It is our most sincere hope that free, members-only events will provide you with valuable knowledge, CPE credits, and a continued sense of community during these troubling times. We welcome any suggestions you might have for topics and/or speakers: send your suggestions to Diane.SIFM@verizon.net.
- 4th Wednesday of the month, 1 pm-1:50 pm
- Members: Free; Non-members: $25.
- 1 CPE can be awarded for each session
The Hybrid Office – the Coming New Normal
The Hybrid Office – the Coming New Normal
When: May 26, 2021
Time: 1-2 pm
Price: No charge for members or non-members
CPE: 1 credit in Specialized Knowledge. In order to be awarded the full credit, you must respond to 3 of the 4 polling questions asked during the program
As companies begin to reopen their offices, many will opt to implement a hybrid work environment. Business and team leaders will have to develop and manage new paradigms that take advantage of digital transformation and organizational agility to ensure this new environment will succeed for both their bottom line and their employees.
This is an opportune time to evaluate what the past year has taught us about building and maintaining rapport within teams, onboarding and nurturing new employees as well as avoiding employee burnout. This webinar will concentrate on issues that Young Professionals are facing and strategies to mitigate those issues as they move to the new normal.
This panel consists of SIFM’s Young Professionals who have been working with their teams to identify ways to work together successfully, to continue building relationships and to stay engaged while working remotely. The panel can help companies to understand and leverage their experiences.
This webinar will delve into three topics:
- Best practices for staying connected in a remote world
- Unplugging from the office and employee ‘burnout’
- Prospect of returning to a physical office and today’s view of the ‘new normal’
Speakers
Moderator
Panelists
Panelist
Panelist
Who Should Attend: Accounting, tax and finance professionals in the insurance and reinsurance sectors. All attendees are expected to be working in those sectors and have the relevant background.
Learning Objectives: Webinar attendees will be able to:
- Articulate best practices in staying connected to peers, team members, direct reports
- Understand how to help team members set boundaries in a Hybrid office and WFH environment
- Protocols for adapting to the office of the future
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
2021 Past Webinars
Date: April 28, 2021
Time: 1-2pm
CPE: 1 credit in Taxes. In order to be awarded the full credit, you must respond to 3 of the 4 polling questions asked during the program.
Cost: Free for SIFM members; Non-members $25.
Speakers
Moderator: John Swanick, US Insurance Industry, Partner-in-Charge, Grant Thornton LLP Read bio
Panelists:
Hal Bellovin, Managing Director, Human Capital Services, Grant Thornton LLP Read bio
John Forni, Managing Director, Corporate Tax, Grant Thornton LLP Read bio
Arthur C.E. Burkard, Managing Director, Tax Services, Grant Thornton LLP Read bio
Who Should Attend: Accounting, tax and finance professionals in the insurance and reinsurance sectors. All attendees are expected to be working in those sectors and have the relevant background.
Learning Objectives: Webinar attendees are able to:
- Review the impact of state payroll tax updates on an organization
- Determine and assess a technology approach to a remote workplace
- Understand new risks and uncertainties facing the global insurance sector
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have moved to a remote workforce which has impacted the footprint of the organization.
This shift has caused a ripple effect on every organization from a payroll and nexus perspective and has caused companies to consider the impact on their business. Please join us as we discuss the various considerations that organizations are facing with the continued move to a remote workforce.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Refunds and Cancellations: Refund requests must be received 24 hours prior to the webinar. For more information regarding refund, concerns and/or program cancellation policies, please contact Diane Mensinger at DMensinger@SIFM.org.
SIFM is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE Credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
Speakers:
Moderator: Yelena La Forgia, CFO. Berkley Global Product Recall
Panelists:
Marina Barg, SVP Claims. W.R. Berkley Corporation
Adrian La Forgia, SVP Head of Enterprise Risk Management. QBE North America
Meredith Swisha, Senior Managing Director. Aon plc
Date: March 24, 2021
Time: 1-2pm
CPE: 1 credit in Specialized Knowledge
Listen to Webinar
Who Should Attend: Accounting and finance professionals in the insurance and reinsurance sector. All attendees are expected to be working in those sectors and have the relevant background.
Learning Objectives: Webinar attendees are able to:
- Understand new risks and uncertainties facing the global insurance sector
- Recognize the impact of loss prevention technologies on the claims proposition
- Identify the effect of workplace transition risks such as work from home, relocation and cybersecurity exposures
It’s no secret that risk management has been and continues to adapt to market and environmental forces facing the P&C industry. Peaking over the horizon to discern the uncertainties is precarious for insurance companies if they haven’t thought about and prepared for uncertainty.
This distinguished panel prepared attendees to identify and understand new risks that may impact their companies and clients such as:
- How to align the pricing strategy and reinsurance provisions to an organization’s risk appetite
- When the risks of social inflation and reserve deterioration from external factors can be mitigated
- What the potential impact of an extended duration of the COVID-19 pandemic could be on loss exposures
This distinguished panel discussed the risks:
- Understanding new risks and uncertainties facing the global markets and adaptability of more innovative and resilient risk management models
- Impact of loss prevention technologies on the claims proposition
- Aligning the pricing market strategy and reinsurance arrangements to an organizations risk appetite and goals
- Effect of workplace transition risks such as work from home, relocation and cybersecurity exposures
- Mitigating the risks of social inflation and potential deterioration of reserves due to external factors
- Extended duration of the COVID pandemic and the expected impact on loss exposures
The Post-Pandemic Landscape:
Trends and Trajectories
Speaker: Michelle DiGruttolo, Senior Managing Director, Ankura Consulting Group, LLC
Date: January 27, 2021
Time: 1-2pm
CPE: 1 credit in Specialized Knowledge
Who Should Attend: Accounting and finance professionals in the insurance and reinsurance sector. All attendees are expected to be working in those sectors and have the relevant background.
Learning Objectives: Webinar attendees will be able to:
- Recognize the geopolitical drivers that may impact organizations in 2021
- Understand how climate change may influence industrial raw materials availability and extraction
- Identify Issues that may affect global business risks
In today’s complex, fluid, and globally interconnected business environment, decision-makers often struggle to effectively sift through the volumes of available data to find insights that help them make better business decisions about global business risks and prospects. This webinar will offer perspectives for business leaders to identify opportunities while avoiding business risks.
The presentation will be an overview of the most important changes in the arc of the political and economic narrative. These changes include an exploration of what the new landscape might look like with respect to the following drivers:
- Washington priorities for the next four years
- The impact of climate on politics, policies, and people in power
- The trade landscape and great power politics
- The next competitive frontier: the Arctic
- Critical minerals as the new “oil”
2020 Past Webinars
Accounting Updates
Date: Tuesday, December 8th
Time: 3-5pm
CPE Credits: Two Sessions: 1 in Accounting and 1 in Tax
Registration cutoff: midnight, December 7th
Who should attend: Finance, accounting and tax professionals in the insurance industry or public practice.
Learning Objectives: Webinar attendees will be able to:
● Understand the implications of statutory accounting guidance
● Understand the impact of tax policies for personal planning
● Discuss the key GAAP pronouncements
Statutory Update
Brian Rozek, Partner, Financial Services, Baker Tilly US
Discuss the current and upcoming statutory accounting guidance from the NAIC’s SAP working group, discuss projects in process at the NAIC and describe progress on solvency modernization proposals.
GAAP Update
Jacob Benzaquen – Director, Insurance Practice, PwC
Insurance companies are constantly facing the challenge of staying up to speed on accounting and reporting matters which are relevant to the insurance industry. This presentation will provide a summary of hot topics affecting accounting and reporting which are pertinent to insurance companies.
Year-End Personal Tax Update
Jessica Perna – Tax Partner, Private Client Services, EY
Income tax rules and regulations are constantly changing, and often represent the most complex area of business and personal financial planning. Discussion of the impact of current tax reform on individual income tax and potential planning opportunities.
CATS, Comfort and COVID-19 in M&A
Date: Wednesday, November 18th
Registration cutoff: midnight, November 17th
Time: 1-2pm
CPE Credits: 1 Specialized Knowledge
Learning Objectives:
- How COVID-19 has effected insurance M&A
- The changing appetite for risk among buyers and sellers
- The legal issues surrounding material adverse affect clauses, representations and warranties
A distinguished panel will give you their perspective on insurance M&A activity in 2020 and what to expect in 2021. Anthony Latini (Boenning & Scattergood) will provide an overview with insights from Andrée Bourgon (Grant Thornton). They will identify key trends and drivers for current M&A activity, as well as identify the benefits and risks of recent deals. Stephen Johnson (Stradley Ronan) will comment on the legal ramifications of acquisition agreements in the current environment.
Insights to questions like:
- What have been the key trends and drivers in 2020?
- How has COVID-19 changed due diligence?
- What is the comfort level of buyers, sellers with remote evaluation?
- Will reinsurance costs affect M&A in 2021?
The panelists will also give the audience a perspective on their expectations for the insurance M&A market for 2021.
John Swanick of Grant Thornton will moderate with panelists Andrée Bourgon of Grant Thornton, Anthony Latini of Boenning & Scattergood, and Stephen Johnson of Stradley Ronan adding depth to the topic.
Economic Outlook Update: Riding the COVID-Coaster
Date: Wednesday, October 28th
Time: 1-2pm
CPE Credit: 1 in Specialized Knowledge
Registration cutoff: midnight, October 27th
KPMG’s Office of the Chief Economist is continuously monitoring key developments in this unprecedented situation and refinements to the economic model occur daily. The only thing certain about the current global economic outlook is that it is uncertain.
We still don’t know when the pandemic will be over, and what will be the comparative impact of the immediate health crisis and subsequent economic dislocation.
“We had an uneven shutdown around the country and what that allowed the virus to do is really take hold and remain a force for economic outcomes,” Constance Hunter, Chief Economist, KPMG.
But the situation can also mean opportunity – applying plausible and credible estimates on the timing and path to economic recovery is essential to making strategic decisions for the future. Join us on October 28th to hear Kenneth Kim, Senior Economist of KPMG discuss these issues.
