AVOIDING THE STODGY: Speedy the Rhino and a poop emoji trophy enliven a Durham annuity seller.

• Date: 01 September 2023
• Author: Roush, Chris

Every quarter, the staff at Durham-based Aspida Financial Services gathers for a town hall meeting where an employee receives its GSD Award, so named after the phrase "Get S*#* Done." Amid loud cheers, Chief People Officer Sandy Ball announces why the staffer was chosen.

The most recent winner was a senior cybersecurity engineer who built the life insurance company's occupational risk dashboards. She received a giant poop emoji trophy--not your typical employee of the month award. "We think we're cool insurance," says Ball. "It's not this whole stodgy thing."

Less than three years old, Aspida Financial has grown to more than $10 billion in assets under management by selling fixed annuities with a simple strategy--build software that allows it to approve annuity applications faster than peers. The new technology helps staffers avoid antiquated systems that at times bedevil older insurers. A vibrant work environment has also attracted talented people, Ball says.

A subsidiary of Los Angeles-based asset manager Ares Management, Aspida has...