Reviews (2)

Fresh Ideas on Sales
After reading The Wedge, and applying its principles to my sales presentations, I landed a rather large account that I know a competitor was also avidly pursuing. That alone makes the investment in this book worthwhile.
The Wedge focuses on taking business from your competition, by positioning yourself in a manner that distinguishes your business from your competitior. It is one of the first sales books that I ever read that focuses almost exclusively on the concept of taking business away from your competitors, as opposed to developing sales from independent leads. Given that almost every marketplace is static, with only so many entities available to buy your (or your competition's) product, thinking about and successfully executing methods that get your product before buyers who work with, or may be tempted by a competing product, not only makes sense, but is very wise sales strategy. And I can say - IT WORKS!

The Best of The Best of Insurance Sales
Books on sales are a dime a dozen. Some have a focus on a specific market while others are as general as water. If your intention is to break into the broker market or just expand your market share in Insurance, Then This Book Is For You! The book is short, precise and powerful. If you think the price is a little high for a sales book, then you do not deserve this one.
For those with the vision, the intent, and boldness, this book will increase your sales to match your goals. Good Reading. ... Read more

Book Description

This proven, market-leading book provides a thorough, current introduction to risk management and insurance. It assists the reader in identifying, analyzing, and managing risk through insurance and alternative tools/techniques such as loss control, risk retention, and risk transfer. This edition presents an even stronger focus on managing risk and covers insurance within this context. Concepts of risk management are presented as they apply to business and personal situations as well as international situations. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you working too many hours for too few clients?Does it seem that you do more paperwork than peoplework?Will you spend more hours on the road than in front of people this year?

Whether your agency is big or small, if you answered yes to any of those quesitons, you need more than an andrenaline boost!You need a shot of strategies to wake things up and put you on the path to success fast.

How to get appointments with 10 clients every day

How to find qualified clients and get them to come to you

How to get clients in and out of your office in 30 minutes-or less

You'll also discover how to ramp up for success with something you already have, but probably overlook, why some clients don't make sense for your agency, and what you need for an effective sales pitch.

Get the help you need by putting Troy Korsgaden on your side.His strategies have made a difference for the thousands of agents who have attended his seminars across the country.They can make a difference fo you, too. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hands-on power tips
I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar where Troy Korsgaden was one of the presenters. This book is a direct take on the presentation he made. He makes a very compelling case for how to grow your agency. I know it isn't what some of us want to hear. Who wants to bother with hiring other people? What the author says is that if you want to grow your agency, you must duplicate yourself by training others to perform most, if not all, duties that don't involve direct selling. And guess what? Sometimes even that function can be handled by your staff.

Troy Korsgaden's one-man agency managed 1,500 policies after all of nine years in business. With his current setup - including eleven employees - has a growth rate of 750 policies a year. I know, that isn't the goal of some of us in this business. However, his message is that if you really want to grow, there are no shortcuts. Hiring staff is not optional, it is absolutely necessary. Great book. Easy to read and to the point.

Read this book
This book was given to me by a friend when I started my business. It was a godsend! It showed me how to streamline and make my company more effective. It was this book, along with Guerrilla PR Wired, that made me a success.

Really A Great Booster!
Power Position Your Agency is loaded with fantastic tips and ideas! It's definitely helped me, and I'm constantly going back to it. My only caveat is that it's a bit weak on the whole public relations side, especially when the rest is so useful. For the pr stuff, I found Michael Levine's Guerilla PR: Wired to make up for it. I'm really confident that these two books will lead to my company's being in an excellent position!

Step by Step Instructions to Grow Any Agency
I've been in the insurance business for over 15 years. Why oh Why didn't I have this book when I started? The Best instruction book on how to grow Any size agency I've ever read. Troy's been on our side of the desk, had our struggles, same line from upper management, etc. Very good insight PLUS all the scripts one needs to put his program in place in My office! Amazing. The "E-Myth" for the Personal Lines insurance agent. Whether you are brand new or a "Vet" you will take many things out of this book that you can implement immediately and make more money.

A complete manual on how to operate a successful agency.
I've been an insurance agent for 27 years. I subscribe to several insurance trade magazines, and have read dozens of books about insurance sales and have attended hundreds of seminars. I didn't expect to learn much new or useful. But, I'm always looking for a nugget that I might be able to use.

