Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) Practice Exam

What are some principal sources of underwriting information?

1. Market trends and competitor analysis

2. Producers, applications, and claim files

3. Inspections and personal interviews

4. Monthly revenue reports and audits

The correct answer is: Producers, applications, and claim files

Underwriting information is critical for assessing risks and determining appropriate coverage terms and pricing for insurance policies. Some of the most principal sources of this information include producers, applications, and claims files. Producers, typically agents or brokers, provide firsthand insights about the risk being presented. They have direct contact with the insured and can inform underwriters about relevant circumstances and risk factors. Applications serve as formal requests for insurance and contain vital information disclosed by the applicant, including their background, previous claims, and other pertinent details essential for risk assessment. Claims files hold records of prior claims made by the applicant, which can indicate their risk profile and potential future behavior, helping underwriters make more informed decisions about current policies. Other sources like market trends or competitor analysis can certainly provide context for the overall insurance environment but are not as directly fundamental for individual underwriting decisions. Similarly, inspections and personal interviews are valuable but serve more as supplementary sources rather than the principal ones. Monthly revenue reports and audits, while important for financial analysis, do not directly provide the underwriting information necessary for risk evaluation and policy issuance. Thus, focusing on producers, applications, and claim files encapsulates the core data that underwriters rely on to make informed decisions regarding potential insurance risks.