InsuranceAUM.com

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Keith Ashton and David Ells, CFA both Partners and Portfolio Managers in Alternative Credit at Ares Management—to explore the accelerating role of insurance capital in asset-based finance (ABF). With deep backgrounds inside insurance companies, Keith and David bring firsthand perspectives on how that experienc...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Shane Feeney, Managing Director and Global Head of Secondaries at Northleaf Capital. They explore the growing importance of private equity secondaries, how portfolio construction can optimize outcomes, and why secondaries are gaining traction with institutional and insurance investors.   The conversation cover...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Toby True, Partner on the Investment Strategy and Risk Management Team at Adams Street Partners, about the complexities and evolving best practices in private market portfolio construction for insurers. Toby shares how Adams Street tailors investment strategies to align bottom-up decisions with the unique objecti...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Shelley Morrison, Head of Fund Finance at Aberdeen Investments, about the growing relevance of fund finance in insurance portfolios. Shelley breaks down the fundamentals of subscription line loans, or “sublines,” and explains how these short-duration, investment-grade assets deliver enhanced yield without excess...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Justin Mahoney, co-founder of Shelter Growth Capital, for an in-depth discussion on the residential mortgage loan (RML) market and its increasing relevance to insurance portfolios. Justin offers a data-driven look at the macro trends affecting the housing market, including supply shortages, disciplined credit un...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Michael Hunstad, Deputy CIO and CIO of Global Equities, and Jeff Sampson, Senior Portfolio Manager for Global Equities at Northern Trust Asset Management. They discuss the evolving landscape of dividend strategies, equity allocations, and risk-aware portfolio construction for insurers navigating today’s market c...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Eric Partlan, Chief Investment Officer at MassMutual, for an engaging installment of the CIO Spotlight series. With MassMutual’s $285 billion general account and deep legacy as a mutual insurer, Eric shares insights into how the firm’s long-term orientation, mutual structure, and strategic partnerships drive i...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Anwiti Bahuguna, PhD, Chief Investment Officer of Global Asset Allocation at Northern Trust Asset Management. The conversation explores Northern Trust’s latest long-term capital market assumptions and the macroeconomic forces likely to shape insurer portfolios over the next decade—from AI-enabled productivity an...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Edward Levin, Managing Director and Co-Head of Direct Infrastructure at Voya Investment Management, to explore the evolving landscape of renewable energy finance. With over 20 years of experience in energy transition projects, Edward shares insights into how the sector has matured, the increasing demand for po...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Christine Thorpe, Institutional Portfolio Manager at Fidelity Investments, to discuss the critical role of core fixed income in insurance portfolios. Despite being the largest allocation for most insurers, core fixed income often takes a backseat to higher-yielding asset classes. Christine shares insights on s...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Milena Humplik and Margot DeMore, co-founders of Broad Street, to discuss career management from both sides of the desk. They share insights into hiring trends in insurance asset management, the skill sets in demand, and how leadership plays a crucial role in talent retention.   Milena and Margot also offer gu...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Jim Kaniclides, Head of U.S. Insurance, and Jeff Burger, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager of Municipal Bonds at Insight Investment. Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of municipal bonds, offering insights into how insurers can balance yield, liquidity, and safety in today’s fixed-income markets.   Jim an...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Michael Occi, President of Morgan Stanley Private Credit’s BDC platform, to explore how insurance investors can leverage BDCs to gain deeper insights into the direct lending market. They discuss how BDCs provide transparency into asset quality, credit conditions, and portfolio performance, offering valuable data...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Vlad Liberzon, partner and portfolio manager at GoldenTree Asset Management, to discuss the evolving landscape of emerging market debt (EMD) and how insurers can approach the asset class strategically. With over 20 years of experience in EMD investing, Vlad shares insights into the asset class’s transformation...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Champ Raju, Managing Partner and Head of Private Equity at PPM America Capital Partners, to discuss the evolving private equity landscape and the investment strategies gaining traction in today’s market. They explore the current fundraising environment, M&A activity, and the increasing role of co-investmen...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Nate Walton, Partner and Head of Private Equity Secondaries at Ares Management, about the evolving role of secondaries in private markets. They discuss how GP-led transactions, liquidity solutions, and structured investments are transforming private equity.   Nate shares insights on why secondaries are becoming a...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Fabian Korzendorfer, Partner with StepStone’s Private Debt research team, for an in-depth discussion on Evergreen Funds: A Compelling Tool for Private Markets. Fabian joins from Switzerland to share his expertise on how evergreen funds provide flexibility, liquidity, and efficiency, making them an increasingly attra...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Aaron Fink, Senior Managing Director at Centerbridge, to explore the evolution of asset finance and opportunistic credit. Aaron shares insights on how Centerbridge's cycle-agnostic approach allows them to dynamically allocate capital across private equity, credit, and real estate, ensuring they capitalize on opportu...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Anthony Giambrone and Stephen West, both Managing Directors on the Venture Capital and Growth team at StepStone, to explore an asset class that isn’t traditionally front and center for insurance portfolios: venture capital. They discuss why insurers may want to consider VC exposure, how the asset class has evo...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Michael Acton, Managing Director and Head of Research and Strategy at AEW, to explore the evolving landscape of commercial real estate investing. As the industry navigates a post-pandemic world, rising interest rates, and a wave of loan maturities, Acton shares insights on how investors can return to first pri...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Victor Debenedetti, principal at OHA, and Anthony Vikhter, senior investment analyst at Missouri Teachers, for an in-depth discussion on best practices in underwriting private credit. As private credit continues to expand, investors must understand the nuances of due diligence, risk assessment, and structuring d...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Brian Van Elslander, Head of MAM Direct Lending Portfolio Management, Americas, and Bill Eckmann, Head of Macquarie Principal Finance, Americas, to discuss the evolving landscape of direct lending. With private credit playing an increasingly significant role in institutional portfolios, Brian and Bill share in...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Alessandro Pagani, portfolio manager and head of the mortgage and structured finance team at Loomis Sayles, to explore the complexities of asset-based finance. They discuss the key differences between public and private ABS, the growing role of private credit, and how insurers should approach this evolving spa...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, explores the growing market of private structured credit, also known as private ABF, with Poorvi Dholakia and Paul Carroll of MetLife Investment Management. They discuss how this asset class stands out through customized structures, enhanced covenants, and attractive yield premiums, making it an increasingly valuable compone...

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, Stewart Foley sits down with Michael King, Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Senior Credit at Manulife Investment Management, to take a deep dive into the world of direct lending and sponsored finance. Michael shares his journey from carpentry to credit, discusses the unique dynamics of middle market private equity firms, and unpacks Manulife’...