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Tune in to the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, hosted by Founder and Advisor, Stewart Foley, CFA. Our podcast features insightful conversations with CIOs, asset managers, and other distinguished professionals in the insurance asset management industry. Each episode delves into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities, providing listeners with valuable perspectives and practical advice. Don’t miss out on these engaging discussions that are essential for insurance investors and asset managers.
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In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Mansi Patel and Jeff Matthews of Principal Asset Management to explore how infrastructure debt is evolving—and how those changes are influencing insurance investment strategy. From AI-driven demand for data centers to the energy transition and shifting demographics, the conversation unpacks the current state and future outlook of infrastructure investing.
Mansi and Jeff also explain key trends shaping the asset class: the rise of digital infrastructure, the role of power and natural gas in supporting AI growth, and the importance of geographic diversification. They provide insights into how insurance companies can access these opportunities through both SMAs and fund vehicles, while navigating regulatory and capital efficiency considerations.
With decades of combined experience, the guests share their views on risk, essentiality, and how infrastructure investments have performed under stress. Whether you're new to the space or deep in portfolio construction, this episode offers timely insights into one of the fastest-growing segments of insurance investing.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Mario Giannini, Executive Co-Chairman and longtime leader of Hamilton Lane, for a candid discussion on the evolving landscape of private markets. Giannini challenges the notion that private equity is “dead,” explaining why fundamentals remain resilient despite recent underperformance and how the long-term value proposition continues to attract institutional investors.
The conversation explores key themes shaping portfolios today including secondaries, infrastructure, and the rise of private credit as well as how artificial intelligence is transforming the private markets ecosystem. Giannini also offers perspective on what insurance investors are asking, the importance of asset allocation over market timing, and how culture and discipline have driven Hamilton Lane’s enduring success.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Erin Patterson, Global Co-head of Research and Strategy at Manulife Investment Management, to explore the intersection of macroeconomic uncertainty and commercial real estate opportunity. Erin shares how Manulife is navigating ongoing volatility, from interest rate shifts to global trade disruptions, and why a resilient, globally diversified strategy remains key for insurance investors.
The conversation covers the "five Ds" shaping their investment lens demographics, deglobalization, decarbonization, digitalization, and democratization and how these trends are influencing everything from market selection to sector prioritization. Erin also dives into the evolving role of alternative real estate, the importance of demographic tracking, and how AI and infrastructure considerations are shaping CRE strategy. Whether you're focused on long-term income or adapting to short-term uncertainty, this episode offers valuable insights into institutional real estate allocation in today’s complex environment.
Jeffrey Diehl, Managing Partner and Head of Investments at Adams Street Partners, joins the InsuranceAUM.com podcast to explore whether the rapid growth of private credit platforms, particularly BDCs and insurer-owned portfolios, is creating systemic risk or sustainable opportunity.
In this candid conversation with host Stewart Foley, Diehl explains how deployment pressure, the rise of PIK loans, and reduced underwriting discipline could challenge returns in an overheated segment of the market. He also unpacks the scale of capital flowing through these platforms, the structural differences between perpetual BDCs and traditional private credit funds, and what red flags insurance investors should be monitoring.
For anyone allocating to private credit, or evaluating manager selection, this episode offers timely, practical insight into how scaling may impact risk, performance, and long-term portfolio outcomes.
Mark Rose, Insurance Solutions Specialist at T. Rowe Price and former Chief Investment Officer of Argo Group, joins Stewart Foley for a candid and insightful conversation on the InsuranceAUM.com podcast.
With a background spanning equities, high yield, private credit, and more, Mark shares the lessons learned from over a decade managing insurance portfolios—including the importance of investment committee process, manager selection, and risk governance. He also discusses his transition from CIO to the asset management side, what drew him to T. Rowe Price, and how the firm is evolving its insurance solutions offering.
For insurance investors navigating today’s evolving fixed income landscape, Mark’s perspective offers valuable takeaways on portfolio construction, private asset allocation, and building strong institutional relationships. Whether you’re in the CIO seat or partnering with insurers, this episode offers real-world insight from both sides of the table.
