A.m. Best Radio Podcast

Julia Borman, a leading expert at Verisk, discusses the company’s innovative wildfire catastrophe model, its alignment with new California regulations, and its role in enhancing risk assessment, pricing, and resilience planning for insurers facing the escalating challenges of wildfire activity.

Jeff Beligotti, head of long-term care solutions at New York Life, discusses the growing need for long-term care insurance, the financial hurdles aging Americans encounter and the vital role advisers play in addressing these challenges.

Jarrod Schlesinger, global head of financial lines and cyber at Allianz, discusses the rising demand for directors & officers insurance amid escalating regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical instability and risks associated with AI and litigation funding.

AM Best senior analytical staff explore common types of insurance ABS transactions and the key assumptions behind their ratings. They will discuss the default rates applied to the transactions’ collateral, the asset-dependent recovery rates, the use of credit substitution and enhancement on collateral and rated securities and the determination of the implied rating of the securities by applying AM Best’s Idealized Issue Default Matrix.

Fred Smith, EVP of mining and metals at CAC Specialty, discusses the potential of Arkansas lithium discovery, the operational and environmental risks in lithium extraction, and how insurance markets can adapt to support the growing U.S. electric vehicle battery production industry.

Cowbell Founder and CEO Jack Kudale discusses how recent cyber threats expose digital vulnerabilities and how predictive modeling and AI-driven, real-time risk assessment enable insurers to adapt strategies for managing non-malicious cyber events.

Eric Werkheiser, vice president, Nationwide, said the market is moving toward more specialized products and innovative delivery methods, including embedded insurance solutions and unique fronting arrangements. Werkheiser spoke with AM Best TV at Target Markets' 24th Annual Summit, held in Scottsdale.

Bryan Hodgens, senior vice president and head of research at LIMRA, explores the sector’s increasing priority on growth, with a focus on closing the protection gap that affects more than 100 million Americans.

AM Best Associate Director David Blades and Associate Analyst Bryan Raber highlight a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds price adequacy and risk selection initiatives manifested in notably improved underwriting results during the first half of 2024.

Verisk CEO Lee Shavel highlights how the insurance industry is becoming more resilient in the face of catastrophic events, addresses the protection gap, and explores how generative AI will transform underwriting.

Western & Southern Financial Group Chairman, President and CEO John F. Barrett reviews his 37-year tenure, during which a regional insurance company transformed into a diversified financial services enterprise.

AM Best Associate Director David Blades and Senior Industry Analyst Chris Graham discuss a new report on the U.S. commercial auto insurance segment, which experienced a $5 billion net underwriting loss in 2023 and worsening conditions in early 2024.

Michael Wakefield, EVP, CAC Specialty, discusses how rising M&A activity is impacting pricing, coverage and new insurance solutions, including warranties, tax, and contingent risk insurance.

Michael Parcelli, senior vice president, Xceedance, said the flexible nature of managing general agents allows them to embrace technology, which is now an essential ingredient to remaining competitive. Parcelli spoke with AM Best TV at Target Markets' 24th Annual Summit, held in Scottsdale.

Mick Moloney, partner, Oliver Wyman, cited the growing influence of private capital and the evolution of asset management-led insurance models. Moloney spoke with AM Best TV at the Global Insurance Forum in Miami.

Dr. Mathilde Jakobsen and Tim Prince, both of AM Best, said the reinsurance sector has maintained a positive outlook, upgraded from stable earlier in the year, primarily driven by performance. Both spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Mark Garrett director of insurance industry analytics, JD Power, discusses the growing focus on digital enhancements in the insurance industry, particularly in claims processing.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple highlighted four key property insurance reforms passed in his first regular session. Temple spoke with AM Best TV at the Joint Industry Forum 2024 in Miami.

Joshua Landau, president, International Insurance Society, said data is an increasingly valuable currency in the industry as companies seek to build larger datasets to support analytical capabilities. Landau spoke with AM Best TV at the Global Insurance Forum in Miami.

Greg Carter, managing director, analytics, EMEA & Asia Pacific, said national scale ratings in markets including India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam, aim to better differentiate between companies within specific territories. Carter spoke with AM Best TV at the 20th Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.