In a conference call with investors on Thursday, Brookfield CEO Bruce Flatt said the asset manager would fund more of its capital investments through its insurance business. “In this next evolution… we are focusing our balance sheet to back our growing insurance operations, meaning that our capital will increasingly come from individual investors via our insurance float,” Flatt said. (The Logic)

Talking point: This would mark a strategic shift for the asset management giant, which had long re-invested its capital in real estate, infrastructure and other assets. The strategy somewhat mimics that of other investors including Berkshire Hathaway, which often taps its insurance income to finance major acquisitions. Insurance-based savings products, along with retirement plans and other private wealth channels, are among the fastest growing segments in the investment space, Brookfield said in a letter to shareholders on Wednesday. The company also announced a three-for-two stock split of Brookfield’s Class A limited voting shares, which it said would keep its stock more accessible to individual investors.