The Chronicle: Issue 2011-44, November 1, 2011



The Intersection: Insurance-Canada.ca BlogWhat's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology, an Insurance-Canada.ca Blog.



Social Business

comScore: Social Networking On-The-Go: U.S. Mobile Social Media Audience Grows 37 Percent in the Past Year.
RESTON, VA, October 20, 2011 - comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results of a study on mobile social media usage based on data from its comScore MobiLens service, which showed that 72.2 million Americans accessed social networking sites or blogs on their mobile device in August 2011, an increase of 37 percent in the past year.

eMarketer: Consumers view brands that respond via Twitter positively.
OCTOBER 26, 2011 - For many social network users, Twitter is both a water cooler and a complaint department. Although most are there to engage with peers, many consumers are using Twitter to talk about their experiences with brands?and from time to time share their grievances. As more and more brands have joined Twitter, consumers? expectation for interaction with brands has risen.

eMarketer: Marketers Seek to Better Measure Social Media Success.
OCTOBER 27, 2011 - Companies and marketers realize that amassing fans and followers is not the be-all, end-all of social media marketing. Yet the challenge remains how to measure success beyond counting these metrics. Data from the August 2011 Chief Marketer "2011 Social Marketing Survey" found that only 26% of marketing professionals saw amassing total followers as an aim for social media marketing.

Distribution

Celent: Mobile Technology for the Life Insurance Producer: Is It a Fad or the Future?
October 18, 2011 - Only 12% of the top 100 life/health/annuity insurers in North America have introduced mobile technology to their producers. According to Celent discussions with life insurers, although mobile applications are not fully implemented in their businesses, nearly 50% of insurers are investigating their use.

Manulife Financial's New app will make it easier for advisors to introduce unique Synergy® insurance solution.
WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 27, 2011 - Earlier today, Manulife Financial announced its new iPad app designed to make it easier for Canadians to explore the benefits of Synergy, its ground-breaking insurance solution. The app, which is free to download from iTunes and is available in English and French, will help iPad users learn more about this one-of-a-kind Canadian insurance solution.


Business of Insurance

Conning Research: Life Insurers Struggle with Low Interest Rate Environment for the Foreseeable Future.
(Hartford, CT) October 20, 2011 - Analysis of life insurers' assets and investments in 2010 reveals an industry in recovery from the credit crisis but facing a new and longer-term set of challenges from the lowest interest rates seen since the 1950's, according to a new study by Conning Research & Consulting.

Consumer Information

InsuranceHotline : Savings for Going Green.
Society as a whole has been and is continuing to affect the natural environment. While it's difficult for most people to make radical changes in their habits and lifestyles, there are small ways through which the effects can be decreased. In addition to helping the planet, you may also find financial savings.

Sun Life: Many Canadian employers struggle to make employee health and wellness a strategic priority.
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2011 - The 2011 Buffett National Wellness Survey results were released earlier today at the launch of the Sun Life Wellness InstituteTM Breakfast Presentation series. The Survey results show a nation that understands the importance of workplace wellness, but is struggling to create the comprehensive workplace wellness infrastructure needed to improve employee health and the bottom line.

Government of Canada launches National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.
OTTAWA, October 26, 2010 - Today, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, announced Canada?s National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, to better protect Canadians in the event of a disaster. The establishment of Canada?s National Platform further strengthens existing coordination on domestic disaster risk reduction initiatives developed by Public Safety Canada, such as the National Disaster Mitigation Strategy, the National Strategy and Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure, and the Federal Emergency Response Plan.


Marketing and the Market Place

Sun Life Financial broadens its major sports affiliations in a sponsorship of the Canadian Football League.
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2011 - Sun Life Financial and the Canadian Football League (CFL) have signed an agreement that unites two great Canadian brands. Both organizations have a rich cultural history in Canada. During the CFL playoffs, which start on November 13, all player jerseys and a portion of the sideline signage will feature the Sun Life logo, as well as during the Grey Cup game.

Swiss Re report: Canadian pension funds and insurers should assess and mitigate their longevity risk exposure.
Toronto - 24 October 2011 - Many public and private employer pension funds have under-reserved for longevity risk, a new Swiss Re Economic Research & Consulting report reveals. Annuity books of business also carry longevity risk. The report, "Longevity risk and protection for Canada," explains that, fortunately, there are longevity re/insurance solutions to help these bodies address their exposure when funding citizens' longer lives.

Sun Life Poll finds majority 45-plus worried about saving for retirement in today's economy.
TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2011 - Over 54% of respondents age 45-plus have concerns about the economic uncertainty and how it may affect their retirement savings, according to a poll conducted recently by Sun Life Financial with its new partner CARP, a 350,000-member organization supporting a new vision of aging for Canada.

Reference and Statistics

CIAB Survey: Commercial P/C Market Pricing Remained Unchanged in Third Quarter.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - October 19, 2011 - Pricing in the U.S. commercial property/casualty market remained largely unchanged in the third quarter, according to The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers' Commercial P/C Market Index Survey. The survey showed prices inched upwards slightly across large, small and medium accounts, with small accounts leading the way with an average 2.1 percent increase.


Managing Relationships and Customer Service

Pitney Bowes Business Insight Reveals Less Than Half of Consumers Trust Their Insurance Provider.
TROY, N.Y., October 18, 2011 - Pitney Bowes Business Insight, a global leader in customer data, analytics and communication software and services, today announced a study revealing that only 48 percent of consumers in the U.S. and the UK trust their insurance provider. This represents lower levels of trust than are seen in the banking industry (57%). The study also found that a mere 32 percent of respondents thought that their insurance providers were doing a good job implementing policies that favor the customer's best interest.

Desjardins Financial Security launches a travel assistance mobile feature - A first in Canada.
Lévis (Québec), October 19, 2011 - Desjardins Financial Security (www.desjardinsfinancialsecurity.com) is the first Canadian insurance company to launch a travel assistance mobile feature. Desjardins Travel Insurance customers now have easy and secure access to essential information through the Desjardins mobile services application.

Standard Life Ipsos survey: Socially responsible investing consumer driven.
MONTREAL, Oct. 27, 2011 - According to a new Ipsos Reid survey conducted for Standard Life, the majority (54%) of Canadians who have discussed socially responsible investments (SRIs) with their advisor raised the topic themselves. The study, which examined attitudes about socially responsible investing, found that Canadians are open to SRIs provided their investment returns are similar to other investment choices.

from Doug:

The deities have smiled upon us in this area; outstanding weather for Thanksgiving followed by good weather for Hallowe'en. Living in a condo now and working from a home office, to some extent I am immune from day to day weather. But the memories of sitting on the front porch handing out candy to hundreds of trick-or-treaters in conditions which varied from almost short-sleeve to snow-suit temperatures and 'crackling-leaf' dry to sodden dampness almost make me want to do it again. I hope you are recovering easily from the sugar-high of Hallowe'en candy! May the weather for our next holiday event be equally pleasant.

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