Japan Quake May Lift Reinsurers Like Katrina

Shareholders of reinsurers still counting losses from the biggest Japanese earthquake on record are betting on a share rebound comparable to the one that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Munich Re, the world’s biggest reinsurer, climbed about 25 percent in the six months following the storm that devastated New Orleans, while Swiss Reinsurance Co., the world’s second largest, rose 14 percent. Amlin Plc, the biggest Lloyd’s of London insurer, advanced 49 percent.

State Laws Drive Up Homeowners Insurance Costs in Texas

The homeowners’ insurance bills of $1,500 per household that will arrive in Texas mailboxes over the next few weeks aren’t much fun to pay. After all, homeowners’ insurance does its purchasers good only when something unpleasant happens: a fire, theft, hurricane, slip-and-fall accident, etc. But largely because of the state’s vulnerability to coastal hurricanes, Texans pay some of the highest average homeowners’ insurance rates in the country.

Many Americans Are Betting On Retirement Savings Lasting Their Lifetime

The 2011 Retirement Industry Conference, scheduled to be held on April 13-15, in Las Vegas, Nev., will offer industry professionals of all disciplines cutting-edge market research, strategies and practical solutions to improve the odds of reaching consumers.

“LIMRA estimates that 1.5 million people will retire in the United States each year reaching a total of 65.6 million by 2025. With less than a third of pre-retirees confident that they have prepared enough for retirement, our industry needs to find a better way to connect and communicate with consumers to help them adequately save and prepare for retirement,” said Marie Rice, corporate vice president and LIMRA director of Retirement Research. “This conference will provide retirement industry professionals with the knowledge and insight of senior leaders and practitioners that will help them change their strategies to meet the needs of consumers in this dynamic market.”

Selman & Company Announces Acquisition of Pica Group Services Life & Health Insurance Business

Selman & Company, a leading insurance marketing and administrative services provider, and Podiatry Insurance Company of America announced the completion of Selman & Company’s acquisition of the Life & Health Insurance Business of PICA Group Services of Nashville, T.