Best insurance marketing ideas for agents

Best insurance marketing ideas for agents - Here is a list of the very best, proven, and cost-effective insurance marketing and prospecting tips, Here is a list of the very best, proven, and cost-effective insurance marketing and prospecting tips, ideas and advice we've learned over the past 30 years by working with the very best in the insurance and financial services industry. These tips, ideas and advice are designed to get you off to a quick start� but more importantly, if they are used properly and your message is focused on helping people to identify and solve their financial problems, you will guarantee your long-term success!

1. Emergency Info Wallet Cards

Include local emergency numbers like the fire department, police, poison control, etc. Include your contact information and the phone number for claims. Customers will be glad to carry such a valuable card around in their wallet and they will always have your information in their pocket! Referrals are the cheapest and easiest form of insurance agency marketing.

2. Great Email Signature � If you don�t already have an automated email signature, make one right now. Include every bit of contact information about you like your address, phone numbers, website, twitter, facebook, etc. With each new day comes a new form of communication and everyone has a favorite. Make sure you accommodate all communication preferences for marketing.

3. Keep a Voice Recorder in Your Car - When you�re driving and spot a commercial vehicle record some information about the vehicle and the phone number. You can call the owner later and explain where you saw the vehicle and that you would like an opportunity to make a bid on their insurance at the next renewal. In case you want to order one now, here's a link to digital voice recorders on Amazon.

4. Provide Unparralleled Customer Experiences  

Amazing customer experiences are one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal. In today's market, where consumers often expect to be taken for granted and treated poorly, when you treat your clients better than kings and queens they will tell the whole world. They'll go on Facebook and tell a thousand people! You'll never cold-call again if you can turn your book of business into your own sales force. Here's some customer service ideas I put together to get you started. 

5. Get in Their Cell Phone 

 Encourage clients to program your insurance agency phone number into their cell phone in case they have a claim or billing question. They will always be walking around with your contact information. If someone asks them about insurance it will be easier to refer. Referrals are the most successful insurance marketing strategy.

6. Volunteer

The hand that gives, gathers. There are many opportunites for growing your business while volunteering. You can get great PR in the newspaper, meet other local community members and business owners, and educate people about the values and benefits of insurance. Choose a non-profit you have some interest in since the more passion you have, the more benefit.

7. Harness the Power of Facebook 

Stop pretending its not a huge opportunity or you can't do it and start making money with Facebook. Unless you only sell Medicare Supplement Plans, nearly every client you have is already on Facebook and the average user has 130 friends! If you need ideas, check out another article I wrote: 100 Facebook Marketing Ideas For Insurance Agents. Be creative, not too self-promotional, and use Facebook to amplify your community presence. And by the way, updating your Facebook page with fresh and interesting content has never been easier with our latest free marketing product for insurance agents, the Insurance Agency Facebook Idea Dashboard.

8. Host a Window Etching Event  

Window etching is a process of inscribing the VIN number of a vehicle into all the glass on a car. It is supposed to reduce auto theft. You can sometimes team up with the local police department or an organizaiton against insurance fraud like these guys. Gather free insurance leads from the vehicle owners. Remember to frame the sales conversation around any discounts they're getting for the window etching.

9. Door Hangers 

 Sounds old school, but paying someone to go door to door hanging advertisements on doorknobs can be part of your insurance marketing strategy. Arm the person with talking points about your insurance agency just in case.

10. Good Old Telemarketing  

The reason insurance agents still telemarket�it still works. Focus telemarketing in the evening, give your telemarketer lots of talkpaths to use and conduct role plays periodically to keep your telemarketer sharp. Don't aim to quote and sell insurance policies right away. Respecting the prospects, making a positive impression, and gaining an x-date can be more valuable than providing an instant quote.

11. Keychain Tags 

 I mean the thin plastic tags that the grocery store, gym, and credit card companies give members. Include the insurance agency contact information. Customers will want it so they can call you if they have a claim. Now they will always have your contact information for when they refer your agency. Referrals are the best insurance marketing.

12. Get Your Own Website 

In today's marketplace, not having a website is like not having business cards. In addition to looking unprofessional, it also prohibits you from doing any legitimate online marketing.You can get a professional insurance website in three days for under $100 so why haven't you done it already? And for the captive agents... if your "website" is a page about your agency on the carrier's website then you don't have a website. You have a webpage driving local traffic to your carrier's domain to help them sell more insurance directly to your prospective and existing clients!

13. TV Advertising 

 If you get an opportunity for some cheap exposure it may be worthwhile. The best television marketing opportunities would be during programs specifically aimed at your target prospects while they are thinking about your services - like during a program about home improvement or cars. In my opinion, TV ads still do not offer the same ROI as other insurance marketing strategies.

14. Market Your Agency Online 

 InsuranceSplash owns a network of insurance-themed websites oriented toward consumers. Each has an agency locator and you can list your agency on each website. It's commonly accepted that having consistent information about your agency referenced on more websites across the internet can boost your ranking with Google and agency name citatations on regionally specific pages of websites all about insurance should help! Signing up for the lifetime membership is simple, cheap, and only takes five minutes.

15. Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Advertising 

These are sponsored results that show to the right when you search on Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. This can be an excellent insurance marketing opportunity because it drives traffic to your insurance agency website only from people actively interested in insurance. You choose who views your ads by location and demographics.
Google Adwords � MSN AdCenter (includes Yahoo.)

16. Local Networking Events 

Chambers of commerce and many professional organizations host networking events so businesspeople can meet other businesspeople. Make as many contacts as possible and follow up with people that will assist your insurance marketing with referrals. These events are always loaded with salespeople, focus on how you can help everyone you meet and have fun. Help others be successful and the karma will come back to help your insurance agency marketing.

17. Host Seminars

 It requires promotion, but you can host seminars about financial planning, understanding insurance, saving money on insurance etc. Invite people to your insurance agency office, use a meeting room at a local chamber, use space from a community center, or rent a location. Present a topic that is time sensitive and enticing. �Learning About Deferred Medical Savings Accounts� will not draw as many as: �Secrets to Stop Uncle Sam From Stealing Your Retirement.�

18. Give Free Coffee at Lowes 

Ever see the parking lot of a hardware store at 7 am? All contractors. Among many other potential needs, contractors need commercial auto, general liability, worker�s comp, disability etc

19. Email Newsletters 

 Capture your clients' email and develop an insurance marketing email newsletter. Online email marketing providers can help you produce professional looking newsletters and track who opened emails, what they clicked on, and how long they viewed the message. Make sure to send useful information. People receive too much spam and you don�t want to be that type of insurance email marketing sender. Sending sales emails can be illegal. CAN SPAM Act. For our insurance marketing ideas newsletter, we use a service called Aweber but we've also had good results from another provider named MailChimp.

20. Door-to-door Relationship Building

It�s not easy, but it might be the cheapest and most effective insurance marketing strategies. To be successful with face-to-face insurance marketing orient all conversation around how you can help the organization (with referrals and promotion, not just insurance). Have a non-sales conversation prepared, like a local community event you are organizing and recruiting help for. Be respectful and make an impression without interfering or coming across as a typical salesperson. Get x-dates and follow up with the decision makers before renewals. You will be surprised how many non-commercial insurance leads you get.

21. Online Yellow Pages For Leads. 

Superpages is a great way to find phone contacts for commercial insurance marketing. Focus on a particular market (carpenters, plumbers, lawyers etc) at a time so you can perfect your insurance sales strategy toward each different industry.

22. Sponsor a Car Show 

This is a good marketing idea for any agent, but a fantastic one for any agent interested and knowledgable about cars. Like most of the advice on this page, building relationships is the key ingredient in your agency marketing strategy and this will be a fantastic way to do so.

23. Improve Your Google Ranking

According to their website, Google ranks local businesses based on three things: location, relevance, and prominence. Location means you'll only show for searches near your physical location. Relevance means you'll only show for search terms related to insurance (not locksmiths, hotels, hairdressers, etc.) and prominence means how often Google comes across your business name address and phone number when they surf the entire web. For a more detailed explanation, download the free ebook, 10 Actions to Boost Your Agency's Google Rankings Today if you want to actually get any phone calls this year.

24. Press Releases 

 Have something interesting going on with your agency? Hire someone new? Open a new location? Get appointed with a new carrier? Change the air freshener in your bathroom? It doesn't matter how important the news is, you can write up a little blurb about it and publish it online. Be sure to reach out to your local community newspaper but you can also use an online service like this one make sure to include a link back to your website and use lots of location terms like your city/village/town name to help you with search engine optimization.

25. Reach Out to Contacts Every Day 

Make friends and increase referrals without looking like a salesperson by asking questions. Strong relationships within the community are perhaps the most powerful marketing tool an agent can possess. Strengthen these relationships by calling other professionals in the community and asking them questions as often as possible. You can ask things you already know! Over time the relationship will develop and they will send you referrals. Referrals are the sweetest insurance agency marketing.

26. Create a Podcast � 

 A podcast is like a radio show that you can publish yourself. Users of iTunes can subscribe to your podcast and the iTunes program on their computer will update itself with your most current podcast. To gain listeners you must provide valuable content but you don�t need to be extensive. You could make a podcast that offers one 30-second piece of advice per week about saving on insurance, driving safely, or child safety etc.

27. Telemarketing Services 

 There are many companies that will do insurance telemarketing for you and send leads interested in insurance quotes. There is less competition than with internet leads, but the cost is often higher and results may still be mediocre. Nevertheless, it is something to look into. There are many insurance telemarketing programs, here is one to check out.

28. Be Listed in Smartphone Apps - 

It shouldn't be a surprise to you that people are using smartphones more than ever before. (I'm an iPhone addict) It also shouldn't surprise you that many people use smartphone apps to find local businesses like yours. Ever wonder where those smartphone apps with local business information get all that info? Check this out to find out how to promote your agency in iPhone and Android apps. By the way, how easy is it for someone to call you when their phone is already in their hand?

29. Host a Defensive Driving Safety Class  

 There are plenty of materials out there if you wanted to put something together, or you could hire a professional to conduct the class and get your people a discount. Include insurance agency marketing materials in any handouts.

30. Advertise on Pizza Boxes 

I know several agents who purchase pizza boxes with their insurance marketing in exchange for buying the boxes. Many pizza shops need to cut expenses and will make a deal. Ensure they don't cover your insurance marketing with theirs. Boxes are under 50 cents each. Another option is to pay for plastic pizza cutters. They are more expensive but people keep them.

31. Speak at High Schools 

 Find informational materials and videos to use while you speak about defensive driving with high school students. Also, teaching a brief class about insurance could be a great opportunity for the students in a �life skills� class. It will certainly help to have a personal connection with someone in the school.

32. Consumer Review Websites 

Websites like Yelp.com and MerchantCircle allow you to set up a profile about your agency. Visitors can write recommendations about your agency and others use these services to decide who to call. I wouldn't quit after those two though because there's hundreds more, in fact I wouldn't set up any agency listings myself, I'd use this service to do it for me.

33. Sponsor the Fire or Police Department 

 What says community involvement and protection better than the fire and police departments? Firemen and police officers generally have very wide social networks within your local community. Find a way to get some publicity in the paper and develop strong friendships with the members.

34. Chamber of Commerce

To make it worth your time and money, you must develog stronger relationships within and contribute to the community. Chambers of Commerce are full of salespeople�be a resource by helping others and you will reap the greatest insurance marketing benefits.

35. Facebook Advertising 

 Ever notice those links on the right hand side of your Facebook page that usually have catchy pictures and text? Those are advertisements and they're the reason Mark Zuckerberg is a billionare. You can pay to have your own ads show there and it's amazing how specific you can get with your target audience, but be warned: if you can't get a high ratio of people to click and you don't change your ads frequently, Facebook will not show them regardless of your how much money you have. If you're too busy selling insurance to spend too much time on your Facebook page it's still easy to provide engaging insurance agency related content for a Facebook page using the Facebook Content Dashboard.

36. Wrap Your Car

Consider the possibility of having your vehicle professionally wrapped with your insurance agency logo. It facilitates more conversations than you expect and traffic won't bother you as much. You could also purchase an inexpensive car magnet to put on your car when it is parked in highly visible locations or in your parking lot closer to the main road. Always be marketing.

37. Always Carry Lots of Business Cards 

All of us have said, �I don�t have a business card on me right now�. From this point forward if you ever say that again then you should turn in your insurance license. You failed the successful insurance agent marketing test. Leave them in fishbowls, post them on bulletin boards, leave them with a generous tip if you have great service in a restaurant. And don�t ever run out�

38. Create a Google+ Agency Page 

 I get it, you're already tired of all the social media stuff. Between Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and whatever the flavor of the week is next month it's hard to keep up. But there's one reason you really need to play along with this one - it's Google and even if no one uses Google+, it can benefit your search results. Set up your Google+ page here. 

39. Hire Commission-Only Salespeople 

Not many agents have the spare cash to bring on another full-time (or even part-time) producer right now, buy you may be able to bring on a commission-only salesman. Even if you give them 100% of your sales commission, at some point they'll leave and the renewals are yours. Ads on Craigslist are free and there's plenty of people in the market for a job right now.

40. Customer Video Testimonials 

No one can sell the benefits of doing business with your agency better than an actual customer. Most agencies have a client or two that is bananas about you, ask them a few questions and film it with your iPhone. Shoot with the client and camera in a standing position away from a wall - it will have a more candid appearance and the lack of quality will be less noticeable.

41. Donations for Quotes 

 Offer to donate a certain amount of money to a charity for every quote you get. Some of the big carriers get this one wrong by donating to a national cause. Donate to local charities and get your quotes from people that are actively engaged with the charity. Get them to post it to their Facebook page and let them do all the marketing for you.

42. Refer-A-Friend Page -

 Create a page on your website that allows people to enter in the email address of a friend and it sends that person an email with your contact information and a recommendation about the agency. People aren't going to use this by themselves though. You can email them a link right after you help them with something they appreciate like a billing dispute or a claim.

43. Use Fiverr.com 

Fiverr.com is an awesome resource where you can hire people to do all sorts of things for only $5. There's a bunch of ways to use Fiverr for insurance marketing like designing flyers, writing press releases, business card design, content writing, video creation and more. You really wouldn't believe what you can get for $5.

44. Google Alerts 

Google Alerts is a free service from Google that sends you an email anytime they find a new website with information you're interested in. You can set it up to notify you anytime someone mentions your agency or to make sure you're in the loop about all local insurance and business networking news. Learn more about Google Alerts for insurance marketing here.

45. Twitter 

 I know that a lot of insurance agents don't "get" Twitter. I understand because to be honest, I don't totally get it and I'm an internet marketing guy. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't set up a Twitter page though. Just having the page for your agency gives Google a more robust picture of your agency's online profile which should help search results. It's not hard to set it up to just regurgitate your Facebook posts automatically either.

46. Get Free PR 

HelpAReporter.com is a free service that connects reporters with experts to interview. When you sign up for an account as an expert you'll recieve 3 emails a day filled with opportunities to be the "industry expert" for a reporter who needs to interview someone to write a story. If you want to be interviewed, respond quickly and sell hard on why you'd be the best expert to interview.

47. Downloadable Whitepapers 

A Whitepaper is basically just a fancy term for an informational report. You can turn it into a PDF and put it on your website either to generate leads or to give out for free. Keep it simple and create something highly relevant to an insurance shopper like, The top 10 Insurance Mistakes Chicago Families Make and How to Avoid Them. It's a bit trite, but you get the point.

48. Online Maps 

People find local businesses using sites like Mapquest.com, Google Maps, and AltaVista. If they're already on a map, it's a pretty good indication that they're serious about finding a local company too. Here's two ways to do it: 1) do a search on Google for "online maps and go to each of the top sites looking for a link to add your busines profile and fill it out. 2) Use UBL to add you to every major online map by filling out one form.

49. Sponsor a Motorcycle Ride 

Except for a few crotchrocket thrill seekers, motorcycle riders are often fantastic insurance clients. They are very safe drivers on two and four wheels and today�s motorcycle owner often has many other insurance and financial service needs. Motorcycle insurance marketing is a great lead-in to other insurance lines.

50. Post Client Letters 

 If someone writes a letter, sends an email, or posts a positive comment online about your agency, print it out and post it in a visible location. Shoppers look to others for guidance. Reading many letters from others about the knowledge, care, and protection your provide will only improve their impression of your business.

51. Boost Your Search Rank 

Here's the bottom line: the more websites across the web with your consistent and accurate agency name, phone number, and address, the higher you'll rank. Thats why services that distribute your agency on thousands of webpages are so valuable.

52. Contact Webmasters for Links 

 Enhance the online presence of your insurance agency website and improve search rankings with links from other related sites. According to Google, one way to improve the search results of your website is to get one-way links from quality related websites. In order to do this you will need to have some type of product, service, or information visitors on the other site may be interested in, but unable to get on that site. Keep in mind that no one is going to be willing to offer a link to your site unless there is an obvious benefit to their visitors.

53. Park a Wreck in Your Lot 

 Convince a junkyard to park a wrecked vehicle in front of your office. It will draw attention and create a mental connection between your location and car accidents and insurance. If your local government or landlord gives you a hard time, remind them it is raising safety awareness and at the very least try to get them to allow it every once in a while.

54. Referral Marketing Exchange

I know many agents that offer cash incentives for real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and car salesmen to refer their insurance agency. (This is illegal in some places) There may be other options to reward referrals that are more affordable to you and/or more enticing for them, for instance you agree to pay for the publication and distribution of marketing materials. When a real estate agent sends you a lead, instead of paying them cash agree to send their client birthday cards in their name for the next five years. It may be easier for you if you already have a similar process in your office.

55. Join the School Board 

The school board is obviously a fantastic way to meet both the big players and families in the community. Being on the school board will give you easier access to marketing opportunities to parents and young drivers also. Marketing insurance products to young families is an ideal situation.

56. Insurance Leads Fishbowl 

 Leave a fishbowl on the counter at a business where potential customers shop with a sign indicating you will be drawing for a gift card to the establishment. Use the cards for leads. If you like this idea and want to buy one right this instant here's a link to fish bowls on Amazon.

57. Wear Your Business 

 Invest in some nice shirts with your business name clearly visible. Wear them everywhere, especially to school and community events. Include your staff and you can have a powerful insurance marketing effect. Shirts are expensive, so if you're going to hand them out, give them only to people you think have friends that would make good clients.

58.Customer Surveys 

Surveying people about service quality has marketing benefits. You can identify opportunities for improvement and you let clients know you value the quality of their experience. Another benefit is that many people will feel obliged to say good things and forcing them to do so will imprint the value of your agency into their minds. You can do this by email with most email marketing services.

