Press Releases

June 23, 2010

Semi-Annual Insurance Labor Outlook Study to be Conducted June 28 – July 16

CHICAGO – The Jacobson Group and Ward Group announce the semi-annual Insurance Labor Outlook Survey will be conducted June 28 through July 16. This study provides valuable information regarding current market trends and future staffing expectations. Participation in the study is free of charge and open to all industry organizations.

Participants will receive the results of the study on July 30. A webinar presentation will be held on August 5 to further discuss the findings. The webinar is open to all members of the insurance community.

"This study continues to provide valuable industry insight," said Gregory Jacobson, co-chief executive officer of The Jacobson Group. "As the employment marketplace begins to look up, the study will share timely information regarding industry staffing trends compared to six months ago and last year."

Companies may participate in the study June 28 through July 16 by visiting the following link: http://benchmarking.wardinc.com/SelectSurveyNet/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=9lKL85m. To request more information, please contact Vince Albers of Ward Group at 513-746-2422. Individual responses will remain confidential.

About The Jacobson Group:
The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of professional and human capital services to the insurance, healthcare and financial services industries. For nearly four decades, The Jacobson Group has met the needs of its client organizations through three operating divisions: Jacobson Associates – professional recruiting; Jacobson Executive Search – executive search and selection; and Jacobson Solutions – high caliber interim talent, turnkey project solutions and consulting services. The Jacobson Group maintains offices throughout the country. Further information is available at www.jacobsononline.com.

June 14, 2010

Insurance Companies Manage Employee Compensation to Minimize Staffing Reductions

CINCINNATI - Ward Group, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of benchmarking practices, in partnership with the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) recently published its findings from an in-depth study of Human Resources Practices and Employee Benefits for property-casualty insurance companies. The study focused on compensation, health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefit offerings for the insurance industry for 2009 and 2010 projected for a diverse group of 117 property-casualty companies. Key findings were presented by Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group, at the annual PCI HR Conference in Seattle on April 14, 2010 and in a webinar hosted to participants on May 10, 2010.

For most property-casualty insurance companies, employee compensation is a large expense item to be actively managed. Employee compensation represents approximately 30% of the average property-casualty company's underwriting and loss adjusting expenses. As the cost of benefits increase and the soft market continues, most companies are reviewing the structure of employee benefit plans and other compensation to manage expenses. Ward Group and PCI conducted the HR Practices and Employee Benefits Study to help companies benchmark their employee benefit plans and its impact on employee compensation.

The study identified the following observations regarding staffing projections for 2010, including:

Average full-time equivalents is projected to increase 0.8% in 2010.
Nearly 25% of companies reported they intended to have employee layoffs in 2010, although at lower rates than 2009. The average reduction in force due to employee layoffs was projected to be 1.6% of staff in 2010, down from 4.0% in 2009.
Despite the employee reductions, only 14% of companies have completely frozen hiring for all positions for 2010. In addition, 26% of companies are adding staff only to fill open positions while 60% are adding new positions.

Total compensation per employee in 2010 is projected to increase 2.0% with increases in ordinary compensation, incentive compensation, retirement plan funding, major medical expenses and other benefits expense. Several key practices were identified that companies have used to minimize growth in employee compensation expenses.

Merit increases have decreased from 2009 to 2010 and are 30% lower than 2008.
20% of companies have frozen salaries for 2010 and 3% are considering it for the future.
Employer health care contributions have decreased considerably over the past decade. Since 2004, the average company has reduced health care contributions by 5% requiring the employee to pay for more of these costs directly and absorb the increases in total health care costs.
Health care offered to retired employees has declined by 30% since 2006.
The number of companies offering a defined benefit pension plan has decreased 27% since 2006. In addition, 40% of companies with a defined benefit plan have frozen the plan to new entrants.
Training expenses in 2009 were 50% lower than 2008, driven largely by declines in external training.

In closing, Mr. Rieder projected expense deterioration to continue through 2011. Ward Group does not expect large scale staff reductions in 2010 but expects more changes to employee compensation and further reduction in benefits. Based on these compensation changes, Human Resource departments are focusing more on employee engagement and other strategies to provide low cost benefits to boost employee morale and production.

To obtain complete results of the HR Practices and Employee Benefits Study, including detailed benchmarks by company size and geographic location, visit www.wardinc.com.

