The Journal.
Industry shifts, claim trends, and a century's worth of brokerage instinct — written by the team at Insurance Portfolio.
Editor's pick
Insurance Portfolio celebrates 100 years in IBAO feature
Insurance Portfolio Inc. marks its 100th anniversary in 2026, and we are pleased to share a special feature from the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO).
- No. 02
How COVID-19 will affect your current insurance coverage
As COVID-19 continues to affect the world, the speed of developments is shocking and is having an unprecedented impact for businesses, economies and families. When businesses are forced to be closed, they are still racking up costs every single day. These daily disruptions are starting to mount and have a ripple effect on business activity, forcing the hand of so many [...]
April 27, 2020 business - No. 03
Why An Experienced And Independent Advisor Can Make All The Difference
The insurance industry is dramatically shifting, and it’s the latest to be caught in the crosshairs of disruption. While disruption has quickly become the new normal in the insurance industry, it’s up to the broker to adapt to the times and find innovative ways to translate that value onto the client by redefining what their [...]
April 1, 2019 business - No. 04
The Stakes Are Too High Not To Have Misconduct Coverage
Sexual misconduct at any level, in any aspect of life is completely unacceptable. Employers and business owners can’t claim ignorance to these wrongdoings within their business and this type of reprehensible behaviour has gone on far too long. We all have a responsibility through professional policies, procedures, and ongoing education to fight sexual misconduct. With [...]
March 12, 2019 business - No. 05
Cyber Security Is Still A Top Business Concern For 2019
A short while ago we were hosting a roundtable at a conference with many bright entrepreneurs and business owners and I posed a question asking what they would do if they were hacked and all their information was held ransom for extortion. And based on the responses we received, it’s quite alarming how so many [...]
January 11, 2019 business - No. 06
Kenya Update - December 2018
Dear friends, family and colleagues, As the year 2018 draws to a close, we are reflecting on the wonderful events that took place with the projects in Kenya. Kibera Project: Our friends in Kibera/Nairobi at ACK Emmanuel school had asked for our help in renovating a classroom that could no longer be used. Due to [...]
December 19, 2018 charitable work - No. 07
How To Protect Your Small Business With The Right Coverage
Small business owners are the only people who will work 80 hours a week for themselves to avoid working 40 hours a week for someone else. With all of that hard work building your dream brick by brick, the scary and unfortunate thing is that is can crumble in a matter of seconds if you aren’t careful or well protected. [...]
November 29, 2018 business - No. 08
Why Cyber Security Is A Growing Concern For Businesses
Corporate security isn’t keeping up with protecting its critical infrastructure fast enough. Hackers around the world are getting bolder and more sophisticated – and every business is susceptible to an attack. This year alone has seen Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal app compromised with usernames, email addresses, and passwords from roughly 150 million users. More than 300 [...]
October 11, 2018 business - No. 09
The Art To Being A “Good Homeowner” In The Eyes Of Your Insurance Provider
Being a good homeowner extends far beyond keeping up with your mortgage payments and maintaining a clean lawn – it stretches into the home’s skeleton and internal organs that keep it healthy and strong. There’s a certain pride of ownership that comes with keeping your home in good shape, and a level of responsibility as [...]
March 14, 2018 business - No. 10
Busting The Top 10 Auto Insurance Myths
There are a lot of popular misconceptions about auto insurance, which can blur the facts, making it hard to understand what is actually true. Let’s separate fact from fiction and debunk the top 10 auto insurance myths so there isn’t any confusion when looking for a policy that suits your needs Insurance companies are only [...]
February 6, 2018 business - No. 11
5 Reasons To Use A Broker When Shopping For Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is a hot topic in today’s economy. With changing government regulations, promises of cheap premiums, confusing industry lingo, and stories of claims that weren’t settled, it can be difficult to know where to turn to protect what matters the most to you. There are many different ways to source auto insurance these days, [...]
February 6, 2018 business - No. 12
Kenya Update For 2017
Dear family, friends and colleagues, We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018. Our friends at Mama Caren school in Bungoma have been very busy utilizing the funds that were raised in 2017. The water tower that was defective has been restructured and is now functioning and filtrating water directly to the school. This [...]
January 7, 2018 charitable work - No. 13
Update From June 2016 Mission Trip to Kenya
Dear family, friends and colleagues, By now you are probably wondering why we have not announced the next Philip Tyrwhitt Memorial Fundraiser event. At the time of starting the initial campaign in 2013, we committed to a three year project with a total of $120,000. as our goal. To date, we have sent approximately $165,000. [...]
October 3, 2016 charitable work - No. 14
Winter Tire Discount 101
We know it's the end of June, and it's hard to think about snow. But, before you know it, the time will be here, and people will start making the switch to winter tires. With that said, here's what you need to know about winter tires, auto insurance, and discounts (courtesy of our friends at [...]
