Councilcast

Hagerty, a global automotive enthusiast brand and classic car insurer, recently announced plans to merge with SPAC, Aldel Financial. The deal, which is valued at $3.13 billion, according to reports, will allow Hagerty to go public and trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HGTY. We spoke with Fred Turcotte, Hagerty CFO, to discuss the recent merger, where Hagerty plans to grow, automotive trends, and, of course, the classic car market.

AXA XL’s Bob Peretti, Chief Distribution Officer, Americas, shares how his team is approaching broker relationships in the face of multifaceted risk, a constantly changing M&A landscape, and the ongoing pandemic

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Eleanor Ko, a 29-year-old account manager at Woodruff Sawyer. A graduate from Seattle University with a degree in business administration and management, Ko shares what she wished she had learned in college about the insurance industry, her passion for learning new skills, and what it’s like juggling her professional and personal life, while working from home.

This episode marks the beginning of a series of interviews with subject matter experts from U.S.-based insurer Nationwide. In this episode we meet Ben Davis, a loss control manager with Nationwide’s loss control services team. Davis helps us better understand business continuity plan development (including the important difference between business continuity planning, disaster recovery, and contingency planning, and how they work together) and the critical importance of having plans in place for your organization, regardless of size. We talk weather disasters, cyber security, construction, supply chain, agriculture and more, and how business continuity planning plays an integral role for each business need and operational aspect, regardless of industry. Davis also highlights the opportunity for brokers and insurers to work together to ensure their clients have proper BCP coverage beyond standard policies. “Even the best insurance coverage cannot be the sole remedy,” says Davis. “A business continuity plan

Tune in to hear Gabby Taveras, co-founder of Equal Pay Group, a D&I consulting firm, on why now is the time to close the wage gap. Taveras also shares how to educate organizations on integrating inclusivity and equity into business decisions, hiring practices and retention strategies.

We discuss what UnitedHealthcare is doing to address healthcare disparities and access to care, as well as the effectiveness of wellness programs and the future of telehealth.

Business leaders are looking for answers to what they see as unsustainable practices in our healthcare system. Shawn Gremminger, director of health policy at the Purchaser Business Group on Health, which supports public and private purchasers of healthcare, discusses the issues critical to their members. These include market consolidation of health systems, drug pricing reform, value-based payment in employer plans, and how a public option would mingle with ESI.

This is part 2 of our conversation with AXA XL’s Maria Duhart, Head of the Commercial Bonds, Political Risk, and Credit & Bond Practice, and Stuart Barrowcliff, Vice President & Senior Underwriter of AXA XL’s Political Risk, Credit & Bond team in the Americas. Here we turn to Covid-19 and the effects on the political risk and commercial bond markets. And we talk about AXA XL’s work in sustainability and climate change.

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Ilana Shackelford, a 32-year-old account coordinator on the executive risk team at ABD, who hopes to manage her own book of business one day, while continuing to effect change in the industry.

This episode marks the beginning of a series of interviews with subject matter experts from global insurer and reinsurer AXA XL. In this episode we meet Maria Duhart, head of the company’s commercial bonds, political risk and credit and bond practice. Joining her is Stuart Barrowcliff, vice president and senior underwriter of AXA XL’s political risk credit and bond division. They discuss the impact of political volatility on global investments in resilience and economic infrastructure as well as areas in which investment is growing.

In this episode of Falling Into It, we meet Isaac Lintz, a 28-year-old new to the brokerage scene whose pursuit of a career in insurance was fueled by his experience as a college athlete. Lintz, who played wide receiver for the University of Northern Iowa, spent several years in sales oriented roles following graduation, only to find his true passion in insurance brokerage in December 2019. Here, he discusses how being a college athlete helped him adjust to the pressures of starting fresh in a new field without any formal insurance background. Lintz found early success at Holmes Murphy thanks to his natural ability to learn and adapt, and to communicate with others. His mantra "slow down to speed up" has helped him gain knowledge and confidence as he continues down the path to a bright future.

Ramnath Balasubramanian is a senior partner at McKinsey focused on insurance and private equity. He works extensively with insurers, brokerages, private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on a range of topics including strategy, digital and analytics transformations, and distribution. Matthew Scally is a McKinsey partner serving private equity clients on engagements including the development of funds, diligence efforts and supporting portfolio companies after acquisition. He also works within the insurance and employee benefits ecosystem serving brokerages, carriers, benefits administration platforms and benefits aggregators.

Q&A with Andy Mathisen, Co-Founder and CMO, GloveBox. The 31-year-old talks about the company he co-founded, jumping into the commercial insurance space and what it was like growing up in a family full of insurance agents. Falling Into It is a new, limited-series podcast focused on young professionals in the insurance and risk management industries.

Talks 5-year forecast on the global economy, U.S. politics, technology, cyber and healthcare.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner and a current Pfizer board member, shares his thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and supply successes and challenges, potential drug pricing legislation, and the future of the ACA. At the center of the conversation? The employer role.

Falling Into It: Drew Taylor talks about his passion for insurance and shares what factors he believes will impact the future of the brokerage cannabis industry. Falling Into It is a new, limited-series podcast focused on young professionals in the insurance and risk management industries.

Falling Into It: Young Talent Speaks A 26 year old underwriter shares how she started off in insurance.

The Council’s Joel Wood and Republican political consultant Mike Murphy reconnect post-election to discuss presidential politics (“I got my differences on issues, but this is a competent team”), the Georgia runoffs (“it'd be a sign of divine intervention if they (Ds) ever win this thing”), prospects of a COVID relief package (“we're fighting World War II cost-wise right now, with a massive deficit to begin with”) and potential new stars in the Republican Party (“Trump will have a powerful voice, but I'm not sure it'll be the Omni voice”). We can’t give it all away. A must-hear podcast.

In a follow up to their conversation during this year’s (virtual) Insurance Leadership Forum, Joel Wood, The Council’s SVP of Government Affairs, and national political analyst David Axelrod, discuss the incoming administration, what may come of the ACA, prospects of a public option, Medicare, prescription drug costs and more.

Where is the first place to start when planning for 2021? According to Penny Moore, chief commercial officer of Springbuk: employee healthcare data. It’s there that brokers and employers can identify gaps in care, coverage and education. Listen in as Moore gives her take on the role of data analytics during a national health crisis that’s forced employers to pivot their companies and their employee benefits offerings. For more on the downstream effects of COVID-19, take a look at Springbuk’s latest 2020 health trend report. https://www.springbuk.com/resources/white-papers/eht-2020