Who are considered "shareholders" in an insurance company?

"Shareholders" in an insurance company are defined as individuals who own shares in a for-profit insurance company. This means they have a financial stake in the company and can benefit from its profitability, typically through dividends or increases in share value. Shareholders also tend to have voting rights in corporate decisions, allowing them to influence the management and direction of the company.

In contrast, policyholders, while crucial to the functioning of an insurance company, do not necessarily hold ownership stakes unless they have purchased shares in a mutual insurance company, where policyholders can sometimes be considered as stakeholders in a broader sense. Employees of the insurance agency are not shareholders as they do not hold ownership in the company unless they invest in shares themselves. Lastly, customers who purchase insurance services are typically seen as clients rather than owners, and their relationship with the company is based on the provision of services rather than ownership of shares. Therefore, the definition of shareholders is specifically aligned with those who own shares in a for-profit entity.