Articles by Thomas J. Slattery

Kings & Pawns: Excess Brokers’ Moves and Mergers

The emergence of large national and regional firms and the creation of networks of brokers as industry kings are transforming the nation’s wholesale insurance marketplace but experts maintain that independent privately-held firms will still remain the backbone of the excess …

Sarbanes-Oxley ‘Stifles Competition’, Says MetLife CEO

In the opinion of one major industry player, The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 set in place “a mad rush to save the world from bad management,” a misguided and costly strategy that will fall victim to its unintended consequences, which …

Industry At ‘Point Of Inflection,’ Says Standard & Poor’s

The insurance industry, now teeter-tottering between a hard and a soft market, “has reached a point of inflection,” said Robert Partridge, Standard & Poor’s managing director, at S&P’s 20th annual insurance conference in New York City. At such a point, …

CEOs Question Wisdom of Sarbanes-Oxley at S&P Conference

In the opinion of one major industry player, The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 set in place “a mad rush to save the world from bad management,” a misguided and costly strategy that will fall victim to its unintended consequences, which …

Sarbanes-Oxley ‘Stifles Competition’, Says MetLife CEO

In the opinion of one major industry player, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 set in place “a mad rush to save the world from bad management,” a misguided and costly strategy that will fall victim to its unintended consequences, which …

Sarbanes-Oxley ‘Stifles Competition,’ Says MetLife CEO

In the opinion of one major industry player, The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 set in place “a mad rush to save the world from bad management,” a misguided and costly strategy that will fall victim to its unintended consequences, which …

All Wrapped Up in Workers’ Comp

No surprise, but with the first quarter of 2004 drawing to a close, workers’ compensation remains, as it has been for many years, one of the most troubled lines of insurance in the United States. On a calendar year basis, …

Big I’s Virtual University Tops Insurance Journal Poll

You know you’re onto a story when anyone or anything outscores Maurice Greenberg in a contest for “most influential” in today’s insurance business. The Big I’s Virtual University and its director, Bill Wilson, did just that in a recent readers’ …

Analysts Weigh Travelers Deal, Other Issues

It’s “inevitable” that the advanced merger discussions between Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and St. Paul Companies succeed, according to one industry analyst. Though most insurance industry consolidations fail, this one “seems less likely to head for divorce” because the parties …

Analysts Weigh Travelers Deal, Other Issues

It’s “inevitable” that the advanced merger discussions between Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and St. Paul Companies succeed, according to one industry analyst. Though most insurance industry consolidations fail, this one “seems less likely to head for divorce” because the parties …