State Farm has issued wildfire safety guidance to its insureds, outlining steps to take before and after a wildfire. The information focuses on preparedness, evacuation, property protection, and recovery.

Wildfire Activity And Risk

Wildfires are fast-moving events that pose risks to people, property, and natural resources. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfires burn more than 7 million acres of land each year. Fire suppression costs average $3 billion annually. State Farm notes that the number and intensity of wildfires have increased in recent years, underscoring the importance of preparation.

Preparedness And Evacuation Planning

State Farm emphasizes advance planning as a key element of wildfire safety. The insurer advises policyholders to create a wildfire evacuation plan and review it with all household members. The plan should identify roles and responsibilities, establish two meeting points in case family members become separated, and include emergency contacts. Regular evacuation drills can help ensure familiarity with the process.

The guidance also recommends identifying water sources within 1,000 feet of a home, such as a well, hydrant, or swimming pool. In addition, State Farm encourages insureds to create a home inventory and review it annually with their insurance agent to confirm adequate coverage.

Emergency Kits And Defensible Space

State Farm advises policyholders to prepare an emergency kit that includes drinking water, nonperishable food, medications, copies of important documents, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, portable chargers, cash, clothing, and pet supplies. The kit should also include N95 masks or respirators.

To reduce ignition risk, the insurer highlights the importance of creating a noncombustible 5-foot buffer around the home. Embers can travel miles ahead of a fire front and accumulate along exterior walls. State Farm recommends removing vegetation and combustible materials within 5 feet of the home and decks, trimming overhanging branches, clearing wood mulch, and replacing it with hardscape materials such as gravel or concrete. The guidance also calls for replacing wood or vinyl fencing within 5 feet of the structure with noncombustible materials such as metal or concrete.

Home Hardening And Monitoring Conditions

State Farm advises installing fire-resistant roofing and siding materials when possible, clearing debris from gutters and roofs, and planting fire-resistant vegetation. The insurer also recommends maintaining smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.

To stay informed, policyholders should monitor the National Weather Service, local news, and weather alerts. State Farm encourages using FEMA and local emergency notification apps, as well as trusted social media channels. If authorities issue an evacuation order, the guidance directs residents to leave immediately.

Shelter In Place And Evacuation Procedures

If sheltering in place, State Farm advises staying indoors, closing windows and vents, moving flammable items away from windows, and sheltering in rooms on the opposite side of the approaching fire. Residents should avoid outside walls.

During a warning or voluntary evacuation phase, policyholders should review their evacuation plan, prepare emergency bags, keep vehicle fuel tanks full, and withdraw cash in case of power outages. If evacuation becomes mandatory, residents should use designated routes, wear protective clothing, and bring emergency kits, medications, and important documents.

Post-Fire Safety And Documentation

After authorities declare it safe to return, State Farm recommends inspecting property for hazards such as live embers, downed power lines or gas odors before entering. Residents should check for structural damage, avoid hot ash and smoldering debris, and wear protective gear during cleanup. The insurer advises using N95 masks when handling ash and dampening debris before sweeping to limit airborne particles.

Additional steps include ventilating the home, following generator safety practices, washing clothing that has been exposed to smoke, and checking with local health departments about water safety. Food, beverages, and medications exposed to heat, ash, or smoke should be discarded.

For claims purposes, State Farm instructs policyholders to document damage with detailed photos and videos, create an inventory of damaged items, and contact their insurance provider promptly to begin the claims process.

During repairs, the insurer advises hiring licensed professionals to assess foundations, electrical systems, and plumbing. State Farm also notes that installing fire-resistant materials during rebuilding can improve long-term resilience.

The American Red Cross can provide additional information on post-wildfire cleanup and recovery.

INSTANDA, a global provider of AI-enabled no-code insurance policy administration solutions, announced an integrated offering with ServiceNow. The companies said the collaboration will deliver the digital strength and flexibility insurers need to operate in a fast-changing market.

