CIIG Certificate - independent subject foundations study materials
CIIG Certificate - independent subject foundations study resources

CIIG Certificate - independent subject foundations key terms

CIIG Certificate - independent subject foundations · Get comfortable with the vocabulary.

Exposure

A person, asset, activity or financial interest subject to a possible loss, which must be identified before treatment alternatives are compared.

Loss frequency

The number or rate of loss events over a defined exposure and period, distinct from the size of each loss.

Loss severity

The monetary or other defined magnitude of an event’s consequences, requiring a consistent unit and scope when observations are compared.

Risk retention

Keeping specified financial consequences within the organization or household rather than transferring those consequences through an external contract.

Risk transfer

Allocation of specified financial consequences to another party under an arrangement, with residual contractual and counterparty risks potentially remaining.

Deductible

An amount of covered loss retained by the policyholder under the contract’s stated calculation, which must not be assumed identical across products.

Policy limit

A contractual upper boundary on specified payments or coverage, applied using the actual wording, aggregation period and relevant sublimits.

Exclusion

Contract wording removing a specified circumstance or cause from coverage, subject to the actual policy and applicable legal interpretation.

Endorsement

A contractual amendment that can alter a policy’s terms, so coverage analysis must read it together with the relevant base wording.

Underwriting

Evaluation of a proposed exposure and the terms on which protection may be offered, using appropriate information and applicable constraints.

Premium

The contractual amount charged for defined insurance protection, distinct from a guaranteed investment return or the amount payable for every loss.

Claim

A request for a benefit or payment arising from an alleged insured event, requiring examination of coverage and supporting evidence.

Indemnity

A principle relating some insurance payments to a covered financial loss, whose operation and exceptions depend on product and law.

Subrogation

A concept concerning an insurer’s pursuit of certain recovery rights after payment, dependent on the actual contract and applicable law.

Reinsurance

A separate arrangement transferring specified insurer exposure to another insurer, without automatically releasing the original policyholder obligation.

Proportional reinsurance

An arrangement allocating specified premiums and losses in agreed proportions, with the contract defining the exact scope and calculation.

Excess-of-loss layer

A specified loss interval above an attachment amount and subject to a limit, rather than automatic cover of every consequence.

Earned premium

The premium amount attributed to expired coverage under a specified accounting model, distinct from the entire premium written or cash received.

Claims reserve

An estimate of obligations associated with claims under a defined measurement framework, rather than necessarily an equivalent dedicated cash asset.

Combined ratio

A measure combining defined loss and expense ratios to analyze underwriting, whose components and denominators must be checked before calculation.

Ansoff matrix

A framework classifying growth options by existing or new products and markets. It supports comparison of strategic changes, but the actual risk depends on capabilities, commitment and the particular situation.

Related: Business strategy, Niche market
Business strategy

The long-term plan of action a firm adopts to achieve its objectives and gain advantage over rivals, given its resources and environment. It involves choices about markets, products and methods of competing.

Related: Ansoff matrix, SWOT analysis
SWOT analysis

A review of a firm's internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats. It informs strategy by matching capabilities to the environment, though it can become a static list if not updated.

Related: Business strategy, PEST analysis
PEST analysis

An examination of political, economic, social and technological influences on a business. It helps anticipate external change and shape strategy, but it is descriptive and does not by itself prescribe action.

Related: SWOT analysis, Business strategy
Takeover

Acquiring control of another business by buying enough of its shares, often as a faster route to growth than internal expansion. It brings immediate capacity but risks overpaying and clashing cultures.

Related: Merger, Business strategy
Merger

The joining of two businesses into a single organisation, usually presented as a partnership of equals. It can create synergies and market power, but integration problems often erode the expected benefits.

Related: Takeover, Economies of scale