An underwriting loss means that insurance policies yield less in premiums than they are projected to cost in eventual claims and other costs.

FORBES: Faux Buffett

The three drivers of returns on equity in insurance, remember, are the investment yield, the cost of float and leverage.

ECONOMIST: Capital punishment

Spreads on both investment-grade credit-default swaps (insurance against bond default) and on high-yield indices have increased sharply.

ECONOMIST: Testing times

As the search for yield intensifies, strategists say buyers such as pension funds and life-insurance companies will likely look to other investments, most likely U.S. Treasurys and high-grade European debt.

WSJ: Japanese Government Bonds Soar

They impose draconian penalties on suppliers for failing to deliver agreed quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables during the year, which force farmers to grow a much bigger crop than they need as a form of insurance against poor weather and other factors that may reduce their yield.

ECONOMIST: The conflict in Honduras

The net yield on rental housing is less than this as the landlord must pay for insurance, taxes, repairs and vacancy time.

FORBES: The Housing Recovery: A Rethink

Certificates of deposit (CDs) are an attractive option when trying to boost your savings yield because they pay more competitive rates than a saving account while still offering FDIC insurance protection.

FORBES: CD Strategies: Minimizing Your Risks While Maximizing Your Returns

However, insurance can be combined with existing estate, tax, and business planning to yield a respectable asset protection plan.

FORBES: Beware Of Asset Protection Scams

Today, insurance companies have an average of 12% of their assets in risk assets that include high-yield public equity, private equity and real estate equity.

FORBES: Investing For The Long Term In Uncertain Times