59. Engage People On Facebook 

Moving forward, insurance agents that have the strongest online presence will survive. Check out this free article we wrote with over 100 ideas and strategies for Facebook marketing for insurance agents.

60. Write in the Local Papers 

 Even if you pay for it, writing content for the local paper can be much more valuable than insurance advertising. Most papers are struggling right now and will be more open than ever to allow you to pay to write content. If you cannot inlcude insurance agency contact information in the article purchase a visible ad near it.

61. Business Networking Groups 

 Although there are many like it, BNI is one of the most prominent business networking groups. Unfortunately, they often limit membership to one person per industry and insurance is often filled. Take advantage if you get an opportunity to join BNI or another group like it.

62. Coach Youth Sports 

 Coaching a youth sports team allows you to meet many young families within the community. Think auto, home, Life, financial Planning, 529, IRA, etc. You should take every opportunity to get to know the league coordinators as they are often very well-known individuals within the community. Get some additional agency marketing by hanging a team picture in the office. It's also a lot of fun, just ask the guys on my middle school lacrosse team.

63. Designate a Referral Specialist 

Choose one person in your agency and assign them to develop and support a referral process. Track referred business and pay extra commission on it. When one person takes ownership of the referral program you�ll get their buy in, and your other staff won�t be hearing about referrals from only you. Referrals are key to insurance agency marketing.

64. Send Marketing Materials With Every Customer Communication 

 Whether it is a payment reminder, policy endorsement, renewal notification, etc, always include some sort of insurance product marketing material. This holds true for mail, email, phone calls, text messages, whatever.

65. Bring Doughnuts to Apartment Managers 

 If you sell renter�s coverage the best way to market insurance is through the person selling the apartment. When you get an opportunity to speak with apartment managers, make sure they understand why insured tenants can be an advantage to them. They will forget you if you don�t bring something to eat once a month.

66. Give Out Pens

 Many businesses and communities can always use extra pens - community centers, restaurants, grocery stores, the DMV. Always keep extra pens with you and when you see a jar full of pens somewhere, fill it up with your own. Always be marketing your insurance agency.

67. Get Links to Your Website 

Every search engine marketer will tell you the same thing, inbound links to your website or webpage will help you show up higher in search results. Ask people you do business with to add a link to your site and make sure to include a link back to your site from anywhere online you have the opportunity. Don't forget about online business directories, which are often an easy source of inbound links. If you know the secret it's not too expensive to get better search rankings.

68. Advertise In Church Bulletins 

Church bulletins tend not to be huge insurance lead generators, but use your financial support to speak with the church leadership. Offer to conduct seminars about insurance, defensive driving, fire safety, financial planning etc. Your good intentions will lead to higher commissions.

69. Coupon Mailers 

Consider the readers of these materials and make sure any advertising you do provides some sort of coupon, free gift, or call to action. People read through these specifically to find coupons and discounts. Val-Pak is one.

70. Customer Appreciation Party

Let your best policyholders know how important you are by inviting them to a nice dinner. Use this time to market new financial products, encourage referrals, and strengthen relationships. Invite your largest premium providers and the people who help you with referral marketing.

71. Insurance Lead Lists 

 It can be expensive, but purchasing lists of insurance prospects is a starting point for many of the other insurance marketing strategies here. Narrow down prospects with demographics, location, etc. Salesgenie is one company that does this.

72. Market in Ethnic Publications 

Studies show certain minority populations can be more loyal to businesses that advertise and market within their cultural media. If you speak a foreign language or someone in your agency does, selling insurance to that community can open the door to loads of referred leads.

73. Local Forum Websites 

Many local communities have online forums where members communicate about community events, concerns, businesses, etc. Become an avid poster and you will develop friends and insurance leads. If possible, use a link to your insurance agency website in your signature so it shows up every time you write. Since your online reputation is nearly as important nowadays as your actual one, make sure to make relavent posts rather than blatant insurance advertisements.

74. T-shirts 

Give them out to policyholders who will wear them. It will be tempting to buy the cheapest white shirts. Remember, if your shirt can work itself into the regular rotation of someone�s wardrobe, you�ll have residual insurance advertising. Make sure the agency name and service is clear.

75. Online News Comments

 After reading articles on the local news website make a post and try to include a link to your website. Link a theme in the article to an insurance need. Do not become a comment spammer; post relevant information. Incoming links to your website from a reliable source like the local newspaper can help the search rankings of your website and drive targeted traffic.

76. Get New Marketing Ideas by Email 

Sign up for the Insurance Marketing Ideas Newsletter to get weekly insurance marketing ideas like the ones your reading right now delivered right to your inbox. For a limited time there's also a secret gift just for signing up. (Okay, you talked me into it... it's an eBook I wrote explaining how to rank #1 on Google)

77. Leave Pens Everywhere 

 When you sign a credit card receipt, when you fill out a deposit slip at the bank, when you are addressing a letter at the post office. Consciously leave your pens everywhere. Consider pens that have some cool feature like an unusual clicking mechanism. That will improve their lifespan and assist your insurance marketing efforts.

78. Leverage LinkedIn 

 I don't know too many agents who use LinkedIn well for sales or marketing but it can be a great resource for building your network. Here's a hint for insurance agents: The value of LinkedIn doesn't come from networking with people you already know as much as from connecting with the people they know. (By the way, if you like this top 100 list consider connecting on LinkedIn with the author: Insurance Marketing Expert - John F. Carroll)

79. Host a Baby Car Seat Event 

You�ll need to get certified in car seat safety installation or find someone who is. Often fire departments or police departments have certified individuals and maybe you�ll convince them to bring the fire truck. Marketing insurance products to young families is always a good idea.

80. Publish RSS Feeds

If you have a blog, it's a must. RSS is short for Real Simple Syndication and it is a way to publish information online that can be read by a third-party program (feed reader or aggregator). This allows visitors to sign up for RSS feeds from several websites and by using one feed reader they can effectively compile up-to-the-minute news information from only those sources they are most interested in. Feedburner is probably the best option for publishing your information.

81. Yahoo Directory. 

This one is very pricey ($300/yr), but if you have the budget and are interested in insurance agency website search engine optimization, marketing in the Yahoo directory will help you. Be warned, it's not a huge help but if you've got the money to spend...Be sure you provide your information exactly the same as you list it everywhere else. Consistency with online listings is very important for search rankings.

82. Attend Community Meetings 

 Read your local newspaper or website to learn when community meetings are happening. Do good for the community and business will follow. Wear your agency shirt. (a nice golf shirt, not a T-shirt)

83. Produce a Viral Video 

I can�t tell you how to do it, but if you can come up with something related to insurance, your staff, your community or something that people will want to watch and send to their friends, release it on YouTube and let it go viral. Here�s a free suggestion� put together bunch of extreme sports bloopers with an disability insurance advertisement.

84. Start a Community Organization

It�s not hard and you won�t need to win an election to be the president. Identify a social need in the community and start it. Combine a group of people and a cause like Softballers Against Cancer or Baby Boomers For the Environment. You can get it started on a site like MeetUp.com.

85. Publish a Blog 

Publishing an online insurance blog is a great way to drive traffic. A general blog about insurance will be lost in the shuffle but a blog about a specific type of insurance in your section of the state could be a great opportunity to find actual clients. It will add to your credibility as an industry expert. Although challenging to a newbie, creating a Wordpress blog in a subdomain of your website (www.blog.yourdomain.com) can be done. Don't forget to submit your blog to InsuranceBlogSites.com. They don't accept every blog, but it's free!

86. Comment on Related Blogs 

There are many opportunities to take advantage of blog marketing without owning one. When you read someone else�s blog post about a subject that could be related to insurance, post a comment about it. Always comment with insightful and relevant information. The extra links to your website will help your insurance agency website search rankings, and you should drive targeted traffic to your website. Insurance website marketing is very important now.

87. Make Sure Other Businesses Are Aware of Your Referrals 

 This is just a general marketing concept. When you refer someone to the service or product of another customer give them a reason to mention you. Something as simple as �he�ll probably give you a discount if you mention I referred you� will ensure that the owner is reminded of the value of his relationship with you. That should help your retention and increase the liklihood of reciprical referrals. The other business owner will also want to pay you back - It's called reciprocal atruism if I can remember correctly from my college psychology class.

88. Internet Insurance Leads 

 There are several providers of marketing insurance leads. These are mostly insurance websites that encourage visitors to submit their information to receive competing insurance quotes. The information is then sold to many competing agents. Success rates vary greatly by insurance agency. Remember to call the unsold leads back 6 months later. And 12, 18, 24...

89. Send Holiday or Birthday Cards 

For some customers, a card from you might be the only greeting on their birthday. Set yourself apart with less popular holiday greetings like Halloween or Thanksgiving. Send Memorial Day cards to proud veterans or ethnic holiday cards to clients. Building relationships is a great way to market your insurance agency.

90. Handwritten Letters For Best Customers

We spend too much time with customers that pay us the least amount of money. Take a look at your commission statements and make sure you are going the extra mile for the people that support you the most. Guess who your best customers hang out with... people just like them who'd be great referrals for you.

