Reference no: EM132889377

1. Describe the difference between systematic and unsystematic risk. In doing so, provide 4 examples of each type of risk.

2. Explain the differences between insuring and gambling. In doing so, contrast the intent of each activity.

3. Imagine that the East Coast and Midwest recently experienced a 2-week period of unbearable cold weather and wind chill. During such a cold period do you believe commercial business owners should be required to take measures to prevent pipes from freezing (i.e. pipe insulation, turn on faucets, etc.) in order to maintain their insurance coverage? Explain why or why not.

4. Almost all insurance companies have a reinsurance program in place. Provide 4 reasons why it is important for a policy holder to make sure that her insurance policy is backed by a strong reinsurance company.

5. Suppose that you purchased your home in 2014 and believe that, based upon recent comparable home sales in your vicinity, your home has a market value of $675,000. You decide to put your home on the market for $720,000 to allow room for future negotiation towards your desired selling price of $675,000. After several days, you receive a text message from your broker informing you that prospective buyers have been balking at making you an offer as they have seen that Zillow is valuing your house online for only $600,000. Explain whether you have a right to sue Zillow and, if so, under what liability law(s).

6. Upon graduating from college, your parents host a graduation party in celebration for you at their house. 50 of your friends attend along with several family members. At the end of the party everyone is departing the house. As the last guests filter out the front door, you thank them for attending and close the door.

3 minutes later you hear a loud knock on the front door. You open the door and see that one of your trusted friends is standing there and is very upset. She tells you that after getting into her car she realized her $9,000 Rolex watch was missing. Immediately, you, your friend and your family members conduct a search of the house, front yard and your friend's pocketbook, coat pockets and vehicle to no avail - the watch cannot be located.

Questions:

1) Should you call the police?

2) Is this apparent loss covered by the parents' home owner's insurance?

3) If not, what insurance might cover this loss?

4) What should happen if your friend receives a replacement watch via an insurance claim then, 3 months later, your mother calls you to say she discovered the lost watch on the ground while pruning a front lawn plant?

7. It is a beautiful Summer morning in your neighborhood located in Massachusetts. You decide to take your golden retriever for a leisurely walk down the street. After about 15 minutes of walking you suddenly stumble and fall after stepping into a small pothole and lose grip on your dog's leash.

The dog runs away and starts chasing a female jogger down the street, who tries to run away from the dog while screaming. After a few seconds, the dog jumps on the jogger, knocks her to the ground and then turns tail running toward you with a big piece of the jogger's ear in his mouth.

Describe the nature, type and issues involved of/in this event, including any legal, liability or insurance issues from both your perspective and that of the jogger.

8. Imagine that you run a software company and lease your office space in a 50-floor office tower. On Wednesday morning you arrive at work just after 9am and are informed that a neighboring business located 3 floors above your floor suffered a major broken pipe overnight resulting in 2 feet of water being deposited across your entire office floor.

Explain whose insurance, the landlord's, the insurance of the firm located 3 floors above or your firm's insurance would cover your damages and losses experienced in this event. Specifically, what potential and actual losses will your business have as a result of the pipe breaking and the resulting flooding? For each loss, whose insurance, if in force, will cover the loss?

9. Imagine that you are relaxing on your sofa on a Saturday afternoon and the mail arrives. You parse through the mail and find a letter from your home owner's insurance company. Upon opening the letter you read that the insurer indicates that they will not renew your home owner's policy unless you have railings installed on your front brick and bluestone stairs. You gaze out the window and confirm that some neighbors have these railings while most do not. Such railings could cost you upwards of $1,700 to install and at the present time your budget does not have sufficient funds to cover the cost. Nor do you have a credit card available to cover the cost of the railings.

What steps would you take to address this situation?

10. Imagine that you have been married for three years and that you and your marital partner have just given birth to twin babies - a girl and a boy. Several months later, an insurance salesperson comes knocking on your front door on a Saturday afternoon. You welcome her into your home and she explains that she has stopped by to explain to you the benefits of purchasing whole life insurance policies for both children. In doing so she cites the painful realities of dealing with a premature death in the family, further pointing out that families living "pay check-to-pay check" often face great difficulty in covering funeral costs.

Explain how receptive or non-receptive you would be to the salesperson's "sales pitch" and why, given the circumstances involved.

11. Given your choice, explain whether you would be better off investing in a fixed annuity policy or a variable annuity policy and explain the reasons why.

12. During the period 1960 through the 1990s one never heard very much about any issues relating to health care coverage in the United States. Please describe in detail the consensus top three reasons why healthcare coverage has become a major hot button issue in recent years - most recently with the passage of ObamaCare and the Republican effort to overturn it.

13. After reading the attached article, please provide your assessment of the positive and negative aspects of pursuing an insurance rate making career in Malaysia.