As a ServiceNow Build Partner, INSTANDA introduced an integrated solution designed to support insurers and managing general agents. The companies stated that the offering accelerates digital transformation by eliminating legacy constraints and enabling rapid product innovation. In addition, the solution delivers a seamless end-to-end digital insurance experience across the entire insurance value chain. It unites product configuration, servicing, and claims within one integrated platform.

The companies also reported that the solution streamlines operations through intelligent workflows that reduce manual effort and improve accuracy. Furthermore, it enhances claims experiences with AI-driven triage, routing, and resolution. According to the announcement, the platform supports scalable innovation and allows insurers to adapt quickly to market demand.

Together, INSTANDA and ServiceNow said they are setting a new standard for insurance technology that emphasizes speed, flexibility, and readiness for future needs.

Derek Hill, co-founder and group chief revenue officer at INSTANDA, addressed the partnership in the announcement. “By bringing together INSTANDA’s no-code, configurable core policy administration platform with ServiceNow Workflow Solutions and digital capabilities, we’re giving MGAs and insurers the power to move faster, operate smarter, and engage customers at every touchpoint,” Hill said. “This partnership is about enabling end-to-end transformation from real-time product configuration to service to claims.”

Nigel Walsh, global head of insurance at ServiceNow, also commented on the collaboration. “For insurers, transformation isn’t just about speed. It’s about delivering measurable value with clarity and confidence,” Walsh said. “Our partnership with INSTANDA demonstrates how AI-driven workflow automation can unlock new levels of agility and coordination across the entire insurance lifecycle. We’re empowering teams with real-time insights and intelligent workflows so they can focus on what truly matters: delivering faster resolutions, reducing cost, and creating exceptional, personalized experiences for customers.”

According to the release, insurers face pressure to modernize legacy systems, manage complex risk portfolios, and meet evolving compliance requirements. The companies stated that this collaboration delivers a unified platform that accelerates digital transformation and drives measurable business outcomes.

The ServiceNow Partner Program rewards partners for broad expertise and experience that drive opportunities, expand into new markets, and deliver outcomes for joint customers across the enterprise. As a Build Partner, INSTANDA develops and distributes applications with the ServiceNow AI Platform. This includes tailored configurations and seamless integrations designed to enhance platform capabilities.

About INSTANDA

Since 2015, INSTANDA has provided insurance companies with an AI-enabled no-code policy administration and distribution platform. The company states that its platform allows insurers to adapt to customer and market demands. INSTANDA designed the platform for seamless integration and configurability. As a result, insurers can create, manage, and optimize products and customer journeys efficiently. More information is available at https://instanda.com.

The Trump administration is set to rescind the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 endangerment finding, a move that would halt federal regulation of greenhouse gases under the EPA Clean Air Act and is expected to prompt significant legal challenges.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the action would represent “the largest deregulatory action in American history.” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is expected to join President Trump at the White House on Thursday to formalize the decision.

The 2009 endangerment finding determined that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane from fossil fuel development and combustion, pose a threat to public health and welfare. That determination has served as the legal foundation for a wide range of federal climate regulations.

Legal Foundation and Historical Context

In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA that the agency must regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Two years later, during the Obama administration, the EPA issued the endangerment finding, concluding that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger public health and welfare.

The finding underpins federal rules governing emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, vehicle exhaust, and methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.

On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an executive order directing the EPA administrator to submit recommendations on the legality and continuing applicability of the endangerment finding. The directive echoed recommendations included in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan, which calls for limiting climate-related regulation.

Zeldin first announced the EPA’s intention to eliminate the endangerment finding last March. In a news release at the time, he said the agency aimed to reduce costs for American families, expand domestic energy production, and support the auto industry.

The EPA now argues that the Clean Air Act does not provide legal authority to regulate greenhouse gases. The administration has contended that the original finding was established in a “flawed and unorthodox” manner and did not strictly adhere to the Clean Air Act's statutory language.

Environmental groups dispute that interpretation. Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice, said the law requires the EPA administrator to regulate air pollution “which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare” and indicated that litigation would follow.