June 29, 2016 business - No. 15
Auto Insurance Is Changing
Many of us have heard but as of June 1st, 2016, auto insurance in Ontario has changed. One of the factors behind introducing the changes was to help cut down on auto insurance fraud. Earlier this year, the I.B.A.O. (Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario) posted a blog about the changes: http://www.ibao.org/ontario-auto-insurance-is-changing/
June 29, 2016 business - No. 16
Customize Your Auto Insurance
As a result of the recent auto insurance changes, the I.B.A.O. (Insurance Brokers Association Of Ontario) recently made a blog post called “Customize Your Auto Insurance”. We thought it was worth sharing with everyone: http://www.ibao.org/customize-your-auto-insurance/
June 29, 2016 business - No. 17
Year End Results for the Kenyan Initiative, 2015
Dear family, friends and colleagues, As 2015 draws to a close, we wanted to share the wonderful news regarding the Kenya initiative. We were thrilled to see the outpouring of support from the number of sponsors, attendance, and amount raised at our recent fundraiser on November 5th. Our sponsors totalling 22 at this year's event [...]
December 22, 2015 charitable work - No. 18
African Update, August 2015
Dear family, friends and colleagues, As the end of summer quickly approaches, we wanted to share with you events that took place on our mission trip of July of this year. Five of us started out on the African journey, Pat, Jennifer, Chris (Jennifer's husband) and their children, Katherine, 14 years old. and Noah, 12 [...]
August 21, 2015 charitable work - No. 19
Kenya Update - May 2015
Dear family, friends and colleagues Once again it is our utmost pleasure to share the wonderful news regarding our African friends in Nairobi and Bungoma. We are constantly receiving updates from our contacts namely Rev. Philip Makoka and Archbishop Wabakula thanking us for the generosity of all of you who have enabled the progress to [...]
April 17, 2015 charitable work - No. 20
2nd Annual Philip Tyrwhitt Memorial Update
To our dear family, friends, colleagues, and partners, We are so excited to share with you the final results of the 2nd Annual Philip Tyrwhitt Memorial Fundraiser for a School and Orphanage project in Bungoma, Kenya. Together, with all of you, we raised $20,500.00 which far exceeded our expectations, and in attendance there were over [...]
October 9, 2014 charitable work - No. 21
Mission Trip to Kenya, Africa June 2014
To our dear friends, family and colleagues, We wanted to share with you a few of our experiences during our June 2014 mission trip to Nairobi and Bungoma, Kenya. The first day of our mission trip found us in Kibera with Reverend Wachira Maina and our bead ladies and two armed policemen. Prior to going [...]
July 20, 2014 charitable work - No. 22
African Project Update
To our dear family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues, Due to your support, encouragement and prayers, we want to share an update with what has been happening since our fundraising event in September 2013. The Philip Tyrwhitt Memorial evening raised $14,000. due to your generosity and participation! A fun evening was had by all and we [...]
June 1, 2014 charitable work - No. 23
Travelers Completes Acquisition of The Dominion
We received the following news release recently. NEW YORK, November 1, 2013 – The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) today announced the completion of its acquisition of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company from E‐L Financial Corporation Limited (TSX: ELF). The combined organization, which will be referred to as Travelers Canada, will remain headquartered [...]
November 6, 2013 business - No. 24
Kenya, Africa Initiative
Orphanage Project: In 2012, Pat and Andrew Tyrwhitt, and Jennifer Tyrwhitt Gory were taken to a beautiful site in Bungoma, Kenya, where there stood a building with no windows that we later found out was a church built in the memory of the Archbishop's late wife. We met a woman named Doras, who is the [...]
October 10, 2013 charitable work - No. 25
Insurance Portfolio Inc. at the Toronto International Home Show
Between March 15th and March 24th, Insurance Portfolio and their team will be at the Toronto International Home Show as vendors. Tens of thousands of attendees flock to the Home Show every year, and together with Canada Blooms, is a feast for the property dweller who longs to upgrade their abode from top to bottom. [...]
March 19, 2013 business - No. 26
FSCO Lays 84 Charges Against Two Toronto Rehab Clinics, Four People for Auto Fraud
Appearing in Canadian Underwriter, January 17, 2013 The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has laid 84 charges under Ontario's Insurance Act against two Toronto rehabilitation clinics and four individuals alleged to have submitted false invoices to auto insurers. The clinics were each charged with seven counts of knowingly making false or misleading statements to [...]
January 18, 2013 business - No. 27
Draft demutualization regulations promised, but not yet released
Nov 27, 2012 9:13 AM Draft demutualization regulations promised, but not yet released As Seen on Canadian Underwriter Online By: Angela Stelmakowich, Editor 2012-11-27 ——————————————————————————- Economical Insurance is anticipating that long-awaited federal regulations governing demutualization in Canada’s property and casualty insurance industry will likely require some level of sharing of demutualization benefits with non-mutual policyholders. [...]
