your knowledge of issues and to identify Unclaimed Proeprty best practices. Compliance with unclaimed property laws is required for companies that issue checks, is publicly traded, issues customer credit refunds or has employees. There is a high probability that, at some point, your company will have an obligation to file an unclaimed property report and it is important that your company define its liability correctly to avoid underreporting which can lead to potentially serious consequences. This workshop is an opportunity to speak with leading unclaimed property specialists and to interact with other professionals facing unclaimed property issues.
Objectives:- Foundational understanding of the ramifications of Unclaimed Property.
- Review and understand Unclaimed Property best practices.
- How to avoid audits, fines, and penalties.
- Current Unclaimed Property hot topics
| Draft reviewed:
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Presentation Materials Sent:
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703 Ethics
Session Leader
Panel Members
A discussion on Ethics - how to apply it to your work life and your everyday life.
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704 Better Investment
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705 ERM - A Balancing Act: Driving Strategy, Improving Transparency & Providing Compliance Solutions
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Panel Members
A panel of experts from the insurance, consultant and analyst communities discusses current internal processes/strategies/technologies in place that are helping insurers respond to the new/increased emphasis on ERM/Governance from corporate boards, rating agencies and regulators.
Objectives:
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Presentation Materials Sent:
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706 Streamline Reconciliations
Session Leader
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Beech Turner, Builders Insurance Group
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Panel Members
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Jeff Adler, Blackline Systems
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In a world where close schedules get shorter and the demand for accuracy gets higher, something has to change. Many companies are seeing the number of accounts in their trial balances growing every year. This type of growth can increase the amount of time that is required to assure that reconciliation work is completed. How would your process improve if you were able to produce automated account reconciliations, integrate your email systems when a status change occurs, or provide access to your auditor, therefore reducing the time your accounting staff spends providing hard copy support?
Objectives:- Provide overview on the benefits of automating account reconciliations.
| Draft reviewed:
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Presentation Materials Sent:
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707 Tax Information Reporting Update
Session Leader
Panel Members
This session will explore changes in tax informational reporting, including1099's.
Objectives:- Learn about new developments in tax informational reporting.
| Draft reviewed:
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Presentation Materials Sent:
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708 Reinsurance Risk Transfer
Session Leader
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Dan Gibson, Swiss Re America
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771 IT TOWN HALL
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