91. Annual Policy Reviews 

 How can you expect policyholders to stay with you if they do not get anything in return each year? You should attempt to discuss policies with every customer every year. This helps you solidify the relationship, identify needs for additional products, and ask for referrals. Treating your book well is the best route to insurance agency marketing success.

92. Promote Your Clients 

 What goes around comes around so encourage clients to leave promotional material in your agency and try to refer them clients. Entrepreneurs are often our best clients (many insurance and financial needs and better retention), and they are most likely to refer your services if they see the value in what you do.

93. Niche Forum Websites 

 Across the web there are thousands of different themed discussion forums. Think about the insurance products you sell and then imagine where people may go online�Motorcycle forums, antique car forums, websites about saving money or investing. You get the point, go there and make friends.

94. Manage Your Brand 

 In today's digital world, there are thousands of places people may find information about your agency. If it's important to you that the information they find is accurate and complete there are services that can help you with online reputation management. In today's digital world it's so important to make sure you're being properly represented everywhere online.

95. Encourage Positive Online Reviews 

When policy holders have a positive experience with your insurance agency, encourage them to go online to sites like Yelp.com or MerchantCircle.com and write about their experience. I recommend agents build a page on their website with links to their different profiles on review websites. When people are happy with their service they simply email them a link to that page and it makes things much easier for the customer. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to give you a review. And don't put a link to that page on your website, you don't want everyone to have access to it, just the people who are going to write nice things about you. For more ideas, here's an article I wrote about getting more reviews.

96. Put Your Picture on a Billboard 

If you are an attractive woman this might work. For the guys � putting your picture on a billboard does not make you a local celebrity, it just proves you are vain and good at wasting marketing dollars. Maybe I'm just jealous...

97. Advertise to Specific Markets 

Blanketed insurance advertising is not nearly as effective as specific messages for targeted customers. Think �Great Rates for Homeowners with Good Credit� instead of �Great Insurance Rates�.

98. Host a Boating Safety Class 

 If you market well enough, paying an instructor to teach a class in your agency or a community center can lead to a boatload of referrals (sorry). Free for all attendees may work, or give your clients a break and charge the others. Insurance marketing strategies that encourage safety are always a good idea.

99. Put Balloons Outside 

Flags, balloons, streamers, whatever�Do something to draw some attention to your agency. Ask yourself if there is anything at all drawing attention to your business. Your physical location can be your greatest source of insurance agency marketing. Amazon has a ton of helium tanks that aren't too expensive.

100. Child Fingerprinting Event 

Interest in protecting the community will always be good for insurance marketing. Don�t forget how valuable the connections you make with members of the local police department can be in many different ways.

101. Overdeliver

Always deliver more than you promise with everything that you do. In a marketplace where most companies overpromise and underdeliver try to be the opposite. For example, if you've promised 100 marketing ideas, give 113 instead!

102. Free Lemonade 

Offering free lemonade in the summer or hot chocolate in the winter can draw in potential customers. If you�re concerned about freeloaders, make the drink contingent upon an insurance quote.

103. Host a Blood Drive 

 Raise awareness of your location by getting people to come to give blood, and it will also give you a reason to contact your policyholders besides billing.

104. Referral Marketing Program 

Reward existing policyholders for sending you new clients. Don't be cheap with the referral rewards. Make sure every single knows about your insurance referral program and remind them every single interaction. Developing referrals is the best insurance marketing strategy. If you haven't read The Referral Engine I strongly recommend it.

105. 800 Number Tracking

Use 800 numbers to track the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. Kall8 provides a number for around 2 dollars a month. You can tell the marketing source using caller ID. If you invest thousands for grocery cart ads, it's worth paying 25 dollars a year to track the return? My bet is you will spend your grocery cart money in online marketing the following year.

106. Messaging on Hold 

 Being on hold sucks. It sucks a lot less when there's something to listen to. Having a service that provides information about other products will give callers something to listen to and expose them to a much wider array of your services. Customers will be unaware what we sell if we don't constantly market insurance products to them.

107. TV or Radio Interviews 

When insurance-related news happens locally, contact the media and offer your opinion. News reporters are just folks like us trying to meet deadlines so if they can get a quote without working hard, many will take advantage. Use your twitter account to send them a message.

108. Get Listed in GPS Devices 

Wouldn't it be nice if people could pull up your insurance agency when they did a search on their handheld or factory installed GPS device? Some GPS manufacturers let you go to their website and submit a business profile. It might take you a little while though... You might consider this service to list your agency in almost every GPS device in one fell swoop. If someone's searching for insurance on their GPS device, I'd say they're pretty committed to visiting your agency!

109. Sponsor the Highway 

Highways will allow businesses to sponsor cleanup efforts in exchange for a sign advertising their service. Sponsor a section near the exit toward your agency. If there are no nearby openings, propose sponsoring another road in town. Maybe they�ll let you put up a sign to market your insurance agency if you agree to clean up trash along the roadside.

110. Nice Car Cards 

 These are business cards with a car compliment written in big letters. When you see a nice car parked, leave one of the cards with your contact information on it. Have them preprinted to say �People with taste like yours value an insurance agency like mine� or better yet, hand write a personal message. People with nice cars tend to like compliments and also have a lot of insurance needs. Place it on the driver side window right over the door handle with the compliment facing out.

111. Prepare Conversational Insurance Questions 

How many times do we miss sales opportunities every day? Although selling comes naturally to you (or so you think), prepare some questions you could ask anyone depending on the situation to stimulate an insurance conversation. Here�s an example: �Isn�t it amazing how fast kids grow up?� Depending on the answer, there are many insurance conversations this could lead into. Having conversational starters prepared will prevent you from wasting sales opportunities by talking about the weather.

112. Outsource Time-Consuming Activities

There's a million and one things you need to do to make your marketing work. If you can hire a highschooler to telemarket for minimum wage, do it. If you can pay somebody to drive around and drop off brochures at all the local apartment complexes do it. If you can pay someone to list your agency on hundreds of local business websites do it. If you can pay someone to handwrite your thank you cards, do it! Here's my twist on the E-Myth hypothesis: "Always work on your marketing, not in your marketing".

113. Advertise Your Greenness

Offer information about how to drive more efficiently or reduce energy costs in the home. Send email newsletters, mail to your clients, or host educational sessions in your office for your customers. Include insurance agency marketing material in anything you provide.

Tips for buying car insurance online

Best insurance srock - Tips for buying car insurance online - online purchases insurance, guides to buy online auto insurance ; Strategy for 2013 Given the cost and other advantages, it is best to buy insurance online. "Time is not a constraint in online purchases. Customers have logged in at 2 a.m. to buy term insurance, If you are buying through a broker, be on your guard against mis-selling, or worse, cheating and forgery. There was a disturbing rise in such cases in 2012.

It seems like every time you turn on the television, you encounter a commercial that asks whether you're paying too much for your car insurance. Chances are your insurer won't be champing at the bit to tell you the answer, so the burden is on you to find out. But with an Internet connection and a little planning, you can do it on your lunch hour.

Whether you're shopping for your first policy or looking for a better rate, going online is a gateway to a world of auto insurance quotes and information about the companies that issue them. As you'll see, low cost is just one factor to consider. Let's take a look at five tips to keep in mind when you go online to buy car insurance.

Searching Online Is Just One Option

While there is a seemingly endless number of companies issuing auto insurance policies these days, there are really just two ways to buy car insurance: You can purchase a policy in-person through an agent -- a licensed individual who sells policies on behalf of one or more insurance companies -- or you can buy directly from an insurer via Web site or telephone.

Buying car insurance online still accounts for a relatively small portion of total auto insurance sales, but it's increasing in popularity. According to a 2011 survey by the Internet marketing research company ComScore, just 20 percent of new auto insurance policies were purchased online, compared to 43 percent purchased from an agent. However, the number of online purchases represents an increase of 5 percent from just two years earlier, while the number of agent purchases represents a 6 percent decline. Additionally, a 2011 survey by J.D. Power and Associates showed that 54 percent of new auto insurance owners applied for a rate quote online, the first time this has happened for a majority of respondents

Prepare Before You Search

Whether you shop for car insurance online or go one of the other routes, make sure you come prepared with all of the information you need to get an accurate quote. Take stock of your car's make, model, year, vehicle identification number (VIN), the zip code of where you park the car at night and any aftermarket safety or anti-theft accessories installed on the car. Get the license numbers of every driver to be insured under the policy, as well as the date when they were first licensed, and obtain a copy of your driving record. Get an updated credit score as well -- your credit rating can affect your auto insurance premiums, since some insurers say those with poor credit scores are more likely to file claims

There are a few steps you can take to get lower insurance premiums, as well. Tally up the number of miles you drove this year versus the previous year -- a significant decrease in the mileage you drive might help you get a lower quote. Consider completing a defensive driving course online, insuring multiple vehicles (or your home) through the same insurance company or looking for a plan with a higher deductible. You might even want to eliminate certain types of insurance not required by law in your state; you could forego collision and comprehensive coverage on very old cars, for instance

Shop Around

You should take a look at your auto insurance policy every year to find out how much you're paying in premiums and how much coverage you're getting in return. The cost of the same policy can vary widely between companies based on factors like how much the company spends on advertising, commissions paid to the agent and the risk levels of the company's pool of insured drivers.

To start comparing quotes, try logging on to an auto insurance aggregator Web site like NetQuote.com, Insure.com or InsWeb.com, where visitors submit information about their car and driving history in exchange for an array of quotes from different insurance companies. Typically, many of the quotes come via follow-up e-mails and phone calls from insurance agents. You can also try searching Web sites for companies like Progressive and Geico, which sell insurance directly to consumers and provide quotes immediately.

