New Paths to Agent Growth

AM Best Research: AM Best Research Offers Look at Property/Casualty and Life/Annuity Segments: AM Best also is planning a report for March that focuses on social inflation. A Special Report also is expected on AI.

AM Best TV & Audio: Technology Is Modifying, Driving Growth in the DUAE Market, Exavalu Executive Says: Professionals also discuss how life insurers aim to combat rising retirement costs and explore glimmers of recovery in the medical professional liability sector.

AM Best’s Webinars & Briefings: Discussion Illustrates How Best’s Alert Service Can Be Used To Monitor Real-Time Industry Developments: Professionals also talk about the advantages of using data responsibly, examine what’s ahead for global reinsurance, and explore the Medicare Advantage segment.

Academic Research: Study Illustrates How Emotions Can Play a Big Role in Insurance Choices: Two professors spoke with AM Best TV about their research, which shows the fear of “potential regret” can shape insurance and financial decision-making.

App Store: Insurance Apps Target Wellness, Rewards: Technology and reduced premiums are among the rewards insureds can receive in exchange for logging physical and mental health activities.

Artificial Intelligence: AI Platforms Weigh In on Regulatory Patchwork Facing Global Captives: AI platforms cited regulatory fragmentation, compliance complexity and tax scrutiny among the challenges facing captives.

Asset Management: AM Best: Private Equity/Asset Managers-Backed Companies Drive Growth in Affiliated Investments: Analysts discussed an AM Best report that found higher concentrations of affiliated investments can signal elevated risk.

Best's Rankings: Largest Global Published, Rated Single-Parent Captive Insurers – 2026 Edition: Ranked by 2024 gross premiums written.

Best's Rankings: Largest Multiperil Crop Insurers – 2026 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best's State Rate Filings: Alaska Workers’ Compensation Approved Rate Filings by Overall Effect With Decreases of 1% or Greater: Based on an effective date beginning Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2026.

Best’s Rankings: Largest Private Crop Insurers – 2026 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s State Rate Filings: Favorable Loss Trends Lead to Decreases in Alaska Workers’ Compensation Rates: Favorable loss trends—including declining work accidents, controlled medical costs and strong safety trends—are easing workers’ comp rates, according to AM Best.

Bookstore: Author: AI-Forward Leadership Redefines How Insurers Adopt Technology: Jeff Arnold discusses how insurers can move beyond AI experimentation to intentional leadership by using AI to strengthen decisions and culture without losing trust.

Captive Domicile: Finance Hub Training Future Insurers Amid Job Surge in Captive Sector: Efforts are being made to train and provide internships for younger people and to educate them on the different opportunities in reinsurance, capital markets, banking and other sectors.

Captive Insurance: Michigan Lawmakers Mull Several Bills Aimed at Attracting Captive Insurers: The package would seek to lower application fees, allow each certificate of authority to remain valid for 90 days after a captive’s fiscal year ends and eliminate Michigan’s requirement that captives hold at least one in-state board meeting annually.

Captive Market: AM Best: Captive Insurers Turn to Property Coverage as Commercial Market Tightens: The captive market is “very flexible and adaptable based on what’s needed year to year,” Adrienne Stark, an AM Best associate director, told AM Best TV at the Cayman Captive Forum 2025.

Corporate Changes: Massachusetts Regulator Approves Liberty Mutual Affiliates’ Conversion, Merger Plan: The companies would merge and be acquired by Liberty Mutual Holding Co.

Data Monetization: Can Data Boost an Insurer’s Bottom Line?: Two insurance technology leaders say data monetization offers significant business opportunities as the need for information continues to grow.

Economic Calendar: Federal Reserve’s First Economic and Interest Rate Projections for 2026 on Tap for March Meeting: Meetings held by the Bank of Japan and China’s National People’s Congress are also economic indicators to watch, according to AM Best Director Ann Modica.

Events Calendar: Asset Management, Reinsurance Underwriting, Briefings Highlight March Industry Conferences: AM Best will host Insurance Market Briefings in Germany and France and speak at the Institutional Investor roundtable as well as Re Underwriting 2026.

Executive Changes: Retiring AIG CEO To Become Executive Chair; Former Aon Exec Chosen as Successor: Generali names group deputy CEO Milan, Lockton Re appoints global vice chairman and Everest Group hires chief human resources officer.

From the Editor’s Desk: Strength in Numbers: In this issue, Best’s Review reports on agent networks and provides rankings of the top global published, rated single-parent captives and the top multiperil and private crop insurers.

