Wild Horse Fire Brigade’s Simpson: Wildfire Smoke’s Hidden Toxins Drive Rising Health, Property Risks for Insurers

AM Best Director Joseph Zazzera discusses a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds strong health segment financial flexibility and capitalization despite major operating performance concerns.

Wild Horse Fire Brigade Founder and Executive Director William Simpson, an ethologist, discusses how super-hot wildfires create novel toxins, driving health and property risks, and why insurers must rethink prevention and modeling strategies.

Kate Steffanelli, associate director, AM Best, discusses a new Best's Market Segment Report that finds the US annuity market delivered another strong performance that continued into 2025, aided by retirement product demand, favorable rates and product innovation.

AM Best Senior Associate Editor Steve Hallo discusses how ACA, Medicaid and Medicare changes are reshaping U.S. health insurers’ strategies and margins in 2026.

This session, ideal for agents and brokers who need to efficiently track insurer financial strength, shows you how to set up custom notifications, monitor the carriers you work with and use timely alerts to protect your clients and stay ahead of competitors. (Event Date: February 26, 2026) View the Powerpoint Presentation.

Nick Abraham, CEO, Amwins Global Risks, discusses how abundant capacity, social inflation concerns, and growing delegated authority opportunities are shaping broker strategy and client outcomes in the London specialty insurance market.

Michael Streit, president, Ivans, discusses how real-time insights and seamless workflows are helping carriers become the partners of choice in today’s insurance market.

Professors Albert Cohen of Michigan State University and Annette Hoffman of the University of Cincinnati, discuss their study, Regretful Risks, revealing how the fear of future regret, rather than rationality, drives decisions about risk management.

Northeastern blizzard is expected to result in significant, but manageable losses for P/C insurers, according to a new Best's Commentary discussed by AM Best Industry Research Analyst Helen Andersen.

David Benyon, host of The Political Risk Podcast, explains how he connects geopolitical flashpoints from war, hybrid threats, trade policy and expropriation with the evolving needs of specialty insurance and reinsurance markets.