Touchstone Re provides investors, risk managers, analysts, and underwriters the most advanced tools to analyze and evaluate traditional and non-traditional risk transfer contracts.
Welcome to Touchstone Re
Introduction to Verisk's Touchstone Re application.
What's new in Touchstone Re 2024 (12.0)
This release of Touchstone Re includes new and enhanced features and models.
Launch Touchstone Re
Steps to launch the Touchstone Re application.
A quick tour of the user interface
Overview of the Touchstone Re user interface.
A quick look a data
Overview of Touchstone Re data.
Overview of models
Verisk generates and maintains over 55 proprietary models which capture how catastrophes behave and impact the built environment for a variety of peril types.
Locating user documentation
Verisk's software, model, API, and database documentation and support material is available on the Client Portal.
Companies
A company is unique entity in Touchstone Re.
Create a company
Steps to create a company.
Open multiple companies
Steps to open up more than one company at the same time.
Copy a company
Steps to copy an existing company.
Delete a company
Steps to delete a company.
View company audit history
Steps to view the audit history for a company.
Company data (exposures)
Companies in Touchstone Re are always associated with exposure data.
Industry exposure company
An industry exposure company is now included with every Touchstone Re release.
Area and subarea data
Touchstone Re supports area (lower resolution) and subarea (higher resolution) resolutions that vary by country and model.
Exposure sets in Touchstone Re
An exposure set is a collection of data with at least one exposure type.
Use the map to view exposure data
A map is available to view exposure data in context.
Company loss sets
Company Loss Sets are one type of company data.
Programs
A program is integral to a company and it's exposure data in Touchstone Re.
Programs
Programs are defined by attributes such as program type, inception and expiration dates, perils and programs covered.
Apply an inuring program
An inuring program (child) is associated with a subject reinsurance program (parent) to help reduce the amount of cedant loss, it reflects a contract that inures to the benefit of the subject program.
Understanding inuring order
Contracts inure in series or in parallel (not both).
View program details
Program Details at the top of the Program pane defines the program through a collection of attributes.
Exceedance probability and programs
Exceedance probability is a set of probabilities and return periods that appear in loss analysis results.
Update a program
Steps to update a program.
Delete a program
Steps to delete a program.
Portfolios
A portfolio is a group of treaties selected from across companies in Touchstone Re.
Create a portfolio
Steps to create a portfolio.
View a static portfolio
A portfolio can be static.
View a dynamic portfolio
A portfolio can be dynamic.
Copy a portfolio
When a portfolio is copied, all associated details are copied.
Open multiple portfolios
Multiple portfolos can be opened at the same time.
Update a portfolio
Steps to update a portfolio.
Copy paste into portfolio
You can now copy information from a source outside Touchstone Re (e.g. Excel spreadsheet) into the Touchstone Re Portfolio Details pane.
Clear cloud results
Each time portfolio results are generated tracking information is retained in the Cloud.
Query cloud results
When ts-tsre_all/help_tsre_analysis_analyze_re-rollup.html is enabled in a portfolio analysis the full results are available in the Cloud.
Delete a portfolio
When a portfolio is deleted, all associated results are deleted.
Manage portfolio details
Use the tools and settings in the Portfolio Details pane to build and manage a portfolio.
Manage portfolio treaties
Portfolio treaties are managed in the Portfolio Details pane.
Import
Import exposure data from external sources intoTouchstone Re databases.
Import company loss file
The default import type is "Company Loss File (CLF)".
Import a company
You can import a company or set of companies to a shared network location that is accessible to Touchstone Re.
Import file types
You can import a number of file types into Touchstone Re.
China disaggregation
Use the China Disaggregation tool to import exposures and programs for mainland China.
Import AM Best premiums
AM Best premiums can be imported into Touchstone Re as a single data file.
Import ALERT data
Import ALERT data into Touchstone Re.
Export
Export exposure data, results, reports, and companies out of Touchstone Re.
Export results
Options to export results.
Export company information
Export a company or set of companies that you previously created in Touchstone Re.
Loss results
The Loss Results pane for a company lists all loss analyses in Touchstone Re that have been executed for the company.
