Insurance Special - Taking Cover
If lightning strikes, is your business toast?
![David Sonter's business burnt to the ground but he says "the gloves come off in a good way" between businesses which are ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/3/6/z/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gm5v2f.png/1452753758238.jpg)
Caroline James Disasters like bushfires, floods and hail storms can all destroy an unprepared business.
QBE under Moody's review for ratings upgrade
![Moody's has placed the issuer and senior unsecured ratings of the listed global insurer under scrutiny for an upgrade.](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/o/0/l/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gj6miq.png/1440405337822.jpg)
Ruth Liew Ratings house Moody's Investors Service has placed QBE Insurance Group's debt ratings under reviews for a potential upgrade.
Stop meddling in Far North Queensland insurance: Suncorp
![Patrick Snowball, CEO of Suncorp Group, has delivered his final results at the company.](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/r/h/n/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.giqmcb.png/1438680469697.jpg)
Ruth Liew Suncorp Group has posted a net profit of $1.13 billion for the year to June – an increase from last year's $730 million despite the insurance giant recording its worst year for natural disaster events.
QBE gives top ranks another shuffle
![QBE has been busy reshuffling its top ranks in the past two years after chief executive John Neal took over the reins in ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/x/x/o/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.giltt2.png/1438058845268.jpg)
Ruth Liew QBE Insurance Group has named Tim Plant as the group's new head of Australia and New Zealand, after incumbent boss Colin Fagen was unveiled as the global insurer's new group chief strategy officer.
Suncorp slams door on vehicle repairs
![The shutdowns are part of the group's motor claims transformation project, which aims to deliver a "national repair ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/i/k/m/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gijxif.png/1437907102361.jpg)
Ruth Liew Suncorp is shutting 10 of its vehicle repair centres as it seeks to streamline its smash repair businesses, in a strategy that will probably lead to redundancies as the insurance giant slashes costs and increases efficiencies.
Lack of life cover hits the economy: AIA
![Damien Mu, CEO of AIA Australia: 'We know that the cost of people not having life insurance is having a growing impact ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/8/9/t/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gi7xlo.png/1436411367497.jpg)
Ruth Liew Life insurers need to better engage the federal government over the costs of underinsurance to the economy, the head of Australia's third-largest life insurer says.
Life insurance commissions will plunge: Cain
![Up-front commissions have been the subject of controversy and a big focus of the industry's efforts to fix the problems ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/x/6/t/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gi6tjn.png/1460362033110.jpg)
Ruth Liew Life insurance advisers could see their business revenue sourced from controversial advance commissions plunge to just 36.4 per cent of the value of the premiums they sell, says Russell Cain, boss of Life Insurance Direct.
Austbrokers appoints new CFO
![Austbrokers, one of Australia's biggest insurance broking networks, has replaced retiring CFO Steve Rouvray with Jodie ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/l/8/7/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gi29dd.png/1435729462807.jpg)
Ruth Liew Former The Trust Company finance boss Jodie Blackledge is the new chief financial officer of Austbrokers, following the retirement of Steve Rouvray after a decade in the post.
Berkshire Hathaway, IAG deal splits analysts
![IAG, the owner of brands such as NRMA and CGU, signed away 20 per cent of the group's business to Warren Buffet's ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/r/v/x/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gi0byv.png/1435549332279.jpg)
Ruth Liew Insurance analysts remain split over who came up on top in the $500 million deal that will give one of the world's most powerful investors a stake in Australia's biggest insurer.
Entrepreneurial Greenstone founders undeterred in bid to raise $1b
![Greenstone Managing Director Richard Enthoven (left) poses for a portrait with CEO Mark Reid.](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/9/b/y/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.ghhkky.png/1433494107823.jpg)
Ruth Liew Entrepreneurs Gavin Donnelly and Richard Enthoven are looking forward to going public with their insurance business, Greenstone
Claims for Suncorp snowball into $200m
![Suncorp Group will take a $200 million hit from severe storms and hail that hit NSW.](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/t/5/v/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mx31f.png/1430388428751.jpg)
Ruth Liew Suncorp Group will weather a $200 million hit from severe storms and hail that hammered NSW in April after the insurance giant fielded 25,000 claims from affected customers.
