C11 Principles and Practice of Insurance Question and Answers

A general agent is an individual or business entity that receives broad authority from an insurer to operate on its behalf within a designated geographic territory. This authority typically includes the power to manage the insurer’s business, appoint sub-agents, oversee production, and settle certain types of claims within their delegated limits. In the traditional agency system in Canada, general agents act as intermediaries between the insurer and local agents, ensuring proper distribution of policies and adherence to underwriting rules.

This role is distinct from analysts, who do not hold managerial or appointment authority, and from wholesalers, whose function is typically limited to distributing insurance products to brokers rather than supervising an insurer’s operations. Operating agents may have administrative duties but do not hold the broad binding and claim-settlement authority that defines a general agent. Thus, the only option that correctly matches the described authority structure is General agent.

Purchasing insurance that covers customers’ goods in transit enhances the company’s ability toattract more clients, which is referred to asgreater acquisition potential. Clients feel more confident choosing a mover that offers protection for their belongings, especially when transporting high-value items. This competitive advantage increases business opportunities and strengthens the company’s reputation.

Option B—“feeling of security”—is a benefit but applies to theinsured party, not the business’s competitive positioning. Option C is incorrect because purchasing insurance does not provide additional capital; it is a business cost. Option D (subscription policies) has no connection to transit insurance.

Therefore, the most direct business benefit for the moving company isA: Greater acquisition potential.

In the structure of reinsurance practices explained inPrinciples and Practice of Insurance, aretrocessionaireis the reinsurer that accepts risk from another reinsurer. This occurs through a process calledretrocession, where a reinsurer (the retrocedent) transfers a portion of its assumed risk to another reinsurer to further spread exposure and maintain solvency stability.

The terminology is important:

Theprimary insurerissues the original policy to the insured.

Thereinsurer(cessionaire) accepts risk from the primary insurer.

When that reinsurer then cedes part of the risk again, the receiving party is theretrocessionaire.

Retrocession is essential in risk-management frameworks because it allows reinsurers to diversify exposures and avoid concentration risks from catastrophic events. Therefore, the correct term for the second reinsurer isC. Retrocessionaire.

A company chooses provincial incorporation when it intends to operate only within that specific province. This minimizes regulatory complexity because only the provincial Superintendent of Insurance regulates its operations. If Maritime Insurance plans to conduct business exclusively in Nova Scotia, incorporation under the Nova Scotia Insurance Act is simpler, less expensive, and avoids federal-level compliance requirements.

Option A is incorrect because capitalization is required under both federal and provincial laws. Option C may create confusion about naming conflicts, but name disputes do not determine the appropriate jurisdiction of incorporation. Option D is incorrect because selling insurance nationally requires federal licensing; a provincially incorporated insurer cannot operate beyond its home province unless licensed separately in each province—an inefficient approach.

Thus, the insurer would choose Nova Scotia incorporation only if it intends to operate solely within Nova Scotia, making B correct.

In determining liability, the immediate (proximate) cause refers to the most direct, unbroken cause leading to the injury. In this sequence, the firecracker explodes in Celina’s hands immediately after she receives it from Sandra. Although Antonio initiated the chain of events and Brett contributed, their actions are more remote.

The last voluntary act that directly placed the dangerous object in the position where it caused harm was Sandra’s throw to Celina. Sandra’s action is therefore the immediate cause, even though earlier individuals may share legal responsibility in a broader causation analysis.

Option D is incorrect because Celina did not cause her own injury; she merely received the firecracker.

Option C includes Antonio and Brett, but neither was the final actor in the chain.

Therefore, the immediate cause of loss is B: Sandra.

The Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association (CICMA) is a professional body composed of senior claims managers across the Canadian insurance industry. Its principal purpose is to promote high ethical standards, professionalism, fairness, and integrity in claims handling. CICMA supports education, networking, and the sharing of best practices to ensure consistency and ethical conduct across insurers.

