Steven Lam
Insurance large commercial lines account manager
Smith Brothers Insurance
Personal bio: Born and raised on the island of Oahu, I am from Honolulu, Hawaii. I currently reside in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I am a man of faith and spirituality, who also has a natural curiosity of how things work, more specifically in business, economics, and information technology.
Professional profile: I am a graduate from the Shidler College of Business from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I hold a bachelor’s in business administration degree with a concentration in accounting. I studied accounting not because I wanted to become a certified public accountant, but because I knew understanding its principles and concepts would provide an advantage to understanding business a little bit better. Previously, I have held roles as a staff accountant, sole proprietor and an insurance commercial lines account administrator, before taking on my current role as an insurance large commercial lines account manager.
How did you end up in the captive industry?
When I was studying for my Associate in Risk Management designation, it really opened my eyes to learning about captives. My real experience came from when I relocated from working in property and casualty insurance in Honolulu, Hawaii to working in property and casualty insurance in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Ann Smith, Bill Wittman, Carol Pandiscia of Smith Brothers Insurance took a chance on me and it was this opportunity that led me to managing two construction captive accounts.
What has been your highlight in the captive industry so far?
My highlight in the captive industry is all the professional connections I’ve made from captive managers, producers, and clients. It is genuinely gratifying to collaborate with these professionals and in helping to deliver the products and services to each one of them.
I especially appreciate the assistance I provide to clients’ insurance questions, concerns and needs. This feeds to my curiosity of finding solutions to problems and supporting the captive industry.
What/who have been your influences in the captive industry?
The biggest influence to me in the captive industry has been the producer who I worked with from the very beginning, Bill Barton. His depth of knowledge in the captive industry is unparalleled and I have learned a lot from him in a short amount of time.
It is relieving to learn, understand and apply something new but to be able to do all these things from a very dependable base really makes it that much more enjoyable.
What is your impression of the industry?
Reliable, creative, and valuable are words that come to my mind. The captive industry will support you if you support yourself and your business. The industry is systematic where it is methodical, it is authentic where you manage your outcome, and it is resourceful where, under the right circumstances, it can be an option.
What are your aspirations for your career in the captive industry?
I want to be in a position that can make a change in the captive industry. Big, medium or small changes, I want to be in the position to help the industry adapt to perpetual change. Growth and support are what I bring to the table in hopes to keep the captive momentum moving. Technological advancements, a changing of the guard in our generations, and new economies of scale are all opportunities that arise.
What advice do you have for someone considering a role in the industry?
Be prepared. This is not to sound daunting or fearsome, but rather because preparation is the key to success. Whether you know what to prepare for or whether you are preparing for essential skills to have, preparation is what is going to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Learn a need, refine your technical abilities, or network with likeminded professionals – strategising a plan will make your success happen.
Bill Barto, Client executive, Smith Brothers Insurance “Steve has been directly involved in handling accounts that are part of a construction captive which is domiciled offshore in the Cayman Islands. These accounts are written through a captive manager. As the account manager Steve has established a great working relationship with not only these insureds but the captive management group as well. Steve’s involvement includes the collection of exposure information from insureds which he then reviews and puts into a spreadsheet for the captive manager. Steve works with the captive manager on coverages throughout the year in order to meet contract requirements. He also gets involved in directing claim reviews with our claim department and finally overseeing year-end audit reviews”