David Politano, Managing Director and Head of Debt Strategies for MetLife Investment Management’s Real Estate group, brings more than 30 years of experience to the conversation as he joins the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast. In this episode, he explains how insurance companies’ approach to commercial real estate lending differs from traditional bank and CMBS channels - focusing on long-term, cradle-to-grave loan management with an emphasis on credit quality and relationship-based underwriting.
David walks through the structural advantages of insurer-held CRE debt, performance comparisons post-COVID, and how real estate market dynamics, especially in the office sector, are evolving. He also provides perspectives on pricing trends, global opportunities like Mexico industrial, and what insurers should consider in today's competitive lending environment. Backed by deep institutional knowledge and a client-first investment philosophy, this episode offers valuable context for insurers navigating CRE debt in 2025 and beyond.
Tas Hasan, Managing Partner & COO, and Nelson Pereira, Director of Insurance Investor Partnerships at Deerpath Capital, share their perspective on the growing role of lower and middle market direct lending in insurance portfolios. With decades of experience and a long-standing focus on this segment, they explain why it's gaining traction among insurers seeking yield, diversification, and capital efficiency.
They break down the structural advantages of sponsor-backed lending, including stronger covenants, conservative leverage, and more lender-friendly deal terms. The discussion also explores how regulatory developments, such as NAIC guidance and capital treatment, are influencing insurer allocation decisions.
For insurance investors evaluating private credit strategies, this conversation offers valuable insight into manager selection, deal flow dynamics, and the key factors that set experienced lenders apart in today’s market.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Frank Melaccio, CFA, CPA, FRM, Vice President, Finance and Treasurer at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, and Jason Young, Head of U.S. Corporate Private Placements and Private Structured Credit at MetLife Investment Management (MIM). The discussion explores the evolving role of investment-grade private credit and asset-based finance (ABF) in health insurance investment portfolios. Both guests share their career journeys, personal anecdotes, and their perspectives on strategic asset allocation within the unique cash flow structures of health insurers.
Together, they dive into the diversification benefits, relative value opportunities, and liquidity considerations of IG private placements and ABF. Frank offers insights into how health insurers manage illiquidity risk while optimizing return on capital, and Jason sheds light on how the ABF market has matured with shorter durations and more investor interest. This episode is packed with expert perspectives on credit market dynamics, the future of private fixed income, and how health insurers can better position their portfolios in today's rapidly changing environment.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Carrie Mears, Chief Investment Specialist at the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Carrie offers a rare regulatory perspective on how insurance investment oversight is evolving—touching on key topics like NAIC reforms, the restructuring of the Valuation of Securities Task Force, and the growing influence of private credit on insurer portfolios.
The conversation dives into the challenges of transparency, capital treatment, and risk assessment in today’s complex investment landscape. Carrie also shares insights from her roles at both the NAIC and the IAIS, offering a global lens on regulatory frameworks and their implications for CIOs, portfolio managers, and other insurance investment professionals. It’s an informative, accessible episode filled with practical insights for anyone navigating the intersection of regulation and insurance asset management.
Sam Kaplan, Rates and Securitized Portfolio Manager at Jennison Associates, returns to the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast to share his perspective on today’s evolving rates landscape. With the Fed cutting front-end rates while long-end yields remain elevated, Sam explores the forces reshaping the curve and what insurers need to know about duration, relative value, and term premium.
In this conversation with host Stewart Foley, Sam outlines the implications of shifting monetary policy, labor market trends, and fiscal dynamics on fixed income portfolios. He highlights how insurers can evaluate opportunities across the curve, from three- to seven-year maturities to the longer end, and why relative value considerations are changing in ways many haven’t seen before.
The discussion also touches on practical considerations for insurers - whether now is the right time to extend duration, what risks lie ahead if Fed independence is challenged, and how market participants are adapting to heightened uncertainty. For anyone navigating today’s fixed income environment, Sam provides timely insights and a framework for staying “ahead of the curve.”