Implications for Vehicle Emissions Standards

Because the endangerment finding stemmed from a Clean Air Act provision focused on vehicle emissions, its rescission is expected to end federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Transportation remains the largest direct source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

Under the Biden administration, vehicle standards were tightened significantly. The White House projected that automakers would need to have electric vehicles account for up to 56% of sales by 2032 to comply with the standards.

The Trump administration is poised to eliminate those restrictions. It has also blocked California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions rules, reduced the stringency of federal fuel economy standards, and, with congressional support, eliminated penalties for noncompliance with those standards. In addition, Congress ended the federal consumer tax credit for electric vehicles, and the administration delayed or redirected funding intended to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Electric vehicles accounted for about 10% of new car sales in 2024. Although traditional automakers argued that prior standards did not align with market conditions, industry groups have expressed differing views on regulatory stability. MEMA, which represents auto parts manufacturers, asked the EPA to maintain greenhouse gas rules to provide long-term certainty for U.S. companies competing in the global electric vehicle market.

Some industry participants have also warned that eliminating the endangerment finding entirely, rather than replacing it with revised standards, could create regulatory uncertainty and lead to state-by-state emissions rules in the absence of a federal framework.

On Tuesday, Leavitt said rescinding the finding would save $1.3 trillion, largely through lower vehicle sticker prices. While electric vehicles typically carry higher upfront costs in the United States, economic analyses have found that drivers may realize savings over time through reduced fuel costs.

Scientific and Administrative Considerations

Historically, EPA regulations have relied heavily on scientific findings. In seeking to overturn the endangerment finding, the current EPA has emphasized legal arguments. The science cited in the agency’s proposed rule came from the Department of Energy’s Climate Working Group. Independent scientists issued a joint rebuttal of the group’s report, calling it rife with errors. The panel has since been disbanded, and a federal judge ruled that the Energy Department violated public records laws in creating it.

The administration’s action follows three consecutive years identified as the hottest on record and a series of extreme weather events across the United States, including flooding and wildfires.

The United States is the largest historical emitter of man-made greenhouse gases and previously committed to international emissions reduction efforts under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. President Trump has withdrawn the United States from that agreement and from the 1992 treaty that underpins it.

Once the EPA publishes its final decision in the Federal Register, legal challenges are expected. Observers anticipate that the matter could ultimately return to the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

Recent research suggests Google may be reevaluating how it treats self-promotional “best of” listicles in search results. The findings follow noticeable volatility after the December 2025 core update and significant visibility declines among several SaaS and B2B brands.

Lily Ray, vice president of SEO strategy and research at Amsive, identified a pattern among companies that experienced sharp drops in organic visibility in January. Many relied heavily on review-style content that ranked their own product as the No. 1 “best” in its category. These pages often included the current year in the title to signal recency.

Visibility Declines After December Core Update

According to Barry Schwartz, Google search results showed increased volatility throughout January following the December 2025 core update. Google has not announced or confirmed additional updates in 2026. However, the timing aligns with steep visibility losses among several well-known SaaS and B2B brands.

Ray reported that in multiple cases, organic visibility dropped 30 percent to 50 percent within weeks. The declines were not domain-wide. Instead, they were concentrated in blog, guide, and tutorial subfolders.

Those sections frequently contained dozens or hundreds of self-promotional listicles targeting “best” queries. In most instances, the publisher ranked its own product first. Many articles were lightly refreshed with “2026” in the title, with limited evidence of substantive updates.

Ray also noted that declines in Google organic results could affect visibility across large language models that rely on Google’s search results. This reach extends beyond Google’s own AI products, such as Gemini, AI Mode, and AI Overviews, and likely includes platforms such as ChatGPT.

Review Trust Signals and Content Quality

Self-promotional listicles have served as a strategy to influence rankings and AI-generated answers. If Google is reassessing how it evaluates this type of content, strategies centered on “best” queries may face increased risk.

Ranking one’s own product as the “best” without independent testing, transparent methodology, or third-party validation has long been considered a questionable SEO tactic. Although not explicitly prohibited, the approach conflicts with Google’s stated guidance on reviews and trust.

