Insurers will struggle to find growth and profits because of ongoing challenges caused by the global economy, according to a new forecast.

The 2012 Global Insurance Outlook, prepared by Deloitte, says insurers will have their hands full in the short- and long-term, but can benefit from focusing their efforts on strategic growth opportunities, operational excellence and innovation.

Global economic doldrums, low interest rates, persistently high unemployment and a sluggish housing recovery have created challenges for insurers, said Rebecca Amoroso, vice chairman at Deloitte and insurance sector leader, in a statement.

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I received an advertisement email yesterday offering Instant Term Life Insurance Quotes. Being that our company, Lifeinsure.com, is in the business of marketing and selling life insurance online, I thought Id take a look at how one of our competitors was doing it.

I clicked the link on the email that said Get Instant Quote and was sent into the companys website, where it boldly states that Rates are Ready for you Right Away with no Wait. I enter my zip code, as requested, and away we go.

I am greeted by a typical web form, asking me how much life insurance I want, for what term, date of birth, height and weight, tobacco use and gender information that is needed in order to provide a life insurance quote.

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My car insurance renewed automatically at the end of November. It was with Lloyds TSB the previous year, and I had been told via letters that they were changing to a company called BISL. I could not believe it when my December direct debit came out of my account and, compared to the £40 I’d been paying, it had shot up to a whopping £230.

I called BISL today and yes, apparently my premium has jumped to more than £2,500. I had been sent no correspondence about the change in my premium and was given no chance to refuse such a hefty price. I

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The majority of insurance agency owners say they will not be giving bonuses or gifts to their employees to celebrate the holidays or the end of the year, according to the latest IFAwebnews.com poll.

Exactly 66% of survey participants say they will give no bonus or gifts to their employees this year.

Another 19% say they will reward all employees with a bonus, while 6% of participants will only award their top employees a bonus this year.

Yet another 6% of respondents plan to give bonuses based on peoples time at the agency, and the remaining 3% of participants will give their employees a gift like a ham, according to the IFAwebnews.com poll.

Take part in our next IFAwebnews.com poll.