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Milliman’s Sam Nandi, Co-Lead of the Financial Risk Management Practice, and Anna Berezovskaya, Principal and Consulting Actuary in the Life Practice. Together, they explore how regulatory changes and the growing role of private credit are reshaping the way insurers approach strategic asset allocation.
Sam and Anna share perspectives on balancing regulatory requirements, liability-aware investing, and enterprise value optimization in today’s complex insurance landscape. They highlight the nuances of principle-based reserving, liquidity governance, and the trade-offs insurers face as they incorporate private and alternative assets into their portfolios.
From evolving regulations to liability-informed frameworks, this conversation offers a clear view of how insurers can adapt to new challenges while pursuing long-term value creation.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Jennifer Taylor, Head of Emerging Market Debt and Senior Portfolio Manager at State Street Investment Management, for a timely and insightful discussion on the current state of EM debt. Jennifer shares her career journey from early roles in hedge funds to leading sovereign debt strategies, offering valuable perspective on how emerging markets have evolved—and why they continue to present compelling yet complex opportunities for institutional investors.
The conversation explores why State Street Investment Management takes a beta-first approach to emerging market debt, emphasizing diversification across sovereign issuers and efficient benchmark exposure. Jennifer explains the differences between sovereign and corporate EM debt, discusses the role of U.S. policy as a dominant market driver, and shares how her team helps clients customize exposures based on unique constraints and objectives. This episode is essential listening for insurance investment professionals looking to better understand one of the most dynamic areas of global fixed income.
Ross Rosenfelt, Managing Director in the Global Opportunities group at Oaktree, joins the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast to unpack the rapid rise of liability management exercises (LMEs) and their impact on today’s credit markets. With over two decades of experience in restructuring—first as a bankruptcy attorney and now as an investor—Ross offers a grounded look at how LMEs are reshaping the way distressed companies and creditors interact.
He and host Stewart Foley explore how restructuring has evolved, the legal mechanics behind LMEs, and what insurance investors should know about navigating this increasingly complex environment. From creditor cooperation agreements to underwriting challenges in a post-LME world, this episode delivers timely insights from one of the industry's most experienced voices.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, welcomes Kevin Egan, CPA, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, and Co-Head of Credit Research for Invesco’s Global Private Credit Team. Together, they take a deep dive into senior loans—an often misunderstood but increasingly relevant market for insurers. Kevin explains the fundamentals of the asset class, including the security and recovery profile of senior loans, their relative value compared to high yield, and how they’ve historically performed across market cycles.
The conversation also explores current dynamics shaping the space: demand from CLOs, shifts in direct lending, and sector trends insurers should be paying attention to. Kevin shares Invesco’s outlook on where opportunities lie today, what risks are emerging, and how insurers can position themselves in a market environment defined by both resilience and competition.
Whether you’re looking to better understand the mechanics of senior secured loans or gain insights into how they may fit within an insurance portfolio, this discussion offers practical takeaways from one of the leading voices in private credit.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, sits down with Rich Hill, Global Head of Research and Strategy at Principal Real Estate, to explore today’s commercial real estate landscape and what it means for insurance investors. With over $25 trillion in value and 18 subsectors, CRE is far from monolithic. Rich explains how insurers should approach asset allocation with a four-quadrant strategy that includes public and private debt and equity.
The conversation dives into how insurers are navigating private real estate debt opportunities amid valuation resets, the growing appeal of sectors like data centers and senior housing, and why CRE may be an under-appreciated source of long-term portfolio stability. Rich also unpacks the difference between core, core plus, value-add, and opportunistic strategies plus, the risks and rewards of each in today's market cycle. Whether you're rethinking your CRE allocation or evaluating long-term trends, this episode offers actionable insights tailored to insurance asset management.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Jeff Miller, Co-Head of Fixed Income and Portfolio Manager, and Stephen “Fitz” Fitzsimmons, Executive Director of Insurance Solutions, both at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The discussion centers on how insurers can navigate the evolving role of fixed income within multi-asset portfolios, with insights into ALM optimization, yield curve dynamics, and opportunities across public and private credit.