April 12, 2010

Ward Group Introduces New Underwriting Evaluation Service for Property & Casualty Insurance Companies

CINCINNATI, OH - Ward Group®, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and leading provider of benchmarking services, today announced a new service to evaluate the cost and operational effectiveness of underwriting operations at property-casualty insurance companies. The 2-level approach integrates the expense analysis conducted through the established Ward benchmarking process with a detailed evaluation of over 265 underwriting procedures. It gives underwriting management both strategic and tactical data to identify opportunities to streamline operations and help to improve underwriting results.

"Operating expenses are rising faster than revenue for most insurance companies creating a challenge for underwriting operations," said Jim Caruso, Director of Ward Group. "The most profitable companies focus on sound underwriting practices and expense management."

The new Ward Group Underwriting Evaluation Service probes the real components of the underwriting process and helps decision makers answer fundamental questions about their underwriting operation:

How do the staff levels, expenses and operating practices of your underwriting operation compare to industry standards?
Is your underwriting process efficient?
Where are the specific problem areas?
What are the benefits of implementing change?

Ward Group benchmarking is a proven tool specifically designed for insurance companies to help manage expenses and monitor operational performance. Ward Group has performed over 1,500 benchmarking exercises for more than 350 insurance companies throughout North America since 1991.

To learn more about the Ward Group Underwriting Evaluation Service visit www.wardinc.com or contact Gary Eberhart at geberhart@wardinc.com or (513) 746-2414.

About Ward Group®
Ward Group is the recognized leader in insurance company benchmarking and best practices and a major sponsor of primary research studies. Ward Group analyzes staff levels and expenses for all areas of insurance company operations. The firm's professional staff is uniquely qualified to help companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable. For more information about Ward Group, visit www.wardinc.com.

March 2, 2010

Ward Group Introduces Enhanced Benchmarking Program for Life, Health and Annuity Operations

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Ward Group® announces an enhanced benchmarking program for life, health, and annuity operations. As part of this new offering, financial discounts are available to companies that enroll in their benchmarking programs before July 15, 2010.

"Our benchmarking program has been updated to reflect additional functions performed in life, health and annuity lines of business." said Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group. "This new structure provides the capability to benchmark these businesses independently and collectively for organizations who operate across multiple lines of business. We help companies objectively compare staffing, expense and other operating metrics with industry standards and determine what areas need to be evaluated." Ward Group's program enables companies who also write property-casualty insurance to benchmark these operations as well.

Ward Group is hosting an information webinar on Wednesday, March 11th to explain the benchmarking process and define deliverables. Sign up for the free webinar now. To learn more about the Ward benchmarking programs visit www.wardinc.com or contact Gary Eberhart at geberhart@wardinc.com or (513) 746-2414.

March 1, 2010

Ward Group Launches New Research Center for Property-Casualty

CINCINNATI, Ohio, - Ward Group®, the leading provider of benchmarking and best practices services to the insurance industry and a major sponsor of primary research studies, is pleased to introduce a new research center for P&C insurance companies. Available as a subscription service, the Ward Research Center is a reservoir of information and analysis specific to property-casualty insurers accumulated from Ward Group's strategic studies and research, including information and opportunities that, up to now, have only been available to Ward Group benchmarking clients.

"Our new subscription service provides an enhanced level of support for insurance companies and service providers to benefit from our research and depth of data", said Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group.

As a subscriber to the Ward Research Center, P&C insurers can confidentially participate in all studies and receive customized results, attend webinars, download white papers addressing current issues and access historic strategic studies. Other key features include a customized U.S. Annual Market Share Analysis with premium volume, market share and loss performance by state and line of business and Quarterly U.S. Industry Snapshots to keep abreast of current conditions.

To learn more about the Ward Research Center, visit www.wardinc.com or contact Gary Eberhart at geberhart@wardinc.com or (513) 746-2414.

January 21, 2010

Economic Concerns Still Affecting Investment Strategies According to Ward Group Research

CINCINNATI - Ward Group, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of benchmarking practices, recently published its findings from an in-depth study of Portfolio Management and Insurance-Company Owned Life Insurance (ICOLI) practices for insurance companies. A diverse group of 43 companies participated in this study that focused on portfolio management structures, investment strategies and current market perspectives. Key findings and observations were presented to participants in a webinar hosted by Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group and Richard deBart, CEO at The deBart Group Inc. who discussed earnings strategies through the use of ICOLI on January 12, 2010.

