Issues & Answers: Underwriting the Future

The global life reinsurance outlook remains Stable, led by highly rated, diversified, well capitalized, and experienced companies, according to a new Best's Market Segment Report discussed by AM Best Director Edward Kohlberg.

Richard Green, board chair, Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents, discusses flood and business interruption coverage gaps, evolving weather risks and ways to improve consumer education and resilience.

Mark Warshawsky, senior fellow and Wilson H. Taylor chair in healthcare and retirement policy, American Enterprise Institute, discusses his co-authored research, commissioned by the American Council of Life Insurers, on retirement income strategies and the growing role of annuities in helping retirees achieve greater financial security.

AM Best Financial Analyst Jaime Quito outlines a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds non-affiliated health premiums ceded reached nearly $100 billion in 2025, accounting for 47% of total health premiums ceded.

Marcel Beyer, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, explains how European insurers initially fled to safer bonds at the onset of COVID-19 market turmoil, then moved decisively into high-yield corporate debt, revealing a liquidity-driven, countercyclical investment strategy.

Elisabeth Sandersfeld, chief financial officer for Merchants Bonding Co., said that disciplined underwriting is the most important part of being an insurance company. “For us, we call it common sense underwriting. That’s our hallmark.”

The offshore annuity channel is driving growth in the US life reinsurance market, according to a new Best's Market Segment Report discussed by Edward Kohlberg, director, and Lou Silvers, senior financial analyst, both of AM Best.

Karen Terry, corporate vice president and director of insurance research, LIMRA, discusses rising U.S. life insurance sales and how digital distribution and shifting consumer demand are creating new growth opportunities.

Taylor Evans, manager, marketing & communications, IAT Insurance Group, discusses how the What’s Brewing podcast evolved into a fast, engaging platform delivering timely insights on trends, including AI.

Carrie Brodzinski, chief underwriting officer at MSIG USA, said as underwriting becomes more data- and AI-enabled, the role of the underwriter becomes more sophisticated.