Introduction
PLUNKETT'S INSURANCE INDUSTRY
ALMANAC, the second edition of our guide to the insurance
field, is designed to be used as a general source for researchers
of all types.
The data and areas
of interest covered are intentionally broad, ranging from the
insurance industry growth in China, to regulatory initiatives
in the U.S., to emerging technology, to an in-depth look at
the 300 major for-profit firms (which we call THE INSURANCE
300) within the many industry sectors that make up
the insurance system.
This reference
book is designed to be a general source for researchers. It
is especially intended to assist with market research, strategic
planning, employment searches, contact or prospect list creation
(be sure to see the export capabilities of the accompanying
CD-ROM that is available to book and eBook buyers) and financial
research, and as a data resource for executives and students
of all types.
PLUNKETT'S
INSURANCE INDUSTRY ALMANAC takes a rounded approach
for the general reader. This book presents a complete overview
of the insurance field (see “How To Use This Book”).
For example, insurance statistics are provided in exacting detail,
along with easy-to-use charts and tables on all facets of the
industry in general.
THE INSURANCE
300 is our unique grouping of the biggest, most successful
corporations in all segments of the insurance industry. Tens
of thousands of pieces of information, gathered from a wide
variety of sources, have been researched and are presented in
a unique form that can be easily understood. This section includes
thorough indexes to THE INSURANCE 300, by geography,
industry, sales, brand names, subsidiary names and many other
topics. (See Chapter 4.)
Especially helpful
is the way in which PLUNKETT'S INSURANCE INDUSTRY ALMANAC
enables readers who have no business background to readily compare
the financial records and growth plans of insurance companies
and major industry groups. You’ll see the mid-term financial
record of each firm, along with the impact of earnings, sales
and strategic plans on each company’s potential to fuel
growth, to serve new markets and to provide investment and employment
opportunities.
No other source
provides this book’s easy-to-understand comparisons of
growth, expenditures, technologies, corporations and many other
items of great importance to people of all types who may be
studying this, one of the largest and most complex industries
in the world today.
By scanning the data groups and the
unique indexes, you can find the best information to fit your
personal research needs. The major companies in insurance are
profiled and then ranked using several different groups of specific
criteria. Which firms are the biggest employers? Which companies
earn the most profits? These things and much more are easy to
find.
In addition to individual company
profiles, an overview of insurance markets and trends is provided.
This book’s job is to help you sort through easy-to-understand
summaries of today’s trends in a quick and effective manner.
Whatever your purpose for researching
the insurance field, you’ll find this book to be a valuable
guide. Nonetheless, as is true with all resources, this volume
has limitations that the reader should be aware of:
