RiskMeter Logo
RiskMeter Online Newsletter
January 2009
 
Members of TMPAA, NAPSLO, AAMGA, CIWA, FAIA
 AAIS - Risk Information Services Partner 
In This Issue
2009 Welcome Message
Now Available: Foreclosure Monitoring
LA Distance to Closest Levee
Pre-Filling Data for Underwriters & Agents
MS Wind Pool Zones Updated
Distance to Work Report
RiskMeter's Glossary/Resources Section
What Reports Does the RiskMeter Online Offer?
Upcoming Events
Online Training Schedule
Welcome to our Newest Customers
Request a Hardcopy
Contacts
Questions or Comments?
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Issue: # 1
January 2009
2009 Welcome Message
We hope all of our customers, prospects and vendors wrapped up 2008 with a happy and safe holiday season.  Everyone at RiskMeter Online would like to thank you for making 2008 a success and we look forward to working with you in 2009! If there is any way we can improve our service, please send an Email to Paul Ptashnick at pptashnick@cdsys.com
Now Available: Foreclosure Monitoring
Due to the current economic conditions, CDS is now providing insurers with foreclosure monitoring.  By simply sending us an Excel file of your book of business, we can flag which policies are in the foreclosure process. 
 
There is mounting evidence that shows properties entering a state of foreclosure have a higher probability of losses (vandalism, water damage, arson, etc.). Being able to identify policies that are in the foreclosure process will enable insurers to take proactive steps, such as:
  • Ordering a property inspection
  • Determining occupancy
  • Changing/Reducing coverage
  • Increasing premiums
  • Issuing a cancellation or non-renewal

Foreclosures will continue to be a problem for insurers going into 2009 (articles below). For more information about our Foreclosure Monitoring services, please contact Jamie Munson at 860.854.6125 or jmunson@cdsys.com 

Related Articles

Foreclosure Crisis Hits Long Island
A first look down Willow Street in Central Islip, where Christmas lights adorn many roofs and windows, captures a suburban block in a typical neighborhood. But a closer look tells another story. - Newsday

A Second Mortgage Disaster on the Horizon?
As correspondent Scott Pelley reports, it turns out the abyss is deeper than most people think because there is a second mortgage shock heading for the economy. In the executive suites of Wall Street and Washington, you're beginning to hear alarm about a new wave of mortgages with strange names that are about to become all too familiar. - 60 Minutes

Foreclosure Crisis Hits Polk and FL Hard
When Danny Miller was laid off in December 2007, his family scraped by for nearly a year before falling behind on mortgage payments. Then the bank came calling.  Last month, the Millers' North Lakeland home slipped into foreclosure, joining a record number of Polk County properties that did the same in 2008. - The Ledger

LA Distance to Closest Levee Report 
After Louisiana's levees failed during Hurricane Katrina, insurers became very concerned about a policy's proximity to a levee. In many cases, areas protected by levees are not considered in a flood zone; however, if the levee fails, the insurer still pays the loss.  Knowing that a property is in an area protected by a levee would be useful information to many insurers.  CDS is trying to solve this problem by collecting levee data.  We now have levee data for the Eastern half of Louisiana (New Orleans District).  There are 6 districts on the Mississippi.  We are looking to get all of the levee data for the Mississippi River and the Sacramento, CA area as well.  This data will be added as we receive it.  For more information about this report, please contact your account executive at 617.737.4444
Pre-Filling Data for Underwriters & Agents
As you know, there are various ways to eliminate duplicate data entry during the underwriting process.  One of the most powerful methods is by pre-filling information using the RiskMeter.  We also refer to this as integration.  By integrating with the RiskMeter, you can pre-fill information for your agents and underwriters.  There are several key benefits to this:
  • Time savings - Avoid redundant data entry and duplicate logins
  • Accuracy - Since the information is validated at the beginning, you will be making much better decisions
  • Goodwill - By providing this information to agents, rather than making them ask for it, you are making their lives much easier

All of the RiskMeter Online reports, maps and information are available through integrated solutions.  This includes the building characteristics information.  Ease of doing business has clearly become a priority for companies and agents.  We can help you to achieve your goal.  To learn more about our various pre-filling options, please speak with an account executive at 617.737.4444

Mississippi Wind Pool Zones Updated
CDS has just added the revised Mississippi rating zones to the RiskMeter Online's wind pool report.  Now if a policy falls "In" a wind pool zone, RiskMeter will tell users if the policy in question falls into zones A-D.   For more information, please speak with your account executive at 617.737.4444
Distance to Work Report 
The RiskMeter is looking for feedback on adding a new report to its suite of offerings.  The Distance to Work Report will enable a user to type in a home address and other addresses to calculate the distance from home to a work address.  While we hoped everyone would know the work address of a spouse, child, etc., many times they do not.  Since this is often the case, there will be an additional lookup feature, which will allow the user to get some help.  While people may not know the street address, they do know the company name, city, and state of the employer.  This feature will enable a user to fill in an entire address or just the parts he/she knows.
 
More and more carriers are looking at a Pay As You Drive system to determine pricing, coverage, etc.  There has been a great deal of resistance related to installing a "black box" in customers' vehicles with concerns of privacies and freedoms looming overhead.  This alleviates this entirely.  While it may not be a substitute for an odometer reading, this will bring great strides in determining a realistic estimate of mileage driven annually.
 
