Tag: insurance premiums

Choosing to relocate to a new property or premises is an exciting opportunity. This often involves fresh experiences and exposure to new markets. It also allows you to embrace positive change.

We live in a volatile world where geopolitical risks, economic inflation, natural disasters and an increasingly complex regulatory environment are applying pressures on all fronts, including the insurance sector. Underwriting requirements are becoming stringent, and prospective clients are having to provide far more granular information about their portfolio of risks as well as risk mitigation measures, while reduced capacity and insurer appetite for certain classes of risks remains a real concern.

Despite higher inflation, interest rates and cost of living, the South African insurances market experienced a revival during the last two years, with the gross written premium across the local insurances market expected to show an annual growth rate of 5.14% from 2024 to 2028 (CAGR 2024-2028), achieving a market volume of US$100.30 billion by 2028.

When we think about estate planning, we think of a plan outlining a tax-efficient way to deal with our assets when we pass away. Instead of viewing this as a ‘death plan’, try to think of it as a ‘life plan’ – a strategy created during your lifetime to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled, and that your loved ones benefit as intended after you pass away.

In the intricate practice of risk management, a perplexing paradox unfolds where organisations engage in risk management practices that replicate their previous risk strategies, and still expect a different or improved outcome. Sometimes the cost of consequences is left to chance, perpetuating an 'ostrich effect' where it’s hoped that somehow cutting costs on essential risk management principles will yield viable savings.

In most cases, the regular driver of a vehicle is also the holder of the car insurance policy and the person who will be covered in the event of a claim. There are, however, instances where a friend or family member may be the one taking it for a spin.

Auto insurance is leading the charge with the adoption of dynamic pricing, which entails developing policies that are more cost-effective for low-risk customers and using a different premium model for high-risk policyholders. There is significant potential for life and health insurers to capitalise on this momentum and embrace this model within subsets of their product offerings.

As policyholders are aware, insurance premiums increase from time to time. This may occur on an annual basis or at specific intervals as economic, market and risk factors change. Understanding why your insurance premium has gone up and possibly when to anticipate an increase can be helpful in planning ahead for the financial implications.

In previous years, insurance advisers may have been seen as the ‘middleman’. Often, they were regarded as a form of salesman, primarily selling clients insurance policies on their properties and possessions, as well as assisting them with the claims process.

Both the role and value proposition of insurance advisers is changing as the insurance industry becomes more complex. Understanding the client’s risks and offering the most appropriate solution requires that insurance advisers are experts in their field.