Update loss results
Loss results behavior applies to both program and portfolios.
Analysis
An analysis in Touchstone Re is a probabilistic analysis of your aggregated loss or exposure data.
Create a loss analysis
Steps to create a loss analysis inTouchstone Re.
Multi-year analysis
Steps to generate a multi-year analysis in Touchstone Re.
Run a program analysis
Steps to run a Touchstone Re program analysis.
Run a portfolio analysis
Steps to run a Touchstone Re portfolio analysis on an established portfolio.
Pandemic analysis
Verisk offerings include a pandemic model.
Custom ILFs for China
To offer policy term flexibility clients can now customize China crop policy deductibles by peril, crop or livestock, and province.
Results
The result type determines how and what results appear in the Loss Results pane.
Select an event set
Select the appropriate event set for the exposures you are analyzing from the Event Set list.
Analyze Re Rollup
Analyze Re Rollup is a feature in Portfolio analysis which aggregates high resolution loss results and saves these results to the Cloud.
Tools
Tools to manage Touchstone Re and its data.
Activity Monitor
Use the Activity Monitor to view the status of and to manage Touchstone Re activities.
Data source manager
The Data Source Manager enables you to manage Touchstone Re databases.
CLF Combiner
Steps to combine loss files in Touchstone Re.
Managing Loss Sets
This tool can help manage your loss sets (CLF, CLA) in Touchstone Re.
Convert to binary ULF
Steps to convert CSV loss files to binary ULF files in Touchstone Re..
Convert event distribution
Clients can now import event level losses (YELTs), received from their respective clients, into Touchstone Re.
Convert EP to ULF
Import one or more EP summary curves (with flexible geography and peril combinations) into Touchstone Re to create a loss file package based on catalogs that can then be attached to any program for analysis with reinsurance terms.
Manage China agriculture custom ILFs
Tool to manage custom Industry Loss Files (ILFs) in Touchstone Re.
Administration console
The Administration Console enables authorized users to manage a suite of administrative tasks.
User administration
User administration involves the management of users, roles, groups, and business units in Touchstone Re.
Global defaults
Business unit and system administrators can set and modify viewing and analysis defaults.
Event set management
Your Touchstone Re installation includes event set files for each peril and region licensed by your company.
Loss defaults
Loss Defaults provides tools for Touchstone Re administrators to set defaults for use when loss analyses are run.
License management
Tools to manage Touchstone and Touchstone Re licensing.
HPC resource management
HPC Resource Management provides tools in Touchstone and Touchstone Re to configure HPC (High Performance Computing) resources.
Server administration
Touchstone and Touchstone Re server administrators can perform a suite of tasks.
Object management
Collection of templates, objects, zones, and adjustment factors used to manipulate Touchstone Re activity.
Reference
Supporting information on various topics associated with Touchstone Re.
Abbreviations
Some abbreviations used in Touchstone Re.
Activity status
Status of the loss analysis which displays in the Activity Monitor:
Adjustment factors
In Touchstone Re, adjustment factors allows you to customize the data in your analysis by compensating for variations in company, program, and exposure data.
Advanced Loss Modification (ALM)
This Touchstone Re feature allows clients to customize and adjust various parameters in catastrophe risk analysis.
Aggregate excess of loss
Aggregate excess of loss (AOL) is a reinsurance program where the reinsurer indemnifies the ceding company for that portion of the loss that exceeds the limit of its own retention for a given year.
Aggregate exposure
Aggregate exposure is the sum of exposures by group.
Aggregate limit
Aggregate limit is the maximum loss that can be incurred by the layer across all occurrences within each year.
Aggregate loss
Aggregate loss is the loss resulting from all events that occurred during a specified period.
Aggregate Model Builder
Aggregate Model Builder gives licensed users the flexibility to create their own custom models, and seamlessly integrate non-Verisk models into Touchstone Re.
Aggregate retention
Aggregate retention is the value below which the year's total occurrence losses (otherwise recoverable) are not assumed by the layer.
ALERT data
ALERT data is supplied by Verisk's ALERT™ (Verisk Loss Estimates in Real Time) online service which provides up-to-date information and loss estimates for major natural catastrophes worldwide.
