This book tells my story as I journey through the minefield of what is known as Special Risks. It will cover areas unknown by many and how the insurance markets are linked to certain Corporations, Military operations, Governments, world conflicts, and the various Security Services, Special Forces, and Police, as well as the rich and famous. It also discusses brokers referred to in press articles and a select few known as the James Bonds of the insurance markets. It will tell the story from the beginning to retirement day, covering a personal story whilst providing insight into the job and eliminating the myths. This life journey covers operational jobs, the mitigating of risks, death, complete immediate family loss, trauma, injury, alcohol psychosis, alcohol addiction, false imprisonment, interrogation/torture, prison, rehabilitation, and more. It will also teach you how to come back from the darkest moments, rebuild your life, and live in the NOW.

Norman Taylor was a specialist advisor, providing insurance, bonds, guarantees, and finance solutions to mitigate and crisis management response to acts of terrorism, kidnap, piracy/robbery on the high seas, and war. He also dealt with political risks, credit risks, the rich and famous, and ultimately, the Secret Service. He provided insurance protection, not just in terms of monetary amounts, but also by implementing the teams to affect recovery, whether that be a kidnap scenario, political or war evacuation repatriation, bombing, or pushing back a militia. He was always on standby.

This book depicts a true story about the author's career and personal life as truthfully as recollection permits and/or can be verified by research. The author cannot legally disclose the names of individuals or operations. On occasions, fictional examples, stories, and descriptions have been created to demonstrate the role of an SRA (Special Risk Advisor), how the specialist insurance could be used, and who by. Dialogues and scenes have been supplemented. Names and places have predominantly been excluded, and on occasion changed, to protect privacy and the insured.