Insurance Solutions: when the Balance Sheet sets the Agenda
In recent discussions with senior leaders across Insurance Solutions (both buyside & sellside), a few themes keep coming up that match what we are hearing across the market.
• Trade conversion is where outcomes are decided
Insurers push back when a trade does not fit their constraints. For top-performing Insurance Solutions teams, the highest value sits with talent who can translate trade ideas into solutions that work for an insurer’s balance sheet & accounting or solvency framework, whilst also being capable of communicating this clearly enough to build internal buy-in.
• Continuity is a real differentiator
Insurers value dealing with the same senior people over time. When coverage turns over too often, trust can reset and progress slows.
• Hiring senior talent without a reliable external partner consumes leadership bandwidth
One senior leader described running a key hire largely through their own network. It took months, multiple rounds, and significant capacity, on top of client coverage and day-to-day management. Even at tier-1 platforms, finding the right person in this space is simply not “post it and pick someone”.
• Pay and retention are both moving quickly
Counter offers are more competitive (and faster) than they used to be, especially for A-players who sit at the intersection of commercial delivery and technical insurance know-how.
We are seeing these topics show up directly in live mandates across Laz Partners, and we are currently partnering with multiple tier-1 buyside and sellside clients on mandates linked to these themes — especially around coverage messaging, trade conversion, and building confidence with insurance stakeholders when discussions turn technical.
One of the most in-demand skill sets remains the ability to translate insurer balance sheet requirements into commercial outcomes, and to drive a process through to execution.
If you are a senior leader building out Insurance Solutions capability and looking to add structuring or technical insurance talent to your team, I am happy to compare notes. And if you are a top performer in Insurance Solutions or Insurance Structuring and considering a change heading into 2026, feel free to reach out confidentially by DM or email at [email protected]
