Risk Management: Brick by Brick

Innovation & Efficiency: The Future of the Agent Channel with Jack Ramsey

We're coming to you LIVE from ITC 2025!In this episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Jack Ramsey, VP of the Agent Channel at NEXT Insurance, to discuss the radical shift in how small business insurance is sold and serviced. With over 35 years of industry experience, Jack offers a unique perspective on why the "traditional" manual underwriting model is a death sentence for small commercial profitability.Discover how NEXT Insurance uses a digital-first mindset to turn a 5-day quoting cycle into a 5-minute win. Jack dives into the "secret sauce" of using social media scraping and rich data to understand risk in real-time—uncovering everything from hidden dance floors to happy hour specials that traditional questionnaires miss. Whether you are a national broker or a one-person retail shop, this conversation reveals how to remove administrative friction and get back to the "true people activities" that drive revenue.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason Reichl Executive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights00:46 – Meet Jack Ramsey: 35 Years of Agency and Carrier Evolution01:40 – NEXT Insurance’s Mission: Simple, Tailored, and Fully Digital02:38 – The Three Channels: Direct, Partnerships, and Agents03:52 – The Profitability Gap: Why Manual Underwriting Fails Small Business05:17 – Technology First: Guiding Agents Through the Risk Journey07:13 – Market Clarity: Dominating the Micro-Commercial Space09:38 – The Next Generation: Watching a Digital-First Agency in Action11:21 – Removing Menial Tasks: The 2026 Agent Value Proposition12:05 – Real-Time Quoting: Moving from Questionnaires to Rich Data14:05 – Nimble Innovation: How NEXT Responds to Market Needs in 30 Days16:31 – Risky or Too Risky: The "Super Sauce" of Social Media Scraping18:24 – Career Advice: Embracing Technology as an Insurance AgentRisk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

Innovation & Operational Risk: Modernizing Insurance Payments with Todd Greenbaum

We're coming to you LIVE from ITC 2025!In this episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Todd Greenbaum, CEO of Input 1, to discuss the critical role of payment systems in modernizing the insurance industry. With 40 years of experience in a 42-year-old family business, Todd offers a deep perspective on how digitizing the billing process protects policyholders and reduces operational risk.Discover why "optionality" is the key to a better customer experience, how to bypass the hurdle of legacy systems using modifiable APIs, and why the "ready, fire, aim" approach is the biggest pitfall for new InsurTechs. Todd shares his "bespoke" approach to payment plans and provides essential advice for those looking to build a long-lasting career in the industry.Whether you're a carrier struggling with flat files or a broker looking to deepen customer relationships, this conversation reveals why being thoughtful about architecture is the only way to materially change how you think about business.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason Reichl Executive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights01:40 – A 40-Year Legacy: The Input 1 Story02:23 – The Power of Optionality for Policyholders and Agents04:02 – Reducing Risk Through Digitized Premium Billing04:56 – Bridging the Gap: Connecting to Legacy Insurance Systems06:31 – Customizable APIs: Turning Flat Files into Digital Wins07:43 – Bespoke Payment Plans: Moving Beyond Standard Installments08:46 – Automation Flags: Streamlining Policy and Endorsement Data10:13 – Pitfalls of Scaling: Avoiding the Sunk Cost of Legacy Rituals14:06 – Payment Security: Why Reinstatement Risk is a Critical Concern14:43 – Changing Broker Economics through Digital Intelligence17:05 – Think Before You Go: The Importance of Digital Architecture18:49 – Career Longevity: Find Something Broken and Stick to ItEpisode Resources:Todd Greenbaum’s LinkedInInput 1 Official WebsiteTrustLayerIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend!Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

Innovation & AI: Real-Time Asset Intelligence with Eliron Ekstein

In this episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Eliron Ekstein, co-founder and CEO of Raven.AI, to discuss the transformation of vehicle inspections through advanced computer vision. From a "lucky coincidence" in a Shell energy lab to becoming a critical partner for the world’s largest rental car fleets like Avis and Hertz, Eliron shares how Raven.AI built a redundant, data-rich system that outperforms traditional human assessments. Discover why the industry is shifting toward an 80/20 automation model, how 360-degree documentation solves the "trust gap" in AI, and why real-world experience is the ultimate prerequisite for solving the industry's most expensive problems. Whether you are navigating rising claim costs or looking to implement self-service claims, this conversation reveals how transparency and high-fidelity data are reshaping the physical world. To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.. Podcast Host: Jason Reichl Executive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights:00:29 – The Shell Energy Lab: The Unlikely Origin of Raven.AI01:38 – Leveraging Fleet Data: The Avis and Hertz Coincidence02:27 – Shrinking Cycle Times: Self-Service Scans for Policyholders03:26 – Why AI Failed in the Past: The Problem with Bad Data04:27 – The 360-Degree Advantage: Why Humans Miss Damage AI Catches05:33 – The 80/20 Rule: Predicting the Future of Claims Automation06:31 – Rising Severity: Why Claim Costs are Through the Roof07:46 – Solving the Trust Gap: The Role of Transparency in AI10:20 – Immediate ROI: Reducing Cycle Times by 50%11:37 – Beyond Cars: Expanding to Commercial Trucks and Forklifts14:00 – Career Advice: Why You Must Understand the Problem to Fix It Episode Resources:Eliron Ekstein’s LinkedInRaven.AI Official WebsiteTrustLayerIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend!Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