Industry Research: Reports: Natural Catastrophe Losses Below 10-Year Averages Despite LA Wildfires: Industry-estimated natural catastrophe insured losses totaled $108 billion in 2025. Worldwide natural disasters caused about $224 billion in economic losses, according to Munich Re.

Industry Updates: APCIA Supporting Terrorism Program Reauthorization Bill: The American Property Casualty Insurance Association said the bill would preserve the program’s vital protection that many companies rely on.

Industry Updates: Pennsylvania Insurance Regulator Blocks $227.9 Million in Premium Increases Targeting Auto, Home Coverage: The state’s top insurance official said Pennsylvania works hard to prevent “unfair” rate increases.

Industry Updates: Trade Groups, Commissioners Support Bill To Abolish Federal Insurance Office, Reaffirming States’ Regulatory Role: The bill also would create a U.S. insurance representative in the Department of the Treasury who would help administer the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.

Industry Updates: UK Financial Conduct Authority Launches Review on AI’s Potential, Perils for Insurance Markets: The review will focus on how AI could evolve in the future, among other tasks.

Insurance Networks: Agent Networks Offer More Tools, Access: The arrangements offer agents the ability to team up for greater leverage.

Issues & Answers: Environmental: Issues & Answers: An Environmental Shift: Melissa Mulhern, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Underwriting at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, said their underwriters work with agents and brokers to help them understand that environmental risk includes operational risks not just limited to preexisting contamination.

Issues & Answers: Programs: Issues & Answers: Program for Success: Brooke Shirazi, Vice President of Property and Ocean Marine Programs at Nationwide E&S Specialty, said policyholders benefit from the program offerings and the program administrator space because of the deep expertise they bring to the table in that segment and their clear understanding of what the insured needs in order to address risk concerns.

Leading the Charts: Insurance Journal Tops AM Best Preferred Publisher List: The Voice of Insurance leads the list of AM Best Preferred Podcasters.

Life Insurance: AM Best: US Life/Annuity Market Segment Outlook Remains Stable: Offsetting the robust capital levels has been a deterioration of the quality of the capital and assets, according to the Best’s Market Segment Report Market Segment Outlook: US Life/Annuity Insurance.

Medicare Advantage: Best’s Briefing: Challenging Medicare Advantage Environment Not Without Oases of Opportunity: AM Best’s Briefing – Health: Medicare Advantage – Challenges and Opportunities hosted a panel of experts who looked at the key drivers impacting the segment.

Preferred Influencers: A Multifaceted Approach To Fix Insurers: Denise Garth built tenure in the industry by bringing technology, insurance knowledge and a creative approach to improving business.

Preferred Podcasters: Podcaster Speaks With Retired Air Force General About Risk Management Lessons: Retired Brig. Gen. E. John “Dragon” Teichert drew on decades of military experience during David Benyon’s podcast to discuss managing risk and building partnerships.

Preferred Publishers: Insurance Asset Risk Aims for Clarity in Complex Sector With News, Analysis: The online publication developed channels for insurance regulation, private markets and others as it’s reached chief investment officers and their teams.

Trending: Best’s News: Trending News Includes a Feature About Potentially Overlooked Issues That Will Matter Most in 2026: Other popular coverage includes a ranking of the top audit and actuarial firms and a ranking of the world’s largest insurers.

Trending: Best’s Research: Trending Research Includes Reports on Non-Life Run-Offs and on the Surety Market: Other trending research includes reports on property/casualty insurer expenses and on Hong Kong’s non-life insurance segment.

Underwriting & Loss Control Resources: Cyberattacks Threaten Finances, Reputation of TV Broadcasters: Best’s Underwriting Reports and Best’s Loss Control Reports provide insights into the risks and lines of coverage for television broadcasting stations.

Web Traffic: Web Traffic: Visits to Captive Insurer Parent Sites: Toyota Motor Corp. leads web analytics provider Semrush's ranking of most-visited captive insurer parent company sites.

Web Traffic: Web Traffic: Visits to Multiperil Crop Insurer Sites: State Farm Group leads web analytics provider Semrush's ranking of most-visited multiperil crop insurer sites.

What AM Best Says: Best’s Briefing: Nonlife Runoff Market Evolves With Sophisticated Strategies: Four panelists discussed the growing presence of specialist participants and the continued refinement of the runoff model during AM Best’s Briefing – Non-Life Run-Off: An Evolving Market.