AM Best Radio Podcast

Rob Walling, principal and consulting actuary with Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, said the province of Alberta is demonstrating an encouraging, business-forward approach to captive insurance.

Data center development and construction would benefit from innovative P/C industry solutions to meet non-traditional insurance coverage needs, according to a new Best's Special Report discussed by AM Best Senior Director Sridhar Manyem and Associate Director David Blades.

BestWire Senior Associate Editor Renee Kiriluk-Hill reviews AM Best's latest rankings of the nation's largest pet insurers, highlighting strong premium growth, rising competition among the market leaders, and continued expansion of the fast-growing pet insurance sector.

Charles Symington, president and CEO, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, discusses independent agency growth, Big I's 2026 Market Share Report findings and what lies ahead for agents and insurers.

The U.S. personal lines segment's underwriting profit almost quadrupled to more than $45 billion, and the commercial lines segment 's profit more than doubled to over $19 billion in 2025, according to Best's Special Report discussed by David Blades, associate director, and Christopher Graham, senior industry research analyst, both of AM Best.

Sidecars can diversify fee-based earnings versus spread-based earnings, according to a new Best's Special Report discussed by AM Best Associate Director Jason Hopper.

Professor Olivia Mitchell, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, explains how misunderstanding longevity risk fuels widespread retirement regret, and why better “longevity literacy” could reshape saving, annuitization, and Social Security claiming decisions.

Paul Tyler, host of That Annuity Show, discusses how his long-running podcast has become a platform for industry leaders to explore innovation, policy, technology and the evolving role of annuities in retirement planning.

A new Best's Special Report discussed by Wai Tang, senior director, AM Best, finds that no AM Best rated companies became impaired in 2025.

Katherine Antonello, president and CEO of Employers, says workers' compensation is one of the healthiest P/C business lines, but the sector is facing difficulties in California. Antonello also discusses a new AI feature to get quicker price quotes for prospective customers.

Senior Associate Editor Renee Kiriluk-Hill breaks down the latest Best's Rankings of the nation's largest mutual property/casualty and life/health insurers, highlighting State Farm's commanding lead in P/C, New York Life's continued dominance in L/H, and notable shifts among the top writers.

Senior Associate Editor Terry Dopp discusses his BestWire reporting on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which is responding to a cybersecurity breach that investigators have linked to the ShinyHunters hacking group.

In a book she co-edited, “A Practical Guide to Cyber Insurance for Businesses,” Lauren Godfrey, partner, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, discusses cyber insurance, including evolving threats and data-driven underwriting and claims.

Loretta Worters, VP, media relations, Insurance Information Institute, and Kelley Collins, director, business development and communications, Lightning Protection Institute, discuss rising lightning losses, claim trends and risk mitigation.

John Robinson, VP, strategy, and Abigail Caldwell, SVP and health actuary, Amwins Benefits, discuss how insurers and employers are adapting to rising benefit costs and an evolving employee benefits risk landscape.

Senior Associate Editor Renee Kiriluk-Hill details her BestWire reporting showing Progressive strengthened its position as the nation's largest auto insurer in AM Best's latest rankings, increasing its market share while pulling further ahead of State Farm.

Net income grew during the first three months of 2026, according to a new Best's Special Report discussed by Kaitlin Piasecki, industry research analyst, AM Best.

David Chavern, president and CEO, ACLI, discusses key findings from ACLI's latest Financial Resilience Index survey and what they reveal about retirement readiness, financial resilience, consumer concerns about the future and retirement priorities.

Hari Balakrishnan, MIT professor and co-founder of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, developed technology used in more than 50 million vehicles that is changing auto safety, insurance underwriting and could underpin a “universal driving score.” 

AM Best Senior Associate Editor Steve Hallo discusses his BestWire reporting showing the 2025 rankings of U.S. standalone cyber insurers, highlighting Chubb's rise to the top spot, Beazley's dramatic climb, and continued growth in the cyber insurance market.

Tom Troy, the Mutual Group's CEO, discusses how the organization is helping mutual insurers preserve their independence while gaining access to capital, technology modernization and AI capabilities needed to compete in a rapidly evolving market.

A new Best's Market Segment Report discussed by AM Best Associate Director David Blades finds that for smaller LPL firms, the key aggregate underwriting ratios are highly variable, largely attributable to the size of most of these insurers.

Kristin Stein, VP of PHLY E&S Insurance Solutions, spoke with Best's Review about how insurers are adapting their underwriting strategies and identifying new opportunities for growth.

Marcy Pelecky, SVP, Casualty and Professional Liability Programs, Nationwide E&S Specialty, spoke with Best's Review about how growing risk complexity is driving demand for highly specialized insurance products.

AM Best Senior Associate Editors Renee Kiriluk-Hill and Terry Dopp discuss new Best's Rankings highlighting growth across the property/casualty and life and health sectors, including standout results from Progressive and Athene.