Miller and Fitz highlight the impact of regulatory changes, the balance between transparency and complexity in fixed income markets, and how insurers can thoughtfully integrate alternatives alongside traditional allocations. Their perspectives provide insurance CIOs and investment leaders with actionable guidance for building resilient portfolios in today’s fast-changing environment.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, speaks with Jon McKeown, Head of Portfolio Strategy and Analytics at Northleaf Capital Partners. Jon shares how Northleaf approaches portfolio construction in private credit by applying a risk- and analytics-driven lens, enabling investment teams to maintain strong relative value discipline and better navigate sector and geographic exposure. With over $30 billion in commitments, Northleaf brings a global, middle-market focus across private equity, infrastructure, and credit making their insights especially relevant to insurance asset managers.
Jon outlines how his team supports investment decision-making across origination, underwriting, and portfolio monitoring. He also dives into NAV-based lending, European private credit opportunities, and how his team leverages a custom “composite risk” metric to assess return per unit of risk. Listeners will appreciate Jon’s perspectives on downside protection, portfolio design thinking, and how insurance investors can enhance outcomes through a strategic lens.
In this episode of the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast, host Stewart Foley, CFA, is joined by Dmitri Rabin, Rates and Securitized Portfolio Manager at Jennison Associates, for a deep dive into the current state of the investment-grade securitized markets. From the performance dynamics of agency MBS versus corporates to the shifting role of banks and foreign buyers, Dmitri offers a clear-eyed view of spread, convexity, and relative value through the lens of insurance portfolios.
The conversation also covers asset-backed securities, subprime auto credit risk, and policy considerations around GSE privatization. Dmitri shares sector-level insights into CLOs, CMBS, and non-agency RMBS, drawing attention to structural risks and supply-demand trends shaping investor positioning. The episode closes with a candid discussion about Jenison’s culture and Dmitri’s career reflections offering both technical insight and human perspective for insurance investment professionals navigating today’s credit markets.
Allysen Mattison, Director of Investment Risk and Vice Chair of the Investment Committee at Income Research & Management, joins the InsuranceAUM.com Podcast to deliver a deep dive into the art and science of fixed income risk management. Drawing on her experience overseeing a $122 billion portfolio, Allysen explains how her team approaches interest rate sensitivity, duration positioning, and risk decomposition to ensure that the risks taken align with high-conviction investment ideas.
In the conversation with host Stewart Foley, Allysen unpacks complex topics such as tracking error models, the importance of aligning risk metrics with portfolio construction, and the nuanced role of downside risk analysis. She emphasizes the value of relative value assessment, systematic thinking, and cross-team collaboration, offering practical strategies for balancing active risk-taking with the protection of principal.
From philosophical approaches to tactical frameworks, Allysen’s perspective provides a rare inside look at how one of the industry’s leading fixed-income managers evaluates, measures, and responds to risk. Whether you’re an investment professional, an insurance CIO, or simply a fixed income enthusiast, this episode offers a masterclass in managing risk for long-term performance.
Anna Paglia, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at State Street Investment Management, joins host Stewart Foley, CFA, for a wide-ranging discussion on innovation and disruption in asset management.
She shares her unconventional career journey from international law to leading one of the industry’s largest investment platforms, offering a unique perspective on how evolving client needs, technological change, and strategic partnerships are reshaping the industry. Anna discusses State Street’s $5 trillion milestone, its rebrand, and initiatives designed to democratize access to both public and private markets, including the launch of a public–private credit ETF.
The conversation covers insurer-specific solutions, the role of ETFs and cash management, the importance of team culture, and the next decade’s potential for convergence, tokenization, and blockchain in portfolio management. For asset managers, insurers, and institutional investors, this episode offers valuable takeaways on how to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape.
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