This second edition of ���he Guide to Understanding Insurance Ratings,"published by the A.M. Best Co., looks at how the analysis used in sizing up financial strength can be employed by
agents/brokers. The guide explores many financial ratios and tests used in analyzing property/casualty and life/health insurance companies, with actual examples. All financials and statistics
in this edition have been updated to 2008. Also new to this edition is a look at 2008 P/C and L/H impairments, with updated information on impairment causes. An overview on Best�'s Credit
Ratings contains what A.M. Best rates, including insurance company debt instruments like corporate debt or commercial paper, and insurance-linked securities and structured finance agreements
like catastrophe bonds and various securitizations. Also covered are highly rated insurers that have held a secure A.M. Best rating for 75 and 50 consecutive years, an overview of Best's
Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR) and top P/C and L/H writers.
