AM Best Radio Podcast

Steve Firko, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance, explains how mutual insurers' policyholder-focused structure, long-term stability and deep industry ties uniquely position them to serve niche markets.

Shannon Woods, chief legal and compliance officer, Mutual Group, discusses the evolving regulatory landscape, the growth of AI, and how strategic partnerships and innovation are helping mutual insurers seize long-term opportunities.

Kimberly Landry, associate research director, LIMRA, discusses how insurers can support employers in boosting benefit satisfaction and addressing changing workforce needs through tailored offerings and improved communication.

Ann Modica, director credit rating, criteria and research at AM Best breaks down the recent decline of the US dollar, its fiscal drivers, and what the volatility means for insurers with global exposure.

Earlier this year, Pinnacle Actuarial Resources and CARFAX announced the release of a new vehicle scoring and automobile pricing tool called the CARFAX Vehicle Build Score (VBS). Pinnacle Senior Consulting Actuary Gary Wang discussed the value of the VBS solution for automobile insurers with AM Best TV.

James Crinnion, Vice President Commercial Surety at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, said that over the last five years, there's been an explosion in surety-backed letters of credit. “There's always been a push and pull between the surety industry and the banking industry,” he said.

Mark Friedman, PwC's U.S. insurance deals leader, discusses the rise in insurance deal value in 2025, driven by strategic megadeals, strong investor interest and sector resilience.

Jason Ott, president, Aon Private Risk Management, discusses how affluent clients are proactively adapting to climate volatility through fortified properties, strategic insurance planning and evolving risk mitigation to safeguard high-value assets.

Kevin Sandelin, senior risk consulting engineer at Allianz Risk Consulting, discusses the growing frequency and severity of wildfires, their impact on industries like agriculture, utilities, and construction, and how insurers and clients can use emerging technologies and mitigation tools to better manage wildfire risk.

Melissa Carmichael, head of U.S. cyber, Beazley, discusses rising AI-driven cyberrisks and supply chain challenges, highlighting the critical role insurers play in strengthening cyber readiness and safeguarding businesses against evolving threats.

Shane Riedman, president of antifraud analytics at Verisk, discusses trends as outlined in recent company reports highlighting the sharp rise in collision severity, evolving subrogation strategies, and the growing role of data and AI in helping insurers improve speed, accuracy, and recovery outcomes.

Dale Porfilio, formerly chief insurance officer of the Insurance Information Institute, discusses the ongoing threat of lightning-related losses, insurer mitigation efforts and shifting storm patterns impacting risk.

Keith Golembiewski, assistant vice president, director of annuity research, LIMRA, discusses strong annuity sales, rising demand for guaranteed income and how insurers are adapting to meet evolving retirement needs.

Erika Melander, head of Nationwide's national manufacturing practice, discusses how supply chain shifts are creating new risks for manufacturers and how insurance advisers can help manage them.

Stephen Cross, founding partner of McGill and Partners, CEO of McGill and Partners Europe, discusses the U.K. government's new captive-friendly regulations and their potential to boost London as a top global captive insurance hub.

AM Best Director Edin Imsirovic discusses a new Best's Commentary that finds the insurance industry's crypto-market penetration is limited, but provides opportunities.

Rashid Galadanci, CEO and co-founder, Driver Technologies, discusses how connected car technology and telematics are transforming insurance by improving underwriting accuracy, speeding up claims and reducing fraud.

Tine Simonsen, head of insurance for Continental Europe at Coalition, discusses how rising cyberthreats and digital growth in the Nordics are driving demand for active cyber protection and shaping the future of insurance in Europe.

Zac Townsend, co-founder and CEO of Meanwhile, discusses how Bitcoin is transforming life insurance with fully crypto-denominated policies and new product opportunities.

Karve Chief Underwriting Officer Ken Svean discusses his book, “The Ultimate Guide to D&O Underwriting,” which offers key insights and tools for navigating the evolving directors and officers insurance market.

Mark McGhiey, senior associate vice president of risk management & client services for Nationwide Insurance, says as billion-dollar storms become more frequent, a survey reveals that many businesses are nevertheless opting to reduce coverage in favor of short-term cost savings.

Patrick Foy, senior director of commercial insurance strategic planning, TransUnion discusses how new data reveals dramatic shifts in where and how Americans are relocating, with implications for everything from risk assessment in fast-growing Texas markets to Gen Z-targeted outreach, auto underwriting, and beneficiary tracking.

Steven Crewdson, managing director, insurance business intelligence, J.D. Power, says insurers are failing to tailor service for high-value customers, with cross-channel interactions and clear policy understanding the top satisfaction drivers of 2025.

InnSure Executive Director Charlie Sidoti discusses how NOAA's decision to archive its billion-dollar climate disaster database could impact insurance affordability and resilience, urging insurers to share data and aid vulnerable communities.

Understanding what is in the environment is how risk managers can approach highly probable, impactful, and often overlooked cyberrisks, said Reid Sawyer, head U.S. cyber risk consulting for Marsh.