Sydney weather: Premiums stay flat despite massive claims bill
![Insurers could face a bill of more than $500 million as claims flow through from the storm that swept through New South ...](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/q/y/l/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mrepd.png/1429797738598.jpg)
Ruth Liew Insurance claims from storms that saturated New South Wales earlier this week would hit over $500 million, but customers' premiums are not expected to increase due to heated competition among insurers.
COMMENT
Are you cyclone ready?
![Small businesses need to be natural-disaster ready.](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/1/l/d/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13j8pu.png/1452669406198.jpg)
Warren Turner With savage storms expected to smash the east coast this weekend businesses have been warned to prepare or face the consequences.
COMMENT
Don't burn out in the summer heat
![Summer](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/3/h/h/w/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.3h4p4.png/1424219529689.jpg)
Leigh Smith What can you do to reduce the risk of an insurance claim as the weather heats up?
How well do you really drive?
![Drive](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/3/e/1/j/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.3d3rg.png/1408995134993.jpg)
Adam Courtenay An ingenious, formula one inspired device can confirm whether or not you're a hoon.
COMMENT
Surviving death in a small business
![Business](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/7/9/0/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.3e5mh.png/1424219647643.jpg)
Ursula Hogben The death of a business partner can spell the end of a small business for a range of reasons. What legal agreements and insurance can help the business survive?
The importance of brokers to business owners
![House](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/3/8/o/j/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.37dgc.png/1424219678007.jpg)
Adam Courtenay When can an insurance adviser add value to an enterprise? There are many occasions.
Managing bullying risk
![Bully](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/t/i/r/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.37dds.png/1400527291577.jpg)
Christopher Niesche New regulations mean the onus is on businesses to ensure they comply with the new rules.
Getting insurance right in the new financial year
![Insurance](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/3/7/v/j/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.37ddc.png/1399865850000.jpg)
Adam Courtenay Now's the time to make sure your business is fully covered.
INSURANCE
How to avoid an insurance claim
![Car insurance](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/k/1/o/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.37d6a.png/1399255990000.jpg)
Christopher Niesche What risk management strategies can be implemented to help reduce losses?
What are the greatest risks SMBs face?
![reward-risk](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/s/6/5/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2xtua.png/1384886303247.jpg)
Andrew Gordon A new survey finds cash flow risks, increased competition, reputational damage and regulatory pressure keep business owners up at night.
Insurance: don't bet against experts
![Town Of Ipswich West of Brisbane Queensland .
PICTURE: DEAN SAFFRON](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/k/w/4/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2r7kk.png/1375658365223.jpg)
Michael Pascoe What happens when you can't insure your business?
Disaster recovery plans save businesses
![Tech Disaster](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/e/h/m/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2p1xq.png/1375299273467.jpg)
Kate Jones Without a disaster recovery plan, La Porchetta restaurants could have failed when its founder died unexpectedly
Cover for a growing business
![tree_image_320x214](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/r/0/g/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2pt1q.png/1375313529160.jpg)
Adam Courtenay Don't let insurance slip off your radar when your business is in a growth phase.
Insurance follows cyber crime on risk
![cyber criminal](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/q/t/g/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2qshk.png/1375052677493.jpg)
Michael Pascoe The contents of your computer hard drive is one of your biggest assets, but also a massive liability.
Tips to lower your insurance premiums
![units with down arrow slump housing](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/e/9/n/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2p1a0.png/1374456830000.jpg)
Kate Jones There are lots of things you can do to improve risk management in your business and cut the cost of your insurance.
Steering through the insurance maze
![Maze.](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/f/t/5/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2qch8.png/1374457615927.jpg)
Michael Pascoe Is it really worthwhile to use an insurance broker?
The problem with zombie sales staff
![Zombie thumb](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/q/2/r/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2q2rb.png/1374033186077.jpg)
Michael Baker How come sales staff act like they're in Night of the Living Dead?
Drop kilos and earn money at the same time
![fitness](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/x/y/c/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2q0uc.png/1374135263583.jpg)
Christine D'Mello The treadmill desk has revolutionised how people work at the White House and Google. Now it's arrived in Australia.
Insuring your most valuable assets
![insurance](/web/20160614152255im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/2/p/p/4/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.2pypd.png/1375395167323.jpg)
Gayle Bryant Why do so few small businesses insure their top managers?