Nationwide released a survey a few weeks ago that perfectly fits the now, annual, vacation season in the United States. It’s not a pretty picture.
Mark McGhiey is the Commercial Risk Management Leader at Nationwide. He said some important conclusions were reached in the survey.
When market conditions tighten, marketing should become more disciplined—not disappear. Insurance professionals are navigating higher client expectations, heavier rate pressure, and increased competition for attention. Pulling back entirely can weaken visibility at the very time clients need guidance and reassurance.
A better approach is to focus on efficient, high-impact activity. In a slower economy, the goal is to protect your brand, strengthen relationships, and concentrate on marketing efforts that support retention, referrals, and profitable growth. The following ideas are practical ways to stay visible without overspending.
Late spring and summer are packed with milestone moments—graduations, weddings, moves, and new beginnings. For insurance professionals, these events create natural opportunities to start timely, helpful conversations with clients. A quick social post, a short newsletter feature, a personalized email, or a phone call can go a long way in helping clients understand how major life changes may affect their insurance coverage and protection needs.
Here are a few timely examples to discuss with clients:
A couple of weeks ago the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a 48-1 vote. If it passes the House, and if it manages to work its way through the Senate, President Trump will likely sign it into law.
And there’s a good chance all of that will happen. Both the House and Senate have made this a bipartisan effort. The House has 32 cosponsors and in the Senate there are 18.
Spring is the season for prep. Gardeners plan, gather supplies, and put in the work now to enjoy results later.
They review what worked, choose what to plant, start seedlings, and take inventory. Then it’s time to till, fill, and plant.
A survey of risk managers at companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue, found 80% of them experiencing employee theft, fraud and embezzlement. The report notes threats driven by AI is melding with traditional schemes.
Billing fraud tops the list for 36% of the respondents. Check fraud impacted 23% of the firms and 19% cited payroll fraud as the top issue. Cash and non-cash theft sat at 23%.
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Verisk’s CargoNet analysis of supply chain thefts in the first quarter of 2026 is out. It says there were 767 supply chain thefts in the U.S. and Canada. That’s a drop of 5.3% over the first quarter of last year and a 12.2% drop from the first quarter of 2024. What looks like good news really isn’t. The number of thefts is down in the first quarter of 2026 but the cost of those thefts is close to the same as the first quarter of 2025. |
At the start of Wildfire Awareness Month (isn’t that something we should be aware of every month?) PG&E has introduced new technology into its wildfire prevention efforts. The company says its new Continuous Monitoring Center will assist in finding problems on the power grid.
PG&E vice president of wildfire mitigation, Andrew Abranches notes the new Continuous Monitoring Center will look for sparks, outages and ignition and other problems on the power grid before they become a dangerous wildfire.
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When asked how many salespeople he has at his company, author Harvey Mackay famously answers, “Everyone.” For insurance agencies, that mindset has never been more relevant.
Today’s clients interact with more than just one producer. Account managers, CSRs, claims advocates, and even accounting staff shape the client experience—and often influence whether business is retained, expanded, or referred. Engaging everyone in the sales process doesn’t mean turning the entire agency into closers. It means helping every team member understand how their everyday interactions can support growth. |
Every April, National Humor Month reminds us that laughter isn’t just a pleasant workplace extra — it’s a proven leadership asset. And with April Fools’ Day kicking off the month, it’s the perfect moment to highlight how wholesome, emotionally intelligent humor strengthens teams, reduces stress, and supports the kind of professional growth CPIA members champion.
In industries built on trust and precision — like insurance — humor can feel out of place. Yet recent research shows it’s far from frivolous. A 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that leader affiliative humor — warm, inclusive, never at someone’s expense — significantly increases team trust and employees’ confidence to take initiative, both of which fuel innovation and problem solving. When people feel safe enough to laugh together, they’re more willing to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate openly.
Video proposals are becoming a popular way for insurance agents to explain coverage options, personalize the sales process, and stand out in a competitive market. Agents are using short, recorded videos to walk prospects through quotes, renewal options, and coverage highlights – often replacing or supplementing traditional in‑person meetings and written proposals.
While video proposals can improve engagement and efficiency, they also introduce new professional liability considerations. Once recorded, a video proposal is no longer a casual conversation – it becomes a permanent sales communication that may be replayed, shared, and scrutinized later.
In the last couple of weeks AM Best has released reports on the business of insurance in 2025. Overall, it was a pretty good year. P&C insurers recorded an underwriting gain in 2025 of $61 billion.
It’s almost three-times as much when compared to the $22 billion in 2024.
Most of us have seen the videos. A man or a woman tiptoes up to a porch with a package on it then grab it and run. Before they can get into their car — or shortly after getting in one — the package explodes with a mixture of paint and confetti.
Outside of the parents, partner or a good friend screaming obscenities toward the homeowners’ porch camera, most of us support the punishment meted out to the would-be thief.
Nationwide recently released a survey on the owners of commercial property. It revealed their take on bad weather and natural disasters.
The survey defines commercial property owners as people owning property, business owners and people building new construction. It found 66% of those surveyed are either very, or extremely, worried about the severe weather and natural disasters that might happen in their area.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says the low cost-of-living raise you got this year is directly caused by the growing cost of health insurance. New York Fed researchers surveyed businesses in New York and Northern New Jersey and found health insurance for employees rose higher than other business expenses.
Some reported an average increase of more than 13%.
The Cost of Living — Most Spend Half Annual Income on House BillsDOXO is a firm that helps people manage their income. The company issued a report last week noting the average American worker will spend 47% of their annual income to run their household. The 2026 median annual income is about $84,583. That means the average person spends $39,468 on bills to run the house. Of that amount, $27,997 is spent on the most essential items and cannot be changed. |
Every March, International Ideas Month invites leaders to pause and consider the power of creativity—not as a “nice‑to‑have,” but as a core business strategy. For management teams navigating shifting markets, evolving customer expectations, and increasingly diverse demographics, creativity is no longer optional. It is the engine of relevance, differentiation, and long‑term growth.
Today’s most successful organizations are those that encourage their teams to think deeply, observe closely, and experiment boldly. Innovation rarely emerges from routine; it emerges from curiosity.
Insurance agents play a key role in protecting their clients’ long‑term financial security, which makes it essential to place coverage only with carriers that demonstrate strong, stable financial performance. Rating agencies such as AM Best, Demotech, and S&P regularly review insurers’ financials and adjust ratings based on each carrier’s ability to meet ongoing obligations. These ratings can change at any time – and even well‑established carriers may experience downgrades.
Ongoing monitoring is important from an agency risk‑management standpoint. Agents are expected to use reasonable care in placing business with solvent, financially reliable companies, and that failure to stay informed about rating changes can create significant liability exposure and reputational damage for the agency.
Employees — Job Security ConcernsThe small business financial firm, Clarify Capital did a survey with employees and employers. It found 20% of full-time employees are worried about job security and are searching for a new place to work. At the same time, 45% of the HR departments say they’re increasing hiring in 2026. The emphasis for 23% will be customer service and support. Another 23% are looking for AI and machine learning experience and 22% want “soft skills.” |
Legal Abuse — The Nation's Biggest HellholesThe Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) has been working overtime to educate the U.S. populace about the abuse of the nation’s legal system. Most of that abuse comes at the hands of trial attorneys. The Triple-I says it has a huge impact on consumers and consumer pricing. |
Wed Jul 8, 2026Wildfire Risks and Insurance Solutions: Tools and Tactics for Agents To Become a Trusted Advisor Category: Featured Webinars |