For more information, please contact Jamie Munson at 860.854.6125 or jmunson@cdsys.com
RiskMeter Online's Glossary/Resources Section 
Over the years CDS has compiled many different maps, presentations and statistics.  We're now trying to make more of this information available to our users through
our glossary/resources section on the RiskMeter Online.
 
To view this material you will need to log into your account. Once you've logged in, you'll notice several hyperlinks (view address, new account, etc) on the bottom of the page.  All you need to do is click on the glossary/resources link, and you'll be taken to a landing page, which contains the new resources link.
 
We have just added the latest crime data statistics in our resources section.  For more information, please contact Ryan Turgeon at 617.737.4444 or rturgeon@cdsys.com
What Reports Does RiskMeter Online Offer? 
As you may know, the RiskMeter Online continues to add additional reports as we see a need.  We have recently added reports like storm surge, wind speed maps for additional states, online batch tool and new background images.  We also know that your needs change over time, as you add lines, enter new states or refine your underwriting guidelines. To see a complete list of reports, please go here.
 
If you need additional information or would like to test drive a report for free, please contact Ryan Turgeon at 617.737.4444 or rturgeon@cdsys.com
 
Upcoming Events - Meet the CDS Team!
RiskMeter Online will be attending or exhibiting at the following upcoming conferences. Whether you're a customer or prospect, we'd love to meet with you onsite at these exceptional events!  Don't hesitate to stop by our booth or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact Daniel Munson (dmunson@cdsys.com) or Bradley Sherwin (bsherwin@cdsys.com) at 617.737.4444
 
January 14-17, 2009 * La Jolla, CA
 
February 26-March 1, 2009 * Indian Wells, CA
 
March 14-17, 2009 * San Diego, CA
Online Training Schedule  
In order to help you utilize the RiskMeter Online more effectively, we are now offering complimentary training to all RiskMeter Online customers.  This is a great way for your organization to have its most pressing questions answered, learn about various risk reports and discover how to utilize cutting-edge features, such as: Birdseye Geocoding, One Click Ruler and Manual Placement.  To register for an upcoming Webcast, click on one of the links below or for more information, please contact Ryan Turgeon at 617.737.4444 or rturgeon@cdsys.com
 
 
National Risks
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
 
Western Risks
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
 
National Risks
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
 
Western Risks
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
https://cdsys.webex.com

National Risks
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
Western Risks
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
https://cdsys.webex.com


Welcome to Our Newest Customers 
  
Reinsurers
  • Everest National
Carriers
  • JLT Facilities
  • Roanoke Group 
Agents & Brokers
  • CIBA Insurance Services
  • Crump Group
  • Jenkins Financial Insurance Agency
  • OakLeaf Insurance Brokerage
  • U.S. Risk Brokers Boston

Other

  •  Kergen Brothers Inc

 

Request a Hardcopy of the Newsletter
Having a hard time managing your inbox?  You can now receive the RiskMeter Newsletter via regular mail.  Just send an Email to Paul Ptashnick at pptashnick@cdsys.com and a hardcopy will be sent to you.
Contacts
Daniel Munson, Founder and VP of Sales & Marketing
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
Jamie Munson, Director of Consulting Services
Tel: 860.854.6125
 
Bradley Sherwin, Sales Manager
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
Val Feeney, Business Partnership Manager
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
David Poitras, Account Executive
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
Monique Audette, Account Executive
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
Wendy Corr, Account Manager
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
Ryan Turgeon, Support, Training and Customer Service
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
 
Questions or Comments?
If you would like more information on any of the topics discussed in this newsletter, please contact Daniel Munson, Founder, RiskMeter Online at 617.737.4444 or dmunson@cdsys.com 
 
Please Add Us to Your Safe Senders List 
In order to ensure you receive the RiskMeter newsletter in your inbox, please make sure to add the RiskMeter Online into your Safe Senders or Safe Recipients list.  If you're not sure how to do this, please follow the steps below.
  • On the Outlook tools menu, located in your inbox, click "Options"
  • On the preferences tab, under Email, click "Junk Email"
  • Click the "Safe Senders" or "Safe Recipients" tab
  • Click "Add"
  • In the Enter an Email address or Internet domain name to be added list box, type in newsletter@cdsys.com, and then click "Ok"
Unsubscribe
To be removed from our mailing list, please Email pptashnick@cdsys.com and type REMOVE in the subject line.
 
The RiskMeter Online is committed to providing our users with a competitive edge.  We hope this newsletter was informative and useful to you. Please forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague who might benefit from it.  We only ask that you send the entire newsletter. 
 
Thanks,
 

Paul Ptashnick
Director of Marketing, CDS Business Mapping
Tel: 617.737.4444
 
Safe Unsubscribe
This email was sent to pptashnick@cdsys.com by newsletter@cdsys.com.
CDS Business Mapping | 67 Broad St, 6th Floor | Boston | MA | 02109

THIS IS A TEST EMAIL ONLY.
This email was sent by the author for the sole purpose of testing a draft message. If you believe you have received the message in error, please contact the author by replying to this message. Constant Contact takes reports of abuse very seriously: if you wish to report abuse, please forward this message to abuse@constantcontact.com.