Federal Insurance Office (FIO) Definition

What Is the Federal Insurance Office (FIO)?

The Federal Insurance Office (FIO) is a federal agency that exists within the U.S. Department of Treasury. The FIO was created after the 2007-2008 financial crisis. It advised the Treasury Department and other federal government agencies on all matters relating to insurance and the insurance industry. This includes ensuring that everyone in the country has access to affordable insurance products.

Understanding the Federal Insurance Office (FIO)

The Federal Insurance Office was created in 2010. It was born out of Title V of the Federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The agency monitors insurance markets. Its responsibilities include keeping a close watch on any changes or red flags that could indicate a possibility for catastrophic developments in the financial markets at both a national and state level.

In addition to protecting the financial sector, the FIO ensures that affordable insurance products are made available to everyone who wishes to obtain them. This includes communities and populations that may normally be overlooked. The FIO reports its findings and any concerns to the United States Congress through both annual and one-time reporting.

The other responsibilities of the FIO include:

• Advises on all forms of insurance except for health insurance and long-term care insurance, except in the event that the long-term care insurance is issued as part of an annuity or life insurance policy.
• Fulfills its advisory role to the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and provides its services to the Secretary in administering the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program.
  

The director of the FIO is appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department. The FIO works closely with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The department has no regulatory authority and serves purely in an advisory capacity.

History of the FIO

During the financial crisis, some of the largest institutions on the brink of collapse were insurance companies, primarily AIG. Before the crisis, AIG had approximately $1 trillion in assets but lost $99.2 billion in 2008. The government stepped in to bail out the company, whose failure would have had far-reaching and dramatic consequences.

As noted above, the Federal Insurance Office was established in 2010 to monitor the insurance industry. The federal government's move to create the agency was part of the sweeping reforms of the financial industry that came after the crisis, including the Dodd-Frank Act. Under Title V, the FIO's director has the authority to assist the Treasury Secretary to negotiate covered agreements.

The Federal Insurance Office vs. the U.S. Treasury Department

Established in 1789 by the first Congress of the United States, the U.S. Treasury Department is responsible for currency and bonds. It also oversees several different departments, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the secret service, and many others. The main goal of the Treasury Department is to ensure both stability and growth in the nation's economy.

The Treasury Department's responsibility extends beyond American soil as well. It also ensures that sanctions are created and in place against other nations as they impact the free markets or threaten national security. The Federal Insurance Office plays a role in international relations by representing the United States on insurance matters in the International Association of Insurance Supervisors.

The current Director of the FIO is Steven Seitz. He assumed the role in February 2019. The Treasury Department is overseen by the Treasury Secretary, who is appointed by the President. Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury Department and was appointed by George Washington on the advice of Robert Morris. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is the first woman to hold the post, assumed the role in January 2021.

While the responsibilities of the Treasury Department have changed dramatically since the days that Alexander Hamilton was in charge, the importance of the office has not. Although the income tax is no longer being collected to fund the Civil War, the department still oversees the collection of taxes through the IRS, the nation's authority on taxation.