Late spring and summer are packed with milestone moments—graduations, weddings, moves, and new beginnings. For insurance professionals, these events create natural opportunities to start timely, helpful conversations with clients. A quick social post, a short newsletter feature, a personalized email, or a phone call can go a long way in helping clients understand how major life changes may affect their insurance coverage and protection needs. 

Here are a few timely examples to discuss with clients:

A couple of weeks ago the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a 48-1 vote. If it passes the House, and if it manages to work its way through the Senate, President Trump will likely sign it into law. 

And there’s a good chance all of that will happen. Both the House and Senate have made this a bipartisan effort. The House has 32 cosponsors and in the Senate there are 18. 

Spring is the season for prep. Gardeners plan, gather supplies, and put in the work now to enjoy results later. 

They review what worked, choose what to plant, start seedlings, and take inventory. Then it’s time to till, fill, and plant. 

A survey of risk managers at companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue, found 80% of them experiencing employee theft, fraud and embezzlement. The report notes threats driven by AI is melding with traditional schemes. 

Billing fraud tops the list for 36% of the respondents. Check fraud impacted 23% of the firms and 19% cited payroll fraud as the top issue. Cash and non-cash theft sat at 23%. 

At the start of Wildfire Awareness Month (isn’t that something we should be aware of every month?) PG&E has introduced new technology into its wildfire prevention efforts. The company says its new Continuous Monitoring Center will assist in finding problems on the power grid. 

PG&E vice president of wildfire mitigation, Andrew Abranches notes the new Continuous Monitoring Center will look for sparks, outages and ignition and other problems on the power grid before they become a dangerous wildfire. 

Create Video Proposals Without Creating an "E&O Headache"

Video proposals are becoming a popular way for insurance agents to explain coverage options, personalize the sales process, and stand out in a competitive market. Agents are using short, recorded videos to walk prospects through quotes, renewal options, and coverage highlights – often replacing or supplementing traditional in‑person meetings and written proposals. 

While video proposals can improve engagement and efficiency, they also introduce new professional liability considerations. Once recorded, a video proposal is no longer a casual conversation – it becomes a permanent sales communication that may be replayed, shared, and scrutinized later. 

AM Best — P&C Insurers & 2025

In the last couple of weeks AM Best has released reports on the business of insurance in 2025. Overall, it was a pretty good year. P&C insurers recorded an underwriting gain in 2025 of $61 billion. 

It’s almost three-times as much when compared to the $22 billion in 2024.  

Leading With Laughter

Every April, National Humor Month reminds us that laughter isn’t just a pleasant workplace extra — it’s a proven leadership asset. And with April Fools’ Day kicking off the month, it’s the perfect moment to highlight how wholesome, emotionally intelligent humor strengthens teams, reduces stress, and supports the kind of professional growth CPIA members champion.

In industries built on trust and precision — like insurance — humor can feel out of place. Yet recent research shows it’s far from frivolous. A 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that leader affiliative humor — warm, inclusive, never at someone’s expense — significantly increases team trust and employees’ confidence to take initiative, both of which fuel innovation and problem solving. When people feel safe enough to laugh together, they’re more willing to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate openly. 

Thinking of Tricking Porch Pirates? Be Careful 

Most of us have seen the videos. A man or a woman tiptoes up to a porch with a package on it then grab it and run. Before they can get into their car — or shortly after getting in one — the package explodes with a mixture of paint and confetti.

Outside of the parents, partner or a good friend screaming obscenities toward the homeowners’ porch camera, most of us support the punishment meted out to the would-be thief.

Commercial Property Owners — Not Sure about
Their Insurance Protection

Nationwide recently released a survey on the owners of commercial property. It revealed their take on bad weather and natural disasters. 

The survey defines commercial property owners as people owning property, business owners and people building new construction. It found 66% of those surveyed are either very, or extremely, worried about the severe weather and natural disasters that might happen in their area. 

Another High Cost of Health Insurance

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says the low cost-of-living raise you got this year is directly caused by the growing cost of health insurance. New York Fed researchers surveyed businesses in New York and Northern New Jersey and found health insurance for employees rose higher than other business expenses. 

Some reported an average increase of more than 13%. 

The Leadership Advantage of Fresh Ideas: Why Creativity and Deep-Thinking Drive
New Client Growth

Every March, International Ideas Month invites leaders to pause and consider the power of creativity—not as a “nice‑to‑have,” but as a core business strategy. For management teams navigating shifting markets, evolving customer expectations, and increasingly diverse demographics, creativity is no longer optional. It is the engine of relevance, differentiation, and long‑term growth. 

Today’s most successful organizations are those that encourage their teams to think deeply, observe closely, and experiment boldly. Innovation rarely emerges from routine; it emerges from curiosity. 

The Importance of Monitoring Carrier Financial Strength Ratings

Credit Card Debt in the U.S. — $1.28 Trillion and Rising

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York issued a report last week on credit card debt in the U.S. At the end of the 4th quarter of last year we had charged our cards up to $1.28 trillion. That’s a 5.5% increase over the 4th quarter of 2024. 

That said, a rise in spending always goes up in the 4th quarter because of holiday spending.