Articles

As farmers diversify their operations in the face of volatile markets and unpredictable weather conditions, an agribusiness insurance leader recently told Insurance Journal that he's seen "meaningful growth" in national agritourism insurance demand. From farm stays to pick-your-own-produce destinations, the most recent numbers from the USDA's Census of Agriculture showed that U.S. farms and ranche...

Agency owners must stay informed about significant new trends in the insurance industry. The following is part one of a two-part article highlighting seven industry trends insurance agencies should track for 2026. 2025 M&A Activity & Pricing The field of buyers has shifted while the pace of acquisitions has slowed for a few reasons. In some situations, buyers are strategically slowing down...

Worldwide business leaders face growing risk challenges including increased technology and cyber risks, societal challenges, and deepening geopolitical divides. These risks will continue to shape the business landscape over the next 12 months, say Marsh and Zurich executives in response to a recently released report by the World Economic Forum. Uncertainty is the defining theme of the WEF's Global...

Recently, policyholder attorney Chip Merlin blogged about a vacancy exclusion found in many property insurance policies. His article cited a California Supreme Court decision that overturned a claim denial based on a vacancy exclusion. In TRB Investments, Inc. v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 40 Cal. 4th 19 (Cal. 2006), the California Supreme Court found that an exception in the exclusion for a buildin...

Within the realms of general liability (GL) and workers' compensation (WC) insurance lines, medical abuse is often considered in narrow terms — excessive treatment, unnecessary surgeries, inflated bills. While such behaviors are indeed problematic, a wider spectrum of medical abuse exists, deeply impacting claims cost, reserve adequacy, network risk, and insurer liability. This article examines mu...

Insurtech Lemonade said it has launched Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance, and will begin with a technical collaboration with Tesla that gives the insurer access to vehicle data. For starters, Lemonade said the new offering cuts per-mile rates for Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) vehicles by about 50% to reflect what the data has shown to be significant reduction in risk during autonomous driving....

Two independent claims adjusters in the Southeast have teamed up to create what they say is a quick, low-cost way for property owners to double-check insurance carriers' damage estimates on claims. They're calling it "CarFax for property insurance claims," referring to the site that checks for accident reports on vehicles. InsuranceClaim123.com, as it's known, is a tool that could potentially have...

The success of any great company often traces back to the grit and determination of the person leading the charge. The corporate world can be a rock fight, and the one calling the plays must have an almost Superman-like belief in their own invincibility. Whatever the challenge, they find the strength and fortitude to overcome it. Yet, ironically, those same qualities can also become an executive's...

Insurance is a data-driven industry. And access to reliable data can make the difference between understanding a risk or being caught off guard, between an opportune advantage or a missed opportunity. With this in mind, we examine three emerging risks: what we know--and don't know--about a possible large-scale space weather catastrophe, the impressive diagnostic abilities of quantum sensors, and t...

When a client buys a classic or exotic car, they're purchasing far more than transportation--they're investing in something personal, emotional, and often irreplaceable. Whether it's a meticulously restored Mustang, a cherished Corvette, or a modern collector favorite like an '80s Camaro IROC-Z, these vehicles represent both passion and value. Yet many collectors don't realize their prized vehicle...

It’s probably not a surprise that geopolitical volatility has surged into a list of the top 10 business risks worldwide. But cyber risk remains the number one concern globally, followed by business interruption at number two. That’s according to Aon’s 2025 Global Risk Management Survey, which has tracked the most pressing risks for business decision-makers for nearly 20 years. Geopolitical volatil...

In July 2021, after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, the city of Miami ordered structural inspections of all buildings over 40 years old. Since then, two other condominium buildings have been deemed unsafe and evacuated. The residents of Crestview Towers were ordered out of their homes in July 2021, and the city allowed them to return in April 2025. According to a C...

Over the past decade, the insurance industry has undergone an increasingly rapid transformation, driven by advancements in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and now generative AI technologies. These advancements have enabled insurers to automate routine tasks such as data entry, document creation, and various aspects of underwriting and claims processes. Generative AI unlocks new potentia...

The commercial property insurance market is navigating a constantly evolving landscape in 2025, in which rising costs, labor shortages, and the ever-present threat of business interruption are reshaping how claims are managed. In response, many insurers and risk managers are moving away from ad hoc contractor relationships and toward managed repair models that emphasize trusted networks, transpare...

Are property/casualty insurers facing a potential retention problem with small business customers? According to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study, just 55% of customers say they "definitely will" renew with their current insurer, down six percentage points from a year ago. The downturn in customer loyalty comes as premiums have been rising, and that could explain why some c...