Although the average participant's invested assets improved 4.7% through the first 9 months of 2009, the economic down cycle has affected investment behaviors for both short-term and long-term investment strategies. 92% of companies reported their long-term investment strategy has been affected and 87% of companies reported their tolerance for investment risk and short-term volatility has changed due to the economy. Mr. Rieder observed that many companies have stopped thinking in traditional ways. "We have seen insurance companies change behavior around many aspects of the business from long-term business strategies and corporate infrastructure to the way they view their investment portfolio," noted Mr. Rieder.

The study identified several notable trends:

Equities as a percent of invested assets has declined 23% since 2007
56% of companies use internal staff to manage a portion of their assets
86% of companies are moderately to extremely concerned about interest rate fluctuation
74% of companies are concerned with funding future benefits liabilities
47% of companies reported preservation of capital was the primary investment objective
Investment guidelines and policies remain very conservative

The study also pointed out some differences between opportunities and behaviors acting upon them. For example, 87% of companies responded that deferred tax treatment would favorably impact their portfolio. Most companies responded they would also like to increase alternative investments and equity exposures, yet only 11% of companies utilized ICOLI to improve the efficiency of the investment portfolio. "It appears the majority of companies utilize ICOLI only for the life insurance benefits," observed Mr. deBart. "Relatively few insurance companies have utilized ICOLI as an investment strategy, potentially due to lack of familiarity with ICOLI products or how it can improve investment performance."

In his closing remarks, Mr. Rieder commented that while insurance companies would like to take on more risk in the investment portfolios, recent economic conditions will likely continue to affect behavior throughout 2010. Investment practices appear to have become more conservative and preservation of capital will remain the primary focus for many companies.

To obtain complete results of the Portfolio Management Study, including benchmarks for investment guidelines, expenses by asset class and other data related to portfolio management practices, visit www.wardinc.com.

About deBart Group
The deBart Group is a New York-based benefit group and specialists in funding corporate benefit liabilities. The firm partners with major life insurance and financial services providers to bring customized solutions to its clients.

January 6, 2010

Agency Compensation Expected to Decrease in 2010 Based on Ward Group Research

CINCINNATI – Ward Group, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of benchmarking practices, recently published its findings from an in-depth study of Agency Compensation and Management Practices for property-casualty insurance companies. The study focused on commission practices, agent incentives and other agency management practices and includes aggregated results from 2008 and 2009 for a diverse group of 99 companies. Independent agency companies represented 80% of the participants. Key findings and observations were presented to participants in a webinar hosted by Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group, on December 15, 2009.

For most property-casualty insurance companies, expenses relating to the distribution system represent the largest expense component outside of loss payments. Ward Group conducted the Agency Compensation and Management Practices Study to help companies measure their performance and establish meaningful benchmarks in this important area. Highlights of the study results and general observations follow.

Plans to lower agent compensation in 2010 outweigh plans to increase compensation by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The study identified several notable trends for contingent commission planning, including:

40% of companies plan to modify their contingent plan in 2010
10% of companies plan to increase premium volume requirements compared to 4% that plan to decrease the volume requirement
6% of companies plan to increase the stop loss thresholds compared to only 1% that plan to decrease the amount
12% of companies plan to change their contingent formulas to pay less contingent commission compared to 4% that expect to pay more
6% of companies plan to add growth requirements to their contingent formulas and 5% plan to add retention requirements
3% of companies are considering eliminating their contingent commission plan completely

Mr. Rieder observed that the top performing companies in the study (based on Ward's 50 criteria) did not pay excessive commission. "A common misperception is that companies must pay higher commissions to generate more premium," noted Mr. Rieder. "Top performers focus on ease of doing business and assertive agency management practices to drive new business results. These companies target compensation to be fair, but not excessive."