AM Best Senior Industry Research Analyst Christopher Graham discusses a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds new cyber supplementing highlights pricing difference by policy type.

NCCI's Donna Glenn and Christine Pike discuss how their podcast brings concise updates on medical inflation, workforce dynamics and economic indicators to an industry seeking accessible, data-backed insights.

AM Best Associate Director David Blades discusses a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds social inflation, declining reserve redundancies and rising claims severity continue to vex the MPL segment.

Eric Werkheiser, VP of professional liability and specialty programs at Nationwide E&S and Specialty, said when it comes to specialty insurance, the company will stay open-minded and explore opportunities as they come. 

Mark McGhiey, senior associate vice president of risk management & client services for Nationwide Insurance, discusses how rising driver anxiety, staffing shortages and underused safety tech are fueling distracted driving risks, and what commercial insurers can do in response.

Adrian Jones, head of underwriting and specialty retail at Acrisure, offers this advice to executives about social media in part two of a two-part interview: Don't let anybody else do it. He also suggests a regular cadence of posts, since it improves familiarity and that leads to trust, which generates business.

Adrian Jones, head of underwriting and specialty retail at Acrisure, discusses the strategic importance of “being blessed” with data to help insurers improve their performance on multiple fronts, ranging from customer management to improving efficiency in part one of a two part interview.

AM Best Senior Industry Research Analyst Christopher Graham highlights a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds market uncertainty, evolving technology and tariffs among the factors affecting the directors and officers segment.

Steve Doire, strategic platform and client adviser, Clearwater Analytics, discusses how insurers are shifting to outsourced management and private markets to boost returns, manage risk and meet growing regulatory demands.

Rahul Khanna, global head of marine risk consulting, Allianz Commercial, discusses the sharp drop in vessel losses, the rise of shadow fleets and how geopolitical instability is reshaping maritime risk and global supply chains.

Tim Nunziata, senior vice president of E&O and cyber at Nationwide Insurance, said that when it comes to cyber, each industry has a nuancedthreat landscape that can't be painted with this broad brush. It's important for clients and risk managers to find tailored solutions to meet their company's needs, he said.

Chris Williams, employment practices liability product manager, Travelers Insurance, discusses how rising mental health awareness is increasing workplace discrimination claims and emphasizes the need for employers to update policies, train staff, and consult legal counsel to keep pace.

AM Best Senior Financial Analyst Josie Novak discusses a new Best's Special Report on Florida's property insurance market, which posted its first underwriting profit in nearly a decade.

Jason Kaminsky, CEO, kWh Analytics, discusses how insurers must adapt models and partnerships to address growing risks in the rapidly changing renewable energy sector.

Patrick Foy, senior director of strategic planning, TransUnion, discusses how evolving consumer behavior, generational shifts in homeownership and climate are reshaping insurance strategies in 2025.

Cyber Intelligence 4U CEO Ariel Evans discusses a book she co-authored, Navigating Supply Chain Cyber Risk, and how third-party cyberrisks are reshaping insurer strategies and risk management approaches.

Matt Sackett, CEO, Doxa Insurance Holdings, shares how actuarial rigor, niche specialization and a forward-looking approach to emerging risks are fueling growth and resilience in today's competitive MGA landscape.

Chris Hendricks, head of Coalition's incident response, discusses findings from the 2025 Cyber Claims Report, including a drop in ransomware claims, and a surge in business email compromise and funds transfer fraud losses.

Kimberly Landry, associate research director, workplace benefits research, LIMRA and LOMA, discusses the need for greater awareness and education around disability insurance, and how insurers can help protect consumers from unexpected income loss.

In the All Eyes on Economics podcast, Insurance Information Institute Chief Economist and Data Scientist Michel Léonard explores how economics delivers tools that specifically match business needs in today's uncertain economy.

Melissa Ricco, co-head of Barings' Structured Credit Investment Team, said that the opportunity in collateralized loan obligations for insurance investors remains compelling.

Dan Byrnes, president and principal at Asset Allocation & Management LLC, said that AAM has built a reputation for delivering customized investment strategies that align with the unique needs of insurers.

Mark Yu, head of Enterprise Capital Strategy at New England Asset Management, said that stress and scenario testing are crucial components of the company's asset allocation analysis.

Robert Lewis, CEO, INTX Insurance Software, discusses the need for end-to-end policy management systems in property/casualty insurance, and the challenges of legacy software.

Swiss Re Chief Underwriting Officer-Casualty, Laure Forgeron, breaks down short- and long-term forces, including inflation, tariffs, evolving mobility patterns and emerging technologies that are redefining risks and strategies in the $2.2 trillion global motor reinsurance sector.

Sridhar Manyem, senior director, industry relations Americas, AM Best, discusses regulatory sandboxes for testing products, and how AI is being used in pricing and claims. Manyem spoke with AM Best TV at the InsurTech Hartford Symposium 2025.