Beyond the Estimate: How AI is Humanizing the Claims Experience with Bill Brower

We're coming to you LIVE from ITC! In this episode of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Bill Brower, Senior Vice President of Claims for Solera, to discuss the radical transformation of the claims process. With over 35 years in the industry—ranging from his father's body shop to executive roles at Nationwide and Liberty Mutual—Bill offers a masterclass in how technology is making the claims process more customer-friendly.Bill dives into the mechanics of AI-powered estimating, the shift toward instant digital payouts, and why the biggest barrier to innovation isn't the software, but the culture of legacy processes. Discover why Bill believes AI makes claims professionals "superhuman" and what a truly seamless, virtual claim journey will look like by 2030.Whether you're a young professional entering the industry or a carrier rethinking your digital strategy, this conversation highlights why test-and-learn mindsets are essential for survival in a digital-first world.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason ReichlExecutive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights:00:54 - Meet Bill Brower: From the Shop Floor to Global Claims Leadership01:28 - Instant Payouts & Smarter Decisions: Defining the Future of Claims02:23 - Why Now? How Perfected Software is Finally Meeting Industry Needs03:16 - The Superhuman Claims Professional: AI as an Efficiency Tool04:00 - Test and Learn: Balancing Speed, Accuracy, and Empathy05:05 - Real-World Impact: How Body Shops are Leveraging AI to Eliminate Bottlenecks07:14 - Distinguishing Buzz from Reality: The Importance of Robust Data Sets08:40 - Transparency in AI: Should Customers Know it's Machine-Driven?10:01 - Predictions for 2030: Virtual Handling and the 24-Hour Claim12:09 - Standardizing the Industry: The Role of SECA in Data Quality14:07 - Advice for the Next Generation: Adopting Automation as a Career DifferentiatorEpisode Resources:Bill Brower’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-brower-mba-9426b51Solera: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soleraTrustLayer: https://www.trustlayer.ioIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend!Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest

Innovation & AI: Reimagining Insurance Risk with Ashish Srivastava

We're coming to you LIVE from ITC 2025! In this new, limited series of Risk Management: Brick by Brick, host Jason Reichl sits down with Ashish Srivastava, Head of North America, Insurance & Risk Management for Blackstone Real Estate, to explore the massive gap between what insurance customers need and what the market actually delivers. With experience spanning McKinsey & Company, Zurich Insurance, and now managing one of the largest real estate insurance portfolios in the world, Ashish reveals why InsurTechs are positioned to bridge this gap and how AI will transform risk from a cost center into a strategic value-add.Discover how portfolio scale creates competitive advantages, why innovation should trump brand names when selecting partners, and what it takes for insurance carriers and brokers to keep pace with evolving customer expectations. Whether you are a risk manager at a global enterprise or a carrier trying to modernize, this conversation reveals why intellectual curiosity and innovation are the only ways to survive the shifting landscape.To find out how TrustLayer manages risk so that people can build the physical world around us, head to TrustLayer.io.Podcast Host: Jason ReichlExecutive Producer: Don HalliwellEpisode Highlights:00:00 - Intro: Welcome to Risk Management Brick by Brick00:25 - From McKinsey to Blackstone: Ashish's Journey into Insurance01:25 - Scale as Strategy: Managing Risk Across Portfolio Companies02:45 - The Customer Report Card: What Buyers Need vs. What They Get03:55 - AI's Role in Transforming Risk Management05:05 - From Reactive to Proactive: Preventing Claims Before They Happen06:37 - Practical AI Applications: Sensors, Cameras, and Pattern Recognition07:07 - How AI Will Reshape Insurance Carriers and Brokers08:35 - The "Three in a Box" Model: Building Effective AI Teams10:23 - Why Risk Managers Must Be Part of AI Conversations12:06 - Leadership and the Innovation Gap in Insurance14:17 - Innovation vs. Brand Names: Selecting the Right Partners16:06 - Advice for Risk Managers: Curiosity and Influence17:17 - Getting Started in Insurance: Resources for Young Professionals19:27 - Why Insurance Affects Everything in the WorldEpisode Resources:Ashish Srivastava’s LinkedInRevantage, A Blackstone Portfolio CompanyTrustLayerIf you enjoyed this episode, please (with a cherry on top):Subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple PodcastsFollow TRS on SpotifyTell a friend!Risk Management: Brick by Brick is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.soPrevious guests include: Seth Hausman of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Matthew Meyer of The Horton Group, Diana Rich of Foundation Building Materials, Christy McHenry of Suffolk Construction, Mark Rieder of NFP, and Cory Mangum of Primoris Services Corporation. Check out the three most downloaded episodes: Managing Your Risk Portfolio with Seth HausmanFocusing on Specialization with Matthew MeyerRisk Management is Everywhere with Diana RichIf you are interested in being a guest on Risk Management: Brick by Brick, please complete this form: fame.so/trs-guest