Ep149 - Loss adjusting career path with Benildus Saw
Benildus Saw turned down loss adjusting twice before desperation made him say yes. Twenty-six years later, he runs Justicia Adjusters as CEO and chairs the Risk and Technologies Board at the Asian Institute of Insurance. What's striking about his story is not the career arc but the through-line, a formation in service, discipline, and human empathy that started long before he ever saw a claim file. From seminary to claim site At 19, Benildus entered College General Mario Field in Malaysia to discern a calling to the Roman Catholic priesthood. He studied scholastic philosophy, theology, and pastoral care for four years alongside the man who would become the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. After leaving, he spent time in advertising before an economic downturn pushed him toward loss adjusting, a profession he had never heard of. A chartered loss adjuster offered to mentor him, and he accepted. I had a senior business owner practicing chartered loss adjuster who took me under his wings and taught me. Fast forward 26 years later, here I am, still struggling to make a difference in our industry. — Benildus Saw, Ep. 149 Serving policyholders without bending the rules Benildus describes a clear philosophy when a policyholder does not understand their policy: set time aside, do not charge for it, and explain what they bought and where they stand. He traces this directly to his grandmother's teaching about divine providence, the idea that not every act of help carries a price tag. For loss adjusters managing complex claims under time pressure, this is a concrete position on where professional duty sits relative to commercial reality. What this means for your career If you are entering loss adjusting from an unrelated field, find a chartered practitioner willing to mentor you through real claims. Benildus worked across a burst pipe, a factory fire, and a burglary in a single day during his early years. Policyholders in crisis are not a problem to process. Benildus frames every claim as arriving at the darkest moment of someone's life; adjusters who treat it that way build a different kind of professional reputation. Dialogue with the people you lead matters. Benildus shifted away from the authoritarian model of his own upbringing and says his children have changed his perspective; the same openness applies to how he runs his firm. Business Made Personal is hosted by Mark Silveira , exploring the real journeys of leaders in insurance, business, and beyond. Never miss an episode: Follow & Subscribe on https://bit.ly/bmp-Website Join the conversation: Connect with us on https://bit.ly/bmp-LinkedIn For enquiries, collaborations, or to suggest a guest: mark@bmppodcast.com.au