Google has consistently emphasized that high-quality reviews should demonstrate first-hand experience, originality, and evidence of evaluation. Self-promotional listicles often fall short of these criteria, particularly when they do not disclose bias.

Additional Contributing Factors

Ray acknowledged that self-promotional listicles likely were not the only factor influencing organic visibility. Many of the affected sites also demonstrated rapid content scaling, automation, aggressive year-over-year refreshes, and other tactics associated with algorithmic risk.

However, the consistency of self-ranking “best” content among the hardest-hit sites suggests this signal may now carry greater weight, particularly when implemented at scale.

Ongoing Volatility

It remains to be seen whether self-promotional listicles will continue to earn citations and organic visibility. Google rarely applies changes evenly or immediately.

If recent volatility reflects adjustments to Google’s review system, the shift appears to favor content that prioritizes credible, independent evaluation over content designed primarily to influence rankings.

A bill to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) through 2034 recently cleared a U.S. House committee with bipartisan support, advancing the measure for consideration by the full House and Senate.

Congress enacted TRIA in 2002 following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The law created a federal backstop that shares catastrophic terrorism losses between insurers and the federal government. Lawmakers designed the program to support stability in private insurance markets and other industries in the event of large-scale terrorism losses. Since its inception, Congress has reauthorized TRIA four times. To date, no events have triggered the federal backstop.

TRIA is scheduled to expire at the end of 2027. As a result, many commercial property and casualty insurers have begun preparing for the possibility that the program could lapse. Risk and insurance leaders have called for early legislative action to ensure continuity.

Will Melofchik, CEO of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators, addressed the issue in a statement last year.

“American businesses must be provided with the essential coverage to successfully operate in today’s uncertain global environment,” Melofchik said. “Failure by Congress to extend TRIA would likely result in the inability of insurers to offer coverage for future catastrophes resulting from terrorism, making terrorism risk insurance unavailable and unaffordable.”

Andrew N. Mais, former Connecticut insurance commissioner and past president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, testified on behalf of the NAIC about the program's importance.

“Businesses and consumers that live, work, and shop in communities in every state benefit from a stable insurance sector, which provides commercial terrorism insurance only because TRIA exists as a backstop,” Mais said.

He added that, without TRIA or a comparable solution, private insurance carriers would not make meaningful capacity for affordable commercial terrorism coverage available.

As drafted, the bill would extend the program through 2034. In addition, it would raise the minimum loss threshold from $5 million to $10 million beginning in 2029. The legislation would also introduce a transparency requirement, directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury to publish a notice in the Federal Register no later than 30 days after initiating the terrorism determination process.

Lawmakers may revise the bill as it advances through the legislative process.

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) announced a leadership update for its Northeast Division. On Feb. 10, 2026, IICF named Sarah Gavlick, EVP of carrier relations and client distribution at Jencap Group, as chair of the IICF Northeast Division Board of Directors.

IICF is a nonprofit organization that supports communities through grants and volunteer service. The Northeast Division is one of its regional operations.

Leadership Background and Industry Experience

Gavlick brings more than 30 years of experience in underwriting, marketing and distribution to her role. She joined Jencap Group, one of the nation’s largest wholesale insurance distributors, after spending 19 years at Markel. During her tenure at Markel, she held multiple senior leadership roles, including regional president for the Northeast wholesale division, chief territory officer for the East and chief retail officer at the national level.

Service and Involvement With IICF

Before her appointment as chair, Gavlick served as a longtime member of the IICF Northeast Board. She also held leadership positions on the Northeast Executive Committee, most recently as vice chair. In addition, she participated on the Membership Committee and the Annual Benefit Dinner Committee.

Beyond her work with IICF, Gavlick is involved in industry leadership and advocacy efforts. She is an advocate for women in insurance and serves on Gamma Iota Sigma's advisory council. In 2022, Insurance Business of America recognized her with its Elite Woman Award.

Looking Ahead for the Northeast Division

In a statement, Gavlick said she is honored to work with the board and highlighted the collective focus on giving back to communities in need. She referenced recent momentum within the division, including the most successful fundraising event in IICF history, the Northeast Benefit held in November. She also noted the board's growth in recent years and expressed enthusiasm for continuing that progress across the Northeast Division and its chapters in Boston and Philadelphia.