With this book I found more than a nugget. I found a manual on how to operate a successful insurance agency. Any single chapter in this book is worth the price. I will refer to it constantly. ... Read more

Book Description

This course surveys property and casualty insurance principles and concepts common to all state producer licensing exams, giving students the relevant information they need to help pass the exam on the first try.The text is intended as a comprehensive introduction to property and casualty insurance. Topics include industry regulation, underwriting, property insurance, personal lines, commercial lines, inland marine, commercial floaters and federal programs, crime insurance and bonds, and workers compensation.The text features interactive learning aids that enhance the user’s understanding of key concepts and improve retention. Hundreds of questions with rationales and a final exam are also included within the text. ... Read more

Book Description

Insurance For Dummies introduces readers to the basics — as well as the more complicated issues — of every kind of insurance. Packed with expert advice and step-by-step guidance, it shows you how to find the right amount of protection at the best possible price, for your life, health, car, home, and anything else you can think of.

Thinking about insurance makes many people cringe with fear; this handy guide makes insurance make sense. It demystifies complicated policies and points out all the traps and pitfalls you need to avoid when buying coverage. Whether you’re a homeowner or a small business owner or you just need a basic policy for your car, you’ll find all the advice you need on:

• Managing your risk
• Reducing your liability
• Insuring a home business
• Buying an umbrella policy
• Dealing with insurers and filing claims
• Assessing your life insurance needs
• Decidin g between group and individual policies

Author Jack Hungelmann uses his twenty-five years of experience in the insurance industry to make buying insurance as simple as possible — even for those who’ve never bought a policy in their lives. Armed with the kind of straightforward, commonsense knowledge and advice you’ll find here, you’ll be able to handle any insurance question that comes up. Keep it on your reference shelf for quick-and-easy answers for all your insurance-related questions:

• Everything you should know about auto insurance
• Choosing cost-effective deductibles
• Picking the right property coverage for your home
• Estimating the value of your assets
• Insuring valuable portable items and collectibles
• Special advice on insuring condos and townhouses
• Getting the most coverage at the best price
• Filing claims and getting back the most
• Plus, online insurance resources

Reviews (7)

Invaluable resource and reference
This title is well worth searching out if you're thinking of purchasing new coverage or if it's been a long time since you've reviewed your current coverage. There's a lot more to insurance than most realize, and this book can help make things a lot clearer, save you money, and prevent nasty surprises down the road. Note that the edition available in Canada, of which I own a copy, appears to be identical to the American one in all respects.

Insurance for Dummies
I have been in the insurance business for 31 years. I found this book to be every helpful. Jack has taken a complex subucet ( insurance ) and explains it in simple terms. I have shared this book with other professionals and they are as delighted as I am. I now use some those examples in my own practice to explain things to my clients. It is worth the time to reading. .

Great book, very imformative.
I bought this book because I was sick of just signing my insurance contracts. The author explained clearly the different types of insurance and made recommendations you can follow to save you time and money. This book was well worth the price since I have saved so much in insurance. This is also a must have for those of us that own rental properties.

Great resource!
This is a must have for young families, professionals, and really everyone who has their own residence. Through this book I found out my "sueability" and really restructured my entire insurance plan. Most people won't believe how grossly underinsured they are!

This author actually make insurance interesting!!!
I didn't think it was possible, but Jack Hungelmann made reading about insurance actually interesting. I cannot tell you how much money and time I have saved just by taking a few minutes here and there to look up specific topics in this book. It is really well-written, covers an incredible broad range of topics, and has a lot of funny and real-life stories which capture the topics. I will also continue to find it very helpful as a reference to refer to as new insurance issues come up. Trust me, this is the insurance book to buy and trust! ... Read more

Book Description

The book is a thorough treatment of the mathematical theory and practical applications of compound interest, or mathematics of finance. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A bible to financial mathematical knowledge
Whoever masters this book will love and master any area of finance. However, readers must note that this is not a "light" book. It's rather academic and will require a good knowledge of calculus, statistics (for chapters beyond #9) and even stochastic process. If you are enrolling in an actuarial education program this is THE BOOK

Excellent book...
Kellison's book is an appraisal industry standard. and is highly recommended for use by others who want to know how interest rates are calculated. For students who need supplementary material, I would recommend a good mathematics of finance textbook such as the later editions by Cissell, et al. or Simpson, et al. both titled, amazingly, Mathematics of Finance. Another excellent book of a less academic nature is Carrington, The Book of Interest and Money. For those who would understand both the maths and the calculator keystrokes, try the best book ever written (opinionated, aren't I) on this subject: Greynolds, et al. Financial Analysis Using Calculators: Time Value of Money. This book was published in 1980 by McGraw-Hill, but hasn't been superceded, to my knowledge, by anything better. Also, a must read in connection with this subject is regulation Z of the Truth-in-Lending Act. Study these materials and you will never have the wool pulled over your eyes by your friendly local banker, real estate broker, car finance company, loan shark, or rent-to-own furniture dealer. In fact, you'll know much more than they do and will be able to catch their mistakes (and they make them).

