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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLDWICK - MARCH 03, 2015 02:35 PM (EST)
In this second of four "First Monday" episodes exploring the U.S. insurance industry, A.M. Best Vice President Stephen Irwin and Assistant Vice President Rosemarie Mirabella discuss the U.S. life/annuity sector. Click on http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=fmlifeannuity315 to view the video program. Other "First Monday' Review & Preview episodes will focus on the health sector and major trends in the reinsurance industry. "First Monday" is A.M. Best's monthly program featuring commentary by the company's leading analysts.
In this episode, Irwin and Mirabella highlight the key growth opportunities, particularly in the U.S. retirement market as well as the current impediments in the life/annuity industry. "A.M. Best has a stable outlook on the life/annuity industry due in part to the improving economic environment as overall risk management processes continue to improve," said Irwin. "Generally speaking, underwriting appears to be rational with rational pricing and continuing improvement in the area of risk management framework as respects hedging," added Mirabella.
However, Irwin and Mirabella believe that growth, penetrating the life insurance market, which presently has declining ownership, the record low interest rate environment, technological investments and regulatory uncertainty, are all challenges for this industry. Nevertheless, the industry has a history of resilience despite these challenges.
Recent episodes of A.M.BestTV include:
A.M.BestTV covers exclusive A.M. Best information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the (re)insurance industry every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sign up for alerts of episodes at http://www.ambest.com/multimedia/ambtvsignup.html. View A.M.BestTV episodes at http://www.ambest.tv.
A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source.