Transition From Previous Leadership

Gavlick succeeds John Gambale, chief distribution officer, North America, at Allianz Commercial. Gambale completed a three-year term as chair, during which the Northeast Division Board expanded to more than 50 members. It is now IICF’s largest regional board.

Gambale said the growth of the board supported increased community impact through expanded grant-making and volunteer service throughout the region. He added that he looks forward to continuing to support the Northeast Division and its leadership.

Impact of the IICF Northeast Division

To date, the IICF Northeast Division has awarded nearly $15 million in community grants. These grants support hundreds of nonprofit partners focused on education, social services and environmental initiatives.

For more information about the IICF Northeast Division, visit the IICF Northeast webpage or contact Betsy Myatt, IICF vice president and chief program officer and Northeast executive director, at (917) 544-0895 or emyatt@iicf.org.

About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit organization that unites the insurance industry to support communities through grants and volunteer service. For more than 30 years, IICF has contributed more than $55 million in community grants and logged 400,000 volunteer hours from more than 130,000 insurance professionals. The organization reinvests funds locally and partners with hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations each year across the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

IICF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Additional information is available at www.iicf.org or on LinkedIn and Instagram.

The global insurance brokerage market continues to expand as demand increases for cyber coverage, catastrophe-related solutions, and digitally enabled insurance placement, according to a new report from Research and Markets released Feb. 9, 2026.

The report, Insurance Brokerage – Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026–2031), estimates the market will grow from $328.47 billion in 2025 to $359.27 billion in 2026. Forecasts project the market will reach $562.48 billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 9.38% during the 2026 to 2031 period.

Researchers attribute this growth to rising demand for cyber insurance, catastrophe-related coverage, and embedded-finance solutions. In addition, increased investment in digital technologies continues to shorten placement cycles and expand broker access to clients.

Excess-and-Surplus Lines and Capital Shifts Reshape the Market

The report identifies a continued shift toward excess-and-surplus lines, which now represent 34% of U.S. commercial insurance business. This change has altered risk distribution and increased demand for brokers with access to specialized and niche markets.

Public-sector carriers remain the leaders in premium volume. However, private-sector capacity continues to grow as institutional capital flows into alternative risk vehicles. At the same time, consolidation remains a defining trend. Acquisitions completed during 2024 and 2025 expanded the broker scale but also introduced margin pressure across the sector.

Embedded insurance distribution also continues to influence market dynamics. The report estimates these channels could divert up to $50 billion in auto insurance premiums away from traditional brokerage models.

Life Insurance Demand Rises in Emerging Markets

Life insurance demand is increasing across emerging markets, particularly in India, China, and Southeast Asia. According to the report, consumer preferences in these regions are shifting toward protection-focused products, driven by higher risk awareness following the pandemic.

In India, gross written premiums reached $31.4 billion in fiscal year 2023 after deregulation of commission structures. Across the Asia-Pacific region, relaxed foreign ownership rules continue to attract global insurance and brokerage firms. As a result, brokers increasingly serve as advisors on regulatory compliance and localization requirements.

Digitalization and InsurTech Partnerships Accelerate Placement

Digital transformation remains central to brokerage growth strategies. Broker and carrier partnerships are increasingly using artificial intelligence to improve underwriting efficiency and accelerate quote-to-bind timelines.

The report highlights a collaboration between McGill & Partners and AXA XL, which reduced placement timelines by up to 75% through AI-enabled underwriting. Cloud computing and AI investments now account for a significant share of brokerage IT budgets, underscoring the strategic focus on digital infrastructure.

Brokers are also using behavioral data and parametric triggers to enhance customer interactions. In addition, white-label digital portals now allow commercial insurance quotations within banking applications, supplementing declining traditional commission revenue.

Commission Pressure and Rising Costs Impact Margins

Commission compression continues to challenge brokerage profitability. In 2023, heightened competition in the cyber insurance market led to a 17% decline in cyber premiums, putting pressure on gross margins.