Before you submit any sensitive information through a Web site, look for a security policy to ensure that any communications are reasonably protected from third parties, and set your Web browser to notify you when you leave a secure connection.

Visit Your State Insurance Department's Web Site

Auto insurance is regulated on a state-by-state basis, and your state's insurance department usually has a bunch of relevant information to your search in the consumer information section of its Web site. Search the National Association of Insurance Commissioners State Web Map to find a link to your state insurance department

The depth of information varies, but these Web sites often include profiles of the different insurance companies licensed within the state, sample price comparisons charged by competing agencies to cover common vehicles, and consumer guides to auto insurance. Many insurance departments also provide complaint indexes, which tally the number of consumer complaints upheld against a particular company versus the number of policies they have issued. This information can be valuable in determining which company to sign with.

If you're unsure if a prospective insurer is licensed within your state, ask an agent. If the company falsely claims to be licensed in your state, report them.

Don't Go By Price Alone

Just because a company offers you a cheap quote doesn't mean you should let it insure your vehicle. Take a close look at the terms of your policy to ensure it matches your last auto insurance policy, and that you're getting an equivalent amount of coverage (or at least the minimum amount required by law in your state). Examine the terms of the agreement to make sure the company don't require the use of cheaper aftermarket materials for repairs instead of the original factory parts, which can pose safety hazards

In addition to the complaint indexes maintained by state organizations, you can refer to consumer satisfaction databases on Web sites like ConsumerReports.org and JDPower.com [source: Reed]. You should also make sure that your insurance company is financially stable before purchasing your policy. In addition to checking with your state insurance department, ratings organizations like A.M. Best and Standard and Poor's are good resources to determine a company's financial state. And look to your friends and family for recommendations, as well.

2016 Opportunities Non-Life Insurance in China

2016 Opportunities Non-Life Insurance in China : The Chinese non-life insurance segment continued to grow at a healthy rate, largely unaffected by the on-going uncertainties surrounding the global economy. Allowing foreign insurers to write compulsory motor third-party liability insurance has provided an impetus for growth. However, large domestic insurers are anticipated to continue to dominate the segment over the forecast period (2012-2016) while smaller operators are projected to gradually increase their market share. Although the Chinese non-life insurance segment recorded rapid growth during the review period (2007-2011), it remains largely underpenetrated due to low levels of product awareness, weak penetration rates in rural areas and restrictions for foreign insurers.

Key Highlights

• Although the Chinese non-life insurance market recorded rapid growth over the review period, it remains largely underpenetrated because of various limitations, including low product awareness, low penetration in rural areas and a lack of a robust distribution model.
• Of all the categories in the Chinese non-life insurance market, automobile insurance is the market leader, representing 71.8% of the market in 2011.
•  Property insurance was the second-largest category in the non-life insurance market, accounting for 22.16% of the total non-life insurance written premium in 2011.
• Over the forecast period, growth in the non-life market will be driven by the development of the automobile industry and active property and real estate markets in underdeveloped Chinese provinces. These projects will require innovative, customized insurance products.
• The Chinese non-life insurance market is highly concentrated, with the top eight companies accounting for 88.5% of the total retained premiums in 2010. The share of domestic companies as compared to foreign companies has been high, and the top eight non-life companies in the Chinese insurance industry are domestic companies.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the non-life insurance market in China:

• It provides historical values for China's non-life insurance market for the report's 2007-2011 review period and forecast figures for the 2012-2016 forecast period
•  It offers a detailed analysis of the key sub-segments in China's non-life insurance market, along with market forecasts until 2016
•  It covers an exhaustive list of parameters, including written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, frauds and crimes, total assets, total investment income and retentions
•  It analyses the various distribution channels for non-life insurance products in China
•  Using Porter's industry-standard "Five Forces" analysis, it details the competitive landscape in China for the non-life insurance business
• It provides a detailed analysis of the reinsurance market in China and its growth prospects
• It profiles the top non-life insurance companies in China and outlines the key regulations affecting them

Reasons to Purchase

• Make strategic business decisions using historic and forecast market data related to the Chinese non-life insurance market and each sector within it
•  Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities within the Chinese non-life insurance market
•   Assess the competitive dynamics in the non-life insurance market, along with the reinsurance segment
• Identify the growth opportunities and market dynamics within key product categories
•     Gain insights into key regulations governing the Chinese insurance market and its impact on companies and the market's future  read moree

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US life insurance industry forecast 2013

Best Insurance stock - US life insurance industry forecast 2013 : The credit outlook for the U.S. life insurance industry is stable for 2013, reflecting the industry's strong balance sheet fundamentals and improved liquidity profile, according to Fitch Ratings.

These positive factors have somewhat mitigated Fitch's ongoing concerns over the challenging macroeconomic environment that continues to pressure operating fundamentals. While Fitch believes the industry is well positioned to withstand macroeconomic challenges over 2013, the outlook is vulnerable to severe, albeit unexpected shocks to the economy.

The 'fiscal cliff' and Eurozone debt crisis remain the predominant risk for the global economic and credit outlook, although Fitch's base case assumption is that policy makers will take necessary steps to avoid disorderly shocks.

Fitch expects that sustained low interest rates will limit earnings growth, but will not have a material negative effect on industry capital in 2013. The industry's exposure to an unexpected interest rate spike would raise concerns over disintermediation risk.

Fitch expects that if interest rates stay low much beyond 2014, the agency's outlook would likely be revised to negative based on weakened earnings profile and anticipated negative capital impacts.

Fitch also expects ongoing rationalization of products and markets resulting from the financial crisis to accelerate in 2013. Credit implications are likely negative over the near term due to potential capital charges, but could be favorable longer term. This rationalization process is creating increased opportunities for both traditional players and nontraditional players, which are expected to play an increasing role in the industry.

Ernst & Young - 2013 US life-annuity insurance outlook
The US life insurance industry is confronting significant demographic, macroeconomic and regulatory challenges to business models and operations. In 2013, successful players are repositioning and reinventing their products, strategies and services, positioning their companies for growth and profitability in the competitive, lower-margin market.

Insurers are competing in a market where average household expenditures on life insurance have declined 50% over the past decade, a decrease most noticeable among younger consumers. Product preferences for all consumers are also altering, given the prolonged low-interest-rate environment and equity market upheaval.

In response, US life insurers are transforming their products and businesses. Many are introducing novel products and enhancements that are attractive to consumers and profitable for insurers in the low-interest-rate environment. Carriers are leveraging technology to improve business models and product offerings, thus enhancing their value propositions to customers, while estructuring operations and distribution to communicate and transact with customers on their terms.

These positive developments are expected to continue in 2013, despite the persistent economic difficulties. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow only modestly between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the fourth quarter of 2013, although the unemployment rate could begin to improve during the year. Interest rates are likely to remain low, and equity markets are expected to be volatile. Insurers� financial positions will be impacted by management and expense fee instability, Deferred Acquisition Cost (DAC)
write-downs, hedging losses and basis risk and reserves and capital adequacy.

The continuing volatility is causing reluctance among consumers with regard to purchasing variable products, and the low crediting rates on fixed products are not perceived as a particularly attractive alternative. Regulatory forces also challenge the industry. At the federal level, life insurers with banking operations, or those designated a Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI), confront possible increased regulation by the Federal Reserve to improve risk management. Life insurers also must prepare for possible actions taken by the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which reviews assorted financial services transactions like insurance sales.

Other pressures include emerging US and international accounting standards that may adversely affect business operations and business models. At the state level, life insurers continue to adapt to current and prospective National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) regulations, such as the Risk Management and Own Risk and Solvency Assessment Model Act, commonly called ORSA.

Within this economic environment, many companies are rethinking the businesses they are in and developing new ways to sustain a profitable, competitive advantage. Outsourcing and shared services, for instance, may reduce costs and improve efficiency, in addition to increased use of data analytics, mobility and digitization � the buzzwords of the moment.  Indeed, operations and technology are increasingly the source of competitive advantage. In 2013, insurers should continue to address the changing regulatory environment by evaluating their product lines and markets. Improving capital and risk management still remains a priority, as does a continuing engagement with legislators to shape key tax policies.

To respond to these market forces during the coming year, senior management needs to:
� Rethink business strategy for sustainable competitive advantage
� Respond to consumer needs and changing distribution to grow
� Transform products to adapt to economic challenges by:
� Preparing for a scenario of long-term, low interest rates
� De-risking and redesigning products
� Harness big data for sustainable advantage
� Position the business for tax, regulatory and accounting change by:
� Staying attentive to tax changes in this time of governmental need for revenue
� Increasing focus on risk management and consumer protection to prepare for regulatory change
� Organizing and planning for accounting change

read full  Ernst & Young analysis ; http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/2013-US-life-annuity-insurance-outlook/$FILE/2013-US-life-annuity-insurance-outlook_EG0097.pdf

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United India Insurance UII projections 2013

United India Insurance UII projections 2013 : United India Insurance Company plans to enter the Middle East and SAARC countries to tap the potential in these regions due to a presence of a large India diaspora, a top company executive has said.

"UII is eyeing operations in Middle East and SAARC nations. Though this is in preliminary stage, a detailed survey has revealed rich potential due to a large Indian diaspora and business activities of Indian and foreign companies," the state-owned company's CMD Milind Kharat told PTI.

