When carriers say no, that’s when great brokers go to work. In this episode of Falcon Forward, Peter and Mike break down how to turn claim denials around, advocate for your clients, and navigate the gray areas in insurance policies.

We start with a listener question: “Can investments be insured?” That opens the door to a broader conversation about pure vs. speculative risk, AIG and the 2008 financial crisis, and why some of the most complex “insurance-like” products nearly broke the system. From there, we move into the real battleground for brokers: denied claims, ambiguous policy language, and the process of pushing carriers to honor their promises.

Whether you’re a newer broker learning claims for the first time, or a seasoned producer looking to sharpen your advocacy game, this episode gives you practical, real-world tactics to use when the answer comes back “no.”

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Intro, Falcon Forward update
01:00 – Academy group, oil & gas learning, listener questions
03:00 – Can investments be insured? Pure vs speculative risk
06:00 – AIG, credit default swaps, and the 2008 crisis
09:00 – Why “investment insurance” can go wrong
11:00 – Pivot to claims: when carriers say no
13:00 – Unrealistic expectations vs real coverage
15:00 – Broker’s role when a claim is denied
17:00 – Getting denial letters in writing and reading the policy
19:00 – Ambiguous language, advocacy, and involving attorneys
21:00 – How persistence (and kids!) make you a better client advocate
22:00 – Closing thoughts and what’s coming next

Show website: https://falconwest.com

Falcon Forward is hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe and focuses on the intersection of personal and commercial insurance, small business growth, and professional career development. We provide deep dives into the insurance industry to help business owners manage risk and build sustainable enterprises.