AM Best’s Briefing – 2025 Outlook: Old Challenges Persist for Some Lines, Renewed Optimism for Others
Senior AM Best analysts discuss 2025 outlooks and key factors that will impact the insurance industry in the coming year.
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min
AM Best Audio
Insurance news, interviews, rating announcements and more.
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Episodes
AI in Insurance: Unlocking the Future With Gradient AI's Smith
Stan Smith, CEO of Gradient AI, explores the transformative impact of generative artificial intelligence on the insurance industry, predicting innovations in claims management, underwriting, and operational efficiency for 2025 and beyond.
Dec 19, 2024•15 min
AM Best: US Personal Auto Segment Is Stabilizing
AM Best Financial Analyst Helen Andersen reviews a new report that shows higher premiums and lower combined ratios have improved the results of personal auto insurers in the United States.
Dec 18, 2024•3 min
Travelers Williams: Managing Employment Practices Liability During the Holiday Season
Chris Williams, EPL Product Manager at Travelers, warns employers about the heightened risks of employee-related claims during the holiday season, including issues around holiday parties, temporary staffing, and workplace stress, and provides practical steps to manage these exposures through careful planning and up-to-date EPLI policies.
Dec 17, 2024•7 min
Bolttech's Schimek: Partnerships Key to Closing 'Multi-Trillion Dollar’ Protection Gap
Rob Schimek, group CEO, Bolttech, said the insurtech firm, which operates on four continents, emphasizes collaboration as crucial to addressing the global protection gap. Schimek spoke with AM Best TV at the Global Insurance Forum in Miami.
Dec 16, 2024•7 min
III's Leonard: Insurers Aim to Balance Affordability, Solvency
Michel Leonard, chief economist and data scientist, Insurance Information Institute, acknowledged concerns about rising premiums while emphasizing insurers' responsibility to maintain solvency. Leonard spoke with AM Best TV at the GIF conference.
Dec 13, 2024•6 min
WTW’s Pham: Navigating Double-Digit Global Medical Cost Increases
Global medical costs are projected to rise by over 10% in 2025 for the third consecutive year, driven by advancements in medical technology, rising pharmaceutical prices, and increasing reliance on private health care. Linda Pham, global health and risk leader at WTW, discusses regional variations, the growing role of mental health services, and strategies for insurers and employers.
Dec 12, 2024•14 min
Workers’ Comp Technology
Phillip Maddox, a workers’ compensation senior consultant with Nationwide, highlighted the company’s long history of success with workers’ compensation, emphasizing the importance of embracing technology.
Dec 11, 2024•6 min
TransUnion Report Shows Spike in 3Q Auto Insurance Shopping
Patrick Foy, senior director of strategic planning, TransUnion, discusses the recent surge in auto insurance shopping activity, driven by increased advertising and competition in auto and property lines, marking record highs in consumer inquiries.
Dec 10, 2024•11 min
Navigating Innovation and Compliance: Insights From Johnson Lambert
Kim Mobley, a partner in business advisory services, and Matthew Kroniske, managing director, both of Johnson Lambert, delve into the evolving intersection of technology, regulation and insurance. They share their expertise on leveraging emerging technologies that enhance audit processes, manage cyberrisks and navigate regulatory landscapes without losing a client-focused approach.
Dec 09, 2024•10 min
Crum & Forster’s Adee Pens History Book, Warns Insurers of Forgotten Lessons
Marc Adee, CEO, Crum & Forster, is positioning his book as a cautionary tale for the next generation of insurance professionals. He hopes to prevent the cyclical pattern of learning and forgetting industry lessons.
Dec 06, 2024•7 min
NFP’s Sutton on Navigating Flood Risk, Insurance in a Changing Climate
Dana Sutton, flood practice lead at NFP, discusses the evolving landscape of flood insurance, the misconceptions surrounding flood risk, and how both the private market and National Flood Insurance Program can work together.
Dec 05, 2024•9 min
AM Best's Keenan: Innovation Is in Insurance's DNA
Andrea Keenan, EVP and chief strategy officer, AM Best, expressed confidence in the sector's adaptability, citing its evolution from horse-and-buggy to automobile coverage. Keenan spoke with AM Best TV at the Global Insurance Forum in Miami.
Dec 04, 2024•6 min
F&G Survey Finds US Investors More Risk Adverse
Chris Blunt, CEO of F&G Annuities and Life, discusses the findings of the company's new 'Risk Tracker' that shows events of the past year have impacted views on retirement and risk for the year ahead. Notably, it found that 80% of U.S. investors continue to cite inflation as the top concern.
Dec 03, 2024•6 min
Opportunity in Transactions
Michael Bacon, Head of US L&H Globals and US L&H Transaction Origination, Swiss Re, discussed tailored transactions.
Dec 02, 2024•11 min
AM Best's Yeo and Mistry: Insurers Grapple With Interconnected Global Risks
Angela Yeo and Mahesh Mistry, both of AM Best, outline the increasingly complex nature of global risk assessment in the insurance industry. Both spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.
Nov 29, 2024•5 min
Allianz Report Shows Rising Cyber Claims Amid New Privacy, AI Risks
Tresa Stephens, regional head of cyber at Allianz Commercial, discusses the surge in large cyber claims, attributing it to increased data breaches, evolving AI-powered threats, and the growing need for robust cyber hygiene practices.
Nov 28, 2024•7 min
AM Best's Berenguer and Berti: Insurance Key Drivers Steady Amid IFRS-17 Implementation
Jose Berenguer and Romeo Berti, both of AM Best, said insurers' adoption of IFRS-17 has not substantially altered the fundamentals of operating performance. Both spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings.
Nov 27, 2024•3 min
AMTrust Report Highlights Rising Risks, Safety for US Restaurants
Matt Zender, Senior vice president, workers’ compensation strategy at AmTrust Financial Services, discusses key findings from the 2024 Restaurant Risk Report, revealing the substantial impact of back injuries, burns, and strains caused by work-related insurance claims.
Nov 26, 2024•18 min
AM Best's Kitin and Hillebrandt: Global Tensions Elevate the Risks for Cyber Coverage
Todor Kitin and Morgane Hillebrandt, both of AM Best, said growing economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical conflicts have led to an anticipated increase in the frequency of cyberattacks.
Nov 25, 2024•5 min
AM Best's Imsirovic: This Time It's Different for AI in Insurance
Edin Imsirovic, director, AM Best, said improvements in computing and data availability have created critical mass for AI development. Imsirovic spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.
Nov 22, 2024•7 min
J.D. Power’s Crewdson: Auto Shopping Rates Soar in Third Quarter
Stephen Crewdson, senior director at J.D. Power, details the firm’s latest Loyalty Indicator & Shopping Trends report, conducted in collaboration with TransUnion. The report provides an overview of insurance shopping and loyalty behavior. The third quarter started slowly before rebounding in August and September.
Nov 21, 2024•6 min
AM Best Analysts See Evolution in IFRS-17 Reporting as Insurers Navigate Complex Standards
Anthony Silverman and Konstantin Langowski, both of AM Best, said that while IFRS-17 represents a significant step forward in insurance reporting, the industry can expect continued refinement and development in reporting practices.
Nov 20, 2024•5 min
NeuralMetrics’ Daley: Autonomous AI Assistants Revolutionize Insurance Underwriting
Marcus Daley, technical co-founder of NeuralMetrics, explores the transformative impact of autonomous AI assistants in insurance, highlighting how these advanced agents enhance efficiency, adapt to complex tasks and empower underwriters to improve risk assessments and customer engagement.
Nov 19, 2024•20 min
AM Best's Carter: EMEA Insurance Markets Show First Positive Rating Trend in 5 Years
Greg Carter, managing director, analytics, EMEA & Asia Pacific, AM Best, said the turning point came as rising interest rates improved investment returns. Carter spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings.
Nov 18, 2024•4 min
Pro MGA Global Solutions: Charting the Strategic Path of an International MGA Partner
Danny Maleary, CEO of Pro MGA Global Solutions, discusses the company’s adaptive journey in response to the dynamic MGA market, focusing on growth, innovation, and a global expansion strategy.
Nov 15, 2024•26 min
IBM’s Mclaughlin: Exploring Impact of AI on Insurance: Insights From IBM’s Latest Report
IBM Global Insurance Director Mark McLaughlin discusses findings from a recent report on how generative AI is reshaping the insurance industry, highlighting both opportunities and challenges based on insights from 1,000 C-suite executives and 4,700 customers across 23 countries.
Nov 14, 2024•16 min
AM Best's Holzberger and Diodato: Insurers Respond to Rising Cat Losses with De-Risking, Rate
Stefan Holzberger and Anthony Diodato, both of AM Best, said mutual insurers are de-risking portfolios, pursuing rate adequacy, adjusting terms and conditions, and implementing inflation-adjustable metrics in pricing algorithms. Both spoke with AM Best TV at NAMIC's 129th Annual Convention, held in Denver.
Nov 13, 2024•8 min
Leveraging Medical and Behavioral Data to Enhance Life Insurance Underwriting
Matt Stull, director of data science for LexisNexis Risk Solutions, discusses insights from a 2024 Life Insurance Mortality Risk Management Study that examines how integrating medical and behavioral data can improve mortality assessments, expand accessibility, and reduce underwriting biases for underserved populations.
Nov 12, 2024•20 min
Tech Panel: AI Will Displace Jobs but Also Create Opportunities for Upskilling
A panel of insurance technologists gathered by AM Best TV at the WSIA Annual Marketplace in San Diego said workers whose roles are being changed or eliminated by technology could be retrained and upskilled to fill other, particularly relationship-focused, positions in the industry.
Nov 11, 2024•13 min
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