Private Client Risk & Resilience

In this episode, Kurt Thoennessen, CAPI, Founder and CEO of RiskRevu, discusses with Richard Kerr, CEO of Novatae, various challenges and solutions within the high net worth insurance space. Topics range from overcoming the hard market, networking strategies, the significance of quality submissions to underwriters, and the importance of specialization in the insurance industry. Kerr also delves into the foundation and goals of the Council for Insuring Private Clients (CIPC) and shares insights on the upcoming conference.

Highlights:

• Challenges in High Net Worth Insurance Space: Discusses specific regional insurance challenges like finding hurricane coverage in Florida and fire coverage in California.
• Networking and Support: Emphasizes the importance of reaching out and networking within the industry, particularly through organizations like CIPC.
• Novatae's Strategy: Kerr details Novatae's approach in the insurance market, focusing on acquisitions and service improvement.
• Importance of Quality Submissions: Kerr stresses the need for agents to provide underwriters with clear and complete submissions to secure capacity.
• Council for Insuring Private Clients (CIPC): Discussion on the foundation and objectives of CIPC, highlighting its role in education, advocacy, and networking for insurance professionals.
• Upcoming Conference Details: The conference takes place May 1 and 2 in Dallas, TX at the Warwick hotel. Key themes include artificial intelligence in the high net worth space, capacity finding strategies, and building effective teams in the high net worth sector.
• Professional Development: Highlights the Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM) designation and its benefits for professionals in the industry.

For more information or to register for the CIPC conference, visit the Council for Insuring Private Clients website: https://privateclientcouncil.com/.
For more details about Novatae, visit their website: https://novatae.com/.
For more details about the CPRM designation visit: https://www.scic.com/programs/cprm/

In the latest episode of "Private Client Risk & Resilience," Kurt Thoennessen, CAPI, a Personal Risk Advisor at Ericson Insurance Advisors and CEO of RiskRevu, sat down with Giles Greenfield, CEO of Markham Private Client, for an in-depth exploration of the private client insurance market across the UK and the US.

Thoennessen kicked off the episode by introducing himself and expressing his enthusiasm about having Giles Greenfield as a guest, someone he met at the Private Risk Management Association Summit.

The conversation quickly delved into the nitty-gritty of the UK's private client insurance landscape. Greenfield provided valuable insights, drawing parallels and disparities between the UK and US markets. They discussed how international relationships among UK and US brokers significantly streamline communication, trust levels, and improve insurance program design for high net worth and ultra high net worth clients with properties interests in both countries.

A major focus of the discussion was the comparison in coverage and underwriting approaches between the two countries. The absence of umbrella liability policies in the UK, as noted by Giles, underscored the UK's less litigious nature compared to its US counterpart.

Both Thoennessen and Greenfield addressed pressing concerns brokers face in their respective regions, particularly the challenges surrounding escape of water incidents. These incidents, especially concerning historical or listed properties, were highlighted as significant hurdles for clients and insurers.

Overall, this podcast episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the private client insurance market. It not only emphasized the nuances between the UK and US markets but also underscored the pivotal role of international relationships. Furthermore, it shed light on the intricate challenges brokers encounter while addressing distinctive coverage issues in their respective regions.
Resources:
Markham Private Client - https://markhambrokers.com/
What is a listed building article - https://www.mansionglobal.com/library/listed-building
Wondeur AI - https://wondeur.ai/
Private Risk Management Association - https://www.privateriskmanagement.org/

According to some sources, social engineering is used in 98% of cyber attacks, while others say it's involved in 70–90% of successful attacks. Social engineering is a critical part of an attack that uses manipulation or tricks to coerce victims into sharing sensitive information. Attackers may pretend to be a known person or legitimate entity, or use other tactics like impersonating a brand, using current events, or offering something the victim wants or needs. Social engineering can occur through email, phone, face-to-face, or the web.
In this episode of the Private Client Risk & Resilience podcast Kurt Thoennessen begins with introductions of the guests, Bill Roth and Anwar Visram, who share their extensive backgrounds in entrepreneurship and cybersecurity, respectively. Anwar emphasizes his experience in building cyber defense plans for high net worth families, while Bill highlights his expertise in visual thinking and experience design.

Kurt and his guests delve into the complexities of cybersecurity for affluent families, discussing the growing threat landscape and the importance of proactive risk management. They highlight the need for high net worth families to adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, which include regular education, simulation exercises, and clear rules of engagement. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges faced by high net worth individuals, such as the increasing attack surface due to multiple generations and the involvement of numerous advisors and staff.

Highlights:

1. Proactive Cyber Defense:
   • Emphasis on creating cyber defense plans tailored to high net worth families.
   • Importance of regular education and simulation exercises to prepare families for potential cyber threats.
2. Human-Centered Approach:
   • Cybersecurity as a human-centered problem, integrating technology and focusing on the human element.
   • Social engineering and human error account for 98% of cybersecurity issues.
3. Innovative Solutions:
   • Hard Target's approach to cybersecurity through gamification and tabletop exercises.
   • Development of mental models for cybersecurity similar to playing a board game, enhancing understanding and retention.
4. Real-World Scenarios:
   • Anwar shares examples of cyber threats, including virtual kidnapping and social media exploitation.
   • Importance of creating a family cyber committee to enforce governance and rules of engagement.
5. Emotional Resilience:
   • Focus on building emotional and relational resilience within families to handle cyber threats.
   • Preparing families for the emotional impact of cyber incidents.
6. Cyber Literacy for All:
   • Vision of expanding cybersecurity awareness and education beyond high net worth families to the broader public.
   • Importance of cyber preparedness in reducing vulnerabilities and making everyone a hard target.

Conclusion: Bill Roth and Anwar Visram provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity for high net worth families. Their innovative approach, combining human-centered strategies with advanced training methods, offers a comprehensive solution to protect against the growing threat of cyber attacks.

Thank You and Resources: A heartfelt thank you to Bill Roth and Anwar Visram for sharing their expertise and experiences. For more information about Hard Target, visit hardtarget.ai. Connect with Bill and Anwar on LinkedIn to stay updated on their latest content and initiatives.

Thank you for listening to this episode of the Private Client Risk & Resilience podcast. Stay tuned for future episodes as we continue to explore innovative solutions for protecting high net worth individuals and their families.

Brooke Mellen
Executive Claims Specialist
[email protected]