EMB University Agenda
To register for any session of EMB University: An invitation is emailed for each session approximately one week in advance, allowing attendees to register for only the topics that are of particular interest.
Questions and inquiries about EMB University can be directed to 
.
View a list of past EMB University topics.
Upcoming EMB University Sessions
Loss Reserving: Dealing with Inflation - Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 11 AM (ET) - In recent years inflation has remained at relatively low levels causing executive boards across the country to grow increasingly more concerned about the possible effects that a shift in inflation might have on loss reserves. This session will cover how a small inflationary increase can impact reserves varying by line of business.
Past EMB University Sessions
For information on past EMB University sessions or on older topics not listed here, please contact us at .
Usage-Based Auto Insurance (UBI) - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11AM (ET) - Now that usage-based auto insurance (UBI) is beginning to pop up in more companies, more and more people are asking what it takes to get started and what the risks are of continuing to sit on the sidelines while others prepare. C-Counsel Business Consultant Robin Harbage will try to answer these and other questions based on his practical experience implementing UBI programs in the US and abroad.
Predictive Modeling: Vehicle Symbol Innovation - Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 11AM (ET) - Traditional vehicle rating is based on grouping similar vehicles together with some adjustment for loss experience. This session will show how detailed information about vehicle characteristics can be used to develop accurate predictions of insurance loss. We will discuss the types of data available, the data preparation involved to use the data, the modeling process, and the results of the models on actual industry loss data.
Actuarial Malpractice Examples and What to Watch Out For - Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 11AM (ET) - This session will be devoted to professionalism topics relating to property and casualty actuaries. We will cover the structure of our professional and ethical standards and will suggest specific areas to focus on that in our experience have been contentious issues in litigation reports.
Ensuring Profitability: Methods for Effective Product Rollout - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 11AM (ET) - There are no guarantees, but there are certainly some best practices to improve the likelihood of rolling out a profitable product. This session will cover some of the pre and post-rollout tasks that should be included in your implementation plan, including competitive review, marketing plan, subsidy analysis, expected elasticity, capacity planning, and monitoring reports.
Commercial Lines Predictive Modeling: Common Hurdles towards Underwriter Acceptance - Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 11AM (ET) - Unlike personal lines insurance, underwriters are heavily involved in the pricing of commercial lines insurance. In order for a commercial lines predictive modeling application to be successful, it is imperative to properly address the concerns underwriters will have with this new technique. This session will discuss our experience with helping regional and large carriers as they struggle with embracing predictive modeling.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Gap Analysis - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 11AM (ET) - Companies are asking,"How does my ERM program compare to my peers' or industry expectations?" This session will cover some of the common areas where companies fall short on ERM and will highlight key points for companies to consider in designing their qualitative and quantitative ERM solutions.
Using Reserve Variability: Session 2 of 2 on Reserve Variability - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 11AM (ET) - This is the second of a two-part series addressing reserve variability. Once estimating reserve variability is understood, the challenge is to put this technical concept to use. This session will cover the various applications of reserve variability (such as for general management communication, capital modeling and opinion requirements for addressing the risk of material adverse deviation) and the inputs that are required to fulfill these needs. We will also discuss how to present your results in a manner that is most suitable for each application.
Estimating Reserve Variability: Session 1 of 2 on Reserve Variability - Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 11AM (ET) - This is the first of a two-part series addressing reserve variability. In this session, we will focus on the technical side of reserve variability by presenting a walk-through of two common approaches to estimating reserve variability: Mack's Method and Bootstrapping. Attendees will be provided working examples of the approaches in Excel and the session will cover their benefits and limitations.
Usage Based Insurance (UBI): A practical approach - Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11AM (ET) - C-Counsel Consultant and UBI expert Robin Harbage will offer an update on the changes in the marketplace affecting UBI. He'll also examine the progress occurring overseas for insight into the possibilities and options that could quickly take hold in the US.
Optimization Value Metrics: In search of the right price - Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11AM (ET) - Price optimization uses demand and cost models to identify the right price given your company's overall market strategy. The search algorithm needs to be sensitive enough to the nuances of the market place and sophisticated enough to balance your unique corporate goals. The purpose of this session is to build a basic understanding of developing complex and flexible search routines for constructing the optimized price.
Getting the Most out of EMB Rate Assessor - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 11AM (ET) - This session will provide tips on using EMB Rate Assessor pricing implementation software. This session will be geared toward existing Rate Assessor clients, but will be open to non-users.
