The Science of Epigenetics & Life Insurance

This week, Jon Sabes joins Arleen and I to discuss how the science of epigenetics can help life insurance companies better understand their clients before they become policyholders.

Jon is the CEO at GWG Holdings, Inc., the parent company of GWG Life, a financial services company that aims to transform the life insurance industry by means of disruptive and innovative technology, products, and services.  Jon has structured over $900 million in financing commitments for his related businesses.  He also has over 20 years of experience in the fields of venture capital, finance, business development, federal taxation, and managerial operations.

Today, Jon shares where he got the idea of connecting epigenetics and insurance, his passion for genetics, and how our genes can predetermine our health risks.  He also discusses some of the challenges of running this type of business as well as what he enjoys about it.

 “Learning about genetics has been the most fascinating part of my entire professional career.” - Jon Sabes

In this episode, Jon shares:

• How he got started in the genomic industry and what inspired him to pursue this career
• How a UCLA geneticist impacted the way his company works
• The difference between genetics and epigenetics and their insurance applications
• How his company can help the insurance industry determine an applicant's real health status
• The difference between a genetic test and an epigenetic test
• The challenges of this type of testing and how cost factors into it
• The regulatory landscape for applying this technology
• What he and his company plan to do in the future

Key Takeaways:

• We can use epigenetics to allow people to get the best rates for their life insurance.
• Non-smokers and non-drinkers can acquire smoking and alcohol-related diseases by way of genetics.
• Technology is the path to a better and more efficient industry. Be aware of global trends and technology, and leverage them to your advantage.

I hope you’ll join us every week to hear more from industry thought leaders like Jon Sabes. Follow one of the links below to subscribe:

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