As a result, many commercial producers have shifted toward fee-based compensation models. Mid-sized brokerages face additional challenges as they attempt to scale operations to support digital investment while managing inflation-driven operating costs. While offshoring could reduce expenses, data sovereignty regulations limit its use and slow broader market growth.

Segment Performance Highlights Specialty Growth

Property and casualty insurance accounted for 55.62% of the global insurance brokerage market in 2025, reinforcing its role as the largest segment in complex risk programs.

Specialty lines, however, are projected to grow at an 8.22% compound annual growth rate. Growth within this segment is driven by increased demand for cyber, marine, and aviation coverage that requires tailored risk structuring. The report also notes that emerging risks, including space-launch liability, are contributing additional revenue streams that rely on brokers’ specialized placement expertise.

Regional Market Trends

North America controlled 37.42% of intermediated premiums in 2025, supported by a mature technology environment and an advanced surplus-lines structure. Although growth has moderated due to changing consumer preferences and increased self-insurance among commercial clients, adaptive brokerage strategies continue to support regional leadership.

Asia-Pacific is identified as the fastest-growing region, driven by regulatory liberalization, rising cyber insurance premiums, and increased insurance adoption. Successful brokerage strategies in the region emphasize local partnerships and sustained digital investment.

Europe faces mixed conditions following Brexit-related regulatory divergence. While economic pressures have constrained premium growth, regulatory reforms have created new investment opportunities. Consolidation among specialty brokers has improved operational efficiency and reinforced Europe’s role in the global insurance brokerage market.

Companies Covered in the Report

The report includes analysis of major insurance brokerage firms, including Acrisure LLC, Aon PLC, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Brown & Brown Inc., HUB International Ltd., Lockton Companies, Marsh McLennan Companies Inc., Truist Insurance Holdings, USI Insurance Services LLC, Willis Towers Watson PLC, Ryan Specialty Holdings Inc., Howden Group Holdings, Alliant Insurance Services Inc., Edgewood Partners Insurance Center, BMS Group Ltd., Miller Insurance Services LLP, Goosehead Insurance Inc., NFP Corp., Gallagher Re, and Ardonagh Group.

ResearchAndMarkets.com, the publisher of the report, provides international market research, industry data, and analysis across global and regional markets, covering key industries, leading companies, and emerging trends.

Maple Technologies (MapleTech) announced the availability of Aspire Quick Start on Feb. 10, 2026. Quick Start is a built-in, step-by-step workflow within the Aspire underwriting platform. It automates risk intake for trucking insurance and streamlines how underwriters collect and review submission data.

The new workflow focuses on reducing manual data entry while improving visibility into data sources and submission progress. As a result, underwriting teams can complete trucking risk intake in minutes rather than hours.

Streamlined Risk Intake Within Aspire

Quick Start operates directly inside the Aspire underwriting platform. It guides users through a structured workflow that automates trucking insurance submissions. According to MapleTech President and CEO Matt Blackley, the tool reduces manual entry while clearly showing the provenance of each data record. In addition, the workflow includes real-time progress indicators and pulls from multiple data sources to reduce information gaps. Quick indications can reach 90% completion in minutes.

Automated Data Retrieval and Consolidation

Quick Start retrieves carrier information from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or from motor-carrier data and analytics companies. It displays carrier details, safety records, and fleet information in a single workflow. Users can upload quote forms and supporting documents using a drag-and-drop interface.

A tailored AI model extracts risk data from these materials. The system then consolidates and deduplicates records while showing the source of each item. Users can review the consolidated list, include or exclude vehicles and drivers, and bulk-exclude records from specific data sources. Once the review is complete, users select “Close and Import” to bring the curated data directly into Aspire. This process eliminates manual entry and completes intake in minutes.

AI Processing Built for Trucking Risk

MapleTech designed Quick Start’s AI model specifically for risk data extraction. According to CTO Don Honeycutt, the system provides tailored processing rather than generic optical character recognition. The interface responds more intuitively than traditional forms, allowing underwriters to review consolidated vehicles and drivers before import. Multi-source integration consolidates all required data and documents into a single workflow. Because Quick Start is built into Aspire, it does not require additional integrations, added costs, or vendor fees.

