Author: completebodyneeds

Berkshire Hathaway reported improved first-quarter performance from the conglomerate’s insurance businesses, but CEO Greg Abel told investors the sector faces competitive headwinds. “The reality is that … as our insurance business softens, we cannot realize the value we should for the related risk,” Abel told shareholders attending Berkshire’s annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday. The boost in first-quarter revenue to $81.1 billion from $77.6 billion a year earlier reflected what Abel called a “pretty benign period” for insurance losses, one that passed without any major catastrophes such as wildfires or hurricanes. The flip side, he said, is that new…

KBRA, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, has assigned a BBB issuer rating to Universal Insurance Holdings, along with a BBB credit rating, ahead of the Florida insurance holding company’s refinance of $100 million in unsecured notes. The ratings are slightly lower than the financial strength rating of “A-” that KBRA and the AM Best rating firms granted last fall to Universal Holding’s insurance carriers, Universal Property & Casualty and American Platinum P&C Insurance. “KBRA views UVE’s holding company financial flexibility as supported by substantial recurring dividends and distributions from non-insurance subsidiaries, which provide cash flow not subject to ordinary insurance…

As many as 10–30% of employers misclassify workers at an enormous cost to both workers and social insurance systems. New analysis from the National Employment Law Project, focusing on state-level reports on employee misclassification, estimates that social insurance systems can lose up to 30% of per-worker revenue when workers are misclassified as independent contractors, as independent contractors make no contributions to unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems. Independent contractors in the occupations analyzed in the report also typically earn less than they would as employees, and this lower pay translates directly into lower contributions to Social Security. For workers, misclassification…

U.S. cybersecurity officials are considering sharply shorter deadlines for fixing critical flaws in government IT systems, amid concerns hackers could exploit them using artificial‑intelligence tools such as Anthropic’s Mythos, people familiar with the matter said. The move, which has not been previously reported, would slash the deadline for responding to actively exploited vulnerabilities from an average of two or three weeks to three days, the people said. Anxiety over the power and proliferation of AI models like Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT‑5.4‑Cyber has been building for weeks. Although hackers have been deploying AI since at least 2023, these newer models are…

By L.S. Howard Reinsurance rates continued to soften during the April 1 renewals despite the unstable geopolitical landscape and uncertain economic outlook, according to major reinsurance brokers. “The orderly completion of the renewal, with no structural disruption, disciplined capacity, and cedent-friendly pricing outcomes, is testament to the underlying health of the market even in a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty,” said Howden. The main reasons for the ongoing competitive market conditions were lower natural catastrophe losses in 2025 and Q1 2026, robust reinsurer balance sheets, and abundant capacity, indicated brokers Aon, Gallagher Re, Guy Carpenter, and Howden Re, in their…

The MGA market remains the most fragmented segment of the wholesale insurance distribution industry, making it attractive to strategic and capital partners looking to add to or diversify their existing MGA capabilities and portfolios. Estimated MGA premium written by U.S. insurance companies rose roughly 16% year over year in 2025 compared to a 10% increase in the broader P&C sector, according to data from Conning, driven by increased utilization of MGAs by both traditional and fronting carriers, as well as the continued launch of new independent MGAs. Fluctuating market conditions, however, are making buyers more disciplined, presenting new challenges and…

By Andrea Wells The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) reports that acts of violence rank as the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the country. Research also shows that workplace assaults have been increasing in number, with healthcare workers and teachers most often being the victims. There are, however, indications that assaults against teachers may be declining. Workplace violence covers a wide range of behaviors including physical violence, harassment, intimidation, and other threatening behaviors from verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. Workplace violence affects employees, clients, customers, and visitors. Workplace assaults have risen at an annual…

By Andrew G. Simpson New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani is seeking to lower the cost of property and liability insurance for landlords of affordable and rent-stabilized housing through a new city-backed insurance program. Mamdani plans to hire independent actuarial experts to design and launch the insurance program. By 2027, the city hopes to lower the cost of insurance coverage for 20,000 homes and, by 2030, for as many as 100,000 homes. According to the city, the cost of insurance has hit affordable and rent-stabilized housing particularly hard. The city believes the new proposal will also drive down city…

By Julie Carr Smyth Jurors failed to reach a verdict last month in the corruption trial of two fired FirstEnergy Corp. executives charged with alleged roles in a $60 million scheme to bribe politicians for a $1 billion nuclear bailout and other favors. The declaration of an impasse came after more than eight days of deliberations following the six-week trial in Akron of former CEO Chuck Jones and former senior vice president Michael Dowling. Over that time, the jury had repeatedly sent clarifying questions to Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross, who had once before sent them back…

Beware, agents. That email from the National Insurance Producers Registry may not be legit. NIPR said it has learned of an active phishing email campaign referencing past-due invoices. The emails may look like they are from trusted sources such as @nipr.com, @naic.org, or @stipe, but they are fraudulent and insurance agents are urged to use caution. Agents should not open any attachments, click links, or send payments if they receive an email asking for payment. Contact NIPR before taking action at niprbillingdept@nipr.com. “The emails impersonate NIPR and request payment. Agents should be aware of any unexpected or unsolicited invoices received,…