November 28, 2012 business - No. 28
Absence of adjudication may feed future tort in Ontario auto
Absence of adjudication may feed future tort in Ontario auto Featured in Canadian Underwriter, By: Angela Stelmakowich, Editor 2012-11-23 ——————————————————————————- A lack of adjudication relating to Ontario’s minor injury guideline (MIG) is creating uncertainty and could set the stage for a large increase in bodily injury (BI) tort, George Cooke, CEO of The Dominion of [...]
November 26, 2012 business - No. 29
Insurance Fraud Costs Everyone
A Scarborough, Ont. man receives stiff sentence for staging collisions. 3.5 years in federal prison and restitution order for $375,000. May 24, 2012 Three and a half years in a federal penitentiary and a free-standing restitution order for $375,000 is the sentence for a Scarborough, ON man known as Max or Mano. Earlier this year, [...]
May 25, 2012 business - No. 30
Intact Announcement — Acquires Jevco Insurance Company
On May 2, 2012, Insurance Portfolio Inc. received the announcement from INTACT Insurance that they have concluded a definitive agreement to acquire JEVCO Insurance, one of the country's leading provider of specialty and niche products with $350 million in reported premiums. The transaction, which is valued at $530 million, is expected to close in the summer months [...]
May 22, 2012 business - No. 31
Economical Mutual Upgrades Branding
Insurance Portfolio Inc. has received the following announcement from Economical Mutual, one of our important Insurer Partners. For more information about Economical, please visit the Partners tab. “Economical introducing a refreshed brand in 2012 What’s New Economical is pleased to announce the launch of a refreshed brand identity on June 15, 2012. This refreshed brand [...]
May 22, 2012 business - No. 32
AXA integration into Intact Insurance/Progress Report
AXA Integration: Updated Personal Lines Transition to Intact Insurance The conversion of AXA personal lines policies continues to progress well to Intact Insurance Company, and has just passed the half-way point for all policy holders. For more information on the progress should you be an existing client of Insurance Portfolio or would like to know more about Intact Insurance, [...]
May 22, 2012 business - No. 33
Our Mission of July 2012, Getting Started
As we are going through another Advent and Christmas season, it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the plans that we have taken on to get ready for the holidays. President, Jennifer Tyrwhitt and Vice President, Andrew Tyrwhitt have taken on a new initiative for our office this year. Together with Patricia Tyrwhitt, we [...]
December 12, 2011 charitable work - No. 34
The Transition from AXA Insurance to Intact Insurance
As the Owner of Insurance Portfolio Inc., I had the opportunity at this year's Insurance Brokers Association Convention in October 2011, and at recent meetings with Management at Intact Insurance. I am now available to comment regarding the transition from AXA Insurance Company to Intact Insurance for our policyholders. I am very confident that the [...]
November 4, 2011 business - No. 35
Insurance Portfolio Now Licenced Coast to Coast
Insurance Portfolio is proud to announce that as of October 17, 2011, we are licenced to write Commercial Property & Casualty products for our clients in all 10 Provinces across Canada, coast to coast. This will be of particular interest to Associations whose members have bricks and mortar locations in all Provinces.
October 17, 2011 business - No. 36
Update on Acquisition of AXA Insurance Canada
Published by Canadian Underwriter 2011-09-26 ——————————————————————————- Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) has officially completed its $2.6-billion acquisition of AXA Canada, the country's sixth-largest provider of home, auto and business insurance in the country. “The completion of this transaction represents a defining milestone in the history of our organization,” IFC CEO Charles Brindamour said. “The benefits [...]
September 26, 2011 business - No. 37
Update on Intact Acquisition of AXA Insurance
I have been provided a recent update from Intact Insurance regarding their proposed acquisition of the Canadian Property & Casualty business of AXA Insurance Company. The update advises that they are awaiting regulatory approval from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) and the Competition Bureau. They anticipate receiving [...]
June 17, 2011 business - No. 38
Intact Insurance Seeks to Purchase AXA Insurance Canada
Here is the official press release the industry received regarding the recent intent of Intact Insurance to purchase AXA Insurance Canada. We will continue to release information as we receive it. We are contracted with both AXA and Intact Insurance, and will watch the updates closely for our valued clients. Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) has signed [...]
June 8, 2011 business - No. 39
Our First With Lloyds of London
For one week in May of 2011, Insurance Portfolio reached a new milestone with our visit to Lloyds of London, London, England. Insurance Portfolio Inc. is currently Open Market Correspondents with Lloyds of London, and we hope to become Coverholders in the near future. I am pictured with Guy Robinson on the left and James Adley on the right, our UK [...]
June 8, 2011 business