Big I’s Symington: Independent Agents Remain a P/C Market Powerhouse

The maturing MGA market will need greater discipline in building portfolios and adept adoption of newer technologies to produce coverage solutions for emerging risk, according to research discussed by AM Best Associate Director David Blades and Industry Research Analyst Helen Andersen.

Sarah Griffin, senior vice president, Nationwide personal lines product and underwriting, said her company sees a real opportunity to help homeowners prepare, rather than just react, through the right education and protection.

Rob Walling, principal and consulting actuary with Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, said the province of Alberta is demonstrating an encouraging, business-forward approach to captive insurance.

Data center development and construction would benefit from innovative P/C industry solutions to meet non-traditional insurance coverage needs, according to a new Best's Special Report discussed by AM Best Senior Director Sridhar Manyem and Associate Director David Blades.

BestWire Senior Associate Editor Renee Kiriluk-Hill reviews AM Best's latest rankings of the nation's largest pet insurers, highlighting strong premium growth, rising competition among the market leaders, and continued expansion of the fast-growing pet insurance sector.

Charles Symington, president and CEO, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, discusses independent agency growth, Big I’s 2026 Market Share Report findings and what lies ahead for agents and insurers.

The U.S. personal lines segment's underwriting profit almost quadrupled to more than $45 billion, and the commercial lines segment 's profit more than doubled to over $19 billion in 2025, according to Best's Special Report discussed by David Blades, associate director, and Christopher Graham, senior industry research analyst, both of AM Best.

Sidecars can diversify fee-based earnings versus spread-based earnings, according to a new Best's Special Report discussed by AM Best Associate Director Jason Hopper.

Professor Olivia Mitchell, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, explains how misunderstanding longevity risk fuels widespread retirement regret, and why better “longevity literacy” could reshape saving, annuitization, and Social Security claiming decisions.

Paul Tyler, host of That Annuity Show, discusses how his long-running podcast has become a platform for industry leaders to explore innovation, policy, technology and the evolving role of annuities in retirement planning.