Question

1. How do agents and brokers differ?

2. After hearing the advice that it is usually best to buy life insurance from a person who has been in the business at least five years, a life insurance company general agent became upset and said rather vehemently, “How do you think we could recruit an agency force if everybody took your advice?” How would you answer that question?

3. Is the inherently discriminatory nature of underwriting acceptable from a public policy standpoint? Would shifting to a primarily behavior-based approach to risk assessment be feasible?

4. What actuarial adjustments are built into the pricing of life insurance premiums?

5. Occasionally, Insurer X will reinsure part of Insurer Y’s risks, and Insurer Y will reinsure part of Insurer X’s risks. Doesn’t this seem like merely trading dollars? Explain.

6. What is the relationship between the following functions within an insurance company?

a. Marketing and underwriting

b. Underwriting and actuarial

c. Actuarial and investment

d. Legal and underwriting

e. Claims and marketing

f. Claims adjusting and actuarial