We buy insurance to protect against unexpected financial loss.  But one of the most unusual forms of insurance stretches the definition into the realm of deep human anguish, political extremism, and controversy. I’m referring to Kidnap and Ransom insurance (K&R). We supply K&R insurance for our clients working internationally, knowing that more than 1,000 professionals  more...

It’s largely unknown and misunderstood.  But it’s also one of the most valuable protections you have under most liability insurance policies. It is this: your insurer’s obligation and duty to provide and fund legal defence for you the policyholder, when a legal action is commenced against you. This amounts to a form of legal services  more...

By this point in the winter, most of us are getting a tired of shoveling snow. But maybe we don’t have it so bad. What if we were responsible to shovel more than the driveway and entrance to our homes and businesses? In Vancouver, it’s the first winter under a new by-law requiring homeowners and  more...

Video from http://www.ilstv.com/top-10-disasters-of- more...

The video below (just over 4 minutes) shows how thieves can electronically read your credit card without taking your wallet out of your pocket or purse.  They do this by using Radio Frequency Identification Techno more...

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but “space weather” poses a legitimate threat here on earth including interference to aircraft communication and navigational programs, malfunctioning satellites and GPS systems, and the potential shutdown of power grids. What is space weather? According to a new Lloyd’s of London report “space weather is an all-encompassing  more...

In early December the World Climate Summit will be held in Cancun Mexico, and the issue of man-made climate-change will be leading newscasts and back on the front pages. So far, 2010 has provided lots to talk about: floods throughout central Europe from May to August requiring the evacuation of 23,000 people. wildfires in western  more...

After intercepting “test run” packages in September, American security officials predicted that Yemen-based terrorists would attempt to send packaged bombs to the U.S. by way of commercial aircraft. That sombre prediction proved accurate with the discovery of Chicago-bound packaged bombs a week ago, in cargo aircraft in Dubai and the UK. Proof: terrorism continues to  more...

The work-life of an insurance underwriter: working in cramped cubicles in dimly-lit office towers in Toronto, carefully sifting through risk data, local fire-fighting ratings, and dusty manuals to find ways of charging more money to insure your home. Whimsical caricatures aside, the underwriter’s task – trying to insure homes that are unlikely to have claims  more...

Everybody is aware of the growing tide of identity theft. But this is surprising to many: professional identity theft is running rampant in the healthcare industry.  One insider called it “the cancer that we’re fighting every day”. Here’s how it works: a fraudster uses the name and professional registration number of a physician, chiropractor or  more...