ALF
The Aggregated Loss File (ALF) is a binary file that contains event-level loss data consolidated by country.
A.M. Best premium database
The A.M. Best premium database contains information that you can use in Touchstone Re to derive and calculate market shares.
Analyze Re
Analyze Re is part of the Verisk family.
Annual aggregate limit
The annual aggregate limit specifies the maximum loss that a layer can incur for all occurrences within a 12-month period.
Annual aggregate loss
The annual aggregate loss is the loss resulting from all events that occurred during a 12-month period.
Annual aggregate loss distribution
Aggregate loss distributed over a 12-month period.
Annual aggregate retention
The annual aggregate retention is a value below which the total losses for a 12-month period are not assumed by the layer.
Annual occurrence loss
The annual occurrence loss is the largest loss resulting from all events that occurred during a 12-month period.
Annual occurrence loss distribution
Occurrence loss distributed over a 12-month period.
Applies to areas
Applies to areas is a parameter used by the application to filter by geography.
Applies to events
Applies to events is a parameter used by the application to filter events.
Area
An area is a geographic location. Areas are at a higher geographic resolution than subareas.
Assessment
An assessment is a fee imposed on members of an insurance association for certain qualifying events.
Average annual loss
Average Annual Loss (AAL) is the average loss across all simulated years in a Touchstone Re loss analysis.
Base maps
Base maps are used in Touchstone and Touchstone Re to provide a geographic setting for your exposure data.
Binary
A binary file contains information that is only readable to a computer.
Bulk copy paste operations
In Touchstone and Touchstone Re , use Select All, Copy, and Paste functions to copy many items in a grid and then paste them in an application, such as in another pane in the application or in a spreadsheet.
Catalog type
At Verisk, catalogs include events based on one or more models over a period of time.
Catastrophe bond
A catastrophe bond is a program type which involves catastrophe-linked securities contracts.
Catastrophe excess of loss
A catastrophe excess of loss (XOL) is a type of reinsurance program which indemnifies the ceding company for that portion of the loss that exceeds the limit of its own retention per event.
CATRADER
Verisk proprietary software application for the reinsurance market.
CEDE
A Verisk database format that defines and stores detailed (location level) exposure data.
Clusters
Clusters are a group of districts within a state in India.
Coinsurance
Coinsurance represents the proportion of the losses to the layer that are paid by the reinsurance program.
Column chooser
The Column Chooser is available from a variety of panes in Touchstone and Touchstone Re and used to filter which columns to display.
Common buttons
Touchstone and Touchstone Re display many buttons (icons) that are common to many windows, panes, and dialog boxes.
Company loss
In Touchstone Re, company losses are calculated once losses are summarized for all events associated with the company.
Company loss maximum
In Touchstone Re, company loss maximum is a trigger which excludes occurrences from consideration in a loss calculation.
Company loss minimum
In Touchstone Re, company loss minimum is a trigger which excludes occurrences from consideration in a loss calculation.
Contract gain
In Touchstone Re, contract gain is an adjustment associated with portfolio analyses.
Contract loss
In Touchstone Re, contract loss are losses based on contract terms entered for the program being analyzed,
Cores
A core is an individual processor; the part of a computer that executes programs.
Coverage rate
In Touchstone Re, coverage rate indicates the percentage of company loss of that particular LOB to consider when applying financial terms.
CRESTA
Country-specific zones for the uniform and detailed reporting of exposure data usually relating to natural hazards.
CSV
A CSV (comma separated file) is a simple text file that stores data.
Currency rate settings
In Touchstone Re, currency rates are established for each reinsurance program.
Damage factors
Damage factors are applied to catastrophe models to customize losses based on the experiences of a company.
Demand surge
Demand Surge is the increase in prices for labor and materials following a catastrophe, as contractors take advantage of the increase in demand for repairs and replacement construction.
Demand surge factors
A demand surge adjustment factor represents the increase in building costs caused by an excess demand for resources such as materials and labor following a major catastrophic event.
Deterministic event
A deterministic event is an event described by user-selected values for event characteristics.
DLF
In Touchstone Re, a Detailed Loss File contains area and subarea information as well as line of business information.
