Erich A. Brandt

Commercial Lines

Pinnacle was approached by a national insurer that wanted to develop a more sophisticated commercial automobile rating program. Their current commercial automobile plan was a traditional rating approach and did not take full advantage of driver, credit scoring or vehicle characteristics and the company felt they could take advantage of a significant opportunity in the market. Pinnacle, through the use of predictive modeling, assisted the carrier in designing a new rating and tiering structure, which included modifications of the rating plan, the introduction of underwriting scoring, and new territory definitions. This new structure allowed the company to have more precise rating, more adequate and yet competitive rates for a broader spectrum of risks.

Rate Indications / Filings

A regional carrier came to Pinnacle wanting to implement an insurance score program along with rate indications for home, auto and farm. Pinnacle developed rate indications for each line, and developed an underwriting scorecard rating approach using insurance score as a critical component. The combination of implementing appropriate rates and the new rating plan enabled this company to turn their business around, become profitable and rebuild their surplus position.

U S Domestic Statement of Actuarial Opinion

Domestic U.S. property/casualty insurers and risk retention groups are required to file an Annual Statement with state regulators each year by March 1. Part of that filing includes the submission of a formal Statement of Actuarial Opinion (SAO) by a qualified Appointed Actuary as to the reasonableness of held loss and loss adjustment expense reserves. The SAO must be one of five types:

• Reasonable
• Inadequate/Deficient
• Excessive/Redundant
• Qualified
• No Opinion

In addition to the SAO, most jurisdictions require an Actuarial Opinion Summary (AOS) providing more detail on the Appointed Actuary’s specific findings by March 15. Lastly, a formal report narrative in support of the SAO and AOS is required to be available by May 1.

As the SAO is a compliance document, the primary audience is state regulators but the individual company must arrange for the service to be provided.

A recent SAO for one of our clients touched on many of the required disclosures:

1. The adequacy of held reserves on a net basis were below the low end of our range of reasonable reserves until we took into account anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries.
2. The unearned premium reserves for long duration contracts were substantial and we conducted a review to determine they were adequate
3. The Company held material loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for pools and associations. In order avoid having to issue a Qualified Opinion, we separately computed indicated reserves for two of the pools/associations, and obtained an SAO from the Appointed Actuary for the National Workers Compensation Reinsurance Pool.
4. Reinsurance recoveries were in doubt for certain carriers as balance were sometimes overdue by more than 90 days. After reviewing the reinsurers’ A. M. Best ratings, we made the required disclosures about reinsurance collectability.