InsuranceAUM.com

Episode 350: Real Assets, Real Impact: Infrastructure in Modern Insurance Investing

Scott Littman, Managing Director of Infrastructure Investments at GCM Grosvenor, joins host Stewart Foley, CFA, on the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on infrastructure as a core component of modern insurance portfolios.

 

The conversation explores how infrastructure is defined today, why essential assets with long-duration cash flows and inflation linkage have become increasingly important, and how insurers are approaching infrastructure across debt and equity strategies. Scott also shares insights on capital efficiency, regulatory considerations, and portfolio construction as insurers expand their allocations to real assets.

 

The episode concludes with a look at the current macro environment, including opportunities and risks across sectors such as energy, transportation, and data centers, and practical considerations for insurers building or refining infrastructure programs.

Episode 349: Real Estate Secondaries: Opportunities for Insurers in Evolving Markets

Michelle Creed, Partner and Co-Head of Real Estate Secondaries, and Min Zhou, Managing Director in the Ares Secondaries Group, join host Stewart Foley, CFA, on the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast for an in-depth discussion on real estate secondaries and how the market has evolved.

 

The conversation explores the growth of GP-led transactions and continuation vehicles, the impact of valuation resets and liquidity dynamics, and how real estate secondaries can be used as a portfolio management tool. Michelle and Min also address common misconceptions around discounts, asset quality, and the motivations behind secondary transactions.

 

The episode concludes with insights into portfolio construction considerations, diversification, and capital efficiency, particularly as institutional investors navigate shifting real estate and private market environments.

Episode 348: Beyond Direct Lending: A New Era for Asset-Based Finance

Private asset-based finance (ABF) is gaining prominence in insurance portfolio strategy as insurers evaluate its capital efficiency, structural protections, and yield potential. In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, Stewart Foley is joined by John Roglieri, Managing Director in Brookfield's Strategic Credit Initiatives, and Remo Plunkett, Vice President in Brookfield’s Credit Group, to explore the evolution of ABF and its growing relevance for insurers.

 

The discussion covers why ABF is not just a newer version of traditional securitized assets, but a broad, flexible toolkit that includes real assets, recurring cash flows, and customized structures tailored to insurer needs. With insights on risk management, capital treatment, and relative value versus direct lending, this episode offers a timely look at how insurers can build resilient portfolios in an increasingly complex credit environment.

Episode 347: Executive Spotlight: Meet The Institutes & Their CEO - Pete Miller

On this episode of the InsuranceAUM Podcast, Pete Miller, President and CEO of The Institutes, joins host Stewart Foley for a wide-ranging conversation on the newly announced affiliation and why it represents a meaningful step forward for the insurance industry. Together, they discuss how The Institutes’ more than century-long legacy in professional education complements InsuranceAUM’s focus on insurance investment knowledge, and why closing the education gap between underwriting, operations, and investing is becoming increasingly important as portfolios grow more complex.

 

The conversation also dives into leadership, culture, and the role of values in building organizations that last. Miller shares insights from his career at the intersection of technology and insurance, including how The Institutes evaluates partnerships, why ethics remain foundational to innovation, and what it takes to prepare professionals for jobs that are still being defined. Foley reflects on the origins of InsuranceAUM, the motivation behind expanding educational access for insurance investors, and the vision for developing the next generation of talent through structured, credible learning.

 

Looking ahead, the episode explores how advances in AI and data are reshaping both insurance operations and investment decision-making. Miller and Foley discuss how education can help insurers move beyond loss recovery toward risk prevention, why responsible AI adoption matters, and how continuous learning will be essential as strategic planning, risk management, and capital allocation evolve. Together, they offer a thoughtful perspective on where the industry is headed and how this partnership aims to support insurance professionals at every stage of their careers.

Episode 346: Gold's Enduring Tailwinds with Aakash Doshi

Aakash Doshi, Global Head of Gold for the SPDR ETF business at State Street Global Advisors, joins host Stewart Foley on the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast for an in-depth discussion on one of the most talked-about asset classes in recent years. The conversation explores the macroeconomic, geopolitical, and structural forces that have shaped gold markets since the post-pandemic period.

 

Aakash shares his perspective on central bank demand, ETF flows, global debt levels, and the concept of gold as an alternative fiat hedge. He also explains why gold is often viewed as a left-tail asset and how it differs from other commodities and digital assets in institutional portfolios.

