Issue 2004-20:   May 25, 2004

This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information mostly about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.

Marketing and the Market Place

RBC Insurance Launches New Advertising Program.

RBC Insurance announced the launch of its new English advertising campaign on primetime and specialty television networks. The campaign incorporates the "First for You" tagline, which was developed for RBC by BBDO Toronto.

Canadian employees would choose their health benefit plan over cash: Aventis.

Canadian employees value their health benefit plan so much they wouldn't trade it for cash, according to a national public opinion survey released today. In fact, on average, 72 per cent of those polled would choose their plan over annual payments of up to $8,000(1). At the same time, however, plan members are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with their health benefits, pointing to the need to find ways not only to keep employees satisfied, but also healthy and productive in the long term.

Canada Presents Opportunity for Search Engine Marketing: eMarketer.

Canadians are more active users of search engines than their US counterparts, with a comScore poll finding that 85% of the population has conducted one or more searches online, compared to 73% of people in the US.

Managing Client Relationships

The Spirit of Citizenship - Sun Life Financial's 2003 Public Accountability Statement details commitment to social responsibility.

Sun Life Financial Inc.'s 2003 Public Accountability Statement, The Spirit of Citizenship, details the company's commitment to social responsibility.

Leading CDI solution provider, DWL, Releases DWL Customer™ 5.0.

DWL, the leading provider of Customer Data Integration (CDI) solutions, today announced the release of DWL Customer™ version 5.0. A market leading CDI solution that is based on a service-oriented architecture, DWL Customer™ is being used by some of the world's largest companies to serve as their enterprise system of record for all customer-related information and transactions.

Statistics and Reference

Have you read Canadian Insurance magazine lately?

Our May issue is in, again showing why our magazine has award winning coverage of the industry as well as achieving kudos for layout and design.

Product Announcement

Advisors Anticipate Launch of Transamerica's Attractively-Priced Enhanced Permanent Life Insurance Offering.

Transamerica Life Canada introduces upgrades to PROTECTORPlus™, its permanent life offering. The enhancements now provide independent distributors and advisors with a cost-efficient permanent life insurance solution to recommend to clients. PROTECTORPlus is competitively priced for the substantive protection and value it provides.

Business of Insurance

Sun Life Financial continues international expansion.

Sun Life Financial Inc. continues its successful international expansion, Donald A. Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, told the annual meeting of shareholders today.

Opening of Beijing Branch for Manulife-Sinochem is next step in becoming national life insurer in China.

Manulife-Sinochem Life Insurance Co. Ltd. today marked the start of business in Beijing - its second Branch office in China - with an official Opening Ceremony at the China World Hotel in the country's capital city. On hand to officiate the proceedings was His Excellence Joseph Caron, Ambassador of Canada to China.

Industry Needs Strong Balance Sheets - Levine from Lloyds.

Strong balance sheets are essential if insurers are to provide the stability, security and consistency that policyholders need, Lloyd's Chairman, Lord Levene said today.

Distribution

Certified Senior Advisor Education Program Schedule.

Having educated financial professionals for 17 years at Foran Financial Institute, we are firm believers in outside programs which offer individuals high quality education and certification. We are pleased to introduce you to an excellent program which would be of interest to many financial professionals. Two consultants to Foran Financial Institute, Rhonda Latreille and Everett Kent; are actively involved in this program. Both have provided superb services to Foran Financial Institute.

New Towergroup Research: Single-Dealer Portals Evolve.

In just four years, broker/dealer portals have evolved from immature distribution channels to indispensable tools for the delivery of core competencies and new business opportunities. TowerGroup estimates that broker/dealers have already spent $2.5 billion (since 2000) on portal infrastructure and will continue to invest in distributing innovative services through multiple channels.

e-Business and Technology

ITA to Research IT Deployment in Small and Medium P&C Companies.

Insurance Technology Advisors Ltd. (ITA) announced today that two Canadian IT providers have retained ITA to conduct a market research project of companies between $20 million NPW and $200 million NPW of the Canadian Property & Casualty (P&C) market.

Insurance IT Management Strategies and Practices: Reports Published by Celent.

As insurance IT groups find themselves under increased pressure to do more with less and to ensure business/IT alignment, management issues are coming to the fore. Whether it is a matter of post-merger rationalization or just improving performance, many insurance IT groups are taking a long look in the mirror and asking how they can operate more efficiently and serve the needs of the enterprise more effectively.

Consumer Information

Alberta Drivers to get automobile insurance premium rollback under new system.

Good drivers in Alberta will get a minimum five per cent reduction in their mandatory auto insurance premiums when the government insurance reforms come on stream later this year.

from Doug:

I hope you all enjoyed the Victoria Day weekend without incident. The weather was exceedingly wet here, and a bit cool. The radio news reporters seemed to enjoy the latest stories from the Provincial Police cracking down on weekend drivers, and their little anecdotes - what some people will do! One driver apparently gets nervous driving cars, and was clocked at 150 kph so his time in the rented car would be minimized. Apparently a high volume of poorly-secured loads on roof racks and trailers, and still something like 75% of child seats improperly installed.