This session will provide an overall economic outlook of the property/casualty insurance industry. This session will include a high-level look at industry trends and disrupters. The always-popular Robert Hartwig, Ph.D., will provide important insights that will help you manage your company’s risk.

This webinar qualifies for one FMDC credit in the Operations & Insurance module under the course name Emerging Industry Trends.

Robert Hartwig, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Risk & Uncertainty Management
University of South Carolina

Mergers and acquisitions – and affiliations –activity is again heating up in the mutual insurance industry. This session will kick off with an update on M&A activity in the industry. It will then provide important insights on what board members should be aware of, including the impact a combination with another mutual can have on a company and the structural options that are currently available for mutual insurance companies. Our presenter will also explain how each structure will impact mutuals differently, and explore the discussions taking place in mutual boardrooms across the country as boards address their role in the process.

This webinar qualifies for one FMDC credit in the Management module under the course name Mergers & Acquisitions..

James A. Amen

President
Philo Smith & Company

Kevin Kinross

Partner
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP

What was once only a consideration of mutual life insurance companies, the mutual holding company structure is now a growing trend for property/casualty mutual insurance companies of all sizes. This session will explore what a mutual insurance holding company is, why property/casualty mutuals are opting for this structure, and if the structure should be a topic of conversation in your boardroom.

Kevin Kinross

Partner
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP

Board members of mutual insurance companies have fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of their members when providing direction and oversight to the mutual — and that duty is to the membership as a whole, not just one member or a small group of members. What happens if one member has a different view of the future of the mutual? What happens if someone buys a policy today with the sole purpose of intentionally causing disruption tomorrow? Is your company prepared? Is this really happening to mutuals? This session will discuss issues surrounding policyholder activism in mutuals and how companies can succeed while acting in the best interests of the membership as a whole.

Kevin Kinross

Partner
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP

Proxy practice and proxy solicitation are some of the more mysterious issues in the mutual insurance industry. While significant rules and requirements for stock insurers exists, there is little to no statutory or regulatory guidance for proxy practice for mutuals. As a result, there are differing practices across the country, with most simply doing what they have always done” This session explores such proxy practices used by mutuals, discusses what options to consider, and explores the pros and cons of continuing with current practices in wake of the industry changes and the rise of policyholder activism.

Kevin Kinross

Partner
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP

Gregg Dykstra

COO & General Counsel
NAMIC

It is no secret regulatory oversight and personal choice are driving mutuals to examine the composition of their boards. In an industry where most directors remain in their positions long-term with little turnover, how can diversity initiatives take hold? This session explores trends in mutual board composition and discusses how mutuals can work towards creating a more diverse board.

This webinar qualifies for one FMDC credit in the Management module under the course name Board Recruitment.

Kevin Kinross

Partner
Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP

Margaret Resce Milkint

Managing Partner
The Jacobson Group

This session will focus on three key financial reports: the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. The presentation will dive into the key components of each and discuss the role each plays in understanding a company’s financial results. Along the way, this session will look at some of the major differences between statutory and GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) accounting and explain how an individual policy makes or loses money. Finally, the presentation will finish with the 10 things boards should be looking for in their financial statements.

This webinar qualifies for one FMDC credit in the Finance & Accounting module under the course name Understanding & Analyzing Financial Statements.

Jim Kennedy

Consultant
Taft Business Consultants

Enterprise risk management is an aspect of daily management life that can be of significant value to all companies; therefore, it is important that company leaders understand it. This session will explore what ERM is and how it came about. It will also provide insight on why ERM sometimes fails, the role of the board, how ERM is governed within an organization, and the view of ERM by A.M. Best. The session will finish with 12 actions boards and management can take to strengthen an ERM program.

This webinar qualifies for one FMDC credit in the Operations & Insurance module under the course name Organizational Risk Management.

Jim Kennedy

Consultant
Taft Business Consultants