WILL CEA | Age: 29 Senior vice president

Brown & Riding Insurance Services Inc.

Los Angeles

Will Cea joined Brown & Riding in Los Angeles after graduating from The Master’s University with a degree in business, finance and management. Specializing in property and inland marine, he moved to the wholesaler’s Chicago office in 2016 to broaden his experience beyond the earthquake risks he handled in California. Back in Los Angeles since 2019, he is one of the youngest principals at the brokerage and places business nationwide.

What’s your advice on navigating the current insurance market?

Look for win-win deals. The property market is pretty hard, and you get a lot of declines and the prices are going up. So get more information and details on what the insured actually wants — what their buttons are, essentially — and then work with the market and get creative so you get a price that makes sense, but you are still getting the coverage that the insured is most concerned about. Don’t have the same answer for every deal but personalize each deal for the insured and the market.

What should the industry do to attract more young people to work in it?

Get college kids more exposure to the property/casualty side. When they think of insurance, people think of a life insurance salesperson, but when you really look at the property/casualty insurance business, it’s a very social setting. It can be a lucrative job if you want it and it can give you a lot of freedom, too — it doesn’t always have to be 9 to 5.

What is something about you that would surprise people?

I’m actually a pretty small guy — like 5'8", 160 — but when I was born, I was the biggest baby in the hospital.

All-time favorite movie?

“Limitless.”

What is your favorite meal?

The Nozawa Trust Me at Sugarfish, a sushi restaurant.