Option A is incorrect because CICMA does not evaluate or adjudicate claims; individual insurers and provincial accident benefit systems handle those tasks. Option B is incorrect because fraud detection is handled by insurers and sometimes by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Option C is unrelated—vehicle damageability research is conducted by organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or similar bodies.

CICMA’s work emphasizes ethics, professional development, and claims leadership, which align directly with option D.

Indemnity means restoring the insured to the financial position they occupied immediately before the loss—no better, no worse. Since the loss amount is$180,000, this is the amount required to fully indemnify the insured.

Although the policy limit is$400,000, the insurer does not pay policy limits unless the loss equals or exceeds the limit. The ACV of $380,000 is irrelevant here because the loss ispartial, not total. ACV only caps reimbursement in cases of total loss or when replacement cost is not available.

Option B ($200,000) has no basis in any indemnity or co-insurance formula.

Options C and D refer to total loss payouts, not applicable here.

Thus, the amount that indemnifies Kamal isA: $180,000.

Thepure premiumrepresents theexpected loss costper exposure unit. It is calculated as:

Pure Premium=Probability of Loss×Severity of Loss\text{Pure Premium} = \text{Probability of Loss} \times \text{Severity of Loss}Pure Premium=Probability of Loss×Severity of Loss

Here:

Probability of loss = 1 in 5 homes =0.20

Severity (loss amount) =$50,000

0.20×50,000=10,0000.20 \times 50,000 = 10,0000.20×50,000=10,000

But here is the key detail: one loss of $50,000 spread overfive homesmeans:

50,0005=10,000\frac{50,000}{5} = 10,000550,000​=10,000

But the answer choices do not include $10,000 except option C, yet the correct pure premium per homeownerwith equal distribution per yearequals:

$10,000 per home per year

Thus the correct answer isC: $10,000.

To operate as a federally regulated insurance company in Canada, an insurer must receive authorization from OSFI after meeting all incorporation and capital requirements. Once OSFI is satisfied that the insurer has complied with statutory conditions, it issues an Order to Commence and Carry On Business—commonly referred to as an order of commencement. This document grants the insurer the legal authority to start underwriting and selling insurance in Canada.

Option A is not an official document under Canadian insurance regulation. Option C does not exist in federal insurance legislation. Option D is incorrect because the establishment of an insurer is handled through incorporation documents, not a post-approval "establishment" certificate.

Therefore, the correct OSFI authorization document is B: Order of commencement.

When more than one insurer covers the same property under policies with identical terms, the loss is often shared according to the proportion of insurance each company provides. This is commonly referred to as contribution “pro rata by limits.”

First, determine the total amount of insurance:

Insurer X: $400,000

Insurer Y: $100,000

Total insurance: $500,000

Next, determine each insurer’s percentage of the total:

Insurer X: 400,000 ÷ 500,000 = 80%

Insurer Y: 100,000 ÷ 500,000 = 20%

The total loss is $100,000, so each insurer pays its proportion of the loss:

Insurer X: 80% × $100,000 = $80,000

Insurer Y: 20% × $100,000 = $20,000

There is no deductible to adjust these amounts. Thus, Insurer X pays $80,000 and Insurer Y pays $20,000, making Option C correct.

Amanuscript wordingis a policy or endorsement crafted specifically for an individual client or an unusual risk exposure. It iscustom-writtenand negotiated between the insurer and the insured (or their broker). These wordings are used when standard forms do not adequately describe or protect a particular exposure, usually for large commercial clients, unique operations, or highly specialized risks.

Option A refers tostandardwordings, which are pre-written, commonly used forms approved by insurers or industry bodies.

Option B (chattel) refers to movable personal property, not policy wording.

Option C (treaty) refers to reinsurance agreements between insurers and reinsurers, not client-facing policy forms.

Therefore, the only option describing a custom-written policy wording isD: Manuscript.

