Joseph A. Herbers

Captive Feasibility Study

When a regional physicians group, with a moderate deductible program realized they were not getting due credit for more than a decade of exceptional loss experience, they decided to explore other options.

They chose Pinnacle specifically due to our expertise in captive and self-insurance programs.

Initially, Pinnacle discussed options including segregated cell captives, single parent captives, and even risk retention groups once they began to consider marketing the program to other similar regional physician groups.

While the customer was considering the structural alternatives, Pinnacle pursued a funding analysis. Credibility weighting the customer’s experience with industry benchmark data, produced estimates of expected losses and loss variability in several different loss layers. This not only showed the additional risk associated with higher limits of self-insurance, but was also tremendously valuable in negotiations with fronting carriers and reinsurers.

The client decided to increase the deductible on the coverage provided by their insurer, which offered more responsive pricing due to Pinnacle’s funding analysis and to form an off-shore captive providing deductible buyback coverage.  The comfort level our client had with the insured’s services also influenced the decision.

Pinnacle also worked with the captive manager to develop the feasibility study and pro forma financial statements that become the foundation of the captive application. The application was approved as submitted and the captive is running quite successfully.

Funding Study

Pinnacle was approached by an aircraft manufacturer to provide recommended funding for various aviation and liability coverages. Pinnacle’s initial steps included discussing coverages to be provided and what data was available to complete the funding study. The captive was a start-up with no loss information on which to determine appropriate funding levels. Pinnacle was able to determine that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had a database of aircraft incidents that recorded both the manufacturer and model of the aircraft involved in the incident. Since the manufacturer was able to provide the number of units produced, Pinnacle was able to determine the frequency and severity of the incidents and project ultimate funding levels. The captive is currently operational after receiving regulatory approval.

Risk Management Assessment

Pinnacle was asked by a state department of corrections to provide a comprehensive, independent review of the adequacy of their property and casualty insurance plan. The independent insurance plan review was necessary for compliance purposes with state insurance regulators. The facility had even stricter self-imposed standards for their insurance plan. It was Pinnacle’s job to review the guidelines for reasonableness and appropriateness as part of an overall risk management strategy. Pinnacle reviewed and adhered to the state code as well as the additional standards provided by the facility. Moving through each line of insurance coverage, Pinnacle offered recommendations and approval notations. The result was an increased level of risk control for the facility, and subsequently led to a follow up review by Pinnacle at the next required consultation.