Ward Group also found that top performing insurance companies achieved 34% more premium than average per agent. Key agency management business practices adopted by this group suggest that they:

Are more likely to modify base commission by line of business
Are more likely to modify base commission by new and renewal business
Are less likely to have separate plans for personal and commercial lines
Have 20% fewer agents per manager than average
Require their top tier agents to demonstrate exceptional characteristics and proven commitment to the company. This benchmark had 50% fewer agents in their top tier and had implemented more challenging criteria for their top agency selection (in terms of higher production and lower loss ratios requirements)

In his closing comments, Mr. Rieder made several predictions about agency management practices for 2010. Total agency compensation is expected to decrease slightly, largely due to contingent commission changes. Agency trips and conferences are expected to be smaller and less costly than 2009 and prior years. Agency recruitment appears to be more aggressive as companies appoint more new agents in efforts to expand their sales force. However, most companies have not made effective changes to their contingent plan design over the last 3 -5 years and some plans will not be in line with current market conditions and corporate objectives. Companies with assertive agency management and effective communication practices appear positioned to achieve the best operating results.

To obtain complete results of the Agency Management and Compensation Practices study, including detailed benchmarks by distribution channel and business mix, visit www.wardinc.com.

About Ward Group®
Ward Group is a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of industry benchmarking and best practices services. Ward Group analyzes staff levels and expenses for all areas of insurance company operations. The firm's professional staff is uniquely qualified to help companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ward Group has worked with hundreds of insurance companies throughout North America. For more information about Ward Group and the Ward Research Center, visit www.wardinc.com.

January 4, 2010

Semi-Annual Labor Outlook Survey Conducted by The Jacobson Group and Ward Group

CHICAGO – The Jacobson Group and Ward Group announce the Insurance Labor Outlook Survey will be conducted January 6 through January 16. This semi-annual study provides valuable information regarding current labor trends and future staffing expectations. Participation in the study is free of charge and open to all industry organizations.

Study results will be distributed to participants on January 29. A webinar presentation will be held on February 11 to further discuss the findings. The webinar is open to all members of the insurance community.

"This survey will provide insight into the factors that are influencing companies' staffing decisions in the New Year," said Gregory Jacobson, co-chief executive officer of The Jacobson Group. "Additionally, the study's frequency will enable us to identify trends and patterns, while sharing information that is valuable to organizations as they work to achieve their operational goals."

To participate or to request more information on the survey, please contact Vince Albers of Ward Group at 513-746-2422 or valbers@wardinc.com. Individual responses will remain confidential.

About Ward Group®:
Ward Group is a consulting firm dedicated to helping insurance companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable. The firm is the leading provider of operational benchmarking and best practices services with expertise in staffing level analysis and expense management. For more information about Ward Group services, visit www.wardinc.com.

Contact:
The Jacobson Group:
Nicole M. St.Martin, Assistant Vice President of Marketing Communications
317-920-7806
nstmartin@jacobsononline.com
-or-
Whitney M. Long, Senior Marketing Communications Coordinator
312-884-0434
wlong@jacobsononline.com

Ward Group:
Vince Albers, Senior Consultant
513-746-2422
valbers@wardinc.com

December 9, 2009

Guidewire Software and Ward Group Announce New Joint Assessment Services for Property and Casualty Companies

Developed jointly by Guidewire and Ward to provide companies with a multi-dimensional view of their core operations through qualitative process evaluation and quantitative performance measurements

SAN MATEO,Calif. & CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Guidewire Software®, a leading provider of flexible core systems to property/casualty insurers and Ward Group®, the leading provider of benchmarking services to the insurance industry, are collaborating to offer new Assessment services for claims, billing and underwriting. By combining Guidewire's process and technology transformation experience with Ward Group's performance benchmarking services, carriers will gain insight as to how their organizational structures, staffing levels, expense amounts, operational controls, and business processes compare to industry peers.

"The Assessment Services from Guidewire and Ward Group effectively combine the expertise of two industry leaders and provide companies with a 360° view of key operations. This innovative approach offers a framework to measure and continuously improve claims, billing and underwriting processes," said Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group.

These assessments are available to any P&C carrier in North America and have already proven useful in multiple scenarios, including supporting a business case for technology or process change, baseline insurance operations prior to a project implementation, and measuring project success and promoting continuous improvement. The efficient assessment approach – developed jointly by Guidewire and Ward – provides carriers with a multi-dimensional view of their operations through qualitative process evaluation and quantitative performance measurements. The Assessment findings can:

Highlight operational hotspots
Analyze the drivers of performance
Determine performance gaps compared to the industry
Access quantitative financial and performance benchmarks
Offer options for improvement, categorized by priority and impact

"Operational excellence in insurance, as in any other industry, requires both process consistency and a willingness to compare oneself objectively to one's peers," said Marcus Ryu, vice president, Strategy and Products, Guidewire Software. "This offering from Guidewire and the Ward Group objectively evaluates the health of a carrier's core operations — for far less and with greater comparative data than a management consulting project."

