InsuranceAUM

By InsuranceAUMBusiness Investing

InsuranceAUM episodes

August 18, 2025 Episode 315: Investment Risk: Ex-Ante Influence for Ex-Post Impact
Allysen Mattison, Director of Investment Risk and Vice Chair of the Investment Committee at Income Research & Management, joins the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast to deliver a deep dive into the art and science of fixed income risk management. Drawing on her experience overseeing a $122 billion portfolio, Allysen explains how her team approaches interest rate sensitivity, duration positioning, and risk decomposition to ensure that the risks taken align with high-conviction investment ideas.

In the conversation with host Stewart Foley, Allysen unpacks complex topics such as tracking error models, the importance of aligning risk metrics with portfolio construction, and the nuanced role of downside risk analysis. She emphasizes the value of relative value assessment, systematic thinking, and cross-team collaboration, offering practical strategies for balancing active risk-taking with the protection of principal.

From philosophical approaches to tactical frameworks, Allysen’s perspective provides a rare inside look at how one of the industry’s leading fixed-income managers evaluates, measures, and responds to risk. Whether you’re an investment professional, an insurance CIO, or simply a fixed income enthusiast, this episode offers a masterclass in managing risk for long-term performance.
34 min
August 14, 2025 Episode 314: Innovation in Asset Management
Anna Paglia, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at State Street Investment Management, joins host Stewart Foley, CFA, for a wide-ranging discussion on innovation and disruption in asset management.

She shares her unconventional career journey from international law to leading one of the industry’s largest investment platforms, offering a unique perspective on how evolving client needs, technological change, and strategic partnerships are reshaping the industry. Anna discusses State Street’s $5 trillion milestone, its rebrand, and initiatives designed to democratize access to both public and private markets, including the launch of a public–private credit ETF.

The conversation covers insurer-specific solutions, the role of ETFs and cash management, the importance of team culture, and the next decade’s potential for convergence, tokenization, and blockchain in portfolio management. For asset managers, insurers, and institutional investors, this episode offers valuable takeaways on how to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
34 min
August 11, 2025 Episode 313: Real Asset Credit: Opportunities for Insurers in Real Estate and Infrastructure Debt Investing
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Bryan Donahoe, Partner & Head of U.S. Real Estate Debt, and Brent Canada, Partner in the Infrastructure Debt Group at Ares Management, for a deep dive into the evolving role of real asset credit in insurance portfolios.

They explore the benefits of infrastructure and real estate debt — from generating durable income streams to diversifying risk and matching long-term liabilities. The conversation covers how market dislocation, rising interest rates, and the pullback from traditional lenders are creating compelling opportunities for private credit investors, particularly in sectors like logistics, housing, utilities, and digital infrastructure.

Bryan and Brent also share insights on Ares’ collaborative approach, their perspectives on market resilience, and why insurance capital is poised to play an increasingly important role in real asset lending.
36 min
August 04, 2025 Episode 312: Enhancing Insurance Portfolios Through Private and Alternative IG
Patrick O’Sullivan, PhD, Head of International Insurance Solutions at Barings, brings a global perspective to this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast. Drawing from his background in financial economics and extensive experience at leading asset management firms, Patrick explores how private and alternative investment-grade strategies can help insurers enhance returns, diversify portfolios, and address evolving liability needs.

Hosted by Stewart Foley, CFA, this conversation dives into the appeal of structured credit, CLOs, and private placements for insurers navigating today’s market. Patrick shares insights on key considerations such as capital treatment, interest rate risk management, and the growing demand for private IG driven by demographic and regulatory shifts worldwide. For insurers looking to expand their toolkit and capture new opportunities, this episode offers practical insights and strategic takeaways.
33 min
July 28, 2025 Episode 310: Opportunities in Emerging Market Corporates with Fidelity's EM Debt Team
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Tim Gill, Portfolio Manager, and Juan Tavarez, Research Analyst, from Fidelity Investments’ High Income and Alternatives team to explore the evolving landscape of emerging market corporate debt. With decades of combined experience, Tim and Juan provide a deep dive into how they identify resilient, dollar-denominated credits in complex geographies—and why a bottom-up, credit-focused approach is essential in today’s environment.