Statutes—especially older, comprehensive ones—can only be amended or repealed by an act of the legislative authority that created them. In Canada, this means a provincial or federal legislature must formally pass a new act or amendment. Legislatures are the bodies responsible for enacting, revising, or modernizing statutory law to reflect new legal, social, or commercial developments.

Option B is incorrect because Canada does not change statutes through public votes (referenda), except in rare constitutional matters. Option C is incorrect and uses U.S. terminology (“congress”), which does not apply to the Canadian system. Even if compared to Parliament, a bill alone does not change a statute until it is passed into law by the legislature. Option D is incorrect because the Supreme Court interprets law, but does not rewrite statutes.

Thus, only an act of legislature can formally alter statutory law, making A the correct answer.

Bothstaff adjustersandindependent adjusterswork on behalf of the insurer when handling claims. A staff adjuster is an employee of the insurance company, while an independent adjuster is contracted by an insurer to investigate and adjust claims. Regardless of their employment relationship, both types of adjusters operate under the insurer’s authority, follow the insurer’s procedures, and act in the insurer’s interests when assessing damages, determining coverage, and recommending settlement amounts.

Option A is incorrect because both adjustersdoperform investigations. Option C is incorrect—adjusters are licensed in most provinces, not only Quebec and New Brunswick. Option D is incorrect because both staff and independent adjusters have specific limitations on their settlement authority, which depend on the insurer’s internal guidelines. Therefore, the similarity that applies universally isB.

Unearned premium is the portion of the premium that corresponds to the period of insurance not yet elapsed. When an insured prepays a premium (often for a 12-month policy), the insurer earns that premium gradually over the policy term as time passes. Any amount relating to future coverage—coverage the insurer has not yet provided—is considered unearned premium. It represents a liability on the insurer’s balance sheet because if the policy is cancelled, the insurer must refund the unearned portion to the insured, subject to policy terms.

Option A is the opposite: that describes earned premium, not unearned premium. Option B is incorrect because unearned premium is unrelated to claims payments; it is a time-based accounting concept. Option D is incorrect because broker commissions are not part of earned or unearned premium calculations; they are an expense paid out of the premium.

Therefore, the correct definition is C: the premium for the remaining period of insurance that has not yet passed.

Successful underwriters must blend several types of knowledge to properly assess risk and construct suitable terms. The core areas typically highlighted in insurance education are:

Insurance product knowledge – Understanding policy wordings, coverages, exclusions, conditions, endorsements, and how different products respond to various loss scenarios.

Industry knowledge – Knowing the industries they insure (e.g., construction, retail, manufacturing): operational hazards, typical loss trends, regulatory environment, and risk-management practices.

Claims knowledge – Appreciating how losses actually occur, how claims are adjusted, common coverage disputes, and historical loss experience. This helps underwriters anticipate problem areas and price and structure coverage appropriately.

“Prescription knowledge” is not a standard category in underwriting education. While underwriters may need guidelines, manuals, and rules, this is not recognized as one of the three foundational knowledge types. Therefore, the item that is NOT one of the three required knowledge types is A. Prescription knowledge.

Abroker reportaccompanies an application submitted to an insurer. Its purpose is to give the underwriter helpful background information to properly assess the risk. The broker is expected to providepersonal knowledge of the clientthat may not be evident from the application itself, such as reputation, financial responsibility, prior behaviour, and risk-management practices. This information can significantly influence underwriting decisions.

Option A is incorrect—the insurer, not the broker, determines premium.

Option C may be included if relevant, but it is not the essential purpose of a broker report.

Option D (comparable accounts) is not standard practice; insurers rely on their own rating manuals and actuarial data.

Thus, the most appropriate and expected content in a broker report ispersonal knowledge of the client, makingBthe correct answer.

When two insurers cover the same property but the policies arenot subject to contribution, this means the insurance contracts are written so that each insurer is liable as if no other insurance exists. In effect, the insured may claim the full loss amount from either insurer, regardless of the proportional limits written on each policy.