To learn more about Claims, Billing or Underwriting Assessments from Guidewire and Ward Group, contact assessments@guidewire.com or assessments@wardinc.com.

About Guidewire Software®
Guidewire Software is a leading provider of flexible core systems that enable property/casualty insurers to deliver insurance the way they want to. Guidewire builds high quality software that consistently works as promised. Designed for maximum flexibility and scalability, Guidewire solutions give carriers the capability to deliver excellent service to policyholders and agents and increase market share – while lowering operating costs. The Guidewire Insurance Suite™, consisting of Guidewire PolicyCenter®, Guidewire BillingCenter®, and Guidewire ClaimCenter®, spans the entire insurance lifecycle – underwriting, policy administration, billing, and claims management. Guidewire is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Munich, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.guidewire.com.

NOTE: Guidewire, Guidewire Software, Guidewire ClaimCenter, Guidewire PolicyCenter, Guidewire BillingCenter, Guidewire Insurance Suite, and the Guidewire logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Guidewire Software, Inc.

July 9, 2009

Ward Group Identifies 2009 Ward's 50 Top Performing Insurance Companies

The list of Ward's 50® top performing insurance companies was released by Ward Group, an operational consulting firm and leading provider of benchmarking and best practices services to the insurance industry.

Annually, Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of over 3,100 property-casualty insurance companies and over 800 life-health insurance companies domiciled in the United States and identifies the top performers in each segment. This group is called the Ward's 50 for the year. Each Ward's 50 company has passed all safety and consistency screens and achieved superior performance over the five years analyzed. The Ward's 50 property-casualty group of insurance companies produced a 14.4% return on average equity from 2004 to 2008 compared to 9.9% for the property-casualty industry overall. The Ward's 50 life-health group of insurance companies produced a 13.5% return on average equity from 2004 to 2008 compared to 6.4% for the life-health industry overall.

The past 18 months have been a volatile period for the insurance industry affecting companies in many different ways. "Volatility in the investment portfolios, economy and competitive landscape has forced companies to evaluate many of their business strategies." explains Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group. "In selecting the Ward's 50, we identify companies that pass financial stability requirements and measure their ability to grow while maintaining strong capital positions and underwriting results."

Safety and Consistency Tests

Insurance companies are evaluated and must pass minimum thresholds to be considered for the Ward's 50 designation. Each company must pass the following primary safety and consistency tests:

Surplus and premiums of at least $50 million for each of the five years analyzed
Net income in at least four of the last five years (property-casualty)
Adjusted net income in at least 4 of the last 5 years. (life-health)
Risk-based capital ratio of at least 100% (property-casualty) or 150% (life-health) for each of the five years analyzed
Compound annual growth in premiums between -10% and +40%

Performance Measurements

Companies that pass the safety and consistency tests are measured and scored on the following elements:

Five year average Return on Average Equity
Five year average Return on Average Assets
Five year average Return on Total Revenue
Five year growth in Revenue
Five year improvement in Surplus to Written Premium (property-casualty)
Five year average Combined Ratio (property-casualty)
Five year growth in Surplus (life-health)

Managing Growth and Profitability

An important objective of the Ward's 50 is to compare their performance as a group with the rest of the industry. Compared to the industry as a whole, the benchmarks set by the Ward's 50 life-health group of companies were nearly three times more for total surplus growth and two times more for premium income growth. The Ward's 50 property-casualty group compared seven points lower for the five year combined ratio and two times greater for surplus growth than the industry average. Net premiums written grew 10.1% compared to the industry's 1.8%. "The results for the Ward's 50 benchmarks indicate that companies are able to grow the business profitably in changing market conditions." Mr. Rieder observed.