Mr. Kim has more than 20 years of experience advising multinational clients on global macroeconomic developments including the path of central bank policy, economic growth, and inflation. He brings his depth and knowledge to help KPMG leadership and clients to assess the constantly evolving U.S. and international economic environment.
Property Market Dynamics
Date: Wednesday, July 22nd
Time: 1-2pm
CPE Credit: 1 in Specialized Knowledge
Registration cutoff: midnight, July 21st
Join Duncan Ellis, Head of Retail Property for North America General Insurance at AIG for an overview of current property insurance market dynamics. Duncan will review what’s trending in coverage, pricing, loss trends and more.
Duncan is responsible for growing and diversifying AIG’s Property portfolio, as well as implementing consistent underwriting practices in the US, Bermuda and Canada that are aligned with AIG’s overall risk appetite to position the retail property business for sustained profitable growth.
Update and Refresh Your Business Continuity Plan in Response to COVID-19
Date: Wednesday, June 24th
Time: 1-2pm
CPE Credit: 1 in Specialized Knowledge
Registration cutoff: midnight, June 23rd
In recent months and for the foreseeable future, insurance companies have been doing their part to reduce the progression of COVID-19. We are seeing a variety of proactive measures deployed in different areas of the country, which are impacting workers and businesses differently.
However, a consistent theme is the ability to work from home to ensure employees are healthy enough to continue to perform their operational activities. This discussion will be around the business continuity plan as it is a critical “enabler” for employees to work from home and to continue to enable employees to operate in a business as usual – ‘BAU’ environment.
The session will focus on and cover the following topics:
- Understanding the basics of business continuity planning
- Importance of business continuity planning
- Emerging issues affecting business continuity planning
- Factors to consider in business continuity plans
The speakers are John Swanick and Sean McErlean of Grant Thornton LLP. Mr. Swanick has over 35 years of public accounting and management consulting experience serving companies ranging in size from emerging growth to multinational publicly held and private insurance entities.
Mr. McErlean has more than 20 years of experience providing both management consulting and internal audit services to organizations in the insurance/reinsurance industry.
Speakers
John Swanick
Partner-in-Charge, Grant Thornton LLP
Sean McErlean
Senior Manager, Controls Advisory Services, Grant Thornton LLP
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Claims Trends, Observations and Emerging Risks
Webinar Details: Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 1 pm – 1:50 pm
CPE Credit: 1 credit for Specialized Knowledge
Learning Objectives:
- Explore the emerging risks in claims
- Discuss the key risk indicators of fraud
- Understand what insurance executives should be asking about claims development
Harriet Bateman and Brendan Gray of Baker Tilly will discuss trends and observations from conducting claims examinations and analysis, key risk indicators of fraud and the questions insurance executives should be asking about claims development.
Harriet has experience working with a variety of industries to measure physical and non-physical business interruption losses resulting from property events or cyber-attacks.
Brendan focusses on the quantification of insurance claims related to product recall, business interruption, fraud and fidelity. He is experienced in investigating misappropriation schemes and tracing assets due to employee theft or dishonesty.
Speakers
Harriet Bateman
Manager, Global Forensics, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP
Brendan Gray
Manager, Global Forensics, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP
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Covid-19 P&C Insurance Perspectives
Webinar Details: April 22, 1:00pm – 1:50pm
As the global coronavirus pandemic disrupts daily life and business, there are many important questions regarding how property and casualty insurance will respond and how the insurance industry might be impacted by the crisis.
- Is there coverage for business interruption losses caused by COVID-19?
- Might governments mandate that insurers retroactively provide coverage for COVID-19 business interruption losses?
- What are considerations around the pandemic’s broader impact on premiums, future coverage, and insurer financial strength?
Speakers
Visit bios
Paul Braithwaite
Senior Managing Director, Co-Leader of Insurance Services Forensic & Litigation Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc
Amy Stern
CPCU, ARe, Managing Director – Global Insurance Services, FTI Consulting
Robert Lewin
Partner, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Julie Nevins
Special Counsel, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
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Past Webinar: Strategic Trends for 2020
Webinar Details: Wednesday, March 18th at 1:00pm
Using an extensive network of local “on-the-ground” advisors, partners and affiliates to gather and analyze information around the world, Michelle DiGruttolo of Ankura Consulting will discuss strategic trends that may impact organizations in 2020.
Michelle describes the following geopolitical drivers in areas such as political, economic, security, technology environmental and social ecosystems:
- Fault lines. Trends that could potentially become small geopolitical earthquakes that could trigger economic or security tsunamis.
- Fissures. Small cracks that could potentially widen into divisive chasms that could develop into full-blown paradigm shifts, changes in the balance of power, or seismic economic swings.
- Flashpoints. Areas of increasing tension that could degenerate into economic or military conflict.
- Fractures. Geopolitical hot spots and wild cards that have low probability but high impact.
Michelle has over 25 years of experience as a trusted advisor to senior decision-makers in the White House, the Department of Defense, the Department of State as well as to corporate executives. At Ankara Consulting she leads a geopolitical advisory practice that offers strategic guidance and support to clients doing business in both stable and emerging growth markets.
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