About Maple Technologies

Maple Technologies develops Aspire, a core processing system for Property and Casualty insurance. Carriers, reciprocals, risk retention groups, captives, self-insureds, and MGAs use Aspire to write personal, commercial, and specialty lines of business. Aspire offers flexibility, configurability, and reliability. Organizations can deploy it as a pre-integrated suite or as standalone components. The platform integrates with other systems and data sources through flexible APIs and supports configurable workflows. By streamlining operations and improving efficiency, Aspire helps insurers reduce costs and improve profitability.

For more information, visit www.maple-tech.com, call (732) 863-5523, or email info@maple-tech.com.

Verisk and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association reported improved U.S. insurance industry performance through the first nine months of 2025, driven by continued premium growth and lower extreme weather losses. The findings, released Feb. 6, show a net underwriting gain of $35.3 billion and a notable improvement in the combined ratio.

According to the report, these results reflect data filed by U.S.-domiciled private property and casualty insurers, including reinsurers and excess and surplus insurers, and account for nearly all industry activity during the period.

Premium Growth Continues Across Lines

Net written premiums increased 5.1% year over year, rising to $740.7 billion through the third quarter of 2025. During the same period in 2024, insurers reported $704.8 billion in net written premiums. The report attributes this growth to a shift toward more adequate pricing and stable demand across most commercial and personal insurance lines.

Net earned premiums also rose, increasing 6.9% to $711.2 billion, compared with $665.5 billion reported in 2024.

Underwriting Results Show Significant Improvement

The industry posted an estimated net underwriting gain of $35.3 billion through the first nine months of 2025. By comparison, insurers reported a $4 billion underwriting gain during the same period in the prior year.

Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses increased by 0.6%, a slower pace than the 2.7% increase reported in 2024. As a result, the combined ratio improved to 94%, down from 97.9% one year earlier. The report notes that this marks the first time in a decade that the combined ratio fell below 95% through the third quarter.

Policyholders’ surplus increased to $1.20 trillion, up from $1.12 trillion during the same period in 2024.

Investment Results and Capital Gains

Realized capital gains declined significantly during the period, totaling $15.6 billion compared with $75.5 billion in 2024. However, after adjusting for capital gains realized by one insurer in the prior year, overall investment gains remained stable, according to the report.

Mid-Year Results Finalized Following Adjustments

The report also finalized previously adjusted mid-year results for 2025. Underwriting gains for the first six months of the year totaled $11.6 billion, compared with a $3.8 billion gain during the first half of 2024.

Insurers wrote $489 billion in premiums during the first half of 2025, reflecting a slower growth rate of 5.4%. Earned premiums grew 7.4% to $469 billion. During the same period, incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses increased by 5.4%, compared with a 2.4% increase at mid-year 2024. Policyholders’ surplus rose to $1.13 trillion, up from $1.07 trillion reported at mid-year 2024.

About the Data and Reporting Scope

The figures are based on annual statements filed with insurance regulators by private property and casualty insurers domiciled in the United States. The data exclude state workers’ compensation funds, residual market insurers, the National Flood Insurance Program, and foreign insurers. All figures are net of reinsurance unless otherwise noted and may not balance due to rounding.

Insurify has launched the insurance industry’s first comparison application built for ChatGPT, allowing users to browse, research, and compare car insurance options directly within OpenAI’s app library. The application became available Feb. 9 and represents the first insurance-focused app listed in OpenAI’s directory to date.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company designed the application to operate entirely within ChatGPT’s conversational interface. Users can ask questions in plain language and receive tailored car insurance rate estimates, insurer information, and customer feedback without leaving the platform.

The Insurify app draws from the company’s proprietary database of more than 196 million auto insurance quotes and over 70,000 verified customer reviews. According to Insurify, this combination enables users to compare options based on pricing and other attributes while remaining within a single conversational workflow.