 The operations could be through a joint venture or a branch or an agency model and is expected to be commissioned in a few months, Kharat, who was here to address a customers' meet, said.

He was confident that at least one center would begin operations before March 2013, subject to clearances.

On the business quantum, he said UII has been maintaining 20 per cent growth this year despite the economic slowdown and a substantial drop in sales of motor vehicles in the country.

The company is targeting to surpass premium collections of Rs 10,000 crore this fiscal, he said.

In the first half of the year (half year ended Sept 30 2012), premium collected touched Rs 4,757 crore. Last year, UII clocked Rs 8,179 crore as against Rs 6,376 crore in 2010-11.

He said three new insurance products are on the anvil, including two in motor insurance and one in health sector, all of which would be launched before this fiscal end, pending clearance from IRDA.

UII, with about 1,436 branches and 15 per cent of the market, is increasing its activities in rural pockets with focus on where lucrative potential could be tapped, he said.

The number of micro offices (single person managed) will be doubled from 350 at the beginning of this year to 700 by end of this fiscal, he said.

Kharat said total headcount stood at 17,000. In 2011, UII recruited 400 officers in different disciplines and plans to recruit 600 personnel in clerical cadre by March 2013,he said.

He said the online insurance policy scheme launched 18 months ago has been gaining momentum and claimed over 17000 policies had been issued through this online route. Kharat also said UII maintains the highest profit earnings among PSU insurance companies in the country.

Business accrued was 12 per cent from Marine business, 47 from Motor Insurance, 30 from Health and the balance from Fire and others, he said.

UIHC Underwritten public offering on common stock

Best Insurance Stock - UIHC Underwritten public offering on common stock : United Insurance Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: UIHC) (the Company), a property and casualty insurance holding company, today announced that in connection with its previously announced underwritten public offering of 5,300,075 shares of its common stock that closed on December 14, 2012,

 the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional 750,000 shares of newly issued common stock from the Company at a public offering price of $5.15 per share. The Company expects to receive aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the additional shares of approximately $3.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, bringing the total net proceeds to the Company from the offering to approximately $27.6 million. Subject to customary closing conditions, the closing of the sale of the additional shares is expected to occur on January 8, 2013.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is serving as book-running manager of the offering and Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. is serving as co-manager. A registration statement relating to this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 2012. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, (800)-248-8863.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 Forward Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to United's expectations regarding the closing of the sale of the additional shares in the public offering. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to market and other conditions, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the sale of additional shares in the public offering and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed offering, United, and its business can be found under the heading "Risk Factors" in United's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, the prospectus relating to the offering, and other documents filed with the SEC. United does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements and expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

About United Insurance Holdings Corp.

Founded in 1999, United Property & Casualty Insurance Company, a subsidiary of United Insurance Holdings Corp., writes and services homeowners insurance in Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and is licensed to write in North Carolina. From its headquarters in St. Petersburg, United's team of dedicated professionals manages a completely integrated insurance company, including sales, underwriting, customer service and claims. The Company distributes its homeowners, dwelling fire and flood products through many agency groups and conducts business through four wholly-owned subsidiaries. Homeowners insurance constitutes the majority of United's premiums and policies.

Aflac Inc AFL stock prediction 2013

best insurance stock - Aflac Inc AFL stock prediction 2013, Aflac Inc AFL insurance stock performance outlook 2013 : Aflac Inc. (AFL) stock traded down 2.53% on Thursday, hitting $52.70. AFLAC has a 52-week low of $38.13 and a 52-week high of $54.93. The stock�s 50-day moving average is currently $52.81. The company has a market cap of $24.711 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.90.



Aflac Inc. (AFL)  What most consumers don't realize is that 80% of Aflac's business comes from Japan, where it is the number one life insurance company. In the U.S., Aflac is the number one provider of voluntary worksite insurance, and its policies pay cash benefits directly to the insured. One of my favorite things about Aflac as an investment is that the company has one of the best records of dividend increases I have ever come across, with 29 consecutive years of increases.

AFLAC last released its earnings data on Tuesday, October 23rd. The company reported $1.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.66 by $0.11. The company�s revenue for the quarter was up 14.4% on a year-over-year basis. AFLAC has set its Q4 guidance at $1.46-1.51 EPS. Analysts expect that AFLAC will post $6.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Currently yielding $1.40 annually, or 2.68%, it is a fairly safe assumption that the increases will continue going forward. Also worth noting is that Aflac trades at only 8.2 times 2012 earnings, which are expected to grow considerably going forward. Consensus estimates call for earnings of $6.92 and $7.38 in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Conservatively assuming the P/E ratio gravitates toward the historic average of around 9 times earnings, this gives us one and two year price targets of $62.28 and $66.42.

AFLAC Stock rating by analyst
AFLAC (NYSE: AFL) was downgraded by equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase from an �overweight� rating to a �neutral� rating in a report issued on Thursday. They currently have a $54.00 target price on the stock, down from their previous target price of $55.00. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on AFL. Analysts at Barclays Capital reiterated an �overweight� rating on shares of AFLAC in a research note to investors on Thursday. They now have a $65.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $58.00. Separately, analysts at FBR Capital reiterated a �market perform� rating on shares of AFLAC in a research note to investors on Monday. They now have a $52.00 price target on the stock. Finally, analysts at Zacks reiterated a �neutral� rating on shares of AFLAC in a research note to investors on Monday, December 24th. They now have a $57.00 price target on the stock.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of B+ . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins.

    Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 21.6%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 14.3%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.

    AFL's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.28 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels.

    The return on equity has improved slightly when compared to the same quarter one year prior. This can be construed as a modest strength in the organization. In comparison to the other companies in the Insurance industry and the overall market, AFLAC INC's return on equity significantly exceeds that of the industry average and is above that of the S&P 500.
   
Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, provides supplemental health and life insurance. Aflac has a market cap of $25.36 billion and is part of the financial sector and insurance industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 25% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

Figure Aflac stock chart 1 year

 AFLAC Inc.earning growth forecast
AFLAC Inc. (AFL): Provides supplemental health and life insurance. Market cap at $24.86B, most recent closing price at $53.01. Diluted TTM earnings per share at 6.07, and a MRQ book value per share value at 34.1, implies a Graham Number fair value = sqrt(22.5*6.07*34.1) = $68.24. Based on the stock's price at $53.23, this implies a potential upside of 28.21% from current levels. PEG at 0.88.

Over the next five years, the analysts that follow this company are expecting it to grow earnings at an average annual rate of 10.65%.This year, analysts are forecasting earnings increase of 4.36% over last year. Analysts expect earnings growth next year of 4.42% over this year's forecasted earnings.

Aflac Inc  Business Summary   
Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, provides supplemental health and life insurance. The company offers various voluntary supplemental insurance products, including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans, and annuities in Japan. It also provides loss-of-income products, such as life and short-term disability plans; and products designed to protect individuals from depletion of assets, which comprise hospital indemnity, fixed-benefit dental, vision care, accident, cancer, critical illness/critical care, and hospital intensive care plans in the United States. The company sells its products through sales associates and brokers, independent corporate agencies, individual agencies, and affiliated corporate agencies. Aflac Incorporated was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia.


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MetLife MET Stock Prediction 2013

Best Insurance stock - MetLife MET Stock Prediction 2013, MetLife insurance shares 2013: MetLife investors have waited since the autumn of 2011 for the company to buy back shares and raise its dividend, but regulators foiled the company's plans. On a year-end investor call with analysts, MetLife management said the 2013 forecast assumes no share buybacks. Chief Executive Steve Kandarian later added, "I don't have total confidence" the company will be free to buy back shares after 2013, either.

MetLife Inc (MET.N) warned that 2013 earnings might be well below Wall Street expectations and said it did not expect to buy back any shares next year, a blow to investors who have been waiting more than a year for a capital return.

For this year, the insurer expects operating earnings of $5.5 billion to $5.6 billion, or $5.15 to $5.25 per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of $5.25.

In 2013, it expects $5.5 billion to $5.9 billion, or $4.95 to $5.35 per share. Analysts' average forecast is $5.47, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. MetLife's operating earnings forecast excludes discontinued operations and net investment gains and losses.

MetLife (NYSE: MET) stock ratings prices target

MetLife (NYSE: MET)�s stock had its �equalweight� rating restated by equities researchers at Barclays Capital in a report issued on Thursday. They currently have a $37.00 target price on the stock.

MetLife traded up 0.36% on Thursday, hitting $35.2777. MetLife has a 52-week low of $27.60 and a 52-week high of $39.55. The stock�s 50-day moving average is currently $32.85. The company has a market cap of $38.490 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.33.

MetLife last released its earnings data on Wednesday, October 31st. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.04. The company�s revenue for the quarter was up .0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that MetLife will post $5.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Analysts at Macquarie reiterated an �outperform� rating on shares of MetLife in a research note to investors on Monday. They now have a $45.00 price target on the stock. Separately, analysts at Credit Suisse reiterated an �outperform� rating on shares of MetLife in a research note to investors on Monday, December 24th.

MetLife Analyst Forecasts Earnings Growth

 Over the next five years, the analysts that follow this company are expecting it to grow earnings at an average annual rate of 8.73%.This year, analysts are forecasting earnings increase of 3.71% over last year. Analysts expect earnings growth next year of 0.35% over this year's forecasted earnings.

