Diary of an Insurer: Financial and Legal Insurance's Karen Beales

Monday

Monday is working from home for me. I get up about 6.15am and have breakfast; I am one of those people who need something to eat before they speak.

Then I go for a stroll with my two border terrorists (terriers) and then back home to log on to deal with anything left over from last week.  

I set my priorities for the week and use a written to-do list. Once I know what my week holds in store I get settled and respond to emails and start the list.

On a typical WFH day I will have three or four MS Teams calls, some internal one-to-ones, and some client meetings.

I always break for lunch between midday and 1pm. I am a “hangry” person so need feeding on time. Then it’s back to it, finishing after 6pm.  
 
There can be crazy moments like today when the window cleaners came and the terrorists certainly made themselves heard so I was pleased I wasn’t on Teams then. I like Mondays – feeling ready for the week ahead and what’s in store.
 

Tuesday

Typically Tuesdays are usually either an in the office or client meeting day.  

Last Tuesday I left home as usual to get the train to London.

When I go to London I change my own rule and have breakfast on the train to avoid getting up before 6am.

It was a freezing morning, so I was pleased when the train arrived on time but the carriage was freezing and there was no hot water available – so no hot drinks.

The first thing I did in London was stop at the nearest coffee shop. I met my colleague and onwards to the first meeting of the day.

Meeting clients has to be my most favourite part of the role, learning about their businesses and seeing how we can work together.  

I was treated to lunch, followed by more meetings. A successful day with good outcomes, until I arrived back at Kings Cross to find my train cancelled.

I had to catch a train to Leeds and then travel back to the local train station I started at to get my car. It turned into a long day. I was home after 8pm, and as you can guess, was hungry again.
 

Wednesday

Often Wednesday is a WFH day but this week I was invited to a roundtable event, hosted by the Leeds Chartered Insurance Institute, on the subject of data security in risk management and compliance.

I wasn’t sure whether to go, but thanks to the other attendees and the topics I’m glad I did.

The CII hosts a fabulous event. There was a diverse range of expertise in the room from data security experts to general insurance brokers, insurers and IFAs.

Issues with IT suppliers and the cost of changing systems was a common theme.

We debated how to service our clients in the manner they want to receive insurance information, client portals, emails, WhatsApp, etc, while keeping their data safe.  

Sadly, we didn’t arrive at any earth-shattering new solutions, but it was good to listen to others and very thought-provoking. 
 
When I get back home I catch-up on emails and that to-do list followed by a nice walk in the evening with the dogs. It is starting to get lighter now, which means I don’t have to blind people with my torch hat.
 
Thursday

Thursdays are almost always an in-the-office day.

I have to leave home now before 7am as the traffic is back to pre-Covid state, meaning anything from 50 minutes to two hours in the car, so I am sometimes a little grumpy when I arrive after a two-hour journey.

Being in the office is important to have face-to-face catch-ups with everyone and check in.

I always speak to all colleagues to say ‘Hello’ and ‘How is everything?’. Conversations are not always work-related and are often just a chat. This interaction is definitely missing online, and I really enjoy seeing everyone for a catch-up.  

It was a board meeting week. We have a collective of businesses and my meetings top and tail the day for those divisions I am involved with.

The board meet monthly as the business has changed its strategy over the last 18 months so there is lots to report and discuss.
 
It’s that time of the year when we are finalising our year-end results and preparing our regulatory papers and solvency reports, a new task for me when joining the business, making every day a school day.

Board days are lengthy so I don’t generally get home until 7.30pm. Supper is a Chinese takeaway and a glass of wine. 
 
Friday

I don’t work on Friday, unless something urgent happens, so I use the time to take out the crazy dogs for a long walk, go swimming and often meet my sister or my friend for lunch.

I am not sure now how I used to fit in a full working week.
 
Some weeks are less eventful. I don’t always do CII events and sometimes the trains run, with catering, but in my opinion, a role in insurance is about the people, both colleagues I work with and clients, who make each day different and interesting.

Who wouldn’t want to work in insurance?