RefinSol GmbH is an independent Swiss advisory firm specializing in reinsurance, actuarial consulting, capital management and insurance business strategy.
Founded by Michael Winkler, MSc, Actuary SAA/DAV, RefinSol brings more than four decades of international experience across leading insurance and reinsurance institutions, including Swiss Re, Winterthur Group, New Re and WRM Reinsurance.
The firm advises insurers, reinsurers, financial institutions and investors on solvency optimization, actuarial analysis, product development, portfolio transactions, risk assessment and strategic business planning.
Combining deep technical expertise with practical industry experience, RefinSol delivers independent, objective and tailored solutions that support long-term growth, capital efficiency and sustainable business performance.
Independent Swiss Reinsurance & Actuarial Advisory
Michael Winkler, MSc, Actuary SAA/DAV
Michael Winkler is an internationally recognized actuary and reinsurance executive with more than 40 years of experience in life insurance, reinsurance, actuarial science and financial risk management.
Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership positions at Swiss Re, Winterthur Group, New Reinsurance Company and WRM Reinsurance, leading major international projects in product innovation, capital optimization, portfolio restructuring and reinsurance strategy.
He has contributed to numerous industry publications and remains a trusted advisor to insurers and reinsurers worldwide.
Mr. Michael Winkler, MSc, Actuary SAA/DAV
Experience
- 2014 – now: Founder and Managing Director RefinSol Ltd., Switzerland
- 2015 – 2016 Chief Executive Officer WRM Reinsurance AG, Switzerland
2007 – 2014: Head of Life New Reinsurance Company Ltd., Switzerland - 2001 – 2007: Head of Technical Services Life, Head of Product Management Life Winterthur Group, Switzerland
- 1998 – 2001: Head of Actuarial Development Swiss Re, Switzerland
- 1997 – 1998: Chief Actuary Life Union Re, Switzerland
- 1996 – 1997: Stay with Winterthur Life Re, Dallas, Texas (USA)
- 1992 – 1996: Head of Actuarial Department Individual Life Winterthur Life, Switzerland
- 1980 – 1991: Actuary for Individual Life Winterthur Life, Switzerland
Education
- Since 2000 CPD program SAA/IAA
- 2000 Strategic Management Seminar at IMD in Lausanne
- 1983 Master of Science
- 1977-1983 Studies of Mathematics and Physics at Zurich University
- 1977 Matura Typus B
- 1971-1977 High School (Gymnasium) in Winterthur
Languages
German, English, French, Spanish
Projects
- re-structuring of the whole individual life product portfolio in Switzerland (1991)
- «windex»: first equity-index-linked product in Continental Europe (1992)
- «winstep»: product with step-wise maximum guarantees (1994)
- Planning tool for capital optimization in the US RBC regime (1996)
- Portfolio transfer from Union Re to Swiss Re (1997)
- «to live and let pay» publication/project on longevity for Swiss Re (1998)
- Project lead for the first Spanish annuity tables PERM/F 2000 (1999)
- Establishment of a pricing control process for Swiss Re Life&Health Zurich (2000)
- Founding of Credit Suisse Life & Pensions Vaduz for spezialized unit-linked business (2001)
- Launch of a CPPI fund in EUR for the Winterthur units in Europe (2001)
- Connecting the life units in Winterthur Group to Credit Suisse’s fund platform (2002)
- Restructuring of the product portfolio in Credit Suisse Life Japan (2003/4)
- Establishment of product approval and technical support processes in Winterthur Group (2002-2005)
- Establishment of New Re Life in Zurich (2007/8)
- Develop New Re as an important provider for Variable Annuity reinsurance and other asset protection business (2008-2013)
- Major Value-in-force transactions in Southern Europe (2012/2013)
Contribution to books
- Navigating IFRS 17 (2024), Verlag Versicherungswirtschaft
- Non-traditional Life Insurance Products with Guarantees (2016)
http://riskbooks.com/non-traditional
- Understanding and using reinsurance treaties for guaranteed products
Compact Discs
