Warren Buffett's 4-Step Plan to Become a World-Class Company

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Warren Buffett's 2013 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders includes fascinating business insights. But one particular paragraph on insurance companies stands out to me.

It's on page 9 where Buffett explains the four essential qualities of good insurance businesses. Here is a summarized list of these disciplines.

Insurance companies should:

1. Understand the events that would lead to losses

2. Conservatively calculate the risk of loss and probable financial losses that could result

3. Price policies so that revenue covers losses and operating expenses

4. Have a willingness to walk away from underpriced policies

These traits are remarkably simplistic. From discipline one through four, Buffett essentially walks through the logical steps insurance companies need to take to generate underwriting profits -- that is, to make their premium revenue exceed their total costs.

Despite how obvious these disciplines may seem, most insurers fail to live up to the standard. The first quarter of 2013 was the first time since 2009 that the property and casualty insurance industry produced underwriting profits -- meaning premium revenue exceeded losses and expenses. But it was mostly luck as losses were unusually low last year.

Making it up later
Most property and casualty insurers hope to make money on their investments, not their underwriting. Because there is a lag between the time premiums are received and claims are paid, insurance companies can invest their "float" to generate a return.

AIG is an example of a company that, for the most part, doesn't earn money on its underwriting. Premium revenue in its P&C division merely matches losses and expenses from year to year. However, because it earns just over 4% on its float, writing insurance is profitable.

It's a perfectly reasonable way to do business. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Berkshire Hathaway has generated underwriting profits for the past 11 years in a row. Likewise, property and casualty company Chubb has generated underwriting profits through much of its recent history.

Not only do Berkshire and Chubb get the benefit of the float, they get paid to invest the float. As Buffett stated in his letter to shareholders, floats are very beneficial.

Investing in great insurance companies
Any insurance company can make a profit investing their float. Few, however, can create earnings from underwriting. If there is one quality that divides "great" and "good" insurers, it's the existence of underwriting profits -- excess profits very few insurance companies can achieve.

All insurance companies could, theoretically, generate underwriting profits. Most, however, don't listen to Buffett's four disciplines, and thus become merely "good", not "great," insurers.

Wisdom from the "Oracle of Omaha"
Warren Buffett has made billions because of his savvy insurance operations and he wants you to be able to invest like him. Through the years, Buffett has offered up investing tips to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway. Now you can tap into the best of Warren Buffett's wisdom in a new special report from The Motley Fool. Click here now for a free copy of this invaluable report.

The article Warren Buffett's 4-Step Plan to Become a World-Class Company originally appeared on Fool.com.

Jordan Wathen has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends American International Group and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool owns shares of American International Group and Berkshire Hathaway and has the following options: long January 2016 $30 calls on American International Group. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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