Cockatoo guide

Underwriting risk in insurance and securities

Insurance underwriting risk concerns the selection and pricing of insured exposures and the resulting claims and expenses.

Insurance underwriting risk concerns the selection and pricing of insured exposures and the resulting claims and expenses.

The distinction that matters

Securities underwriting involves a different transaction involving issuance and distribution of financial instruments; the shared term does not make the risks equivalent.

What to check

  • Identify which industry is being discussed.
  • Separate pricing and claim uncertainty from issuance commitments.
  • Read the relevant financial disclosures.

Example to discuss

A reader comparing two annual reports first establishes whether underwriting refers to insurance portfolios or a securities issue.

This is a hypothetical comparison, not a customer claim or a determination of cover.

Sources and further reading

General information only. The policy, schedule and applicable rules determine the actual position. For a personal decision, use an appropriately qualified adviser or the relevant provider.

Sources

References used in this guide