Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA) director of underwriters, Colin Short, urged Biba's young brokers to balance their portfolios in order to succeed in the hard market.
Speaking at the "Future Brokers: Thriving in a hard market" seminar at the Biba conference, Short told brokers they should concentrate on fewer lines to survive the hard market.
He said: "The capital that has already left the market will not come back easily.
"When there is a capital shortage brokers must think about the classes of business they undertake. Its a balancing act. If you don't balance portfolios then investors will just switch off."
Alexander Forbes Professions director Patrick Boreham responded by calling for brokers to improve their client relationships.
Outlining his strategy for brokers to succeed in a hard market, Boreham called for "improved cost control".
He said: "Don't treat new or existing customers differently. Both are vital. You have to cultivate relationships and stay on the right side of clients."