The conversation covers everything from navigating country-level macro risk and assessing restructurings, to uncovering “hidden castles” in misunderstood sectors. The duo emphasizes the value of sovereign overlays, disciplined portfolio construction, and the role of diversification in managing volatility for insurance investors. Whether you’re seeking long-term yield, capital-efficient allocation, or simply a better understanding of EM corporates, this episode offers highly actionable insights grounded in experience.
42 min
July 23, 2025 Episode 309: NAV Finance: Differentiated Capital Efficiencies for Insurers
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley welcomes Dane Graham, Managing Director at 17Capital, for an insightful conversation about the growth and evolution of NAV finance. Dane breaks down what NAV finance is, how it works, and why it’s increasingly being considered as a strategic tool for insurers looking to access liquidity while maintaining exposure to private assets. He shares how 17Capital has positioned itself in this space and how NAV-based lending has matured into a more accepted part of the capital stack.

The conversation explores how NAV finance can complement an insurer’s investment toolkit—especially in today’s environment where flexibility and downside protection are crucial. Dane also discusses the growing demand from institutional investors, the risk considerations, and how insurers can assess whether this approach aligns with their long-term goals. Whether you’re new to NAV finance or looking to refine your understanding, this episode offers valuable insights into an innovative and expanding segment of private credit.
27 min
July 21, 2025 Episode 308: Real Estate Credit: Cutting Through the Noise
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, Stewart Foley sits down with Charlie Rose, Managing Director and Global Head of Debt at Invesco Real Estate, for a comprehensive conversation on the state of real estate credit markets and what insurers need to know right now. With nearly $10 billion in CRE debt AUM and a global mandate, Charlie shares insights on how Invesco is navigating a market still recovering from a historic value correction.

He explains the fundamentals of bridge lending, the firm’s “credit over yield” approach, and how they integrate equity and credit insights to drive disciplined underwriting. Charlie also compares market dynamics in the U.S. and Europe, highlights where he sees relative value opportunities, and outlines what may lie ahead over the next 12–18 months. The episode closes with a thoughtful take on hiring, diversity, and the traits Invesco values in its team. It’s a high-level, yet grounded discussion for institutional investors exploring real estate credit today.
35 min
July 18, 2025 Episode 307: Growth Has Consequences: Direct Lending at Scale
Direct lending has grown at a staggering pace—more than tripling in just six years. But what are the consequences of that kind of scale? In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley welcomes Audie Apple, Head of Equity Capital Formation at Fidelity Direct Lending, to dive deep into the risks, innovations, and structural shifts shaping private credit today.

Together, they unpack how loan documentation, leverage, and covenant structures have evolved in a rapidly expanding asset class. Audie offers valuable insight into pricing dynamics, sponsor versus non-sponsor deals, and how direct lenders are navigating today’s tighter spreads and changing risk profiles. If you're an institutional investor evaluating direct lending strategies, this conversation offers key takeaways—especially around the importance of current toolkit strength over historical track record. From PIK toggles to dispersion metrics, this episode brings clarity to the forces reshaping private credit.
40 min
July 16, 2025 Episode 306: The Death of Public Credit Has Been Highly Exaggerated
In an era dominated by private credit headlines, is public credit being unfairly overlooked?

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley sits down with John Sherman, lead portfolio manager at Polen Capital, to explore the often misunderstood world of public credit. With nearly two decades of experience, John brings a nuanced view of the high-yield landscape—unpacking how today’s market dynamics differ from the past and why public credit might offer better liquidity, lower fees, and fewer structural risks than private credit.

From the shifting credit quality of high-yield indices to the limitations of passive investing in this space, this episode is packed with actionable insights for institutional allocators. You'll also hear why John views high-yield as a “Goldilocks” asset class and how Polen Capital partners with NEAM to bring their credit expertise to the insurance industry.

Whether you're weighing your credit allocations or curious about the evolution of private markets, this conversation offers valuable perspective.
27 min
July 14, 2025 Episode 305: Executive Spotlight: Siddharth Chakravarty – Director of Investments at Coaction Specialty
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Siddharth Chakravarty, Director of Investments at Coaction Specialty, for an in-depth executive spotlight. Sid shares his unique journey from engineering and neuroscience research to managing a multi-billion-dollar insurance portfolio, offering a distinctive lens on the future of insurance investing.
Together, they explore emerging opportunities in alternatives, with a focus on real asset infrastructure and secondaries, and examine the implications of regulatory developments, private credit benchmarking, and liquidity management. Sid also dives into the evolving role of AI in investment operations, the importance of data governance, and how small teams can gain scale through strategic automation. This thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation is a must-listen for insurance professionals seeking to build resilient, future-ready portfolios.
40 min

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Tune in to the InsuranceAUM Podcast, which features insightful conversations with CIOs, asset managers, and other distinguished professionals in the insurance asset management industry. Each…