Although the largest risks for insurance companies are losses resulting from the investment portfolio and claims, it is important for companies to stay focused on managing the ongoing risk that exists within the day to day operations. Ward Group's research consistently finds top performing companies operate with fewer resources without deteriorating the customer experience. "Top performers understand that efficient operations result in pricing advantages passed on to the consumer and keep the customer at the center of every key business decision." In 2008, expenses relative to revenue were 5.5% lower for the Ward's 50 property-casualty group of companies and 8.5% lower for the Ward's 50 life-health group.

The Ward's 50 benchmarks are helpful tools to compare an insurance company's financial results to the top performers in the industry. Comparisons based on benchmarks set by the Ward's 50 group of companies are included in the Ward's Results books, an insurance industry financial reference series. Ward's 50 benchmark group comparisons for individual companies are also available on-line at www.wardinc.com.

May 4, 2009

Study of Enterprise Risk Management at Insurance Companies Conducted by Ward Group, in partnership with Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP

A study of enterprise risk management (ERM) practices at insurance companies is being conducted by Ward Group in partnership with the accounting firm of Amper, Politziner & Mattia. The study will provide comparative data to participants about ERM objectives, controls, philosophy and other operating practices. Participation in the study is required to receive complete results. Companies interested in this study should contact Jay Hummel for more information.

This study will be conducted from May 4 - May 30, 2009 and results will be distributed in June 2009. Participants will be invited to attend a webcast presentation on the study's findings, key trends and learn how organizations are using ERM to manage operations more effectively. Insurance companies may participate in the study and webcast at no cost.

About Ward Group
Ward Group is a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of industry benchmarking and best practices services, with expertise in staffing level analysis and expense management. We help companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable. For more information about Ward Group, visit www.wardinc.com.

About Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP
Amper is one of the largest regional accounting and consulting firms in the Northeast and is listed nationally as a Top 25 public accounting firm. The firm provides services such as: Enterprise Risk Management Implementation and Monitoring, NAIC Model Audit Rule Implementation, GAAP/Statutory Audits, Sarbanes Oxley, Auditing and Accounting, Tax, Litigation and Compliance. For more information about Amper services, visit www.amper.com.

February 26, 2009

Study of Employee Compensation and Benefits at Insurance Companies Conducted by Ward Group, Sponsored by The Jacobson Group

A study of employee compensation and benefit plans at insurance companies is being conducted by Ward Group and sponsored by The Jacobson Group. The study will provide participants comparative data about the design of employee benefit plans, including medical, dental and vision plans, life insurance, disability coverage, long term and short term care, and incentive plans. Participation in the study is required to receive complete results. Clients of Ward Group and The Jacobson Group may participate at no cost. Companies interested in this study should contact Leah Hollstegge for more information and inquire if they are eligible for discounted participation.

This study will be conducted from February 26 - April 15, 2009 and results will be distributed in June 2009. Participants will be invited to attend a webinar presentation on the study's findings and key trends.

About Ward Group
Ward Group is a consulting firm dedicated to helping insurance companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable. The firm is the leading provider of operational benchmarking and best practices services with expertise in staffing level analysis and expense management. For more information about Ward Group services, visit www.wardinc.com.

About Jacobson Group
The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of professional and human capital services to the insurance, healthcare and financial services industries. For nearly four decades, The Jacobson Group has met the needs of its client organizations through three operating divisions: Jacobson Associates - professional recruiting; Jacobson Executive Search - executive search and selection; and Jacobson Solutions - high caliber interim talent, turnkey project solutions and consulting services. The Jacobson Group maintains offices throughout the country. Further information is available at www.jacobsononline.com.

February 25, 2009

Ward Group - New York & New Jersey Automobile PIP/Med Pay Subrogation Benchmarking Survey Now Underway

A comprehensive benchmarking study dedicated to evaluating New York & New Jersey Automobile PIP/Med Pay Subrogation is now in progress. The study will analyze state specific subrogation recovery ratios, expenses, staffing, productivity measures and operating best practices for 2007 and 2008.

Indiana-based Praxis Consulting commissioned the study to help insurance companies better understand and manage their subrogation performance.

"This will mark the first time that anyone has undertaken a benchmarking study of New York and New Jersey PIP subrogation results. The study will allow participating companies to compare their subrogation recovery results with those of other carriers operating in those states," said Robert Ford, President and Founder of Praxis.