Competitive Intelligence: Is there such a thing? - Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11AM (ET) - Competitive analysis is becoming more and more difficult. This session will identify some of the issues associated with competitive analysis and offer tips on addressing these issues.
Merging of Worlds: How does Predictive Modeling fit into ERM? - Tuesday, March 17, 2009 11AM (ET) - Predictive Modeling has revolutionized the understanding of risk drivers in personal and commercial insurance in recent years. To date, the power of predictive modeling has not yet been used in ERM modeling efforts. This session will cover potential ways to bridge this gap from inputs to a model to interrogating results of our ERM models.
Is Optimization for You? - Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11AM (ET) Optimization is the hot topic for personal lines predictive modeling. This session will provide a brief overview of optimization and identify some of the key issues.
Getting the Most Out of EMB Emblem - Tuesday, January 20, 2009 11AM (ET) - This session will provide useful tips on using EMB Emblem GLM software effectively. This session will be geared toward existing EMB Emblem clients, but is open to non-users as well. (A basic understanding of EMB Emblem is recommended.)
External Data: What Is Out There? - Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11AM (ET) - This session will be an update to a session held in 2007. This will highlight some of the external data sources that companies may want to consider using in their own analysis.
Communicating Reserving Results - October 21, 2008 11AM (ET) - You’ve worked hard to ensure your reserve estimates are on target and now you have to communicate this technical material to the rest of your company. In this session we’ll discuss what to share and how to present it so that your results are clear and understandable for a wide audience. We’ll also cover tips on the charts, graphs and visual aids to support your reports. (This replaces the originally scheduled session, "Benchmarking Modeling and Non-modeling ERM Processes in the Industry.")
Are You Ready for Demand Modeling? - September 23, 2008 11AM (ET) - Price optimization, retention modeling, elasticity modeling... Whatever you call it, you already know you should be looking into demand modeling, but actually getting started can be a daunting task. Join us to learn how your company can prepare for the future, including a discussion of what data you need to start collecting today. (This replaces the originally scheduled session, "Setting and Achieving Company Goals.")
Why Usage Based Rating Is the Future of Auto Insurance - July 22, 2008 11AM (ET) - You hear about it everywhere, but what is usage based insurance really? Learn about the possibilities and pitfalls of usage based insurance and find out how other.
Bridging the Gap Between Pricing And Marketing - June 24, 2008 11AM (ET) - The more advanced companies are heavily using predictive modeling for marketing applications. This session will focus on integrating pricing and marketing predictive models to develop rates and rating structures that will help companies meet all their goals.
Avoiding Common Predictive Modeling Pitfalls - May 20, 2008 11AM (ET) - Through working with companies, EMB has seen mistakes that many companies make with respect to building predictive models. This session will discuss a few of those pitfalls in depth.
Applications of Scoring - April 22,2008 11AM (ET) - This session will look at different uses of scoring by insurers in underwriting or other proprietary applications within your rating plan. This session will also discuss how this is accomplished in our GLM modeling software, EMB Emblem.
Getting the Most Out of ResQ and Igloo - March 25, 2008 11AM (ET) The loss reserving risk is a critical component of a company's daily reserving process and its ERM structure. It should naturally flow between both and as such the different software products used should have synergies. This session will discuss how specifically EMB’s loss reserving and ERM software can be used in an efficient manner to address both areas needs. While it will be pointed specifically at EMB software, the attendees will also be presented with general tips on managing the reserving risk process in an ERM framework.
Adjusting ERM Models for Major Changes - February 19, 2008 11AM (ET) - An ERM model should be a living representation of the enterprise’s underlying risk profile. As such it should change where and when needed to address new potential risks. This session will cover how a company should considering modifying its ERM model including building in possible management response mechanisms and “Operational Risk” knock on effects.
Comprehensive Competitive Analysis - January 22, 2008 11AM (ET) - Simple standardized rate comparisons may no longer provide an accurate picture of a company’s true competitive position. Indeed such comparisons may not even be possible. See how companies may elect to get a better handle and understanding of their competitiveness using tools like Rate Assessor.
Getting the Most Out of EMB Emblem - December 18, 2007 11AM (ET) - This session will provide some useful tips to help current users use EMB Emblem as efficiently and fully as possible. The session will be targeted towards current EMBLEM users, but non-Emblem users are welcome to watch.