AM Best's Ann Modica and James Creedy-Smith examine the latest moves by the European Central Bank and Federal Reserve, discussing inflation risks, potential rate hikes, and what investors should watch in the months ahead.

In his book "How to Acquire, Understand, and Make a Successful Claim on a Commercial Property Insurance Policy," Barry Zalma, founder, Barry Zalma Inc., explores how clear policy communication and strong claims handling reduce coverage gaps.

AM Best Director David Blades and Senior Industry Analyst Christopher Graham discuss a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds favorable underwriting margins may dissipate if adverse reserve development trends persist.

Lewis Nibbelin, research writer, Insurance Information Institute, discusses the rapid growth of the pet insurance market, rising veterinary costs and evolving liability, and coverage gaps shaping risks for insurers and pet owners.

Insurance Banter Podcast hosts Chris Burand and Paul Borup share how their long-running podcast delivers sharp real-world insights from industry insiders, helping insurance professionals navigate emerging risks, market shifts and the future of the business.

Senior Associate Editor Steve Hallo reports that former insurance executive Greg Lindberg has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for orchestrating a $2 billion fraud scheme that evolved to include money laundering and bribery.

AM Best Senior Financial Analyst Lauren Magro highlights a new Best's Special Report that finds the Florida property insurance market has become increasingly manageable due to recent legislative reforms, along with a light weather year that drove substantial earnings in 2025.

Diane Delaney, executive director, Private Risk Management Association, discusses how expanding inland flood risks are reshaping insurance conversations and reinforcing the need for more proactive client education on coverage gaps and preparedness.

Keith Golembiewski, AVP, director, annuity research, LIMRA, discusses sustained strength in U.S. annuity sales, driven by market volatility, higher interest rates and demand for protected growth and retirement income solutions.

Phillip Budden, MIT Sloan School of Management, discusses how tailored leadership programs, aligned with AM Best's approach to assessing innovation, help insurers harness AI, digital transformation and growth mindset strategies.

AM Best Director David Blades and Associate Analyst Dylan Catania discuss a new Best's Special Report that finds 2025 marked a significant shift back to pre-pandemic levels after years of large rate increases to keep up with elevated losses.

Helen Andersen, industry research analyst, AM Best, outlines a new Best's Special Report that finds P/C insurers make record returns while health and life/annuity segments are challenged.

A new Best's Market Segment report discussed by AM Best Associate Directors Connor Brach and Vicky Riggs, finds that MPL insurers have generated an underwriting loss in each of the past five years, reflecting slippage in rate adequacy and increased loss severity.

Senior Associate Editor Renee Kiriluk-Hill explains how global broker Acrisure plans to lay off about 11% of its workforce as advancing technology and artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing how businesses operate, according to a memo distributed to employees.

Greg Donaldson, senior vertical market manager, market intelligence, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, discusses evolving auto insurance shopping trends, consumer behavior, affordability pressures and shifting retention dynamics.

Senior Associate Editor Steve Hallo discusses his reporting that details how the Illinois Senate's passage of an automobile insurance rate bill is triggering warnings from insurance industry trade groups of impending rate increases should the legislation be enacted.

AM Best Senior Associate Editor Steve Hallo discusses proposed FEMA and National Flood Insurance Program reforms that could expand the role of private flood insurers, reshape risk-based pricing and increase consumer flood coverage options.

Karen Terry, corporate vice president, head of insurance research, LIMRA, discusses 2026's strong start in the U.S. individual life insurance market, with a 10% rise in first-quarter sales driven by demand, distribution growth and underwriting.

Aon Edge President and CEO John Dickson discusses how rising flood exposure, shifting weather patterns and growing protection gaps are reshaping underwriting, risk management and coverage strategies across the insurance industry.

Elizabeth Henderson, head of fixed income; Principal and director of corporate credit at AAM said that the integration between research and trading allows the company to pair strong credit conviction with efficient execution.

 Sarayli, head of Barings North America Infrastructure Group spoke with Best's Review to explore how infrastructure debt is being used within insurer assets. 

Hélène Schernberg, director of public policy and regulation at the Geneva Association, outlines how rising climate, cyber, and systemic risks are widening the gap between economic and insured losses.

John Huff, CEO, Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers, discusses trends shaping the global reinsurance market, including catastrophe capacity, climate risk, alternative capital and Bermuda's leadership in risk transfer innovation.

Edin Imsirovic, director, and Kaitlin Piasecki, industry research analyst, both of AM Best, discuss the results of a recent AM Best survey that evaluates the industry's position on strategy and implementation of artificial intelligence.

Benjamin Collier, associate professor, risk and insurance, University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses research he co-authored on Hurricane Harvey, showing how severe climate events strain small businesses and create opportunities for insurers.

Record attendance, expanded programming, and growing global participation underscore increasing interest in Cayman's reinsurance market and its evolving regulatory framework, said Faramarz Romer, CFO, Greenlight Re, and chair, CIRCA. Romer spoke with AM Best TV at the CIRCA ReConnect Conference in Grand Cayman.