This article takes the opportunity to examine a list of insurance companies that you’ll find on the internet. The run-down is by no means exhaustive, but covers the major players and what you need to know about them.The largest publicly owned motor insurance company in the list of insurance companies, with annual revenue of almost $30 billion, is Allstate. Both CNN and respected corporate journal Business Week have caned Allstate at different times for allegedly reneging on meeting its benefit obligations to policyholders.Liberty Mutual is another in the $30 billion league, and is truly global; the company owns or has interests in other insurers from South America to the Far East. Established back in 1912, Liberty Mutual these days operates a research institute dedicated to enhancing standards of workplace health and safety.Nationwide, with annual earnings of $25 billion, is not far behind Allstate as a mega-motor vehicle insurer. Founded 85 years ago, offering insurance exclusively to Ohio farmers, Nationwide is still a mutual insurance company. The company later extended its coverage to farmers in neighbouring states, then in 1934 to the general public. Nationwide is renowned for its liberal social policies and fringe group support, championing such causes as negroes and homosexuality.Founded in Shanghai in 1919, now headquartered in New York, is the American Insurance Group. The company took a severe battering in the financial slump of two years ago, but is recovering well – thanks to its being a beneficiary of the American government bail-out; AIG’s revenue has been consistently close to the $30 billion mark.Farmers’ Insurance was set up in 1927, and presently shows listed assets of $10 billion. Although its financial position is rated as ranging from good to very good, a national consumer watchdog declared Farmers’ as the worst for challenging claims and delaying payments; that, however, was eight years ago, and three years later Farmers’ had lifted its game to a rating of “most improved.”Progressive is perhaps the most appositely named of the insurance companies on our list of insurance companies. This is an insurer that focuses on motor car coverage, and is renowned for its having embraced technology to the hilt. Progressive has worked vigorously to streamline its procedures and cut overheads, being an early participant in internet promotion and the first US vehicle insurer to issue policies over the telephone.The last motor vehicle insurer we’ll look at in this quick overview is GEICO, which cleverly played on its acronym to popularise its name and profile by introducing Gecko in its advertising. GEICO began as a vehicle insurer for civil servants, but now offers policies to the general public.
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Understanding Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are terms often used interchangeably by people without much background in the area. Although they are related, they do each have very definite definitions. Understanding the relationship between hypnosis and hypnotherapy can help you find the right professional for your treatment and can even assist you in deciding whether or not to try this alternative method of treatment for yourself.Defining the Terms: HypnosisAs mentioned above, hypnosis and hypnotherapy are separate terms with their own definitions. Knowing those definitions is the first step to understanding how the words and the practices they represent are related.Hypnosis, for example, basically refers to a mental state in which a person focuses intently on something to the exclusion of everything else in the surrounding environment. Contrary to popular believe, this does not mean you lose consciousness while hypnotized. Most people are aware of what is happening, although they may not know what is going on in the surrounding environment beyond their focus.Another common misconception is that while someone is hypnotized he or she is completely at the mercy of the practitioner. In fact, your mind will reject any type of suggestion that goes against your own standards of acceptable behavior.Defining the Terms: HypnotherapyWhile hypnosis refers to the mental state of the person, hypnotherapy refers to a wide range of therapies which can be used to assist people when they are in this state. Because people who are hypnotized are usually more open to suggestions, this is the best time in which to help them, especially if their conscious mind has been blocking attempts. For example, if you want to quit smoking but have been unsuccessful through conventional means, the hypnotherapist can give you a suggestion while you are hypnotized which can stop your desire for cigarettes.Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: DifferencesOne reason some people dismiss the potential benefits of hypnotherapy is they see hypnotists doing shows for audiences in which they make people behave in ridiculous ways. They believe these hypnotists are the same types of people working in hypnotherapy but that is not the case.Although anyone can learn how to hypnotize others, only those individuals who have completed extensive training and education requirements are accepted into the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BSCH). These professionals are most certainly not the same people entertaining crowds in theatres and pubs.Hypnosis can be used for both serious treatments and for entertainment. Hypnotherapy only defines hypnosis that is used as a clinical treatment.Reasons to Choose Hypnosis and HypnotherapyAlthough there are plenty of benefits to using hypnosis and hypnotherapy, one of the biggest is that the process has worked for so many people. Hypnotherapy has been helped people overcome serious phobias which interfered with activities they wanted to enjoy, such as traveling by plane. This method of therapy has also helped people improve their health by breaking dangers habits and by losing weight.Hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be extremely useful for a myriad of modern problems if you are willing to give this approach a try.
5 Automotive Industry Trends Which Will Put Pedal to Metal
A new technological decade has unfolded, and businesses are gearing up to keep pace with the emerging trends and evolving user requisites of this era. Industry giants are claiming to have their strategies in place, in order to mitigate any risks which the year 2013 may pose. But are all industries indeed ready?As of March 2013, the US automotive industry has recorded a sale of 3,689,089, but will the pace be maintained throughout? Are mobility firms prepared for the next decade? In order to determine this, automakers will need to keep an eye in the emerging trends of the industry and adopt them into their business models. Here are 5 key trends which every mobility firm must be mindful about as it strategizes for the upcoming financial year. Governments will regulate the need for safer and cleaner transportation. As far as secure individual mobility is concerned, governments are currently focusing on three core areas- environmental compatibility, preservation of resources and safety. This will prompt original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to render a diversified range of safer and cleaner vehicles, especially zero-emission transportation. While, consumers will weigh their vehicle-buying decisions based on penalties and incentives at their disposal.
New players will set foot in the automotive sector. The evolving consumer needs, introduction of Automotive IT solutions and advancing technology have paved way for new entrants to set foot in the mobility market. Even non-automotive firms are rendering services like mobility integration, car-sharing and ‘black box insurance’ based on usage, which decides the premium limit based on electric vehicle integration, real-time evaluation of driving performance and advanced car entertainment systems. The evolution of these new business models will allow the new players to become an integrated part of the traditional automotive value chain.
Automotive marketing will get an edge with social media initiatives. The marketing trends in the automotive industry have witnessed a major shift. From showcasing a gleaming car in a 30-second slot, the means of marketing have become more social. Lately, consumers have been doing a thorough research before deciding upon which vehicle to invest in. Social media platforms have facilitated the access to a plethora of information, including perceptions and opinions of other consumers. Buyers are resting their decisions on reviews which they acquire from influential blogs and websites, other consumers and news features- sources on which the mobility firms can’t exercise any control. At the same time, OEMs are harnessing social platforms to develop closer bonds with consumers. They are adapting to the paradigm shift and utilizing it to market their products to a wider audience base.
OEMs will look forward to rationalizing their portfolios. Post surviving the recession blues, most OEMs will shift their focus from volume to sustainability and profits. Emerging OEMs will look forward to climbing up the scale as soon as possible, by either acquiring in their home market or eyeing the developed nations, in order to build a global presence.
Globalization of the sector will result into emergence of new risks. Globalization is paving way for new risks and OEMs are continuously devising radical operational strategies in order to mitigate these risks. Whether it’s the volatile prices of raw materials and misalignment of demand and supply, or it’s the shortage of qualified workers and changing regulatory prices, automotive firms are facing a reality check pertaining to their globalization efforts. In the wake of these challenges, industry must gear up to implement mitigation strategies in order to simplify the adaption of the value chain. And implementation of automotive software solutions is being viewed as one of the prime solutions to these challenges.Planning is the key to success in the times to come. The automotive industry needs to study the evolving trends circumspectly and prepare their business strategies accordingly.