
Welcome – you have officially been accepted to Halwell U!
We’re taking a topic that many people don’t know much about (and, we can admit, sometimes comes across as a bit boring) and making it a blast!
Each week, we will be adding a new ‘course’ – a closer look into the world of insurance. Our fun infographics will teach you all you need to know. Then, test your knowledge by taking the weekly quiz. Each quiz submitted will put your name in the draw for a special prize at the end of the semester!
Are you loving Halwell U? Tell us about it on Twitter and Facebook!

Sign Me Up: The Perks of Being a Mutual Insurance Policyholder
By Elisabeth Axiak
Over 155 years ago, a group of farmers decided to pool their money together in case any one of them had an emergency with one of their farms. This way, if there was a barn fire, or weather accident, they could cover the cost for any one or more farmers.

Insurance Underwriters: Everything You Need To Know
By Elisabeth Axiak
Insurance. You need insurance coverage for any car, home, business, or farm you own. We all know this – but who is writing these insurance policies? Who decides what risks to take on and at what cost?
Let’s take a walk through the insurance policy process, and along the way, you’ll meet two key players: Insurance Brokers, and Insurance Underwriters. More

So, You Want to Become an Insurance Underwriter?
By Elisabeth Axiak
If you’re wondering how to break into the world of insurance underwriting in Canada, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we take a look at the five crucial steps you’ll need to complete, including soft skills, schooling, and certification. More

Why Using an Insurance Broker is the Best Way to Buy Insurance
By Elisabeth Axiak
So, you need insurance for your car, home, or business, but you don’t know where to start or who to talk to? You’ve come to the right place.
There are two main people you can buy insurance from: insurance brokers and insurance agents. More

Insurance Claims: The Inside Scoop
By Elisabeth Axiak
Insurance companies don’t sell policies – they sell peace of mind.
While we hope that you’ll never be in an auto accident or get any damage to your home or business, our main goal as your insurance provider is to be there to help you if it does happen.
This week, the BTS (behind the scenes) of the insurance claims process is being revealed! This way, if anything bad ever happens, you will know exactly what to do, and what steps have to be taken before your claim is settled. More

Everything You Need to Know About Becoming an Insurance Claims Adjuster
By Elisabeth Axiak
The insurance industry has 2 unique departments not seen in other industries – underwriting and claims. While of course we still have team members working in accounting, HR, marketing, reception, and more, underwriting and claims make up much of our staff. They are counterparts that keep our company going and keep our policyholders happy and looked after!
A few weeks ago, we walked you through the five essential steps to becoming an insurance underwriter. And, as you might have guessed, we weren’t going to leave the claims adjusters out in the cold! This week, we break down everything you need to know about becoming an insurance claims adjuster. More

5 Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Auto Insurance
By Elisabeth Axiak
Auto insurance is mandatory in Ontario – it’s the law. And since every motorist in Ontario should hold an insurance policy (that’s almost 11 million, according to IBC), it’s surprising how many people know so little about it!
That’s where we come in. We want you to know all about auto insurance – what information you need to have ready when getting auto insurance, government rules, standard inclusions in auto policies, how to be a great policyholder, and more. More

Why You Should Definitely Read Your Insurance Policy Wordings
By Elisabeth Axiak
There are a lot of contracts in our lives that we don’t read through. It’s pretty safe to say that no one on earth has read through the “Terms and Conditions” of their smartphone’s latest update. But, this week’s topic is focused on convincing you that your policy wordings are definitely not something you should skim over! More

Insurance Myths, Debunked
By Elisabeth Axiak
The whole goal of Halwell U is to make insurance both less mysterious and more fun for people. If you hold an insurance policy, but don’t know the lingo, the ins and outs, or the details of anything insurance-related, this is for you. More

How to Read Your Home and Auto Insurance Declaration Pages
By Elisabeth Axiak
Every year, you’ll receive a declaration page, or insurance summary document, from your insurance company. This is also known as a “dec page”, and it holds all of the information you’ll need to know about your personal insurance policies. More

Insurance for Insurance? Introducing the World of Reinsurance
By Elisabeth Axiak
Simply put, reinsurance is the way your insurance company protects itself. By sharing risks (we learned about risks in our topic on underwriting), the insurance company can become more stable, secure, and financially strong. In case of really big losses (think Fort McMurray), the losses are shared amongst reinsurance companies around the world.

Loss Prevention: Saving You Time, Stress, and Money
By Elisabeth Axiak
Loss prevention is the process of identifying the sources of risk in a home or business, so that the owner is less likely to experience damage to their property, or injury to their family. More