AM Best Audio Podcast

Inflationary pressures have made financing private projects more difficult, but new public projects have helped surety premiums continue to grow, said AM Best Senior Industry Analyst Christopher Graham and Senior Financial Analyst Robert Valenta, referencing a new Best's Market Segment Report.

John Dickson, president of Aon Edge, a private flood insurance provider discusses the phenomenon of atmospheric rivers and how much water they’re dumping on North America and how the insurance industry should be reacting. 

Cindy Beaulieu, managing director and CIO North America, Conning, said P/C and life insurers are now in a position to see both nominal and excess returns for insurance assets this year.

Christa Coletti executive vice president, branch manager, BMS Re US, predicts the likelihood that reinsurers will continue to be profitable in the new year, and that primary carriers should expect to see rate increases, but not as quickly as they would like.

Central Bank policy, market expectations and Federal Reserve projections on interest rates and global political policy are three areas where divergence is expected to come into play this year economically, said Ann Modica, director, AM Best.

Sarat Varanasi, insurance business unit leader for Cognizant, said the industry is working to figure out artificial intelligence, across underwriting, distribution, claims, or ever the customer experience.

Tom Varney, regional manager, Allianz Risk Consulting, North America, discusses the company’s 2023 Risk Barometer survey that shows top risk concerns are cyber, business interruption and natural catastrophes.

Judah Cohen, principal scientist and director of seasonal forecasting at  Verisk, says a Super El Nino in the Pacific could have an impact on winter weather conditions throughout North America.

Noticeable differences in advertising between the personal and commercial lines reflect the segments' diverging results, said AM Best Senior Industry Analyst Christopher Graham, referencing a Best's Special Report.

The impact of COVID-19 on claims has been less than expected, despite elevated mortality in certain demographics and regions, said AM Best Senior Financial Analyst Stratos Laskarides and Industry Research Analyst Helen Andersen.