InsuranceAUM.com

Episode 230: The Convergence of Insurers and Asset Managers

Host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Tim Lyne, CEO and founding partner of Antares Capital. Tim shares his journey from growing up in Chicago to founding a leading direct lending firm. He reflects on the early days of Antares Capital, the challenges and rewards of starting a financial firm, and the evolution of the direct lending market.

 

Tim discusses the complexities of insurance asset management, highlighting the importance of navigating asset allocation, regulatory environments, and capital relief. He also shares his thoughts on why insurance asset management is the most sophisticated field in finance and provides valuable insights into building strategic partnerships with insurance companies.

 

Stewart and Tim explore the current trends in M&A, the growing acceptance of private credit by insurance companies, and Antares’ approach to building its insurance business. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the direct lending market, the role of insurance capital, and the importance of reliability and long-term relationships in the industry.

Episode 229: Executive Spotlight: Sara Bonesteel, Independent Director, Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Sara Bonesteel, the recently retired Chief Investment Officer of Prudential Insurance International. Sara shares her fascinating career journey, starting from her first job in her family's furniture business in Michigan to her leadership role in international insurance investments.

 

Sara delves into her diverse experiences in finance, discussing her time at Bear Stearns in structured securities, her transition to asset management at PGIM, and her tenure as CIO. She offers insights into the complexities of different financial roles, the critical skills required to succeed, and the evolving landscape of insurance asset management.

 

Stewart and Sara also explore the challenges and rewards of being a woman in finance. Sara provides valuable advice on career development, the importance of lateral moves, and the need for diversity and inclusion in the industry. Whether you're an aspiring finance professional or a seasoned investor, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration from one of the industry's respected leaders.

Episode 228: Navigating Private Credit and Alts: Insights with Chris Lyons of Voya IM

Join host Stewart Foley on the InsuranceAUM.com podcast as we dive into the world of private fixed income and alternatives with Chris Lyons, head of private fixed income and alternatives at Voya Investment Management. Chris shares his journey from humble beginnings to his current leadership role, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of private credit markets and their post-crisis adaptation.

 

This episode explores the strategic approaches to managing private credit assets in a fluctuating economic environment, addressing the challenges and opportunities within the sector. Chris discusses current interest rate trends, market liquidity, and the evolving landscape of private credit. He also offers invaluable advice for young professionals navigating their careers in finance, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and seizing opportunities.

 

Tune in for an engaging and informative conversation that sheds light on the intricacies of private fixed income and alternatives, offering practical insights for insurance investment professionals.

Episode 227: Navigating Real Estate Market Dislocation with Invesco’s Bert Crouch

Dive into the complexities of the real estate market in this informative episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast. Host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Bert Crouch, Head of North America at Invesco Real Estate, to explore current trends and challenges in the industry.

 

Bert shares his extensive knowledge on the state of real estate transactions, valuation trends, and sector-specific insights. Discover how market dislocation creates unique opportunities for non-bank lenders like Invesco and get a comparative view of global real estate markets, including Europe, the UK, and Asia.

 

Learn about the outperforming retail and single-family rental sectors, the challenges facing office spaces, and the growth of alternative sectors such as data centers. Bert also discusses managing risks and investment strategies, emphasizing the importance of embracing market cycles.

 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the real estate market's current landscape and future opportunities!

Episode 226: Renewable Returns: Windmill Capital on Driving Change with Clean Energy Investments

Dive into the world of renewable energy investments in this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast. Host Stewart Foley, CFA is joined by Brian Jones, managing partner and founder of Windmill Capital Management, who shares his deep insights into the burgeoning field of clean energy projects. Discover how renewable energy investments seek to align with the insurance industry’s objectives, and may offer financial returns and a way to mitigate climate-related risks.

 

In this discussion, learn about the potential of distributed energy resources (DERs) for commercial projects, such as powering supermarkets independently to ensure community support during power outages. Brian explains how these projects can provide stable, cost-effective energy solutions while also benefiting the environment. The conversation also explores the broader impacts of renewable energy on the insurance sector, highlighting innovative financing mechanisms like C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) that enable significant advancements in energy efficiency and sustainability.

Episode 225: Building Resilience – The Power of Private Credit in Insurance Portfolios

Join Stewart Foley, CFA on the InsuranceAUM.com podcast as he hosts Bill Sacher and Fred Chung from Adam Street Partners, exploring innovative strategies for building resilience in private credit portfolios tailored for insurance companies. Bill, partner and head of private credit, and Fred, head of credit underwriting, share their extensive experience and insights on navigating the evolving landscape of private credit investments.

 

In this episode, delve into the unique challenges and opportunities that private credit offers to the insurance industry, particularly in a market environment characterized by higher interest rates and potential economic shifts.

Episode 224: Insurance Insights: The Synthetic Risk Transfer Opportunity - Part 1

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, Join host Stewart Foley, CFA and guest James Parsons, partner and senior portfolio manager from PAG, for an enlightening dive into the world of insurance investments and synthetic risk transfer strategies.

 

This episode unpacks the complex landscape of regulatory capital, the growth of synthetic risk transfer (SRT) markets, and how these strategies are shaping the future of banking and insurance investments. Gain unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within the insurance sector, learn about the intricacies of SRT, and discover how innovative financial instruments can optimize capital and enhance returns.

Episode 223: Unlocking front-office capabilities through a robust data strategy

Join us in this insightful episode as Stewart Foley, CFA dives into the fascinating world of insurance asset management with a unique focus on how robust data strategies can transform front office capabilities. Stewart is joined by industry veterans Matt Biver, Co-founder and CEO of Grandview Analytics, and Ken Musick, Deputy Chief Investment Officer at EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, share their experiences and insights on the importance of having a single source of truth in data management and the dramatic enhancements it brings to investment decision-making and reporting accuracy.

Episode 222: Prosperity Asset Management’s CEO Deva Mishra on How to Build an Attractive Investment Portfolio for Insurers

Welcome to the latest edition of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast! In this episode, host Stewart Foley, CFA delves into the intricate world of asset-based finance, also known as private structure, with special guest Deva Mishra, CEO of Prosperity Asset Management.

 

Deva shares his career journey starting in computer science, transitioning into pivotal roles at Goldman Sachs and Global Atlantic, all leading to his executive leadership of a successful asset management firm focused exclusively on insurance assets. Deva offers a unique perspective on the evolution and current state of the private credit and ABF market.

Episode 221: High Yield Bonds: A liquid complement to your alternative allotment

Welcome to another episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast with your host, Stewart Foley, CFA. In this insightful discussion, we dive into the world of high-yield bonds and their role as a liquid complement to alternatives portfolios.

 

Our guests, Tim Leary, Senior Portfolio Manager at BlueBay, RBC, and Stephen Fitzsimmons, Institutional Portfolio Manager at RBC, share their expertise and experiences as they provide an in-depth analysis of the current state of high-yield bonds, touching on key metrics like OAS, spreads, and yields, and explain why they feel this asset class in is strong in today's market.