A year and a half ago, I moved to Biltmore Lake, North Carolina. One of the most beautiful natural vistas in this area is the view of Scott Mountain. The north face of the mountain, up to a section of the mountain called Scott’s Ridge, is owned by the Cecil family. After a long period of ownership, the Cecils made the decision last year to sell the 138 acres that make up Scott’s Ridge. I would hate for it to become a condominium development – but, as it turns out, Pinnacle has a client that can help conserve this natural beauty..

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague the other day about the difference between being a consultant and a trusted advisor. 

There’s been a lot of ink spilled over the difference. Increasingly, companies have marketed advisory services as a replacement or supplement to consulting services. Although the distinction between the two can seem unclear, there is separation.

Not too long ago, I received the news that I failed my most recent actuarial exam. Those familiar with the actuarial examination process know that this is an agonizing feeling (in fact, the Wall Street Journal published an article in December 2021 about the challenges of actuarial exams). To make matters worse, it was the fourth time I scored just under a passing score of 6 during my exam journey. 

When faced with discouragement, it’s all too easy to admit defeat. So how can we keep going when it feels like a win is out of reach?

 

This past year has marked a sea change in the traditional relationship between employer and employee. We are experiencing a paradigm shift, and the power and prominence that once rested with the boss has gravitated toward the employee.

Many people have vivid memories of where they were when COVID-19 became “real” for them. It was the moment that the pandemic evolved from an intangible topic on the news impacting people somewhere far away to something that directly affected daily life in their own communities—and for an a seemingly indefinite period of time. Much in the world has changed as a result of the pandemic, some of it perhaps permanently. In the captive insurance world, coverage for business interruption (BI) may be one of those changes.