Recent surf damage in Southern California exposed significant flood insurance gaps as forecasters warn that El Niño could push coastal water levels higher this fall and winter.
The U.S. property and casualty market recorded its strongest underwriting result in more than a decade in 2025, but adjusters still face elevated catastrophe exposure, litigation pressure and rising replacement costs.
Federal reclassification improves financial outlook for medical marijuana operators but leaves insurers navigating complex compliance and liability risks.
As underwriting stays tight and carrier appetites shift, independent agencies are investing in AI automation, E&S workflow tools, and more consistent client communication to reduce manual work and improve efficiency.
Fitch expects broader P/C softening in 2026, while Morningstar says casualty pricing will stay out of step due to litigation and severity. Early earnings-call commentary shows carriers leaning on portfolio mix, disciplined underwriting, and AI tools to protect margins.
BMI warns insurers that territorial disputes, regime instability, and shifting alliances could drive claims volatility across political risk, marine, and specialty lines.
Hyperscale facilities tied to AI and cloud computing are testing property insurance capacity, pricing and underwriting discipline. Brokers face major valuation and business income hurdles.
Reinsurance capacity surged in 2025 amid historic low catastrophe losses, driving down rates and changing the risk-sharing landscape. Adjusters can expect shifts in how insurers deploy capital, respond to claims, and design coverages—especially in casualty, cyber, and catastrophe-exposed regions.
AI-native businesses push insurers to rethink liability forms and create new facilities as casualty risks evolve. Judgment and human expertise remain critical amid tech disruption.
Hazmat carriers are being pushed into the E&S market amid rising costs and tighter underwriting, exposing gaps in broker expertise and threatening long-term coverage stability.
Specialty insurers are asking a California court to void a yacht policy after a collision, alleging the insured failed to meet critical warranty and disclosure terms.
The Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles have damaged or destroyed 17,027 structures, with estimated insured losses reaching $32.5 billion, making this one of the costliest wildfire events in U.S. history.
Pennsylvania’s latest insurance regulations allow surplus line licensees to charge service fees and offer enhanced nonmonetary gifts to policyholders, improving transparency and market dynamics.