This distinguishes the situation from typical concurrent insurance, where losses are shared proportionally. Because contribution doesnotapply here, the insured has full freedom to choose which insurer will pay the claim, up to the policy limit.

In this scenario:

The loss is $450,000.

Insurer A’s limit is $800,000, enough to pay the full claim.

Insurer B’s limit is $200,000 — insufficient to cover the entire loss.

Since contribution does not apply, the insured can claim the entire $450,000 from Insurer A without involving Insurer B. Insurer A cannot require the insured to claim part of the loss from Insurer B, nor can the insured demand that B pay part unless they choose to claim from B.

Option B is incorrect because proportional sharing only applies when contribution is explicitly activated.

Option C is incorrect because Insurer B does not owe anything unless the insured submits a claim to them.

Option D is incorrect because subrogation applies after paying a claim—B cannot pay and then pursue A, since A is not legally responsible for B’s voluntary payment.

Thus, the only correct choice is A.

Apolicyis a legal contract issued by theinsurer, not the broker and not the policyholder. Therefore, the individuals who sign the policy are usually the insurer’s authorized signing officers.

These are typically:

The CEO or President, and

Another authorized senior officer, such as the Administrative Manager or Underwriting Officer.

In the table:

Cathy(CEO) is an authorized signer.

Alan(Administrative Manager) is also an authorized insurer representative.

The insured (Simone) doesnotsign the actual policy document; their signature is not required for the policy to be valid. The broker (Denis) also doesnotsign policies; he facilitates placement but is not a party to the contract.

Thus, the correct pair isAlan and Cathy.

A telephone adjuster (often called an inside adjuster) handles claims that can be resolved quickly without requiring in-person investigation. Their main role is to efficiently process a high volume of straightforward claims, such as small auto physical-damage losses, minor property losses, and simple theft claims.

Because these claims do not require field investigations, telephone adjusters focus on gathering information by phone, confirming coverage, arranging payments, and closing files promptly.

Option B is incorrect—telephone adjusters do not take instructions from staff adjusters; they operate independently within their own authority levels.

Option C is incorrect—they do not process paperwork for independent adjusters.

Option D is incorrect—they are not intermediaries; they serve the insurer directly.

The correct function is A: processing a large volume of claims.

Binding authority is the authority an insurer grants to a broker or agent, allowing the intermediary to bind coverage on the insurer’s behalf before the insurer has formally reviewed the application. When an intermediary has binding authority, they can confirm that coverage is in force immediately, subject to the terms granted by the insurer. This is crucial for situations requiring quick coverage, such as real estate closings, automobile purchases, or commercial contract deadlines.

Option A is incorrect because a cover note is thedocumentissued after binding coverage—not the binding authority itself. Option B is incorrect because binding authority has nothing to do with permission to contact clients. Option D is completely unrelated, as reinsurance agreements occur between insurers, not insureds.

Therefore, the correct description of binding authority is permission granted to an intermediary to bind coverage on behalf of the insurer, which is option C.

In contract law,considerationrefers to the exchange of something of value between parties. It is a necessary element for forming a legally binding insurance contract. In insurance, the insurer promises to indemnify the insured in exchange for thepremium—this exchange constitutes consideration.

OptionAis the only scenario demonstrating a clearbargained-for exchange. Jennifer gives up a painting of value, and Shania provides monetary payment. Even though the price is reduced, consideration still exists because each party is giving something of legal value.

Option B shows no exchange—only contemplation of future pricing.

Option C shows no contract formed, because the offer was not accepted.

Option D is a return/refund scenario, not an exchange forming a new contract.

Thus,Ais the best example of consideration.

Pre-loss objectives in risk management are goals an organization aims to achievebeforeany loss occurs. These objectives focus on minimizing the frequency and severity of losses, ensuring preparedness, and maintaining organizational functionality.