Figure MetLife Inc. (MET) Stock 1 year 

My Analysis MetLife Inc. (MET)

 MetLife Inc. (MET) - The largest U.S. life insurer, MetLife also has a substantial financial services business, with a focus on retirement planning and corporate benefit funding. The company also has a rapidly growing international business, currently comprising 31% of revenues.

Currently yielding 2.3%, MetLife has a solid record of raising the dividend; however they have kept the payout constant since the financial crisis. My favorite thing about MET is its extremely attractive valuation, currently trading at only 6.7 times earnings. The failure of the Fed's stress test could be the reason for the depressed valuation, but analysts tend to believe that MET is financially sound and is well positioned to capture additional market share.

About MetLife, Inc.

 MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs in the United States, Japan, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. The company offers group life insurance products, including variable, universal, term, and whole life products, as well as employee paid supplemental life products; and individual life insurance products comprising variable, universal, term, and whole life products, as well as a range of mutual funds and other securities products. It also provides non-medical health products and services, which include dental insurance, group short- and long-term disability, individual disability income, long-term care, critical illness, and accidental death and dismemberment coverages, as well as employer-sponsored auto and homeowners insurance, and administrative services to employers; and retirement products consisting variable and fixed annuities that are primarily sold to individuals and employees of corporations and other institutions. In addition, the company offers an array of annuity and investment products, including guaranteed interest products and other stable value products, income annuities, and separate account contracts for the investment management of defined benefit and defined contribution plan assets, as well as offers products to fund postretirement benefits; personal lines of property and casualty insurance to employees and individuals, as well as personal excess liability and coverage for recreational vehicles and boat owners; and credit insurance and endowment products. Further, it offers banking products comprising mortgage and deposit products, as well as other financial services. The company sells its products through its sales forces, third-party organizations, independent agents, and property and casualty specialists. MetLife, Inc. was founded in 1863 and is based in New York, New York.

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Tips Buying Homeowners Life, Car Insurance 2013

Best Insurance - Tips for Buying Homeowners Life, Car Insurance 2013 : Most people buy insurance the wrong way. They buy it piecemeal. They buy a little bit of this here and a little bit of that there. They buy too much in some areas and not enough in others. Then, when there is a serious claim, their insurance coverage often fails them. If your New Year's resolution for 2013 is to fix that, we have some tips that can help you accomplish it.

Homeowners insurance

Tip 1: If Hurricane Katrina wasn't reminder enough, along came Superstorm Sandy in 2012 to remind everyone that homeowners policies do not cover flooding. The policies cover those homes destroyed by fire, and homes damaged or destroyed by a storm. But they do not cover flooding. If you are exposed to any chance of severe flooding, even if you don't live anywhere near a body of water, talk to your agent about flood insurance and check out the government flood insurance website at FloodSmart.gov.

Tip 2: If you work from home even part time, you need to add an endorsement to your homeowners insurance called "incidental occupancy endorsement." Homeowners policies, besides covering your building and contents, also cover personal liability, including liability for guests injured on your home premises. But they do not cover injuries to those who come onto your premises for business purposes. That includes not only businesses that have regular visitors to the home -- such as yoga instructors, piano teachers or day care providers -- it also includes injuries to the occasional visitor, such as a co-worker or delivery driver who's dropping off some work from the office and falls on your icy driveway in the winter and gets injured. No coverage. How much does it cost to add this nifty endorsement? Less than $30 a year. For that small price, it's silly not to have one.

Tip 3: Speaking of liability coverage, be sure to standardize your liability limits on all your policies -- auto, home, cabin, boats, etc. I recommend no less than $500,000. Remember, if you injure someone seriously, you will get sued for all the medical bills, for the lost wages they incur, and for pain and suffering.

Just the medical bills alone can easily reach $500,000 in a serious accident. If you have any income or assets that you are concerned about losing in a lawsuit, add an extra layer of protection on top of your basic policies in your insurance portfolio -- called an umbrella policy -- of at least $1 million or more. A $1 million policy costs about $200 a year. I consider it the best buy in the insurance business.

Car insurance

Tip 4: Most people are underinsured for lawsuits. The most common limit I see is $100,000 per person. That won't even cover the medical bills in a serious accident. The minimum liability coverage that anyone with any assets or income to protect should be carrying is $500,000 to $1 million or more. If your liability limits are low, contact your insurance agent right away and get those limits raised to more realistic figures. Raising liability coverage is surprisingly minimal in cost.

Tip 5: When you raise your liability limits on your car insurance, don't stop. Raise your limits on your home, cabin, boats, snowmobiles, etc., to the same amount. You don't know where the lawsuit may come from. You want the same amount of money protecting you, so it won't matter where it comes from.

Tip 6: Raise your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your car insurance to the same levels as your liability coverage for people you hurt. It's estimated that 10% to 20% of all drivers have no insurance. I guarantee you that these are not the drivers with perfect driving records. Since we can't control who hits us or how much insurance they have or don't have, buying high limits of this coverage is the only way we can ensure that we and the loved ones riding with us get fairly compensated.

Tip 7: Save money by dropping collision and comprehensive coverage of older vehicles you can comfortably afford to replace without car insurance. Make sure you save enough money to make it worth the risk.

Save money on insurance by self-insuring more of the small losses on your vehicles with bigger deductibles. Not only does it save money, but it also reduces the number of small claims you file, thus keeping rates as low as possible now and in the future.

Life insurance

Tip 8: Remember that buying life insurance is an act of love. It's the only insurance policy that you can buy where you are not collecting on it. For a family of four, financial experts recommend that survivors of one parent's death make do with 7.5 times income. I recommend 10 times income. The extra cushion will allow the surviving parent to work fewer hours and spend more time with his or her children. Nothing can replace the emotional loss to the family. Don't compound the pain by adding financial stress to the picture.

Tip 9: For a young family getting started financially, I recommend term life insurance as the most cost-effective way to provide the most money for the lowest premium. Lock in the price for at least 20 to 30 years. And make sure the policy is convertible to a permanent policy, so if at the end of the term you find that you still need life insurance and can't qualify for it medically, you are assured you can convert.

If one spouse is a homemaker, carry at least $250,000 to $500,000 in life insurance on that person. Buy an amount high enough so the surviving working spouse can be more available to the children and still hire replacement services such as a nanny.

Tip 10: It's quite common for employers to provide some life insurance for their employees as a company benefit and at the same time offer them supplemental group life insurance on a payroll deduction basis. What most people don't realize is that the costs for the supplemental life insurance are quite a bit more than a healthy nonsmoker will pay on the open market for the same amount of coverage. The tip here is to not just buy group life insurance because you assume it's cheaper. It probably isn't. In addition, when you leave the company or the company closes down, so does your life insurance.

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LFC stock prices forecast 2013

Best Insurance stock - LFC stock prices forecast 2013 :  China Life Insurance (NYSE: LFC)  reported a net loss in the third quarter, due to a surge in operating expenses, which offset the operating income increases. However, premiums earned and investment income witnessed a notable improvement. Total assets and shareholders� equity also improved, while cash fund deteriorated. Meanwhile, the subordinated debt issue has improved solvency ratio.

 Extensive domestic distribution channel, strong investment and stable ratings are other positives. However, the constant decline in operating cash flow is affecting financials. The company also inherently faces substantial interest rate and currency risks, which limit the upside. Despite a strong brand name, significant competition on the domestic front hampers earnings growth. Overall, we expect limited upside in the near term

China Life Insurance Co Ltd announced that it expects its net profit for the first three quarters of fiscal year (FY) 2012 decrease by approximately 55%, compared to the net profit of the same period in FY 2011 (RMB 16,717,000,000). The Company cited the decreased rate of return on investments and impairment loss on assets as the main reasons for the forecast.

Shares of China Life Insurance fell 1.9 percent in Hong Kong from Thursday's 18-month high, while Ping An Insurance , its smaller sector rival, dropped 2.1 percent.

Zacks reiterated their neutral rating on shares of China Life Insurance (NYSE: LFC) in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning on Dec 25th, 2012   The firm currently has a $49.00 price target on the stock.

Fitch Ratings maintains a "stable" outlook for China's insurance sector 2013 , but recent exits by overseas investors' stirred concerns about the sector's profitability. "Our view is that the sector will be stable over the next 12 to 24 months," Terrence Wong, director of Fitch's insurance team, said on Monday. Property insurers' premiums are set to register double-digit growth this year and in 2013, but recent regulatory changes could intensify competition the ratings agency said. Read China insurance market growth outlook 2013

Earnings Growth Forecast

Fiscal Year End	Consensus EPS* Forecast	High EPS* Forecast	Low EPS* Forecast	Number of Estimates	Over the Last 4 Weeks Number of Revisions     Up                       Down
Dec 2012	1.06	1.09	1.03	2	0	0
Dec 2013	2.73	2.79	2.66	2	0	0
Dec 2014	3.07	3.07	3.07	1	0	0

Over the next five years, the analysts that follow this company are expecting it to grow earnings at an average annual rate of 20.19%.This year, analysts are forecasting earnings decrease of -31.61% over last year. Analysts expect earnings growth next year of 157.08% over this year's forecasted earnings

Price/Earning Ratio forecast 

Price/Earnings Ratio is a widely used stock evaluation measure. For a security, the Price/Earnings Ratio is given by dividing the Last Sale Price by the Average EPS (Earnings Per Share) Estimate for the specified fiscal time period.

