Confessions of an Underwriter: Chris Milton

Ever wondered what it’s like to be an underwriter? It’s not your average 9-5 gig, that’s for sure. Being an underwriter means you have to know everything about everything, and yet there’s always something new to learn. It’s a bit like being a detective, always on the hunt for clues to solve a mystery. Both roles require a keen eye for detail and the ability to connect the dots.

We recently caught up with Senior Financial Lines Underwriter, Chris Milton, and he gave us the lowdown on his life in the world of insurance. But first things first – coffee. When we asked him how he takes his coffee, he said, “I’m a flat white with one kind of guy.” We can respect that level of decisiveness.

When asked about his biggest achievement, he surprised us by not talking about his work at all. Instead, he proudly shared that his two sons are his greatest achievement. We can’t argue with that – raising happy and healthy kids is no small feat.

So, what does a day in the life of an underwriter look like? According to Chris, it’s a juggling act between being a dad and an underwriter. Talk about multitasking! Right now, he’s focused on settling in and getting comfortable with his new role at BIA.

When we asked him to describe Berkley Insurance Australia in three words, he chose “energetic, supportive, and knowledgeable.” Sounds like a pretty cool place to work, if you ask us.

As someone who works with brokers on a daily basis, Chris appreciates their knowledge and understanding of the insurance industry. But if he could fix one thing in the industry, it would be poor submissions.  The underwriting process starts with the submission, the better it is the better the position underwriters are in to do their job and provide the best possible terms back to brokers.  Submissions that lack critical details, make it hard for underwriters to appropriately review and may not result in the best outcome for the insured if or when they make a claim.

In his downtime, Chris is a basketball fanatic and loves listening to NBA-based podcasts. But don’t let his healthy interests fool you – he has a weakness for late-night snacks. Chips, chocolate, you name it – he’s snacking on it.

Underwriting may not be the easiest job, but it’s certainly an interesting one according to Chris.

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