will be subject to common rules see opposite

A real baptism of fire. The transposition of the European directive on insurance intermediation threw into the arena new House Union of insurance brokers (CASC), born in January last the Union of the two representative bodies of the France, the CFA and the CWACS brokerage. And given the evidence to its members, gathered today at Reims for the Fifth Congress of the profession, that the union is indeed force.

The move has not gone away. Threatened by Treasury Board, in its draft decree designed to supplement the Act of 15 December 2005 on intermediation, to disclose to their customers the amount of their commissions ("Les Echos" from February 27), brokers have struggled against a provision "that highlighted how the profession is unknown and misunderstood" successfully, analyze a posteriori the co-chairs of the CASCRobert Leblanc and Monique Leclerc. A measure found to be discriminatory as to, among the various categories of intermediaries, as brokers.

At the request of the client

At the end of three months of intense lobbying an action before the Council of State was even studied , the CASC said rather satisfied with the text approved May 22 by the Advisory Committee of legislation and financial regulation. "The result is a good compromise, which recognizes the value of the profession," provide in choir Robert Leblanc and Monique Leclerc.

Specifically, the obligation of transparency apply to professional risks, cases the amount will exceed a certain annual threshold. Above all, it was ultimately decided that brokers pay would be unveiled at the request of the client. At the time, the measure is consistent with the Charter signed by the brokers end of January with the Amrae, the association of French risk-managers ("Les Echos" from January 31). Finally, professionals claiming to make a comprehensive market on behalf of their clients well will have to prevent them if they realize more than 33 of their turnover with a company, a case which appears relatively moot.

It remains that, for the profession, this order will change gives more than a title. Now, the broker shall, in writing, give the reasons for the advice given to the customer on an insurance product, indicating if it is based on "an impartial analysis of the risk" and "an objective analysis of the market". A small revolution. "What appears as a constraint moving from a culture of oral to a written culture must on the contrary we can justify our value added", defends Robert Leblanc.

Added value. The word is dropped. Now, all intermediaries brokers, dealers agents, bancassureurs, motor... will be subject to common rules (see opposite). Hence the imperative need for brokers, to defend their identity. "We will put in place, by the end of the year, a quality label that will define our profession, and which will apply to the real members of the CASC brokers," said Monique Leclerc. No need to hide it, the occupation wants to be more visible. One of the challenges of the CASC will therefore be to increase its representativeness. For the time being, it brings together 1,000 brokers on the 9.800 identified.