Within ChatGPT, the app generates personalized rate estimates using driver-specific factors. These include location, vehicle details, age, credit profile, driving history, and coverage needs. Users can compare offers from insurers operating in their area and view key details side by side. The information presented includes pricing, customer service indicators, coverage options, discounts, policy transparency, and overall value.

The app also functions as an entry point to Insurify’s broader digital marketplace. Once users complete initial research within ChatGPT, they can continue the shopping process directly on Insurify’s platform. At that stage, users work with Insurify as a licensed digital insurance agent to finalize coverage and purchase a policy. Insurify holds licenses in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Insurify founder and CEO Snejina Zacharia said the application reflects how consumers increasingly rely on AI tools to support everyday decisions. She stated that the company designed the app to simplify insurance research by centralizing education, comparison, and customer insights in one interface.

ChatGPT currently serves more than 800 million weekly users, according to the company. Insurify positioned the launch as a way to engage shoppers within an environment they already use for research and information gathering.

To access the application, users can visit Insurify’s listing in the ChatGPT app directory and select the Connect option. After connecting, users initiate interactions by beginning prompts with “@Insurify” to receive personalized estimates and insurer comparisons.

Founded in 2016, Insurify operates as an online insurance marketplace with more than 500 carrier integrations. The company offers comparison and purchasing tools for auto, home, pet, and renters insurance. Insurify reports that its AI-driven platform has generated more than 196 million quotes and facilitated $200 billion in total coverage to date.

The California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) is marking its 35th anniversary, recognizing more than three decades of relationship-building, professional development, and collaboration within California’s wholesale insurance market.

Founded in the late 1980s, CIWA emerged during a period of significant regulatory change in California following the passage of Proposition 103 and the introduction of elected insurance commissioners. The association was formally incorporated in 1991 under the leadership of industry professionals Marv Uritz, Norm Levine, and Dave Anderson. At the time, managing general agents and wholesale intermediaries faced increasing regulatory and political complexity, along with a growing need for a unified forum focused on education, advocacy, and connection.

From its beginning, CIWA positioned itself as both a professional resource and a community-driven organization. Its stated mission has centered on creating meaningful opportunities for engagement while addressing the legislative and educational needs specific to California’s wholesale insurance sector.

Over the past 35 years, CIWA’s leadership structure has played a central role in sustaining that mission. More than 25 past presidents and 85 board members have collectively contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to the association. Their service helped establish the operational framework and programming that continue to support members today.

Yana Connors, current president of CIWA, said the association’s longevity reflects the value of its member relationships. Connors noted that CIWA emphasizes personal interaction, peer learning, and mentorship as core elements of its approach. She added that fostering an environment where professionals can connect and support future leaders has remained consistent since the association’s earliest days.

CIWA’s membership is currently at an all-time high. This growth aligns with broader expansion in the surplus lines market. According to AM Best, the surplus lines sector reached nearly $130 billion in direct premiums in 2024, one year after exceeding $100 billion. The increase underscores the growing role of wholesale professionals in placing complex and non-admitted risks and reflects continued demand for specialized market expertise.

In response to changes within the industry, CIWA has expanded its programming to address evolving professional needs. Recent initiatives include CIWA Future, which focuses on supporting emerging professionals; CIWA Women, which aims to empower women working in wholesale and carrier distribution; and the Insurtech Committee, which provides a forum for discussions on technology and innovation within the excess and surplus lines space.

These initiatives operate alongside CIWA’s established events, which remain a cornerstone of the association’s engagement strategy. The events are designed to encourage direct interaction among wholesalers, carriers, and service partners in structured and accessible settings.

As part of its anniversary year, CIWA is inviting members and industry partners to attend its Summer Forum, scheduled for July 19 to 21, 2026, in Monterey, California. The event will serve as a milestone celebration and an opportunity for continued networking and education within the wholesale insurance community.

CIWA is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. Its stated vision is to advance education and advocacy for wholesale insurance professionals and their affiliated business partners. Additional information about the association and Summer Forum 2026 is available through CIWA’s website.