China insurance market growth outlook 2013

best insurance stock today - China insurance market growth prediction 2013 : The Chinese life insurance market had total gross written premiums of $134.7 billion in 2011, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1% between 2007 and 2011. The life insurance segment was the market's most lucrative in 2011, with total gross written premiums of $128.7 billion, equivalent to 95.5% of the market's overall value. The performance of the market is forecast to decelerate, with an anticipated CAGR of 10.9% for the five-year period 2011 - 2016, which is expected to drive the market to a value of $225.5 billion by the end of 2016.

Fitch Ratings maintains a "stable" outlook for China's insurance sector, but recent exits by overseas investors' stirred concerns about the sector's profitability. "Our view is that the sector will be stable over the next 12 to 24 months," Terrence Wong, director of Fitch's insurance team, said on Monday.

Property insurers' premiums are set to register double-digit growth this year and in 2013, but recent regulatory changes could intensify competition the ratings agency said.

For life insurers, which have seen a sluggish first half, premium income will grow faster next year, supported by the country's relatively low level of life-insurance penetration.

Fitch says China's insurance outlook 'stable'

The agency's comments were made days after HSBC Holdings PLC struck a $9.4 billion deal to sell its entire 15.6 percent stake in Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China Ltd, giving the bank a $2.6 billion profit.

The sale follows a decision in July by the Carlyle Group LP, the world's second-largest private equity company, to sell $738 million of shares in China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co Ltd.

Wong denied the share sales reflect a lack of confidence by foreign investors in the insurance sector. "The decision by some investors to exit is made based on their own investment needs, and doesn't reflect the sector's overall strength," Wong said.

China's insurance market has forged ahead with an average annual growth rate of 19 percent over the past decade, as insurers' total assets increased 10 times, according to the China Insurance Regulatory Commission. But growth stalled in 2011, when rules were tightened on selling policies over the counter at banks. Total premium income dropped 1.3 percent in 2011.

Joyce Huang, director of Fitch's Asia Pacific Insurance team, said she expected life insurers' premium income to grow 2.4 percent this year. Growth will also be single-digit in 2013, but will be faster than this year.

Huang said one major factor that impacts life insurers' ratings is the possibility that they may be exposed to more risks from new investments in light of the commission's measures to liberalize the sector.

This year, the commission gave Chinese insurers more flexibility to diversify their investments to include credit-related financial products such as banks' wealth management products and asset-backed securities.

They are allowed to hold up to 30 percent of their assets in those products. In addition, insurers can now invest up to 20 percent of their total assets in infrastructure debt and property-related assets, up from 10 percent previously.

"These measures have tended to bring in more risks, which may affect insurers' ratings," said Huang. Premium growth will be faster for property insurers, with Wong expecting a 15 percent increase in the first half of 2013.

But their margin will be squeezed by the commission's decision this year to build a market-oriented pricing system, as well as introducing foreign insurers, in the third-party liability automobile insurance market.

"The move encourages competition, but will not result in price wars. Foreign players need time to build up their own distribution channels," said Wong.

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Vietnam Insurance market prediction 2013

best insurance stock - Vietnam Insurance market prediction 2013 : in 2012 going through many difficulties, challenges than the original data, make it difficult for the insurance industry plans 17% growth target. Preparation of business plan for next year, many companies in the industry no longer sets growth "year after year".

Phung Dac Loc, Secretary General of the Vietnam Insurance Association (AVI) said that the insurance market in 2013 will certainly encounter similar difficulties in 2012. "Congress passed the indicators of socio-economic development in 2013 with GDP growth of 5.5%, public investment accounted for 30% of GDP, the CPI rose by 8%, which means predicts the economy can not start excellence, "said Loc.

Along with his views Loc, many industry experts predicted, more likely, the insurance industry's sales growth in 2013 of around 10%. Thus, this will be the third consecutive year, the insurance market revenue growth regressed.

2012 new longer than 1 month closed, but estimates AVI, overall market growth only slightly higher than 10%, compared with 17% plan. In particular, the volume of non-life insurance estimated growth rate of 13 - 14%, in volume-life is 11 - 12%. Growth rate of 13 - 14% of the volume of non-life insurance this year can say is that the efforts of the business block, in the context of public investment cuts, the company stopped several investment plans expand production and business. In fact, many difficulties and challenges, the non-life insurance companies have shifted our products to personal property insurance, health and medical insurance, liability insurance, credit insurance financial use, agricultural insurance, create new growth for the insurance market and less certain results recorded.

In the life insurance sector also showed less effort, when the real estate market, bleak securities, the income of the workers affected by manufacturing and trading many declining industries, service prices increases, but still attracts numerous customers insured and maintain old insurance contract.

Businesses continuously launching new products and focus on developing distribution channels to reach more potential customers source. In particular, bancassurance distribution channel are many life insurance companies special attention. Some businesses focus on exploiting its own strength as issued through the postal channel. However, due to the characteristics of the Vietnamese insurance market, the channel remains the dominant channel agent should the life insurance business remains focused on this channel. Some businesses continue to develop models of agents like AIA, Korea Life, Dai-ichi, Manulife ... Competitive strategy will continue to be developed for enterprises in 2013.

According to Loc, with the lessons of the past two years to overcome the difficulties and challenges of the global economic downturn, stable macro-economic policies, inflation will be a factor giving the DN plan insurance business in 2013 close to the actual completion of the plan.

2013 is a pivotal year implementation plan developed insurance market from 2011 to 2015 by the Ministry of Finance, at the same time, also celebrate 20 years of the Vietnamese insurance market development. This will be an important motivation for the companies in the industry to strive to set the highest achievement in the business.

Trinh Thanh Hoan, director of the National Insurance Supervisory Management (Ministry of Finance) predicted that by 2013, the total amount of the insurance companies accumulated investment return economy estimated at $ 95.000 billion.

Sir, was near the end of 2012, the growth target of 17% of the entire insurance industry this year may be difficult to achieve?

Initially expected, the insurance market in 2012 continued to maintain growth of about 17% compared with 2011. However, with the difficult economic situation, the total premium income of the market in 2012 was estimated at 40,858, up 11.7 percent from 2011; including non-life insurance premium revenue is estimated at 22,942 billion, up 11.5% and life insurance revenue was estimated at 17,916, up 12 percent from 2011.

In my opinion, the volume growth of 11.5% of non-life insurance this year as expected, but compared to other industries can say is that success in the context of the real estate market froze, investors cuts, investment firms minimize expansion. Many challenges, the non-life insurance companies have shifted our products to personal property insurance, health and medical insurance, liability insurance, credit insurance, agricultural insurance ... Life insurance sector also found success not least, while labor income decline, the price of goods and services increased, but still attracts numerous customers insured and maintained old insurance contract.

Overall, in 2012 the growth rate not reach expected, but the entire insurance industry made a great effort, expressed in that market continues to develop stable, healthy and safe; ensure financial viability ; improved quality of service; diversified insurance products to meet the needs of the insured. As a result, foreign investors still appreciate the potential of the Vietnamese insurance market.

Insurance industry plays an important role in mobilizing resources for investment back into the economy. With the difficulties mentioned above, activities this year have been affected? What is your prediction on resource mobilization plan for investment in the economy in 2013?

In the period 2003 - 2010, insurance companies have created large capital and long-term, play an important role in mobilizing investment resources of socio-economic development. In 2012, with these difficulties, the mobilization of resources for investment return economy affected but not great because now, the investment activities of insurance companies have become more diverse and afternoon depth, in order to ensure selection of the appropriate form of investment, safe and effective. On the other hand, due to the characteristics of the insurance business and technical management of insurance funds, insurance companies invest idle funds from operational reserves must comply with the maximum allowable rate.

In 2012, the total amount of accumulated investment insurers back to the economy is estimated at 90,591 billion, up 9 percent from 2011. In particular, the DN-life estimated at 66,361 billion (up 10.4% compared to the same period in 2011), the non-life business is estimated at 24,230 billion (up 5.6% compared to the same period in 2011).

Forecast, in 2013, the Vietnamese economy will be even more difficult challenge especially for companies in the financial sector, banking and real estate. This will also make it difficult for insurers to expand the customer. We predicted that in 2013, the total amount of the insurance companies accumulated investment return economy estimated at $ 95.000 billion.

Forecast next year more difficult, if the industry growth can be reduced compared to the long-term plan, sir?

As I said, in 2013, the difficulty exists, therefore, predict the Vietnamese insurance market will continue to maintain growth target of about 10 - 12% compared to 2012. In the next year, many new insurance products will be the insurance companies on the market to serve the insurance needs of diverse organizations and individuals as products of export credit insurance, agricultural insurance industry, insurance underwriting, liability insurance, health care and health insurance products, pension and insurance for the poor ...

Despite difficult than the other "g and downs" of the economy, the insurance industry remains a bright spot. What were you most satisfied in the development of the industry in the past year?

Macroeconomic situation in 2012 a negative impact on mining activities covered. However, besides that, the insurance market also has a number of advantages such as: the new legislation takes effect created favorable conditions for the operation of the DN ... 2012 is also the first year of implementation of the strategy to develop the insurance market for the period 2011 - 2020 with the implementation of the synchronization mechanism and policy solutions, enterprise restructuring, strengthening management and supervision State insurance.

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