Background:
Portland, OR-based M Financial Group partners with more than 145 member firms across the country to manage life insurance and financial services for the ultra-affluent
and corporate markets, handling policies up to 10 times larger than typical contracts.
“When you’re trying to assess someone’s mortality risk at this level – or at any level – you’ve got to have a thirst for knowledge,” says Rodger Hergenrader, vice president and chief underwriter at M Financial Group. “Underwriting is a combination of different disciplines, but it’s heavily steeped in clinical medicine and research.”
During his 40-year career, Hergenrader has seen clinical research become more prevalent, thus impacting the factors that insurance medical directors and chief underwriters use to make decisions. “If you don’t keep your eyes open for some of these changes, you’re missing out on a lot.”
During a conversation with a friend (a former chief underwriter at a major reinsurance company who is familiar with companies that have worked in epigenetics), he learned about the diagnostic possibilities offered by epigenetics for the insurance industry.
The subject piqued Hergenrader’s interest, and he began doing research to learn more. That’s when he discovered Behavioral Diagnostics and its affiliation with the University of Iowa. “I was already familiar with the University of Iowa and have an appreciation for the professionalism they bring, so I knew the work they’re doing would be impressive.”
Download the case study here to learn more about how M Financial Group used Behavioral Diagnostics testing to accurately set life insurance premiums.