Hot Topics for Increasing Lift - November 20, 2007 11AM (ET) - There are many different ways to improve the performance of the rating algorithm. This session will discuss many of the more cutting edge activities that insurers have been doing to develop the right rate for the risk. The focus will not be on a specific approach but more of a high level discussion on how different techniques can improve your overall lift.
ERM: What the Rest of the World Is Doing - September 25, 2007 11AM (ET) - ERM should be part of the core daily function of a company’s decision making. This session will discuss the use of ERM in insurance markets around the world, and in particular, actual benefits and changes in insurance management due to the UK’s Internal Capital Assessment (ICA) Regime. The session will also discuss how European risk regulation may affect US companies including rating agencies views toward risk management.
Getting the Most Out of Rate Assessor - August 21, 2007 11AM (ET) - This session will provide some helpful tips to help current users use Rate Assessor as efficiently and fully as possible. The session will be targeted towards current Rate Assessor users, but non-Rate Assessor users are welcome to watch.
Predictive Modeling: Project Management - July 24, 2007 11AM (ET) - Many of our sessions have focused on specific aspects of predictive modeling. This session will attempt to discuss the various stages of a predictive modeling project at a high level as a means to provide a blueprint for successful project management.
Reserve Variability - June 19, 2007 11AM (ET) - This session will build upon last year’s EMB University session and focus on two approaches to evaluating reserve range variability: Mack's Method and Bootstrapping. An overview of these approaches will be provided as well as a discussion of their uses, benefits and limitations.
A Better Way To Include Geographic Considerations In Rates: Territorial Ratemaking - May 15, 2007 11 AM (ET) - There are various approaches for analyzing territorial boundaries and relativities within the multivariate framework. This session covers pro’s and con’s of the different methods.
Pricing And UW: Working Together To Improve Results - April 17, 2007 11 AM (ET) - UW and Pricing have historically worked separately to ensure profitability. This session discusses ways for the two to work cooperatively to improve profitability.
Optimal Pricing: Bridging The Gap Between Pricing And Marketing - March 20, 2007 11 AM (ET) - Elasticity and risk models can be combined to determine the true impact of scenarios on profitability and market share. This session covers opportunities and pitfalls associated with price optimization.
Commercial Lines: Predictive Modeling Challenges - February 20, 2007 11 AM (ET) - Predictive modeling techniques can be used effectively on commercial lines of business. This session provides a more detailed look at some of the unique challenges encountered with commercial lines modeling.
Avoiding Common Predictive Modeling Pitfalls - January 16, 2007 11 AM (ET) - Companies make common mistakes when implementing predictive modeling. This session covers the mistakes and offers suggestions to ensure full benefits of predictive modeling are realized.
Comprehensive "Multivariate" Competitive Analysis - December 5, 2006 11 AM (ET) - Multivariate analysis has increased the complexity of rating algorithms and rendered traditional competitive analysis inadequate. This session discusses new comprehensive analysis techniques so companies can understand their true competitive position.
Getting The Most Out Of Your ERM Modeling Process - October 17, 2006 11 AM (ET) - ERM results address a broad spectrum of issues. This session covers how companies can leverage the analysis across the organization to get the most out of the ERM process.
How To Achieve Success With Commercial Lines Modeling - September 19, 2006 11 AM (ET) - Personal lines have a proven track-record with respect to predictive modeling. This session provides a management-level discussion of the opportunities and pitfalls associated with commercial lines modeling.
Predictive Modeling: What Is Out There? - August 15, 2006 11 AM (ET) - There are a variety of predictive modeling techniques. This session discusses different methods with pros and cons of each.
Understanding The Secrets In Your Data: Basic Modeling Strategy - July 18, 2006 11 AM (ET) - GLM is the standard for ratemaking. This session covers basic statistical and practical tests to help the practitioner build the "best" model.
Getting ERM Started: Quick Tips And Common Pitfalls - June 20, 2006 11 AM (ET) - Successful companies are performing internal capital assessments. This session covers the major items that should be considered when implementing ERM to ensure that there is value added.
Reserve Ranges - May 16, 2006 11 AM (ET) - Estimating the variability inherent in a reserve estimate is getting increased attention from rating agencies, capital markets, regulators, and management. It’s time to move away from old rules-of-thumb and take advantage of the advancements made in this area.