Blog – Tuesdays with Mary

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 I’ve been thinking about regulators. Since 1871, a group of the chief insurance regulators from each state and the District of Columbia have gathered to coordinate, monitor, and protect their oversight of the glorious patchwork quilt that is our state-based insurance system. They’re called the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and they want to better understand how what you do helps keep their citizens protected. Next week, we’ve been invited to help with that mission. If you’ve learned over the years to skirt the dreaded cocktail party question, “What do you do?” (for fear of [...]

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 I’ve been thinking about how to keep your company safe from the new trend in fraud tactics, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) impersonations. Did you see the reports lately of the $25 million heist in Hong Kong? The bad guys can now impersonate you, on video with your voice, convincing your staff to wire money away, because you told them to. Let’s break down how this one happened. It all began as most do, with a phishing email. The request within it left the employee skeptical. However, it didn’t ask for any immediate action. Eventually [...]

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I’ve been thinking about change and how it is often gradual, but also inevitable. This is true for relationships, careers, and yes, even matters of political persuasion and policy. Let’s jump back into the courtroom at SCOTUS and look at an example. Arguments for case number one, Relentless Inc., wrap up. We aren’t certain whether Loper Bright Enterprises will be called immediately next, or if there will be a break first. Some of us on the tiny wooden chairs in the alcove are really hoping for a break, our bodies need to move. Many of the [...]

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 I’ve been thinking about our courts, their workload and decisions, their continuing to function at a time when some other branches of government noticeably are not. I’m willing to bet that everyone reading this has at least one major issue of displeasure with a Supreme Court decision. If you’re like me, there might even be a decision or two you vehemently disagree with. And that’s OK. If we lived someplace where I was in agreement with everything they said, did, thought and wrote – my guess is that wouldn’t be a place some of you would [...]

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 I’ve been thinking about how amazing it is to be an American citizen. Especially the unique opportunities citizenship in a democracy affords every one of us. By now you know that colleague Elizabeth and I went to SCOTUS recently, to report on the Chevron doctrine cases heard during oral arguments. Those cases are hugely relevant to our business, and we will continue our coverage through the issuance of the court’s opinion and beyond. But since we have some time before then, I wanted to share what it’s like to witness all the sights and sounds during [...]

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 Ever since our coverage from SCOTUS on Jan 17th, I’ve been thinking about my dad.  When I was younger and still full of obstinate ambition, I declared to him that one day “I’m going to sit on the Supreme Court.” His response? Simply and approvingly, “I’ll be there.” You would have liked my dad, and he you. He would have thrived in the title business; his off-the-charts IQ would have loved the challenge of it. Instead, he chose to become a teacher and then later to work with his hands. He preferred to work at night, [...]

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 I’ve been thinking about resolutions. Maybe you have, too. It’s the time of year when many are working on our personal New Year’s resolutions in addition to work and personal goals for the year. If I’m being honest, I’ve skipped making New Year’s resolutions for several years. Or maybe I’ve just resolved to have no resolutions. You would not have found me at the gym for the first three days of January, desperately trying to force myself into a radical life change. Though there have been years in the past I joined that crowd. I’m still [...]

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 I’ve been thinking about professional goals and accomplishments. The first draft of that opening sentence came out as I’ve been thinking about professional accomplishments. But besides only being half of the story, it also has the unfortunate quality of placing the cart in front of the horse. To have the professional accomplishments you hope for, you first must define the professional goals that will please you. Otherwise, you will have accomplishments, but not necessarily the ones you’d prefer. Goals can be tricky things. Sometimes we are too busy to sit down and curate our minds, to [...]

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 I’ve been thinking about technology and our industry’s interesting relationship with it. There’s long been a natural tension between providers of software and the producers of products in our space including loans, title commitments, appraisals, and closings.  It’s a culture clash, really. Technologists love to live by the phrase “move fast and break things,” while producers of financial products prefer to “go slow and build things.” Technologists believe in implementing quickly, then incrementally adjusting on the fly. Producers are more in the camp of making sure the boat is entirely seaworthy, in any foreseeable scenario, and [...]