Just Awful
I'm a third-year undergraduate who has loved and excelled at mathematics my whole life. We're talking mostly A's and some B's all through an honors high school program and through advanced multivariable calculus in college.

I've decided to pursue actuarial work, and this fall I enrolled in a course called "Theory Of Interest," which is the introductory course for this subject at my university. The sole textbook for this course was (surprise) Kellison's "Theory Of Interest."

For starters, let's make perfectly clear that the pure math involved here is easy as pie. Anyone at this level should be able to do it in their sleep before they've even cracked open the book; arithmetic, algebra, and a smidge of some very basic and easy calculus. So this subject is all about learning the definitions and procedures and applying them to problem solving.

That said, I have never, ever, EVER had anything close to this much trouble with a mathematics course in my life, simply because I could not understand this textbook. As a highly detailed and analytical person, I rely heavily on the textbook to learn any subject. I expect to be taught the subject in a clear, comprehensive, logically sequenced manner, free of ambiguity and clutter. I expect to be given challenging problems free of ambiguity and confusing language. I expect the preceding chapter to prepare me for those problems.

This is the biggest train wreck of a math book I have ever read. Ambiguities abound. He convolutedly waxes poetic on inconsequential "observations" for PAGES (you can sense him giving himself a huge pat on the back for his scholarly flights of fancy) while leaving you frustrated to tears trying to find and decode basic explanations and definitions. I'd say that at least 40% of the problems have MAJOR ambiguities that make them literally impossible to know what he's asking (a previous reviewer gave a good example). You have to guess what he's asking and proceed from there. The combination of poor, confusing discourse followed by ambiguous, confusing problems is a potent 1-2 punch that will seriously discourage even the best of students.

My college professor actually called this book, and I quote, "revolting." (Why does he continue to use it for his class? You'll have to ask him; I myself have no idea.) Bottom line, don't even think about trying to learn this subject from this textbook unless a college course requires you to do so. Find the Cissell (I tracked down a copy halfway through my course and it helped immensely) and/or the Actex guides instead and/or ANYTHING else you can get your hands on. There's simply got to be a better way to learn the subject than this.

So So
The book sells for astronomical price because SOA chooses it. It's simple and standard material and there's about half a million people in this country who qualifies to write. Unless somebody else pays for you, go for another book, or a simple study notes will do.

Not as helpful as other material
This text is not very helpful at all. I used it in my Interest Theory class and started to use it for Course 2 exam, but both times came out confused. Luckily, in school, I had a great professor who did not bother using it as a teaching tool, rather as a source for homework problems. He used his own material to actually teach us the concepts. As for studying for Course 2, you will do much better using one of the manuals, such as Actex or BPP.

Still, it does provide some good explanations of concepts, if you can just figure out what it's saying. A bit wordy at times.. :-) ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Trading Strategies is for traders who want to take the next step to consistently profitable trading. The authors--themselves seasoned veterans of the futures trading arena--pinpoint the trading methods and strategies that have been shown to produce market-beating returns. Their rigorous and systematic backtesting of each method, using the same sets of markets and analytic techniques, provides a scientific, system-based approach to system development...to help you assemble the trading system that will put you on the road to becoming a more consistently profitable trader. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Complete Insight Into Encyclopedia of Trading Strategies
The Encyclopedia Of Trading Strategies provides a solid foundation for developing the skills and knowledge base to develop one's own set of quantifiable trading rules and for developing a reliable trading "system."

The book begins laying the foundation with a description of the tools necessary to construct a system. Data -- the cleaner, naturally, the better -- is the point of departure. A discussion of simulators -- software that allows you to simulate trading -- ensues and walks you through the mechanics of interpreting output and determining their reliability and power.

A discussion of optimizers, or tools that find the best possible solutions to a problem follows, critically describing the major types of optimization and products available and how to achieve success, or failure, in their implementation.

Statistics for systems analysis are the next tool detailed. Without statistics, there is no way of knowing whether the profits (or losses) resulting from a tested system are real, an artifact of sampling or chance.

With the tools required for systems testing in place, the book launches into the discussion of its primary focus, the study of entries and exits. Ultimately, and deceptively simply, a trading system is nothing more than a system of entries and exits (at a profit or at a loss).

The Encyclopedia of Trading Strategies is something of a misnomer in that the title leaves the impression that one will find a catalogue of trading strategies and methods that the reader can scrutinize to extract specific techniques and use as a reference guide. In fact, the book provides the framework and background-knowledge necessary to design, test and analyze one's own trading system and could have as easily been dubbed A Primer On Developing Trading Systems.

One of the very best out there
This book is one of the best trading books ever published. It provides a very systematic and scientific approach of evaluating entry and exit techniques across a diversified futures portfolio. It presents by far the most rigorous and sound methodology of evaluating trading system robustness. The section on the use of statistical analysis to evaluate model validity is easily worth the price of the book.

The authors did an excellent job defining the correct way of optimizing system parameters. The part on exit techniques is also impressive. It contains a methodology on the development of exit strategies and presents many exit techniques.

Overall, the book is packed with a wealth of information. Every time I re-read a chapter I find a new gem. I strongly recommend this book to all mechanical system traders, especially those trading diversified commodity portfolios.

Great system trading book
Great book if you are interested in writing system code. Good backgound about ideas that may work and those that do not. The most valuable part of the book is the companion CD that is availabe. The software on the CD allows for testing of portfolio systems (something not really possible with most retail charting/trading software). Source code is fully revealed allowing for as much customization as one would like.

Interesting trading models and exit strategies
Mostly testing of trading models in C or C++. then testing of exit strategies. Well organized and easy to read, interesting even if you are not interested in optimizing.
Too much talk about slippage which he should point out that this is a problem for day traders that could be solved by automated trading platform and its not for everybody to worry about that much. Then talks also about gunning, as the name implies.

I am quite impressed ..
This is a great book if one wants to build a trading system starting from writing the code with a language such as C++. Especially given the fact that one can order the software from the author.

The book also examines some of the most common trading strategies. However, having reviewed other books on this topic and given the title describes the book as an 'Encyclopedia of Trading Strategies", it would be a useful book but not all-encompassing as one may hope.

Overall a useful book, particularly for programmers. As a book on trading strategies it does give some valuable insights but other books on the topic have to be reviewed as well.. ... Read more

Book Description

All property and casualty insurers are required to carry out loss reserving as a statutory accounting function. Thus, loss reserving is an essential sphere of activity, and one with its own specialized body of knowledge. While few books have been devoted to the topic, the amount of published research literature on loss reserving has almost doubled in size during the last fifteen years.

Greg Taylor's book aims to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art treatment of loss reserving that reflects contemporary research advances to date. Divided into two parts, the book covers both the conventional techniques widely used in practice, and more specialized loss reserving techniques employing stochastic models. Part I, Deterministic Models, covers very practical issues through the abundant use of numerical examples that fully develop the techniques under consideration. Part II, Stochastic Models, begins with a chapter that sets up the additional theoretical material needed to illustrate stochastic modeling. The remaining chapters in Part II are self-contained, and thus can be approached independently of each other. A special feature of the book is the use throughout of a single real life data set to illustrate the numerical examples and new techniques presented. The data set illustrates most of the difficult situations presented in actuarial practice. This book will meet the needs for a reference work as well as for a textbook on loss reserving. ... Read more

Book Description

Books in Barron's pocket-sized Business Dictionaries series listthousands of specialized terms alphabetically and present concise definitions.The authors of books in this series are recognized authorities in their fields.Newly updated editions reflect new technologies, their business applications,and recent business trends. This book defines more than 4,200 insurance termsthat should be understood by agents, brokers, actuaries, underwriters, personnelprofessionals dealing with employee-benefit programs, and consumers who need tounderstand the insurance policies they plan to buy. Terminology covers life,health, property, and casualty insurance, as well as retirement plans. This new,heavily updated edition has been expanded with approximately 200 new terms, andupdatings of many other terms to reflect the current state of the insuranceindustry. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Thick Junk
I have been in the insurance industry 15 years and just decided to buy this as an addition for my work desk. I rarely open the book, however, anytime I go to look up a coverage definition it is not listed. This book is of NO use to me. Not really sure who would use this.............a person who hands out maps at the Auto Club who may need to look up a word or two?

Slightly incomplete
For general knowledge of insurance terms I guess this is an adequate dictionary and nevertheless needed for understanding insurance terms. I find however that being IN the insurance business as a newcomer and needing to have all my insurance words defined, this dictionary lacks many terms used, at least on the Life insurance side of it, so leaves me grasping for other sources and references to find these words which should be defined in this dictionary in the first place.

Excellent reference book
This is an American based book but covers every imaginable insurance term, in every sector of the finance/insurance industry. It not only provides definitions of terms but broadley defines the cover provided under different types of insurance. This is a must for any professional in the financial services/insurance industry as a great reference.

Useful handbook
Useful dictionary for people working for a insurance company or other financial institution. ... Read more

Book Description

Under the new Basle Guidelines, all financial institutions subject to local banking laws will soon be required to operate under dramatically different risk exposure rules. Risk Management and Capital Adequacy provides details on the key risk approaches under these new guidelines and is the first book to analyze if and how they can be integrated. From conceptual frameworks to analyses of models and approaches, it provides a solid reference source for the information that everyone in risk management will soon need to know.

Reviews (1)

A handbook for all Risk Professionals
This book offers comprehensive coverage of market, credit and operational risks in all aspects. It covers the technical modeling and its interplay with the external regulations by which an integrated risk approach is governed. It includes a critical review of the current regulatory environment and analyses the different proposals for the next Bank of International Settlements (BIS) accord, now scheduled for 2005.

Attention is given to different measurement approaches of market, credit and operational risks as well as the key assumptions and conditions for an integrated approach as required in the coming Basel Accord. More specifically, it provides a framework for the design, operation, viewing the policies, methodologies, data collection and infrastructure use to support risk management.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. It covers with great competence all the aspects of risk management. The emphasis placed on risk control and the building blocks for a successful integration of all three risk types is highlighted in the light of recent events.

I recommend this book to all academics and professionals and also encourage its use in graduate course in risk management bank management. ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers a lifetime of real-world experience in the field of insurance sales. It will serve as an invaluable source for anyone who wants to succeed in this field. Forty of the most successful agents pass their experience on to you. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Encouraging biographies
I have only been a life insurance agent for one and a half years now. Certainly, it has its ups and downs. I found this book during one of my down cycles. The stories (each chapter is a different autobiography of a top agent) while not giving specific pointers on how tos and marketing ideas are nonetheless encouraging in that you see the possibilities through people who have been there and survived. I enjoyed the book but would have loved for it to have more real pointers. Most of the advice is generic: hang in there, provide good service, give yourself time for your agency to develop, etc. Still great reading and a nice addition to an insurance agent's library. Books on insurance sales are few and far between. Two really great books are Frank Bettger's "How I raised myself from a failure to a success" and Kent Larsen's "A touch of Larseny." These both have great ideas. All are good. Success to all my fellow agents. ... Read more

Book Description

Over recent years the insurance industry has faced a period of rapid change and consolidation, with recent natural and man-made disasters highlighting the problems that the industry faces. Yet this has also been a time of opportunity with the traditional role of insurance giving way to its classification as a asset class. This has resulted in insurance risks now being priced and exchanged on the markets.

In this book, the authors analyze the convergence between the insurance industry and the capital markets. They sumarize the main trends and issues and analyze past events within the industry. Thus, they demonstrate that the current market pressures on insurance companies do not not just create challenges but also new opportunities.

... Read more

Reviews (4)

Insightful!
In Insurance from Underwriting to Derivaties, Eric Briys and Francois de Varenne, both Deutsche Bank insurance experts, have written a highly technical, albeit readable, book for their professional peers. They discuss property-casualty insurance, risk, securitizing, pricing and liabilities duration in the United States and Europe. However, it will dawn on the casual reader fairly early that there should be an "experts only" label on the book jacket. Even the basic introduction to property-casualty insurance begins with the presentation of complex mathematical models. More daunting models, charts and graphs elucidate information throughout. Insiders will appreciate this data and the extensive footnotes and references. While this may not be a book for the mid-management reader, we assure you, without risk, that its target audience - financial executives and professionals in the insurance industry - will be very glad to have it.

Good intro on insurance ALM
This is probably the best book on insurance for explaining the poor state of some ALM techniques used in insurance today and why. The authors correctly identify many falacies that actuaries have relied on and how they differ from the more advanced finance that has developed in banking ALM and the capital markets generally.

They do, however, get a bit distracted on a couple of topics, and bogged down in some formulas that I didn't think added much to the disccusion. In those moments, you know you're reading the work of university professors rather than practitioners.

They could have gone further with their ALM thinking. They could have discussed how mergers between insurance and banking would in the future highlight the differences between the current approaches to ALM, and how financial conglomerates will eventually just relegate insurance to one of many liability businesses, apply option-adjusted transfer prices to insurance products, and take the interest rate risk into consolidated positions. It will not be any more complicated than that. They allude to banking ALM, but don't really drive home any of what I thought were the logical conclusions. They were focused on insurance as stand-alone companies and did not address insurance in the context of a financial conglomerate.

Nonetheless, as stated, this is probably the best book on the market as an introduction to insurance ALM and helps dispell many myths and provides some useful history.

