InsuranceAUM.com

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with David Lehman, Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Strategies at HPS Investment Partners, to explore commercial real estate (CRE) debt, market evolution, and capital efficiency. Lehman shares his unique career journey—from New Jersey diner waiter to state government leadership and now overseeing real estate at HPS—offering listeners a rare perspective on adaptability and leadership in finance.

 

Together, they unpack how the CRE landscape has shifted, highlighting changes in the traditional “four food groups” of real estate and the emergence of sectors like data centers and senior housing. They also examine the long-term impact of higher interest rates, evolving bank and non-bank lending roles, and how insurers can gain capital efficiency through real estate debt investments. With historical insights, current trends, and a forward-looking view, this episode is a must-listen for insurance investment professionals navigating today’s CRE market.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Ken Johnson, CFA, CAIA, FRM, Senior Managing Director and Chief Ratings Officer at AM Best. Together, they unpack AM Best’s latest outlooks on the property & casualty and life insurance sectors—covering everything from macroeconomic uncertainty to the rise of private credit, offshore reinsurance, and how ratings methodology is adapting to today’s dynamic insurance investment landscape.

 

Ken shares his take on the growing role of asset manager-owned insurers, the shift toward more complex ownership structures, and the increased reliance on less transparent asset classes. He also discusses AM Best’s internal working groups and how they aim to strike a balance between robust capital modeling and fair treatment for insurers with evolving portfolio strategies. Whether you're a CIO, portfolio manager, or regulator, this discussion sheds light on how risk, regulation, and ratings intersect in today’s market.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Matt Brill, Head of North America Investment Grade Credit at Invesco. Together, they discuss a wide range of timely topics, including how insurers can navigate volatility in public markets, what relative value opportunities exist within investment grade credit, and how macroeconomic and political developments—particularly tariffs—are influencing fixed income strategies today.

 

Matt shares his personal journey from the mail room to managing $100 billion in assets and offers deep insight into how Invesco approaches portfolio construction for insurance clients. He outlines current sector views, including opportunities in banks and utilities, concerns around energy credits, and why now may be the time to selectively take on risk. The conversation also covers credit quality trends, the evolution of core plus strategies, and the importance of timing and conviction in a market shaped by policy uncertainty. This episode offers a practical and insightful look into credit markets from one of the industry’s most respected voices.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Keith Ashton and David Ells, CFA both Partners and Portfolio Managers in Alternative Credit at Ares Management—to explore the accelerating role of insurance capital in asset-based finance (ABF). With deep backgrounds inside insurance companies, Keith and David bring firsthand perspectives on how that experience shapes their approach to managing and structuring credit portfolios today. From defining ABF and highlighting its evolution, to offering practical lessons learned from decades in the field, this discussion is packed with valuable insights for insurance investors.

 

They also delve into the analytics required for evaluating complex structured credit, the private vs. public market dynamics, and the rise of proprietary platforms. The conversation covers key market shifts, the growing appetite from insurers for private credit exposure, and the strategic allocation decisions insurance firms face. Whether you're new to ABF or a seasoned pro, this episode delivers real-world knowledge and forward-looking strategies from two of the industry's top voices.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Shane Feeney, Managing Director and Global Head of Secondaries at Northleaf Capital. They explore the growing importance of private equity secondaries, how portfolio construction can optimize outcomes, and why secondaries are gaining traction with institutional and insurance investors.

 

The conversation covers the evolution of the secondaries market, risk management through diversification, and the dynamics of LP-led and GP-led transactions. Shane also shares insights into current supply-demand trends, what differentiates top-tier managers, and practical advice for insurance CIOs entering the space.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Toby True, Partner on the Investment Strategy and Risk Management Team at Adams Street Partners, about the complexities and evolving best practices in private market portfolio construction for insurers. Toby shares how Adams Street tailors investment strategies to align bottom-up decisions with the unique objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs of insurance portfolios.

 

The conversation explores how illiquidity impacts portfolio design, why data and historical patterns are increasingly valuable in modeling private market exposure, and what current market conditions—such as slowed distributions and resilient fundamentals—mean for capital deployment. Toby also offers insights on secondary markets, private credit underwriting, and key traits he looks for when building investment teams. It's a timely and insightful discussion for insurance investment professionals navigating today’s private market environment.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Shelley Morrison, Head of Fund Finance at Aberdeen Investments, about the growing relevance of fund finance in insurance portfolios. Shelley breaks down the fundamentals of subscription line loans, or “sublines,” and explains how these short-duration, investment-grade assets deliver enhanced yield without excess credit risk. She also outlines how fund finance fits into the broader private credit landscape and why it's gaining traction with insurers seeking diversification and downside protection.

 

The conversation highlights Aberdeen Investments’ disciplined underwriting approach, relationship-driven sourcing, and ability to build custom portfolios tailored to insurer-specific needs. From managing sector exposures to navigating complex liability structures, Shelley offers practical insights into how insurers can integrate fund finance into their strategic allocation plans—especially as the market evolves in response to shifting capital demands.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Justin Mahoney, co-founder of Shelter Growth Capital, for an in-depth discussion on the residential mortgage loan (RML) market and its increasing relevance to insurance portfolios. Justin offers a data-driven look at the macro trends affecting the housing market, including supply shortages, disciplined credit underwriting, and the nuanced relationship between home price appreciation and affordability. He explains why RMLs are drawing growing interest from insurers, thanks to favorable capital treatment, risk-adjusted return potential, and access to Federal Home Loan Bank financing.

 

The conversation also covers investment structure preferences—from direct investing to SMAs and pooled funds—and how each option fits into an insurer's broader allocation strategy. Justin shares where he sees the most compelling opportunities today, including non-QM loans, agency-eligible segments, and home equity extraction. Whether you're just beginning to explore the space or scaling an existing program, this episode offers valuable insights into how insurers can navigate and benefit from this dynamic and scalable asset class.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Michael Hunstad, Deputy CIO and CIO of Global Equities, and Jeff Sampson, Senior Portfolio Manager for Global Equities at Northern Trust Asset Management. They discuss the evolving landscape of dividend strategies, equity allocations, and risk-aware portfolio construction for insurers navigating today’s market complexity.

 

From balancing income and capital appreciation to mitigating concentration risk and factoring in tax efficiency, Hunstad and Sampson share actionable insights tailored to insurance investors. With dividend-paying equities becoming more diversified and relevant in a normalized rate environment, this episode offers practical guidance for aligning public equity strategies with enterprise risk and return goals.

In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Eric Partlan, Chief Investment Officer at MassMutual, for an engaging installment of the CIO Spotlight series. With MassMutual’s $285 billion general account and deep legacy as a mutual insurer, Eric shares insights into how the firm’s long-term orientation, mutual structure, and strategic partnerships drive its investment approach—particularly in private credit, structured products, and ALM strategies.

 

Eric also reflects on his unique career journey from aerospace engineering to the CIO role, offering a candid look into his philosophy on leadership, team building, and fostering intellectual curiosity. From cultivating a collaborative team culture to leveraging Barings and other long-term partnerships, this episode delivers thoughtful perspectives on navigating evolving markets while remaining rooted in purpose-driven investment strategies. Whether you're new to insurance asset management or a seasoned pro, this is a must-listen conversation on where the industry is headed.