Business User Guide
===================

Welcome to the Ergodic Insurance Optimization Business User Guide. This guide will help you use our advanced simulation framework to make data-driven decisions about insurance retentions and limit selections for your company.

This guide is designed for:

* **CFOs and Financial Decision Makers** who need to optimize insurance spending
* **Risk Managers** evaluating insurance program structures
* **Entry-level Actuaries** learning practical insurance optimization
* **Business Owners** seeking to balance growth and risk protection

No advanced mathematics or programming knowledge is required. We'll walk you through everything step-by-step using practical examples and clear explanations.

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 2
   :caption: Guide Contents:

   executive_summary
   quick_start
   running_analysis
   decision_framework
   case_studies
   advanced_topics
   hjb_solver_guide
   faq
   glossary

Getting Started
---------------

If you're new to ergodic insurance optimization, we recommend reading the sections in order:

1. Start with the :doc:`executive_summary` to understand the core concepts
2. Follow the :doc:`quick_start` to set up your first analysis
3. Use :doc:`running_analysis` to perform your own company assessment
4. Apply the :doc:`decision_framework` to make optimal choices
5. Review :doc:`case_studies` for realistic examples

For Help
--------

* Check the :doc:`faq` for common questions
* Consult the :doc:`glossary` for term definitions
* Review example notebooks in ``ergodic_insurance/notebooks/``
* Open an issue on `GitHub <https://github.com/AlexFiliakov/Ergodic-Insurance-Limits/issues>`__
* Contact: Alex Filiakov (alexfiliakov@gmail.com)

Key Insight
-----------

**The Insurance Paradox**: Traditional insurance analysis uses ensemble averages (expected values across many companies). But your company experiences time averages (growth over years). These can differ dramatically. Our framework shows that paying 200-500% of expected losses can be optimal when viewed through the lens of time-average growth.

Ready to transform insurance from a cost center to a growth enabler? Let's begin!