Highly Recommended!
In Insurance from Underwriting to Derivaties, Eric Briys and Francois de Varenne, both Deutsche Bank insurance experts, have written a highly technical, albeit readable, book for their professional peers. They discuss property-casualty insurance, risk, securitizing, pricing and liabilities duration in the United States and Europe. However, it will dawn on the casual reader fairly early that there should be an "experts only" label on the book jacket. Even the basic introduction to property-casualty insurance begins with the presentation of complex mathematical models. More daunting models, charts and graphs elucidate information throughout. Insiders will appreciate this data and the extensive footnotes and references. While this may not be a book for the mid-management reader, we from getAbstract assure you, without risk, that its target audience - financial executives and professionals in the insurance industry - will be very glad to have it.

Insurance ALM and Derivatives
As a non insurance specialist, I was curious what the authors have to write about the convergence between the insurance industry and the capital markets. In particular the aspect of derivatives, since I'm in Equity Derivatives. The authors cover nicely the rapid change the insurance industry has faced the last couple of years. Show risk, opportunity, and support many arguments with mathematical models. Even though the authors have an outstanding academic record, the book is aktually fun reading (no boring academic book). References to other articles are extensive and the ALM Survival Toolkit in the Appendix is very well done. Here are the chapters:

1 The Basics of Property-Casualty Insurance
2 Securitizing Insurance Risks
3 Life Insurance in the United States: History of a crisis
4 ALM in Insurance: An Empirical Wander Around Europe
5 Life Insurance Pricing and the Measurement of the Duration and Liabilities
6 A Functional Approach to the Insurance Industry
7 Conclusion and Future Challenges
Appendix: The ALM Survival Toolkit

Mr Briys & Mr de Varenne have confirmend that the French are world-class in derivatives. Bravo! ... Read more

Book Description

Both in insurance and in finance applications, questions involving extremal events (such as large insurance claims, large fluctuations in financial data, stock market shocks, risk management, ...) play an increasingly important role. This book sets out to bridge the gap between the existing theory and practical applications both from a probabilistic as well as from a statistical point of view. Whatever new theory is presented is always motivated by relevant real-life examples. The numerous illustrations and examples, and the extensive bibliography make this book an ideal reference text for students, teachers and users in the industry of extremal event methodology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

largest book written on extremes
This book presents extreme value theory and its applications with the finance industry as its primary target. There have been many excellent texts written on extreme value theory but none this extensive. As the authors admit even as extensive as it is the theory of multivariate extremes is neglected. They chose to only cover in detail the theory that is mature enough for application.

What you will find here that is not in many texts on this subject is a treatment of risk theory and fluctuations of sums and various time series models including cases with heavy-tailed marginal distributions.

Chapter 8 on special topics is particularly interesting with a lot of coverage for the extremal index, large claim index, ARCH processes, large deviations, reinsurance, stable processes and self-similarity. The book contains over 600 references to the literature and is a welcome resource for practitioners in finance and insurance as well as extreme value theorists.

Highly recommended
This book covers the theory and applications of extremal value theory (an area of applied probability). The mathematics is kept at an acceptable level, i.e. advanced undergraduates in math/physics/engineering, but the breadth and the sophistication of the statements are such that the results are never trivial. Chapters 2-3-4 introduce the reader to the property of sums, maxima and order statistics of random variables. Many results are only stated but not proved. Yet, this does not detract to the readability of the book. Chpater 5 treats point processes and requires a deeper mathematical background. Among the chapters, this was the most disappointing to me. The monographs of Resnick and of Kallenberg, as well as many good introductions to point processes in queueing theory, are in my opinion both a more intuitive and rigorous introduction to random measures. This is not a major flaw of the book, given its view toward applications; and besides this, the bibliographical notes will point the reader to the relevant literature. Chapter 6, on statistical analysis of extremal events, is enjoyable and extremely useful for practitioners in finance and insurance. Chapter 7 touches upon time series and its relation to heavy tails. Finally, chapter 8 is a put-pourri of topics: ARCH processes, stable processes, self-similarity. Overall, I found this book useful as a reference, but sometimes lacking in focus: some topics seem juxtaposed with no clear logical continuity. Another potential shortcoming of the book is that it is neither completely rigorous nor completely readable (i.e., an undergraduate-level book). At the same time, these can be considered as qualities: with regards to the former, there is plenty of material to consult and draw inspiration from; and at the same time each reader will find the "right" level of mathematics in the book. In my opinion the final balance is largely positive, and I would recommend this book without hesitation. ... Read more

Book Description

In the past few years, the financial industry has undergone dynamic structural changes that have deeply affected the sales process. Bruised by market volatility, today’s consumer is skeptical and demands more for less. You need fresh approaches to sell in today’s tough marketplace.

