The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI

Steve McElhiney, partner, Captives and Alternative Risk Transfer Solutions, Augment Risk, divulges both the rising popularity, as well as some of the misconceptions, of the use of captive insurance in agriculture, in this 26-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI. Hear Mr. McElhiney's thoughts on how parametric insurance and captive insurance can go hand in hand.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important topic across insurance, but its implications for captive insurance and actuarial work are still taking shape. In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, Steven Abel and Jason Abril of Oliver Wyman share an actuarial and technology-driven perspective on how AI is influencing insurance analytics, data governance, and risk de...

Natural disasters and weather-related events continue to dominate headlines, with their frequency and severity increasing year over year. The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI welcomes Angela Skow, vice president and head of Large and Complex Construction at CNA, to discuss how the construction industry strengthens communities after natural disasters. In this 16-and-a-half-minute episode, Ms. Skow iden...

Elise Farnham, president of Illumine Consulting, explains hedging in agriculture. In this 14-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, the daughter of a Kansas wheat farmer provides real-life examples of how farmers hedge commodities as part of their overall risk management strategy. Consider this a teaser for what will be an enormously insightful session at the 2026 IRMI Emmett J Vaugha...

The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI welcomes Theresa Guertin, partner at Saxe Doernberger & Vita, who was a speaker at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference in Indianapolis. Listen in for an informative discussion on coverage claims, contracts, and litigation strategy. In this 17-minute podcast episode, Ms. Guertin highlights excellent examples of policy language trends, sleeper risks, and r...

Letters of credit remain the most widely used form of collateral in captive insurance programs, valued for their reliability, simplicity, and universal acceptance by fronting insurers and regulators. In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Marty Ellis of Comerica Bank about how letters of credit function behind the scenes, from application through draw...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Austin Griffith, senior vice president at Risk Management Advisors, for an in-depth discussion on captive insurance domicile selection. Mr. Griffith outlines the core considerations that shape domicile strategy, including where risks are located, the types of policies being written, premium tax implications, regul...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Joel Appelbaum speaks with Derek Freihaut, principal and consulting actuary at Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, for a detailed discussion on how captive insurance companies evaluate risk transfer and risk distribution. Drawing on Pinnacle's published research—including its case study on expected adverse deviation (EAD)—Mr. Freihaut explains how act...

Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference (AgriCon) Central in Des Moines, this 9-minute episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with Marnye Langer, president and CEO of The Langer Group. Ms. Langer gives us a sneak preview of what's in store for you at the 2026 AgriCon, August 31–September 2, in Nashville, Tennessee. Horse insurance is becomi...

In this episode, Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA) President Ian Davis joins The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI to unpack how captive insurance legislation evolves in one of the world's most established domiciles. Mr. Davis explains the core pillars of "captive-friendly legislation," emphasizing clarity, flexibility, and responsiveness as foundational to Vermont's regulatory philosophy. H...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum, chief content officer at IRMI and Captive.com, is joined by Samantha Poulin, associate actuary, and Craig Brophy, principal and consulting actuary, both with Milliman, to discuss governance best practices for captive insurance companies from an actuarial perspective. Together, they explore how captive boards can strengthen g...

Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference (AgriCon) Central in Des Moines, this 9-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with Casey Roberts of Laurus Insurance Consulting. In this episode, Mr. Roberts gives us a sneak preview of what's in store for you at the 2026 AgriCon, August 31–September 2, in Nashville, Tennessee. AAIS has change...

As the year-end approaches, captive insurance companies face a complex checklist—from renewals and actuarial reporting to audits, governance, and board preparation. In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum, chief content officer of IRMI and Captive.com, brings together a distinguished panel to share practical guidance on how to streamline every stage of the process....

The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Terence Kadlec, senior vice president and technical services expert at MC Consultants, Inc. In this 19-minute podcast episode, Mr. Kadlec highlights the connection between front-end project failures and back-end claim investigations that can and have led to improved processes. Hear about his experience as he stresses the importance of communication to adap...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum welcomes Courtney Boles, director of operations at Management Services International (MSI), one of the largest captive managers in North Carolina. Courtney brings her unique perspective on how small businesses can harness organizational alignment to maximize the success of their captive insurance programs. Drawing on her expe...

Reinsurance can be complex and confusing. However, in this 21-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Larry Schiffer, attorney at Schiffer Law & Consulting PLLC, helps you understand the basics. In plain talk, Mr. Schiffer breaks down important reinsurance concepts as they relate to agricultural risks. After this podcast, you'll understand the importance of Mr. Schiffer's philosoph...

A winning strategy for Liberty Mutual is to have professionals with farming backgrounds serve in its farm and ranch division. It helps to understand your client's needs when you understand your client's lifestyle and daily reality. This 16-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Jenn Powell, farm and ranch senior territory manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance. This episode unpacks...

In this episode, The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI welcomes Anuja Patil, risk control consulting director at CNA, for an insightful discussion with practical strategies in creating supportive and future-proof work environments in construction. In this nearly 25-minute episode, Ms. Patil provides an examination of the multigenerational and multicultural workforce and explains how understanding the n...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Dr. Marcus Schmalbach, CEO of RYSKEX, about a groundbreaking application of captive insurance and parametric risk transfer to support carbon sequestration. The discussion centers on the Arx Veritas project, which monetizes environmental restraint by leaving fossil fuels in the ground—turning unmined coal into a verifiable...

Join Tom Britten of Travelers as he discusses the evolving risks, quality challenges, and technological advancements in battery energy storage systems on the Edge of Risk podcast. If you want even more education on energy risks, the 2025 IRMI Energy Risk & Insurance Conference is available on demand at IRMI.com.

In this episode of The Edge of Risk by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum sits down with Joe Rosenberger, chief captive analyst at the North Carolina Department of Insurance, to discuss how one of the leading US captive domiciles is evolving to meet the needs of modern risk management. Mr. Rosenberger shares his journey into regulation, the key drivers behind North Carolina's growth, and how the state has...

This month's episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI welcomes Ryan Powers, head of construction at QBE. Listen in as Mr. Powers discusses the top risks that construction insureds worry the most about but often feel the least prepared for. In this 13-minute episode, Mr. Powers provides manageable action items to address cyber risks, addresses the benefits and challenges insureds face with techn...

We know the effects of the Baltimore bridge collapse on transportation. But what was the agriculture effect? Explore how the Baltimore bridge collapse disrupted global supply chains and agricultural shipping. This 19-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Chris Montez, underwriting director at U.S. Marine Insurance Group. The episode unpacks the ripple effects of the disaster—...

Builders risk policy forms vary significantly, and one of the most misinterpreted elements of these forms is the "delay in opening" coverages. Join The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI with Jake Parsons, managing director of disputes, claims, and investigations at Stout, in an informative discussion on time element losses in builders risk policies. In this 24-minute episode, Mr. Parsons provides a hig...

Why is there such a rising phenomenon of nuclear verdicts? This 17-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Nick Lucas, executive director of research and data analytics at the US Chamber of Commerce Institute of Legal Reform. Listen to this important discussion on how massive jury awards have surged in popularity, and learn the underlying factors driving this trend. After this...