AM Best Audio

Jessica Balsam, Zurich Resilience Solutions head of climate solutions, Zurich North America, discussed the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Executive Opinion Survey and what global business executives see as the biggest risks facing G20 countries.

Mark Geoghegan, host of the Voice of Insurance Podcast, discusses his interviews with insurance CEOs and thought leaders covering the most salient and pressing issues facing the industry.

David Zona, vice president and general manager, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, discusses new virtual inspection technology that’s making the data collection process faster, easier and more accurate for risk assessment.

Global business leaders increasingly cite employer risk as the top threat facing their organizations, but recent research found many feel challenged to deal with that rising concern, said Bethany Greenwood, group head of specialty risks, Beazley.

AM Best Senior Financial Analyst Christopher Lewis discusses a recent Best’s Market Segment Report, which found farm bureaus' incurred loss ratios are worse than the industry through 3Q23.

Michael Menhart, chief economist for Munich Re discusses the company’s just released economic forecast for 2024 that shows that the macroeconomic and (geo)political conditions that shaped the world economy last year will largely remain relevant for the year ahead.

Mike Padula, head of U.S. environmental for Aspen Insurance, explains how the environmental liability sector has changed in recent years as a result of climate risk, societal pressures, an evolving regulatory landscape and a myriad of other factors.

Thomas Holzheu, chief economist for Swiss Re Americas discusses the findings of a recently published report showing that strong premium increases combined with an easing in claims costs and strong investment returns were all cause for celebration for the US P&C industry over the second half of 2023.

Coverages for Super Bowl LVIII will run the gamut from event, ticket and travel cancelation to liability, property damages and workers' comp for venue, watch parties and half-time entertainment, said Michael Giusti, an analyst at InsuranceQuotes.com.

Inflationary pressures have made financing private projects more difficult, but new public projects have helped surety premiums continue to grow, said AM Best Senior Industry Analyst Christopher Graham and Senior Financial Analyst Robert Valenta, referencing a new Best's Market Segment Report.

John Dickson, president of Aon Edge, a private flood insurance provider discusses the phenomenon of atmospheric rivers and how much water they’re dumping on North America and how the insurance industry should be reacting. 

Cindy Beaulieu, managing director and CIO North America, Conning, said P/C and life insurers are now in a position to see both nominal and excess returns for insurance assets this year.

Christa Coletti executive vice president, branch manager, BMS Re US, predicts the likelihood that reinsurers will continue to be profitable in the new year, and that primary carriers should expect to see rate increases, but not as quickly as they would like.

Central Bank policy, market expectations and Federal Reserve projections on interest rates and global political policy are three areas where divergence is expected to come into play this year economically, said Ann Modica, director, AM Best.

Sarat Varanasi, insurance business unit leader for Cognizant, said the industry is working to figure out artificial intelligence, across underwriting, distribution, claims, or ever the customer experience.

Tom Varney, regional manager, Allianz Risk Consulting, North America, discusses the company’s 2023 Risk Barometer survey that shows top risk concerns are cyber, business interruption and natural catastrophes.

Judah Cohen, principal scientist and director of seasonal forecasting at  Verisk, says a Super El Nino in the Pacific could have an impact on winter weather conditions throughout North America.

Noticeable differences in advertising between the personal and commercial lines reflect the segments' diverging results, said AM Best Senior Industry Analyst Christopher Graham, referencing a Best's Special Report.

The impact of COVID-19 on claims has been less than expected, despite elevated mortality in certain demographics and regions, said AM Best Senior Financial Analyst Stratos Laskarides and Industry Research Analyst Helen Andersen.

Surrendered annuity policies increased 18% through the third quarter of 2023 year-over-year, while premium growth held steady at 17%, according to a new AM Best report.

Ernst Rauch, chief climate scientist from Munich Re, discusses a recent report that shows 2023 natural disaster losses were in line with the five‑year average and just slightly above the 10‑year average.

Ram Garg, CEO, Nector Specialty Group, said SRCC-related lines have seen significant price increases in the past five years. Garg spoke with AM Best TV at the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.

John Welch, and Tay Boon Chaun, both of Aspen Insurance Holdings, said reinsurers aim for longer-term relationships, with learning on both sides. Both spoke with AM Best TV at the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.

Victoria Carter, chairman, global capital solutions, international, Guy Carpenter, said captive insurers at Lloyd's should benefit from reduced funding costs, robust oversight, and global licensing. Carter spoke with AM Best TV at the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.

Tony Egerton, CEO, Nexus Asia, said greater clarity on the responsibilities and authority of MGAs would allow for greater innovation in regional Asian markets. Egerton spoke with AM Best TV at the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference.