Last week I wrote about the premise of embedded insurance and why I feel, in most cases, it does not benefit the consumer. This week I am back to write how it’s also a bad idea for the insurers! Why? Because you are doomed to be a commodity provider. Dumb Continue Reading
Is Embedded Insurance Bad For Consumers?
I’ve been meaning to write about embedded insurance for some time. Embedded insurance is everything that is wrong with the startup approach to insurance. Rather than look at things from the consumer’s perspective and ask how it helps them, embedded looks at things from the insurer’s perspective: how can we Continue Reading
New Year’s Flashback: Revisiting Past Predictions
Last week, I looked back at some of 2022’s predictions, but this blog has made a lot of successful predictions over the years. In fact, I think it’s one of the core strengths of what I do here. I sometimes forget most people reading probably have not been around for Continue Reading
The Reinsurer’s Veto Is Here: What Higher Cat Reinsurance Prices Mean For MGAs
New Fair Use Policy: I’ve always operated under the principle that this blog is meant to enlighten others and thus, if people want to share it, they are more than welcome to do so. I assumed anyone reproducing it in a professional context would be, well, professional enough to cite Continue Reading
The Founder’s Dilemma And Its Role In Insuretech Layoffs
Long ago, I wrote about economic rents in insurance. It was actually my first insuretech post. I have to say it has aged very well. If you weren’t a reader back then, I humbly suggest, you go back and check it out. Today, I want to expand on it. Because Continue Reading
Why Insuretechs Should Be Scared of the Reinsurer’s Veto
Informed Tip of the Week: Informed was designed specifically to avoid the Reinsurer’s Veto. It’s one of the many reasons we’ve chosen to start as an independent agent. Cash Burn Is So 2020 To keep with the recent theme of calling out the obvious, it’s time to talk about the Continue Reading
Insuretech Act II: The Unicorn and the Candy Corn
Informed Tip of the Week: Read yesterday’s post about how we uncovered one of the big insurers promoting inaccurate information in its TV ads. Last week, I wrote the epilogue on Insuretech, Act 1. Today, we will move on to Act 2, the Revenge of the Tortoise. No, no, that’s Continue Reading
Insuretech Act I: The Curtain Falls on the Hare
Informed Tip of the Week: If you’ve been affected by the winter weather on the east coast, be aware that just because the snow is over doesn’t mean your home isn’t still at risk. As the snow melts, ice dams and heavy snow on the roof may cause leaks. If Continue Reading
Insurance SPACs: The Hare With The Broken Leg
SPACs have invaded the insurance space of late with Hagerty being the latest to join the fray, both on the startup side (Hippo, MetroMile, Doma, Kin) and with established companies (CCC & Hagerty). I will cut straight to the chase. This is a bad development for all parties – the Continue Reading
How Insuretechs Sabotage Themselves By Growing Too Fast
Today’s topic is a bit of a capstone to several prior articles regarding different choices startup insuretech carriers face. You can imagine I have spent a lot of time thinking about these issues and how to prepare for them if I am fortunate enough to eventually face these same choices. Continue Reading