ELT
The Event Loss Tables (ELT) are the format used to transfer loss files from Touchstone Re to Analyze Re.
EMF
Event Mapping Files (EMF) are used to map events between versions of select U.S. models.
Exposure management module
module.
EP adjustment
In Touchstone Re, an EP adjustment is an adjustment made to an exceedance probability (EP) curve at the program level based on user knowledge of loss experience for a particular model.
EP values
In Touchstone Re, exceedance probability (EP) values are those values assigned to a distribution of points (e.g., year, return period, event ID).
Event characteristics
An event characteristic is a variable that describes an aspect of an event.
Event set
A Verisk event set specifies the loss files to use for a loss analysis.
EVI
An EVI file is a simple text file generated by Verisk software, which includes information to communicate loss information between the application and the associated loss file.
EVT
At Verisk, an EVT file is a file of indexed events.
Exceedance probability and programs
Exceedance probability is a set of probabilities and return periods that appear in loss analysis results.
Expected loss
Expected loss is the percentage of loss each bond/layer is expected to incur in any given year.
Expiration date
In Touchstone Re, expiration date is the last day on which coverage for this treaty is effective.
Exposure adjustment factor
In Touchstone Re, an exposure adjustment factor is one type of adjustment factor used to modify company exposures by line of business (LOB).
Exposure data
In Verisk, exposures are collections of data which measure of vulnerability to loss, usually expressed in dollars or units.
Extreme disaster scenario
An Extreme Disaster Scenarios (EDS) represent unlikely, but scientifically plausible, scenarios that cannot be captured by standard stochastic modeling techniques.
Factors and adjustments
A variety of factors and adjustments can be applied in Touchstone Re.
Facultative reinsurance
A common insurance arrangement in the reinsurance business where contracts are negotiated separately for each insurance policy.
Filter
Some areas of the Touchstone and Touchstone Re user interface include tools that enable you to filter by a set of criteria.
Filter operators
In Touchstone and Touchstone Re, operators help you filter information.
Final net loss
In Touchstone Re, final net loss is total event losses net of reinstatement premiums but not the initial program premium.
FIPS
FIPS are used to name states and counties in numerical format.
GeoJSON vector file
Vector file which can be imported into and displayed by Touchstone Re.
GeoTiff raster file
Raster file which can be imported into and displayed by Touchstone Re.
GML vector file
Vector file which can be imported into and displayed by Touchstone Re.
Gross loss
In Touchstone Re, gross loss includes the total event losses net the percentage established for gross participation.
Gross participation
In Touchstone Re, gross participation is the percentage of the losses to be assumed by the reinsurer.
Ground up loss
In Touchstone Re, ground up loss (a.k.a. Company loss, GU) is the total loss generated before the application of any financial terms.
HIST
Verisk's Historical Catalog (HIST) includes historical events for one or more models.
Historical events
At Verisk, historical event sets contain simulations of historical events.
Inception date
In Touchstone Re, inception date is the first day on which coverage for this treaty is effective.
Include LOBs
In Touchstone Re, Include LOBs indicates which lines of business to include in your program.
Industry Exposure Database
A Verisk Industry Exposure Database contains industry-wide data on aggregate exposures for sums insured, number of risks, and premium data by line of business and payroll.
Industrial facility module
The Industrial Facility Module (IFM) identifies occupancy class codes for the 400 series.
Industry loss file
A Verisk ILF contains gross industry insurable losses for each peril type organized by event, geographic area and line of business.
Industry loss maximum
In Touchstone Re, an industry loss maximum is a trigger which specifies the value above which occurrences are excluded from consideration.
Industry loss minimum
In Touchstone Re,an industry loss minimum is a trigger which specifies the value below which occurrences are excluded from consideration.
Industry loss warranty
In Touchstone Re, a reinsurance program (ILW) where the reinsurer or investor purchases protection based on the total loss arising from an event to the entire insurance industry.
Insurers coinsurance
In Touchstone Re, insurers coinsurance is the portion of the losses to the layer that are retained by the cedant.
Inuring loss
In Touchstone Re, inuring loss is the loss reduction applied to company loss after inuring programs and terms are invoked.
