Just as the master carpenter must use the right tools for the job, so must today’s insurance direct marketer. As consumers’ wants and needs and media options continue to evolve, direct marketers need to reach for the new tools in order to “get the job done” efficiently.  Read Story

Life insurer sues to block $4 million payout in N.Y. speaker’s death

An insurance company has filed suit to prevent the family of a Long Island, N.Y., motivational speaker from collecting on the $4 million life insurance policy he took out a month before his allegedly staged death.  Read Story

Fitch: Property-casualty insurers safe with public-entity assets

Concern that property-casualty insurers’ investments in public-entity securities could be threatened if deterioration in credit for this asset class grows is overrated, a ratings service said.  Read Story

Consumer group opposes Schwarzenegger’s health insurance reform plan

A consumer group says California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to “withdraw weak pseudo-reforms” of the health insurance industry would bar strong regulation of health insurers.  Read Story

TIAA-CREF’s CEO wants ‘comprehensive,’ ‘sustainable’ retirement system

The CEO of TIAA-CREF called for a “comprehensive and sustainable system that provides genuine retirement security” for all workers.  Read Story

Hybrid Insurance Group, a start-up brokerage that targets accounts with premiums of $100,000 or less, plans to grow by servicing the hard-to-place business clients of each retail agent customer.

“Life settlement” policies helped Michael Antonello buy a Stradivarius, but now they are drawing scrutiny.

Former CareFirst CEO has a new gig with software development firm

William L. Jews, former CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, has been hired as an advisor to a Glenwood, Md.-based software development firm seeking to play in the health care information technology arena.  Read Story

Man who doctored police report, insurance claim gets 30 days in jail

A West Orange, N.J., man, who altered the date of an incident on a police report as part of his filing of a false insurance claim, was sentenced to 30 days in a New Jersey county jail.  Read Story

Groups attack Pa. Blues’ surpluses in push for adultBasic extension

Nearly 46,000 Pennsylvanians enrolled in adultBasic may lose health insurance next year if the state’s four Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurers do not renew a state agreement, according to two nonprofit organization’s analysis.  Read Story