Here are the 22 Keys that can help any financial professional make more money, work less, and maximize their potential. Industry leaders James Benson and Paul Karasik combine their personal experience with the shared wisdom of the masters. Each key contains proven, actionable sales guidelines, including:

* The four primary fears that could destroy your sale—and how to help your prospects overcome them* The nine most effective strategic approaches to "target marketing" success* Five guidelines for qualifying prospects more effectively* Sixty-five ways to snap a sales slump* Ten ways to get your clients to say "Yes"* Four simple steps to generate new business with current clients* Five guidelines for overcoming objections* Six sample scripts to make your closing ratios soar

Whether you’ve been in business for years or are just beginning, each key will unlock a new door on your path to sales success. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Narrow Your Focus and Do More of What Works
Review Summary: 22 Keys to Sales Success has some very fine material in it. The book would have been much improved if it had focused on one type of sales professional in one type of organization looking for one type of client (a new life insurance salesperson in a small agency dealing with owners of small businesses, for example). That would have allowed the material to have been more focused and customized for immediate use. At the same time, some of the material just doesn't fit certain classes of sales professionals. If you are wise enough to ignore what doesn't fit, this book can greatly improve your success.

Review: The authors are clearly well read and have had a lot of experience going to seminars. The many references to the works of others are appropriate and add depth to this otherwise simple book. From that authority, they provide many helpful suggestions that will be essential to newcomers to financial sales and valuable to experienced people who aren't using the advice.

I thought that the advice to Create Your Compelling Vision, Position with Mission, Energize Your Success, Open the Johari Window, Market Yourself as the Expert, Focus on Clients (Not Compensation), Demand Objections, and Be Your Own Sales Manager were superb. I was skeptical about the strong emphasis on continuing efforts to close, scripts and the suggested ways to get referrals. The material in the book seemed inauthentic to me in these areas as a professional, and I graded the book down accordingly.

It seemed like the book was aimed more at those selling insurance products for life and retirement than anything else. So if that's what you sell, this book is probably good for you. If you are a financial planner who looks at all dimensions of planning, this book is probably too sales-oriented to meet your professional standards. If you are an attorney, you will probably find much of what the book says to be appalling in its commercial focus.

One of the ironies of this book is that the authors suggest that you focus in as narrow a niche of services and customers as possible. I wonder why they didn't follow their own advice in writing this book. ... Read more

Book Description

In the last two decades, there has been a significant shift in thinking and in the approach taken to actuarial practice: moving from deterministic methods (with implicit or explicit margins to protect against variability) to fully stochastic methods. Important international developments are currently being made in actuarial education, with radical changes being implemented in Australia and North America, and evolutionary changes planned in the UK.At the same time, the Consultative Group of Actuarial Associations within the EU and the International Forum of Actuarial Associations are both actively considering the international harmonization of professional qualifications.Modern Actuarial Theory and Practice matches the philosophy of those international developments, and the manner in which actuarial qualifications are changing and are likely to continue to change. It describes the traditional areas of actuarial activity with an emphasis on the fundamental principles, as well as the economic, financial, and statistical foundations of actuarial theory and practice. Information is presented in five interconnected sections:oInvestmentoLife InsuranceoGeneral InsuranceoPensionsoActuarial Modelswhich can be read separately or taken as part of the integrated whole.This text will be an invaluable aid for final-year undergraduates, MSc students, research students preparing for an MPhil or Ph. D degree, and to student actuaries preparing for the professional actuarial examinations of a number of professional bodies. Practicing actuaries will also find this a useful guide to current methodologies and models. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Useful and Relevant for Institute 300 series
A very clear book covering the Exams in the 300 series for the institute of Actuaries. Topics include Pensions, investment, asset modeling and Life. ... Read more

Book Description

Don't let a construction lawsuit wipe you out. More and more construction contractors are getting sued these days. Make sure you protect yourself against costly litigation with Construction Insurance, Bonding and Risk Management edited by William J. Palmer, James Maloney, and John L. Heffron. Written in jargon-free language, this quick-and-easy resource will help you identify and manage risk in every phase of construction--from bidding on the job to driving home the final nail. You get the know-how you need to make sense of today's confusing array of insurance and bonds and to select the best coverage for your general business operations, individual contracts, job bidding and more. ... Read more

Book Description

Revisions and additions make the second edition an even better teaching and learning tool of the basic principles of insurance and risk with their special application to the aviation industry.A foundation of general knowledge is provided in a subject matter that plays a significant role in any aviation-related business.A number of the chapters have been completely updated to reflect the many industry, market, and legislative changes during the 1900s.The chapter on hull and liability contracts includes "Insurance Considerations for Business Aircraft Owners."This new section covers insurance requirements for companies operating aircraft under various arrangements including joint ownership, interchange agreement, time-sharing agreement, exclusive dry lease, management company, and fractional ownership.Appendixes include current aviation policies, endorsements, and applications as well as self-tests.College students, corporate pilots or fixed base operators, and individuals in the insurance business will gain a broad understanding of insurance and risk management applicable to the aviation enterprise. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Alexander Wells is Without Peer in his Knowledge
Anyone who has read any of Alexander Well's texts on the aviation industry knows that he is without peer in his knowledge of the management and operations of the airline industry. He teaches what I believe is still the only course on airline management at any college in the nation and is highly respected for his work.

