A.m. Best Radio Podcast

David Straughan, an automotive writer and researcher breaks down the companies considered to be the best auto insurers based on a number of criteria including AM Best ratings.  

David Blades, associate director, credit rating criteria research & analytics, AM Best, said fewer IPOs and securities class action suits are reducing demand in the D&O insurance market. Blades spoke with AM Best TV at the 2024 PLUS D&O Symposium in New York City.

Mark Bernacki, chief underwriting officer, Amwins discusses the significants of an election year for insurers saying that there continues to be plenty of private capital in the P&C sector thus eliminating the need for government involvement at this time.

Insurance policies are meant to provide peace of mind, but they can be a source of frustration for both the insured and the insurer if they are built on inaccurate information. This is particularly true for property coverage and the relationship between the value of the covered property and the coverage provided. As important as this aspect of property insurance is—a concept known as insurance-to-value (ITV)—there is an epidemic of inaccurate information when it comes to property values throughout the insurance industry.

Arun Balakrishnan, Chairman and CEO of Xceedance said just because you have data, it doesn't mean it is useful.  

 In their book, The Salesperson's Guide to Growing a Business, Q4intelligence Founding Partner Kevin Trokey and Partner Wendy Keneipp share tips on how businessowners can engage teams, craft a future vision and move from surviving to thriving.

Isabelle Santenac, EY’s global insurance leader, discusses the findings of an EY-Institute of International Finance survey that finds cybersecurity at the top of the list of concerns for chief risk officers followed closely by geopolitical risks.

AM Best Industry Analyst Helen Andersen discusses new Best's Special Reports that find the rise in 2023 P/C downgrades was primarily due to the personal lines segment while affirmations represent about 80% of life/health rating activity.

Maroun Mourad, president, Verisk Claims Solutions discusses the need for modern and efficient claims solutions saying that it can not only save money, but enhance the ever critical customer experience

Hosts Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feldman discuss how their podcast attempts to help agents with the challenge of running a consistently profitable and productive agency.

Alan Ferguson, president, US Assure, discusses economic factors that builders face, and how they impact builders’ liability insurance.

Christopher Giuffre, chief strategy officer and co-founder USQRisk, discusses the unique aspects of clean energy storage and how the insurance industry is addressing those risk challenges.

AM Best Senior Director Michael Porcelli discusses a new Best's Market Segment Outlook that finds the U.S. L/A segment performed well in 2023, owing to strong liquidity and capital positions, robust annuity sales and slightly improved new money yields in a benign credit environment.

Christopher Majka, staff vice president of data visualization for FM Global, discusses the company’s Global Resilience Index that assess the relative resilience of various countries and finds Denmark, Luxembourg, and Switzerland at the top of the chart.

Michael Parcelli, SVP MGA Operations, Xceedance, discusses the rapid evolution of managing general agents, and how embedded insurance offerings could be the next part of their ascendance.

Andreas Kleiner, president and CEO of American Modern Insurance Group, discusses the company's Agent Perspectives Report that includes views on the economy, the use of technology and cultivating the next generation of agency talent.

Jennifer Nuest, transportation national practice leader for Amwins discusses the state of the industry for transportation coverage and the rapidly changing market, which she attributes to newer technology along with the importance of reputational management of companies.

Given the recent change in weather patterns, secondary perils have become more intense, resulting in higher losses for primary insurers due to higher retentions, said Daniel Ryan, senior director, AM Best, referencing a Best's Market Segment Report.

Scott Hawkins, head of insurance research at Conning, discusses the company's annual mergers and acquisitions report that shows insurance M&A rose from 125 in 2022 to 143 in 2023.

Rahul Khanna, global head of marine risk consulting for Allianz Commercial, discusses obstacles the shipping industry is facing, including floating mines in the Black Sea, diversion of ships and the industry’s vulnerability to cyberattacks.