Inuring program
In Touchstone Re, inuring reinsurance programs affect the amount of risks being transferred to or from the reinsured and which contract is affected.
Investment
An investment is a resource (e.g. money, time) set aside in the expectation of some benefit in the future.
Investment amount
The investment amount (monetary) associated with the bond/layer.
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a benchmark rate that some of the world's leading banks charge each other for short-term loans.
Lines of business
At Verisk, exposures are organized into LOBs which are specific to country and peril type.
Loss file format
Verisk guidelines for loss file format.
Loss market shares
Loss market shares are calculated by dividing a company's stochastic losses across all events by the industry insurable losses across all events (by peril, area or subarea, and LOB).
Loss modification factor
In Touchstone Re, a loss modification factor is a user-specified adjustment factor that applies to the ground-up losses for a single program.
Loss perspectives
A loss perspective is a manner in which losses are viewed.
Market share
Market share is the percentage of insurable exposure in a given region and line of business covered by an insurance or reinsurance company in terms of industry totals as defined in the ts-tsre_all/help_tsre_ref_indust-exposure-db.html.
Market trend factor
A market trend factor is a user-specified adjustment factor that applies to the losses for a single program.
Match loss
In Touchstone Re, a match loss is a program term associated with occurrence limit.
MPCI
Insurance focussed primarily on crop-related perils and losses.
MPCI analysis - China
In Touchstone Re, Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) analysis for China (a.k.a China Agriculture) is based on premiums for all crops.
MPCI analysis - India
In Touchstone Re, Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) analysis fapplies to mainland India.
MPCI analysis - United States
In Touchstone Re, the Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) model for the U.S. is based on premiums for all crops.
Multi-year reset date
In Touchstone Re, multi-year reset date is the parameter used to override program inception date.
Net of pre-CAT
In Touchstone Re, Net of Pre-CAT loss is the total loss generated after the application of all reinsurance treaties, except for Catastrophe Excess of Loss (CAT XOL) treaties.
Net participation
Net participation is the actual amount that the original reinsurer is liable for.
Net retained loss
Net retained losses are losses retained by a ceding company (primary insurer) after netting out reinsurance contract losses and any associated inuring contract losses.
Occurrence limit
An occurrence limit is the maximum loss that an insurance treaty can incur from each occurrence.
Occurrence loss
Occurrence loss is the highest possible loss for the specified period from a single event.
Occurrence retention
Occurrence retention is the value below which occurrence losses are not assumed by the layer.
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread across a large region, countries, multiple continents, or even worldwide.
Participation
Participation indicates the reinsurers' share of a portfolio.
Per risk
Per risk (PR) is a type of reinsurance program which applies retention and amount of reinsurance "per risk" rather than on an aggregate or per event basis.
Percent ceded
Percent ceded is the ceded amount as a percentage.
Percent placed
Percent placed is the percentage of the treaty that has been placed with reinsurers.
Perils
Verisk identifies certain hazards that can be measured against potential or actual insured losses.
Perspective
A perspective specifies the terms that should apply to the loss results.
PMFBY
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the government sponsored crop insurance scheme for India that integrates multiple stakeholders on a single platform.
Premiums
A premium type is used to view the loss results net of the reinsurance premium received for the contract.
Principal amount
In Touchstone Re, the principal amount associated with the bond/layer.
Probability of attachment
In Touchstone Re, the probability of attachment is the probability (%) of a program/layer experiencing some loss.
Probability of exhaustion
In Touchstone Re, the probability of exhaustion is the probability (%) of a program/layer experiencing a complete loss.
Probabilistic event
A probabilistic event is an event described by probable values for event characteristics.
Probable maximum loss
The probable maximum loss (PML) is an estimate of the likelihood that a catastrophic loss will be met or exceeded within a specified time.
Program loss adjustments
Program Loss Adjustments (PLA) is one feature of Verisk's ts-tsre_all/help_tsre_ref_advanced-loss-mod.html (ALM) offering.
Program structures
In Touchstone Re, program structures refer to drag-and-drop visualization of complex reinsurance structures managed under the Relationships tab.