A diverse group of insurance companies of various sizes and mix of business are participating in the study. Participants will receive a complimentary report of their individual company results compared to benchmark peers.

Companies should contact Ward Group by March 16, 2009 to enroll in the program. Contact Betty Cornelius or call 513-746-2404.

Ward Group is a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of industry benchmarking and best practices services. We help companies measure results, optimize performance and be more profitable.

Empowering Companies through Knowledge^®

July 7, 2008

Ward Group Recognizes 2008 Ward's 50 Top Performing Insurance Companies

The list of Ward's 50 top performing insurance companies was released by Ward Group, a consulting firm that specializes in the insurance industry and the leading provider of benchmarking and best practices services.

Annually, Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of insurance companies domiciled in the United States and identifies the top performers in both the life-health and property-casualty segments. This group of top performers is called the Ward's 50 for the year. Each Ward's 50 company has passed all safety and consistency screens and achieved superior performance over the five years analyzed. Over 3,000 property-casualty insurance companies and over 850 life-health insurance companies were included in the analysis.

Over the last decade, the insurance industry has changed dramatically with new technology, changing customer and employee demographics and increasingly competitive market conditions. "It is important for companies to remain focused on meeting revenue goals while maintaining an efficient operating model that enables them to meet customer demands," explains Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group. "The best companies excel at balancing expense management, technology deployment and customer service." The Ward's 50 property-casualty insurance companies produced an 18.7% return on average equity from 2003 to 2007 compared to 14.6% for the property-casualty industry overall. The Ward's 50 life-health insurance companies produced a 17.5% return on average equity from 2003 to 2007 compared to 13.1% for the life-health industry overall.

The Ward's 50 benchmarks are available in Ward's Results, an insurance industry financial reference series. Click here for a complete list of the 2008 Ward's 50 companies.

May 27, 2008

Ward Group's Finance Benchmarking Program for Insurance Companies Now Underway

A comprehensive benchmarking program for finance operations at insurance companies is now in progress. The finance benchmarking program is being conducted in 2008 to analyze expenses and staffing levels for components of the finance function plus related areas including investments, billing and collections, and internal and external audit. This program also provides meaningful company comparisons by operating profile to analyze size, ownership structure, and other factors that affect results. A diverse group of insurance companies of various sizes and mix of business are participating in the program. Companies should contact Ward Group by July 31, 2008 to enroll in the program. Call 513-791-0303 or visit www.wardinc.com for more information.

Ward Group^® is a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of industry benchmarking and best practices services. The firm provides comprehensive peer group intelligence for core company operations, as well as drill down analysis for underwriting and servicing, claims, technology and finance operations. These benchmarks help decision-makers manage operating costs, improve operations and define strategy. The firm's consulting capabilities help insurance companies to investigate solutions, establish improvement goals and define a clear course of action for improving profitability and efficiency.

January 23, 2008

Ward Group^® Offers New Finance Benchmarking Program for Insurance Companies

Ward Group, a consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry and the leading provider of industry benchmarking and best practices services, kicks off a new benchmarking program for finance and related operations. Ward Group has applied its trusted apples-to-apples benchmarking methodology to analyze expenses and staffing levels for components of the finance function including operational analysis of investments, billing and collections, and internal and external audit. The finance benchmarking program is a one time study that will be conducted in 2008. Finance and related areas can be affected by premium size and ownership structure (public versus mutual) especially in the internal and external audit functions. This program will provide meaningful company comparisons segmenting results by operating profile to adjust for these factors.

"The challenges of the current market have hit the finance function at insurance companies particularly hard. Companies are forced to revisit areas such as the budgeting process, compliance functions, finance expense structure and the performance of their investment portfolios. Our new finance benchmarking program provides an operational snapshot that helps CFOs and other financial executives evaluate these important areas," said Jeff Rieder, President of Ward Group.

Ward Group provides comprehensive peer group intelligence for many areas including total company operations, and underwriting and servicing, claims, technology and finance operations. Ward benchmarks help decision-makers manage operating costs, improve operations and define strategy. Ward Group consulting capabilities help insurance companies to maximize the potential of opportunities identified in the benchmarking process and to define a clear course of action for improving profitability and efficiency.

Insurance companies interested in participating in the 2008 benchmarking program for finance and related departments can call 513-791-0303 or visit www.wardinc.com for more information.