 

The episode concludes with a practical discussion around implementation, including how institutional and insurance investors access gold exposure at scale and what risks could influence the outlook heading into 2026. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

Episode 345: CLO BBs and Equity

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA is joined by Shiloh Bates, CFA, Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Flat Rock Global, for a deep dive into collateralized loan obligations and their role in insurance portfolios. Shiloh explains how CLOs function as structured credit vehicles, the problems they solve in the private credit market, and how different tranches offer distinct risk-return profiles for investors.

The conversation explores current market dynamics, including elevated default rates, spread behavior, and where Shiloh sees potential opportunities across CLO equity and junior debt. Shiloh also discusses underwriting discipline, diversification benefits, rated feeder structures, and how insurers can think about CLOs relative to direct loan exposure when constructing resilient, risk-aware portfolios.

Episode 344: Diversifying Within Structured Credit

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA sits down with Noelle “Elle” Sisco, Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, and Lead Portfolio Strategist at First Eagle Napier Park, to discuss where structured credit can offer real value for insurance investors and where caution is warranted. Elle shares her background across public and private credit markets and explains how First Eagle Napier Park approaches alternative credit within a multi-strategy investment framework.

 

The conversation explores how insurers can evaluate structured credit through disciplined underwriting, with a focus on collateral analysis, liquidity management, and active portfolio positioning. Elle also addresses late-cycle dynamics, elevated idiosyncratic risk, emerging collateral types, and the importance of separating true underwriting skill from beta-driven returns when constructing resilient insurance portfolios.

Episode 343: Navigating Economic Currents: Shaping Insurance Investment Strategies

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Cindy Beaulieu, Chief Investment Officer of Conning North America, and Matt Reilly, Managing Director and Head of Insurance Solutions at Conning. Together, they explore the complex economic, policy, and portfolio construction themes shaping insurance investment strategies heading into 2026. With volatility receding and consumption staying strong, Conning sees cautious optimism grounded in fundamental, long-term portfolio planning.

 

The discussion covers key topics including the rising complexity of insurance portfolios, the expanding role of private assets, and the importance of core fixed income as a risk ballast. Cindy and Matt offer insight into how insurers are balancing liquidity needs, capital requirements, and regulatory scrutiny while adapting to a structurally different rate and policy environment. With real-world examples and a thoughtful look at long-term strategy, this episode provides valuable perspective for insurance investors navigating today’s market challenges.

Episode 342: From “Known Unknowns” to Quantified Risks: Enhancing Portfolio Construction with Stress & Scenario Testing

Tobias Gummersbach, Enterprise Capital Strategist at New England Asset Management, joins the InsuranceAUM Podcast to discuss how insurers can apply stress and scenario testing to strengthen portfolio construction. With a focus on translating complex risks into clear, actionable insights, Tobias explains how these tools can help insurers evaluate exposure, guide asset allocation decisions, and support long-term capital planning.

 

The conversation covers how insurers can move beyond traditional risk measures to better understand the potential impact of severe but plausible events. Tobias shares practical examples of how scenario testing is being used in real-world investment strategy, helping firms assess trade-offs between risk and return, improve communication with stakeholders, and better align portfolios with enterprise risk objectives. This episode provides valuable insights for insurance investment professionals navigating an increasingly complex risk environment.

Episode 341: Infrastructure Equity in Today’s Markets: Themes, Trends, Opportunities

Infrastructure equity is no longer just about toll roads and utilities—it’s becoming a core part of insurance portfolio strategy. In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, Gianluca Minella, Head of Research at InfraRed Capital Partners (a part of SLC Management), joins host Stewart Foley for a wide-ranging conversation on infrastructure’s growing relevance for insurers.

 

Drawing on findings from SLC Management’s recent global insurance survey, Gianluca shares insights into how insurers are allocating across core, core-plus, and value-add strategies. The discussion covers inflation protection, regulatory treatment, digitalization, decarbonization, valuation discipline, and infrastructure’s role as both a defensive and growth-oriented asset class.

 

Whether you’re focused on diversification, long-term returns, or navigating macro risks, this episode offers timely and practical insight into how infrastructure equity is being used by insurers to enhance portfolio resilience and performance.