My name is Thomas Klingner and I’m in insurance.
I’m an inland marine specialist who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Leaving high school, I was faced with a seemingly impossible choice for an 18-year-old to make: What should I do as a career for the rest of my life?
How it all began
I was majoring in chemistry in college when I was first introduced to the insurance industry. While visiting a buddy in downtown Chicago, I was invited to a happy hour with a group of brokers and underwriters. Upon my arrival, the group welcomed me with open arms. From there, the night was filled with typical insurance indoctrination! I had a blast with everyone I met. It seemed like something I could do for the next 40 years – and still retain my sanity! Before I left, everyone made sure to share their contact information with me, and even offered to help me on my career journey with any questions I might have. The next year, I changed my major to risk management and insurance, and transferred to Illinois State University for my final two years of schooling.
Graduating with a degree in risk management and completing three CPCU exams were a great start to my career. However, I had no idea what to expect in the day-to-day work. After completing a six-month underwriting training program, I was given a book of small business, and it was off to the races!
My first year on the job was a wild ride filled with endless questions for my coworkers and manager. Like many, I experienced a bit of imposter syndrome during that initial year. Now, a decade later, I can look back at every job I’ve had and reflect on all that I learned in each role. Underwriting is a journey. No one steps into an underwriting role as an expert; it requires experience and time at the desk. Questions and collaboration with coworkers are critical to first building a knowledge base, and then refining that knowledge to a level of expertise that both broker partners and clients will value.
A day in the life of an underwriter
My day typically begins with a meditation session, a workout and a hot cup of coffee. Next, I start sifting through the deluge of emails that brokers sent after work hours the evening before. This gives me a good idea of what to focus on for the day. Once priorities are set, it’s time to dig into risks.
Most of my day is spent wearing a Sherlock Holmes-style hat, analyzing submissions for important risk information. Every underwriter, carrier, and manager will typically look at a risk differently. It takes no small amount of skill to determine the truly pertinent questions to ask about a risk. Ideally, you are asking questions for answers you can’t find yourself. Getting quality information on accounts from brokers is paramount, but it’s only half the battle. As underwriters, we also rely on third-party data aggregators and proprietary risk management software to help us gauge and rate a risk. Pricing, deductibles, form selection and understanding the main perils are all huge components to understanding risk, and that is what we get paid to do!
"Conveying detailed thoughts and strategy for a risk is both an art and a skill that every great underwriter must master."
It’s all about relationships
Insurance is a relationship business, so providing superior service to agency and broker partners is an important part of the role. Responsiveness, expertise and willingness to help brokers win deals are all critical to success. I have the privilege of working with some of the best production partners in the industry, and we have built mutual trust and respect over our 8-year relationships. If you can become friends with your trading partners, the job becomes much more enjoyable. It’s always a blast to have a nice dinner, catch a football game or attend a Red Rocks concert to celebrate a win. I now work with brokers across the nation and frequently travel to see business partners who are also friends. Thankfully, we have had many successes to celebrate!
I’m very lucky to have found a specialty in Inland Marine. I love the business I get to underwrite, and the specialty always keeps me on my toes. No two days are ever the same. I think most underwriters can struggle with the monotony of day-to-day production underwriting at times, but I truly enjoy the businesses I get to review. I’ve had the pleasure of joining risk control partners in person, two miles underground, watching mining equipment I insured eat into the side of the hill and produce thousands of tons of product a minute. I've stood at the top of half-finished skyscrapers in the city of Chicago. I’ve been in quarries, $500 million+ warehouses and visited top 50 trucking companies. It’s pretty darn cool for a job that most people would consider a “desk job.” There is just so much more to the day-to-day.
Build your network and ask questions
For anyone seeking a career in underwriting or insurance in general, I would say this: Build your network. You never know where that first or second job opportunity is going to come from. Talk and connect with people in the industry, get to know your partners and build a book of business with people you like. It makes the job incredibly fulfilling. I would also say that we work in a unique industry, where almost everyone will go out of their way to help you. All you need to do is ask. So, ask! People will help you!
Balancing work and (enjoying) life
While I take pleasure in my work, at the end of the day, it’s something I do to support my personal life. I live in Colorado with my insane cats and beautiful fiancée. We spend our free time hiking, skiing, going to concerts and taking as many international trips as we can in a year. Underwriting, and the insurance industry overall, offer a great path to a lucrative, fun career with excellent work-life balance (if you can learn to manage a desk well, anyway)! I am truly grateful to those Chicago folks who took me under their wing and brought me into an industry I love. I hope they all read this and remember those early days as fondly as I do. In fact, most of them are now managing multi-million dollar books or running divisions -- and we are still friends.
My name is Thomas Klingner and I’m in insurance.
This post is part of our "I'm in Insurance" blog series, where Skyward Specialty employees share their unique journeys and insights within the insurance sector. These stories provide lessons and inspiration, from career beginnings to becoming industry leaders. Stay tuned for more compelling accounts that highlight the diverse career opportunities available in insurance and what it takes to be successful.