Operational continuityis a key pre-loss objective because it emphasizes having systems, controls, and procedures in place to ensure that operations run smoothly—even when risk exposures are present. This includes safety programs, maintenance schedules, compliance measures, and contingency planning. Operational continuity ensures the business can withstand or avoid disruptions.

Option A (external obligations) is vague and not formally defined as a risk management objective.

Option B (sustained growth) and D (business development) arebusiness goals, not pre-loss risk management objectives.

Thus, the correct answer isC: Operational continuity.

Comprehensive Explanation (150–250 words):

In anexcess of loss (non-proportional) reinsurance contract, the reinsurer pays only when the lossexceeds the primary insurer’s retention, known as thepriorityorattachment point. In this question, the priority is$80,000. This means reinsurance doesnotrespond unless the loss exceeds $80,000.

Here, the actual loss is$60,000, which isbelowthe attachment point. Because the loss never reaches the $80,000 threshold, the reinsurer owesnothing. Theentire lossremains the responsibility of the primary insurer.

The reinsurer’s limit of $100,000 only becomes relevant if the loss exceeds $80,000, which is not the case here.

Therefore, the primary insurer pays100% of the $60,000 loss.

Correct answer:D.

Net income is calculated by subtractingexpensesfromrevenues:

Net Income=Revenues−Expenses\text{Net Income} = \text{Revenues} - \text{Expenses}Net Income=Revenues−Expenses

For this retailer:

$250,000−$100,000=$150,000\$250{,}000 - \$100{,}000 = \$150{,}000$250,000−$100,000=$150,000

The projection of $50,000 sustained growth next year is irrelevant because the question asks specifically forlast year’snet income. Many insurance-based financial questions test the ability to isolate actual financial performance from future projections.

Options B, C, and D incorrectly combine revenue, expense, or growth figures.

Thus, the correct net income isA: $150,000.

Loss adjusters are required to conduct themselves with professionalism, fairness, and integrity. Their responsibilities include explaining how coverage applies, gathering facts, assessing damage, and ensuring the claim is handled according to policy terms and applicable law. This includes respecting legal requirements and proper interpretation of insurance statutes and conditions.

However, adjusters must not provide legal advice. Legal advice is the domain of licensed lawyers. Adjusters may explain policy terms, clarify obligations, or interpret claims procedures, but they cannot advise a claimant on legal strategy, liability, lawsuit responses, or legal rights beyond policy interpretation. Doing so breaches professional boundaries and regulatory expectations.

Therefore, the only option that isnota responsibility is D: Provide legal advice, making it the correct answer.

Risk mitigation refers to reducing the frequency or severity of potential losses. A first-time homeowner can mitigate risk by taking proactive measures such as installing smoke alarms, securing doors and windows, maintaining the property, or eliminating hazards. These actions directly decrease the homeowner’s volume of risk by reducing the probability of a loss or limiting its potential impact.

Option A—purchasing insurance—is not risk mitigation; it is risk transfer, where the financial consequences of loss are shifted to an insurer. Insurance does not reduce the likelihood of loss; it only provides compensation after loss.

Option B is the opposite of mitigation.

Option D is irrelevant to risk management.

Thus, the correct answer is C: Decrease their volume of risk.

Brokers hold client premiums in trust accounts, separate from operating funds. This is a legal requirement under provincial insurance legislation. Trust funds belong to insurers (or insureds) until properly remitted. If TOY Insurance Brokers used trust funds to pay their own expenses, they violated both fiduciary duty and regulatory obligations. This constitutes serious professional misconduct and is one of the most common and serious reasons for immediate termination of a broker contract—often accompanied by regulatory investigation or license suspension.

Option A would not justify termination because service standards should be defined by the insurer, not the broker. Option B reflects good insurer practice and is unrelated to termination. Option C is incorrect because brokers do not remit commissions to insurers—insurers pay commissions to brokers.

Therefore, the only correct answer is D: failure to maintain premiums in a trust account.