In this episode, host Olivier Lafontaine sits down with Yolanda Austin, Senior Director of the Life & Annuity Program at ACORD, to talk about the organization’s role in building smarter, standardized systems for life insurance.

Yolanda breaks down how ACORD is addressing inefficiencies in medical underwriting by creating digital formats for electronic health records. She also walks through the work behind ACORD’s standardized life insurance application, which was developed with input from distributors, carriers, and the Interstate Insurance Compact. And now, it is being adopted across the industry.

As the conversation unfolds, it’s clear that progress in this space doesn’t come from technology alone, but through thoughtful coordination and collaboration across all parts of the ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

1. Standardization only works when carriers, distributors, and regulators build it together.

2. Reducing redundant and non-relevant data improves efficiency and unlocks smarter underwriting decisions.

3. Creating digital forms that create good experiences requires both technology and behavioral science expertise.

Jump Into the Conversation: (00:00) Meet Yolanda Austin

(02:28) How ACORD began solving problems in insurance

(03:35) Turning Microsoft’s data model into an ACORD standard

(04:59) Collaborating with DTCC and the Interstate Compact

(05:53) From high school co-op to insurance leadership

(08:44) Fixing inefficiencies in underwriting with EHR data standards

(10:54) How ACORD reduced medical data by 93 percent

(13:36) Will AI reshape how underwriters use health records?

(15:14) The mission to standardize every life insurance form

(19:45) How ACORD got carriers to align on questions

(24:37) What e-labels and fillable forms change for insurers

Resources: Connect with Yolanda Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandaaustin/

Check out ACORD: https://www.acord.org/

Connect with Olivier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivierlafontaine/