News
Hurricane Erin damages East Coast communities, two dead
While Hurricane Erin didn’t make landfall, it still caused notable damage along the East Coast. It flooded coastal towns, eroded beaches and created dangerous conditions for swimmers: two swimmers were killed after they were caught in rip currents produced by the storm. New Jersey declared a state of emergency on Aug. 21—50 people in the Jersey Shore needed to be rescue as the hurricane passed by. New York state also suspended swimming at some of its beaches. PIA’s Hurricane Info Central tool kit offers PIA Northeast members one spot for all their hurricane-related resource needs. PIA members also can contact the PIA Industry Resource Center at resourcecenter@pia.org or use the Ask PIA button on the PIA home page to ask a specific question. PIA Northeast members can also access Top 10 insurance tips for hurricane season in the PIA QuickSource library.
August consumer content round-up, includes information to share for Labor Day
Have you had the chance to review August’s consumer content offered by PIA Northeast? Our consumer content provides an excellent conversation starter when it comes to introducing different types of insurance or business practices to your clients. Last month, your association published the following articles on PIA Northeast News & Media: Having a safe BBQ with the right coverage, Bringing the car to college and Labor Day: Car deals and car insurance—what buyers should know. You can access more consumer content by visiting PIA Northeast News & Media—under “Search & Filter Stories,” select “Consumer-focused,” in the “All Categories” drop-down menu.
N.Y.: Federal assistance available for June storms
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced federal assistance is available to New Yorkers in Madison County and the contiguous counties of Chenango, Cortland, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego and Otsego. Homeowners, renters and business owners now are eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans to aid in recovery from the effects of the storms that resulted in significant damage to homes and businesses on June 22, 2025.
N.Y.: PIA Spark Groups: Ignite new ideas in the insurance industry
PIA Northeast has created specialized communities—Spark Groups—for you to join and advance the insurance industry. In these groups, insurance professionals come together to collaborate, share insights and tackle the challenges that matter most in their communities. You can find your niche between six specialized Spark Groups: account executive/CSR, commercial lines, construction, habitational, personal lines and principal. This is a dynamic space that allows professionals to come together to collaborate, share insights, and tackle the challenges that matter most in their communities. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something transformative. Sign up for a group, or more, today.
Technical
Dodging the fallout of a client’s divorce
Divorce can be messy. When a couple splits, their finances and personal lives are thrown into turmoil. If you’re the independent insurance agent of a couple going through a divorce, even you can be impacted by fallout. How can you navigate such a breakup while keeping your practice intact? To learn more, PIA Northeast members can access Insureds going through divorce—avoiding collateral damage in the PIA QuickSource library.
AM Best: Europe’s reinsurers maintain their risk appetite
The four largest European reinsurance companies—Swiss Re, Munich Re, Hannover Re and SCOR—reported strong results in 2024. They have benefitted from good rate adequacy and continued underwriting discipline on policy terms and attachment points. The new AM Best report, “The European ‘Big Four’ Reinsurers Maintain Their Risk Appetites,” found that these reinsurers continue to benefit from business written through the hard reinsurance market.
Systems access largely restored at NJCRIB; Farmers breached
The New Jersey Compensation Rating & Inspection Bureau has partially restored its systems after a cyber security incident earlier this August. It announced that additional safeguards have been implemented, and it will continue to monitor its systems for any discrepancies. In a separate episode, Farmers Insurance notified Maine’s attorney general of a security incident in May 2025. You can learn more about cybersecurity in articles such as A company-wide approach to cyber security preparedness and risk management and When carriers go dark: A cyber survival guide for independent agencies: you also can filter articles on PIA Northeast News & Media under the “cyber” tag.
Educating insurance agents
Developing a blueprint for success
Anyone can draw up a business plan, but how to you turn it into a roadmap to success? It starts with reviewing the conditions of the insurance marketplace—and you can learn all about that process in the education session 2024-2025 CPIA 1: Position for Success. This webinar will be held on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and it will be led by John Fear, CPIA, CISR. It has been approved for CE credits in Connecticut (2 LRE, 5 PC), New Jersey (7 GEN) and New York (7 BR, C1, C3, LA, LB, LSB, PA, PC).
Events
Good company at the NY-YIP Happy Hour
Unwind after the Annual Business Meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, with NY-YIP at Common Roots Brewing Company in Albany from 4-6 p.m. This happy hour will give you plenty of time to relax, network and enjoy craft brews with your fellow insurance professionals. This event also is a great opportunity to get to know the NY-YIP board members, and they can learn how to get involved in shaping the future of the industry. Registration is free, but please preregister to help us plan ahead. We hope to see you there!
ICYMI
Market trends survey is now live: make your voice heard!
PIA Northeast needs your input for the Market Trends Survey. This short, eight-question market survey helps us understand what you’re really experiencing—and ensures your voice is heard where it matters most. This is your opportunity to help guide the association’s advocacy efforts, and inform the conversations association leadership has with lawmakers, regulators and other industry professionals—and by extension, the direction of our industry. Once you’re finished, please share the survey link with the rest of your agency team and encourage them to take it, as well.
Register now
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025: NY-YIP Albany Happy Hour
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025: Autumn in the City: NY-YIP Fall Reception
Monday, Sept. 29, 2025: PIANJ Golf Classic
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025: The CTYIP Spotlight Social | A Fall Reception
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025: A PIANJ WLA Panel: Pursuing (or Pushing) Positive Change
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025: NJYIP Holiday Reception
