Profile
“Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
Jacqueline Knoblauch is fortunate to collaborate with top-notch lawyers, accountants, and investment advisors nationwide, engaging with their clients for insurance and financial planning. Her clientele often comprises incorporated business owners facing unique family situations. Despite the diversity, each engagement shares a common thread: Jacqueline’s comfort and ability to instill comfort when discussing sensitive topics. This fosters open conversations that lead to the identification of opportunities for families to explore and act on, ultimately enhancing their legacy protection.
Having grown up with accountants for parents, Jacqueline’s ease in discussing money began at a very young age. Exposure to various businesses, families, and financial situations fueled her natural curiosity about people, steering her toward initiating and continuing a career in the personal finance realm. Jacqueline finds immense fulfillment in witnessing her work with clients culminate in the creation of significant family wealth, legacy building, and often charitable giving.
Her journey, shaped by exposure to diverse financial scenarios, has been a continuous learning and experiential process. Grateful for the knowledge gained, Jacqueline seizes the opportunity to share her insights daily with clients. She extends this commitment further through a mentorship program at UBC, her work on the board of Advocis, and, importantly, through her role as a mother to Audrey and William.
2100-925 W Georgia St, Vancouver BC, V6C 3L2
604 839 5807
jacqueline.knoblauch@raymondjames.ca
linkedin.com/in/jacquelinekcfp
jacquelineknoblauch.ca
Jacqueline Knoblauch
Insurance Planning Specialist
Raymond James Financial Planning
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Bio
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Profile
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Bio
Milestones
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Bio
Milestones
“The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
2009
2011
2019
2020
Present
Started career in high-risk lending
2009
Became an independent advisor to offer full financial support
2011
Started as an insurance planning specialist based in Vancouver, supporting high-net-worth clients and their families throughout the country
Earned CFP designation
2019
Earned CLU designation
2020
Advocacy Chair for the Greater Vancouver Advocis Chapter, working with Advocis to develop Title Protection in British Columbia
Present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
However, it has been an intricate process to ensure his team are onboard with his vision. Kuhn places importance of explaining his targets and the blueprint to achieve them.
He adds, “The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns. This way, everything gets thoroughly discussed and resolved.”
With almost four decades in the industry, Kuhn has developed methods that have consistently delivered. It is why he has been tasked with so many leadership roles and he intends to maintain his focus on creating more success at Westfield Specialty.
“I think I am and have always tried to be methodical. I look at the big picture yet stay focused on executing the different opportunities or plans that I have in front of me. I don’t get emotional or make emotional decisions.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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