Program types
A reinsurance program is insurance for an insurance company. Touchstone Re offers a number of program types.
Projections
Map projections certified for use in Verisk applications.
Quota share
In Touchstone Re, a quota share (QS) is one type of reinsurance program where the reinsurer accepts a stated percentage of each exposure written by the ceding company on a defined class of business.
RDS
Lloyd's of London maintains Realistic Disaster Scenarios (RDS) to stress test both individual syndicates and the market as a whole.
Reinstatement
A reinstatement is the number of times a layer may be reinstated during the contract year.
Reinsurance terms
Common reinsurance terms used in Touchstone Re.
Risk limit
Risk limit is the treaty limit for a single risk or layer.
Risk retention
Risk retention is the value below which the total losses are not assumed by the layer.
Selection controls
In Touchstone and Touchstone Re, selection controls are used to quickly select or deselect items in a list.
Shapefiles
A shapefile is a simple, non-topological vector format for storing the geometric location and attribute information of geographic features.
SID
In Verisk applications, Sequential Identifier (SID) used in database implementation for unique identification of a record.
Source program
A source program (child) is associated with a subject program (parent).
Spread
A spread reflects the differences between bonds with different interest rate coupons for the bond/layer over LIBOR.
SQLite vector file
Vector file which can be imported into and displayed by Touchstone Re.
SRA
A Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) for federal crop insurance is a set of contracts between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) and private companies.
Starting event #
In Touchstone Re, a starting event number is an integer value that indicates at which event during the year the layer terms are to become effective.
Status
In Touchstone Re, the status of the program or layer.
STC
A Stochastic Catalog (STC) includes events based on one or more stochastic models over a period of time.
Stochastic model
A stochastic model is a tool for estimating probability distributions of potential outcomes by allowing for random variation in one or more inputs over time.
Sums insured
Sums Insured (SI) is the maximum amount that an insurance company insurance company is obligated to cover in the event of a covered loss.
Surplus share
Surplus share is proportional reinsurance program(SS) in which the reinsurer assumes pro rata responsibility for uniquely defined portions of the risk.
Tail value at risk
The tail value at risk (TVAR) measures the average of all simulated losses from a percentile or return period on the loss distribution through the full "tail" of the loss distribution.
Take-up rates
Take-up rates are the percentage of insurable properties that are actually insured.
Target
In Touchstone Re, a target is a company loss set or an exposure set.
Treaty ID
In Touchstone Re, a treaty ID is a unique identifier provided by the user when creating a program.
Touchstone
Touchstone® is Verisk's risk management solution for detailed loss.
Touchstone online help
For more information on topics specific to Touchstone Re's sister application, Touchstone go to the Client Portal to review the Release Documentation.
Treaty information
In Touchstone Re, treaty information are program details.
Treaty reinsurance
In Touchstone Re, a common insurance arrangement in the reinsurance business.
Treaty terms
In Touchstone Re, treaty terms are characteristics used to define a reinsurance program.
Treaty type
Touchstone Re reinsurance programs support a number of reinsurance treaty types.
Triggers
In Touchstone Re, triggers define company and industry loss parameters and take into consideration the geographic region defined in Applies to Areas.
User-defined categories (UDC)
In Touchstone Re, UDCs enable you to classify companies and programs using criteria that are meaningful and useful to you.
ULF
In Touchstone Re, a user-generated Loss File (ULF) is an ASCII file.
UNC
UNC is a standard for identifying servers, printers, and other resources in a network.
Underwriting judgement factor (UJF)
A UJF is a user-defined adjustment factor that applies to ceding company program losses.
UNICEDE
UNICEDE files contain exposure information that is easily imported into Touchstone Re.
Unit
In Touchstone Re, a unit is a control that enables you to specify the order of magnitude at which you want to view monetary figures.
Vector files - guidelines and restrictions
Vector files can be imported into and displayed by Touchstone Re.
World Scenarios events
World Scenarios files contain a suite of event types used by Verisk applications.
WSST
Warm Sea Surface Temperature (WSST) refers to long-term warming and cooling trends in the Atlantic Ocean that have been shown to affect hurricane activity, with increased activity occurring during warming trends.
