A.m. Best Radio Podcast

Nicholas Aiola, chief executive, Priority Life, a health and life insurer, says that now that the pandemic is waning, so too are life insurance sales. Health policies, meanwhile, are on the upswing.

Andrew Schwartz, an analyst with Celent, discusses the decline in insurtech funding and the associated factors, including lackluster return on investment from past spending.

Ashley Moffatt, SVP Brokerage, Primary Casualty for Nationwide E&S, said their ultimate goal is to be a top 10 carrier with their key distribution partners. 

Kristin Stein, vice president, PHLY E&S Insurance Solutions, said the company focus this year is on the value of human connection and relationship building.

Tandeka Nomvete, director of external engagement, Spencer Educational Foundation, said the organization helps connect financial supporters with targeted scholarship opportunities.

Marion Townes, senior district sales manager, Erie Insurance Group, said military veterans bring discipline and adaptability to their work. Townes spoke with AM Best TV at the Emerging Leaders Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

Juan Andrade, president and CEO, Everest Re Group, said the rate of change continues to increase, putting greater emphasis on the use of data, analytics and effective leadership.

Kirstin Marr, chief analytics officer, Insurity, said studies show that many workers must upgrade skills or retrain to fill available jobs. Marr spoke with AM Best TV at the Emerging Leaders Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

Insurers can help transition pandemic remote hires with "soft skills" into collaborative team members by employing effective strategies, said Judy Busby, senior vice president of executive search and corporate strategy, The Jacobson Group.

Margaret Spence, founder, Inclusion Learning Lab, said insurers should be open to recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds, attention to detail and abilities to succeed with customers.

Andrew Robinson, CEO, Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, said the organization has instituted professional development plans for all employees. Robinson spoke with AM Best TV at the Emerging Leaders Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

Connected health devices are driving healthy behaviors, and technology is the ‘”glue of the intersection” where those behaviors can be communicated back to life insurers, said Matt Berman, president, Foresters Financial US.

Aon Edge President and CEO John Dickson said the rise of unprecedented flooding events throughout the year is reinforcing the need for flood insurance, preparation, continued investment and the ability to quickly deploy resources.

Gary Session, Exdion Solutions Senior Vice President, Client Success Management said that while the brokerage community is not typically at the cutting edge of technology, tools such as AI could help stem the impacts of inflation

Scott Cornell, Travelers’ transportation lead and crime & theft specialist, discusses what cargo thieves are targeting and how the insurance industry should be working with clients to mitigate heists. 

College and university experts must examine whether art collections are large enough to warrant a separate fine arts policy, and how issues of rightful ownership come into play, said Stacie Kroll, managing director, higher education practice, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Mark McElroy, executive vice president and head of insurance at TransUnion, discusses a new survey on life insurance that illustrates the low rate of penetration and what agents and brokers can do to turn the tide through more digital offerings.

In a single flight, stratospheric imaging robots can capture what nearly 800,000 drones can capture, thereby shrinking the timeline of mapping a large portfolio from years to one flight, said Rema Matevosyan, CEO, cofounder, Near Space Labs.

Despite the Russia/Ukraine crisis, trade credit insurers are expected to report strong results for 2022, said Mathilde Jakobsen, director, analytics, AM Best, referencing a new Best's Market Segment Report.

Craig Weber, insurance practice leader at Cognizant, explains Metaverse and why companies should invest in its applications to help improve customer and employee experience, sustainability and operational efficiency,