Press Releases

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.