AM Best says pet health insurance is one of the fastest-growing property and casualty insurance lines. It has averaged 20% per year increases since 2020. Another group, the North American Pet Health Association claims total direct written premium has doubled since 2021.  

Christopher Graham, an AM Best senior industry research analyst, said the first quarter of 2026, total direct written premium was up 17% when compared to the first quarter of 2025. 

Liberty Mutual released its 2026 Independent Agency Growth Study last week. The numbers, and the take on insurance by agents, are fascinating. To tabulate the statistics, Liberty Mutual reached out to 1,149 agency principals and staff members. 

The firm wanted to know about: 

National Preparedness Month is observed each September to raise awareness about disasters and emergencies that can happen at any time. For insurance professionals, it is a timely opportunity to help clients move from general awareness to concrete preparation: understanding their risks, reviewing coverage, documenting property, protecting records, and knowing where to turn before and after a loss. 

A useful preparedness conversation does not have to be complicated. Start with the scenarios most relevant to each client’s home, business, location, and operations, then give them a short list of next steps they can complete today. Natural disasters may bring hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes, but a fire, burst pipe, extended power outage, cyber incident, or supply-chain interruption can be just as disruptive.

Research from TransUnion finds 30% of Gen Z drivers say they have owned or driven an uninsured motor vehicle in the last year. So Gen Z drivers of all the generations are the most likely to drive uninsured. 

• 17% of millennials admit to driving without insurance coverage
• 7% of Gen X admits to it
• Only 1% of Baby Boomers will drive without 

TransUnion’s Patrick Foy says the reasons for Gen Z driving without coverage are varied: 

In insurance sales, “don’t take no for an answer” has long been treated like a badge of persistence. But today’s buyers expect something different: relevance, speed, transparency, and respect for their time. A prospect’s “no” is not a failure point. Handled well, it can become one of the best opportunities to demonstrate professionalism, sharpen your sales communication, and earn the right to reconnect when the timing is better. 

That shift matters. Insurance buyers are doing more research before they speak with an agent, comparing options across channels, and expecting communications that reflect their specific risks, life stage, coverage gaps, and business pressures. For producers, the objective is no longer to overpower resistance. It is to create a buying experience that makes the prospect feel understood, even if the answer today is no. 

A report from the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association found premium volume for surplus lines in the U.S. hitting $47.6 billion in the first half of 2026. The stamping offices in 15 states found premium volume up 2.8%. 

Commenting on the report, Janet Pane, the CEO and executive director of the Excess Lines Association of New York, said the total premiums generated by surplus lines, non-professional liability had 39.6% of them.

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to make a staged auto crash with a commercial truck a federal crime. It is called the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act (S. 5058).

In recent years, catastrophic weather events have continued to increase in frequency and severity. While past hurricanes have highlighted recurring coverage misconceptions, today’s market environment presents an even greater challenge for insurance agents: proactively managing client expectations before a loss occurs while maintaining strong E&O defensibility.

Hurricanes and other CAT events consistently expose gaps in coverage, misunderstandings about policy provisions, and breakdowns in communication. These issues can quickly evolve into uninsured losses – and ultimately, E&O claims against the agent.

MyPerfectResume says all kinds of things have changed for women in the workplace in the last 25 years. Median income in the last quarter century has gone up, doubling from $493 per week in 2000 to $1,089 in 2025. 

In 2000, women made 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. That figure in 2025 hit 82 cents. The yearly earnings gap, however, grew from $7,696 in 2000 to $12,324 last year. 

August is National Traffic Awareness Month, making it a timely opportunity to remind auto insurance clients that safer driving habits can protect lives, reduce claims, and help keep insurance costs in check. Roadway deaths have eased from recent pandemic-era highs, but the most recent national estimates still show tens of thousands of people dying in U.S. traffic crashes each year, while distraction, speeding, impairment, and seat belt nonuse remain major safety concerns. 

Insurance companies set auto rates through a complex risk-assessment process that considers factors such as driving record, claims history, location, vehicle type, repair costs, and broader loss trends. Clients cannot control every rating factor, but they can influence one of the most important: how safely they drive. Avoiding tickets, crashes, and claims can support a stronger risk profile over time. 

Insurance has always been a people business, but today’s clients expect more than friendly service. They want clear communication, relevant advice, and confidence that their agent understands what matters most to them. The firms that stand out are often the ones that build a few strong habits into everyday client interactions. Here are three that can make your client experience more personal, more proactive, and more valuable.

1. Pay attention to the details that matter

Nationwide took a small and mid-sized business survey at the end of 2025 and asked businesses to look into 2026. The survey found businesses to be optimistic about 2026 though many were worried about rising costs and pressures in the workplace. 

Costs have risen and pressures continue. 

The United States government recently released a bunch of UFO files. They contain information on people claiming to have seen alien spacecraft, aliens or both, sightings throughout history and federal, state and local officials with similar claims. 

That leads one to ponder a number of issues surrounding the sightings. Since this is an insurance publication, our first look is insurance.