In this volume, he focuses specifically on the problems of risk and insurance as it applies to the airline industry. Although the book is relatively new, published in 2000, given the events in the industry in the past few years it may already be ripe for a revision. Regardless, the text provides a broad, yet concise, understanding of insurance and risk management as it applies to the aviation industry, both commerical and otherwise.

This book should be required reading for anyone considering a career in aviation management or working in the insurance industry with airlines. ... Read more

Book Description

Eight out of ten Americans will have an accident in the next seven years. Baldyga delivers over three decades of personal injury, insurance claimexperience in this easy-to-read book. Learn how to settle your "pain and suffering" for top dollar. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Thanks Baldyga
I got a very fine settlement on my own using the advice in this book; I got $6,000.00 more than I was shooting for after reading this book and applying the simple concepts Baldyga shows you. I also have the Nolo books but I find them to be very misleading and confusing. Most insurance companies are "onto" Nolo and they're ready for you when you hit them with the Nolo concepts. Nolo people actually go to the other legal self-help sites and plug Nolo books, much like they have done here. Thi book was far easier to understand and implement than Nolo, in my opinion.

GREAT BUY! WHAT A BOOK!
Just wanted to take a moment to enter my review for others. I bought the book some time ago, followed the instructions, and just settled my claim for so much more than I thought it was worth before I read this book. I had no idea of what a fair settlement value was in my case. The adjuster seemed in such a hurry to try and settle and I didn't want to hire a lawyer and pay him a third of what I would receive. So I did my homework as the author said must be done, and it paid off far beyond my expectations. I found the book to be fantastic and would recommend it to anyone trying to figure out what their auto accident claim is worth.

Dissapointed. Incomplete.
After reading the reviews here, I was expecting much more from this book. First of all, the base Formula made up by Baldyga to give you a value on your claim is a joke. It neither accurate nor realistic. The book provides you very little information on important topics such as subrogation or negotiating attorneys fees. It does not even mention Colossus, the software used by insurance companies to evaluate insurance personal injury claims. Information on how to create a demand letter is slim, and although there are some good advices in this book, it will not help you to settle your personal injury auto accident claim yourself. The Nolo Book is much better in my personal opinion. To settle my car accident personal injury claim, I have used a website SettlementCentral.Com (http://www.settlementcentral.com) which helped me a lot. They offer an easy guide to do-it-yourself personal injury claim for automobile accidents, dog bite, and slip and fall personal injury insurance claims. It was easy to follow and they have a very good section on how to write your demand letter. I also bought and read most of the personal injury claims books on Amazon, and I was able to settle my claim without the help of an attorney.

Some good information.
This book was easy to read and had some useful information in it. Two things this book was missing: 1) Example letters. 2) Book was focused on small claims (under 10,000). It also assumed that Premium was the largest claim amount you could get -- didn't take into account long term problems, etc.

If you are wanting help with an auto claim, I would also get "How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim" which is a NOLO book written by an attorney.

Together, these two books will give you a lot of information.

This is a great book!
Because I'm surrounded by lawyers who argue and fight all the time I've read them all. I've always found all the other books on this subject matter to be too long and drawn out. Several of those on the market today are misleading to the point of being a downright "pitch" (a book written by a lawyer and reviewed by a lawyer) to con the reader into securing an attorney to handle their claim. (Question: How do I know that? Answer: Because 34 years ago I was born into a family of lawyers and we're always talking about such "stuff.") We all agree that Auto Accident Personal Injury Insurance Claim is, beyond the shadow of any doubt, the best of its kind on the market today.

Baldyga's book is easy to read, comprehensive and most importantly his outstanding instructions (plus his truly innovative BASE Formula--which absolutely places an accurate value n "pain and suffering") provides one with all the help they need to settle their claim for a much higher amount than they ever expected. I loved it and recommend it highly. (My family of lawyers were stunned by the "inside info"--some of which even they weren't aware of--that Mr. Baldyga has passed along in this fantastic book.) ... Read more