News
AM Best: Lower p/c insurers expenses boost underwriting results despite headwinds
A new report from AM Best, titled Lower P/C Insurer Expenses Boost Underwriting Results, found that insurers across the property/casualty segment have managed to improve their underwriting and operating results. This progress comes amid competitive market conditions, macroeconomic trends and severe weather trends. The evidence for this progress is most apparent in the segment’s underwriting expense ratio, which improved from 2014-24.
MunichRE: Insured losses exceed $108B from disasters
Reinsurer MunichRE, found that natural disasters worldwide caused significant losses in 2025. The company found that the damage from these disasters totaled $224 billion and was covered by insurers for around $108 billion. While 2024 had greater losses, 2025 is yet another year in which insured losses exceeded $100 billion.
N.J.: Insurance commissioner assigned NAIC leadership role
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced its 2026 committees’ leadership positions. The goal of these committees is to “strengthen consumer protections, enhance market stability and advance innovation.” The Department of Banking Insurance’s Commissioner Justin Zimmerman was assigned to the Financial Condition Committee as its vice chair.
N.Y.: Governor delivers State of the State, addresses major insurance concerns
For this year’s State of the State address, Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed numerous concerns that had become prominent across the p/c sector in New York state. She acknowledged climbing premiums for home and auto insurance, the impact it places on its families, business and communities across New York state. Her solutions include implementing greater fraud prevention, transparency and consumer-focused reforms. PIA Northeast supports efforts to combat fraud, increase transparency and reward risk-reduction measures, but the association will be watching closely to ensure reforms don’t create unintended burdens for agents or consumers.
Advocacy
PIANY supports CE carryover reform this session
PIANY understands the time and effort agents put into their continuing-education duties. That’s why PIANY helped draft legislation that would allow producers to carry excess CE credits into the next licensing cycle. This new legislation would ease the burden on independent insurance agents, encourage lifelong learning, aligns the industry with other professions and cuts down on unnecessary course repetition.
Technical
Getting all the coverages you need from your carrier
As your business grows and your agency is soliciting new business opportunities, you will soon be sending new business applications to your carriers and wholesalers for competitive quotes and the opportunity to land those accounts. After you receive a carrier proposal, what is the best way to determine that each proposal meets your coverage needs? For more information, PIA Northeast members can access Did the carrier provide all the coverages you requested? in the PIA QuickSource library.
Accolades
Conn.: PIACT seeks industry stars—nominate someone today
PIACT is calling for nominations for its 2026 Awards of Distinction. Nominations are due Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. The association will honor insurance professionals who exemplify the qualities and actions that serve as a model of excellence in the insurance industry and for the independent agency system. Nominations are being sought for these awards: Professional Agent of the Year, Company Person of the Year andCommunity Service Award. For a full description of each award, or for a nomination form, click here.
Educating insurance agents
Be the MVP of AI: Register today for PIANY’s MetroRAP
Artificial intelligence is a cutting-edge technology that is making its way into numerous industries, including insurance. When you attend the AI panel discussions at PIANY’s MetroRAP 2026, you’ll leave with the knowledge and confidence to make this technology work to your benefit. PIA Northeast’s Director of Government & Industry Affairs Bradford Lachut Esq., will moderate these discussions, paneled by experts from across the insurance industry. At the first panel, Game-Changer: Using AI to Become an Insurance MVP, panelists will discuss how they applied AI to offer service to their clients and boost their business, as well as AI’s practical applications for risk prevention. The second panel, Beyond the Firewall: Emerging Exposures in Cyber & AI, will feature coverage experts looking through a cyber liability and professional liability lens at how policy wording is adapting to address the increased use of AI, and how professionals can advise their clients.Game Changer: Using AI to Become an Insurance MVP has been approved for New Jersey (1 NJ CE) and New York (1 NY CE) continuing education credits. Beyond the Firewall: Emerging Exposures in Cyber & AI has also been approved for New Jersey (1 NJ CE) and New York (1 NY CE, PC, BR, PA, C1) CE credits. These sessions qualify for update credit hours toward any Risk Insurance Education Alliance designation, and help you work toward your CIC, CRM, CPRM, CISR or CRSM designations. Don’t miss out on these insightful panels: MetroRAP will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel. Register now and save 15%. Sponsor, exhibit, or advertise here.
Events
Winter fun at the NJYIP Ugly Sweater Party
The NJYIP held its Ugly Sweater Party last week at The Horseshoe Tavern in Morristown, N.J. With over 70 people at the event, attendees could enjoy a friendly ugly sweater competition, good food and drink, and productive networking. The NJYIP would like to thank everyone who made this event possible, from our sponsors to our attendees. We hope to see you at the next one! View photos from the event online.
Meet the collaborating associations at MetroRAP 2026
At this year’s MetroRAP 2026, PIANY is proud to partner with several fellow insurance associations. These collaborations will help expand access and engagement at the convention. PIANY is grateful to join with these associations in support of a stronger, more connected insurance community: the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater NY, the Federation of NY Insurance Professionals Inc., the Insurance Brokers Association of NY, the Latin Agents & Brokers Association, the National African American Insurance Association New York Tri-State, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Professional Insurance Wholesalers Association, the Insurance Professionals Association of Long Island and the Korean American Insurance and Finance Association. MetroRAP will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel. Register now and save 15%. Sponsor, exhibit, or advertise here.
Register now
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026: NY-YIP MetroRAP Welcome Reception
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026: PIANY MetroRAP—Interested in sponsoring, exhibiting or advertising?
Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026: CTYIP Axes & Accelerators
March 19-20, 2026: Connecticut Convention—Interested in sponsoring, exhibiting or advertising?
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026: NJYIP Spring Warm-Up
Tuesday, June 23, 2026: CTYIP Golf Open
Save the date
Wednesday, April 22, 2026: NY-YIP Buffalo I-Day Welcome
Wednesday, May 6, 2026: NJYIP Golf Open
June 7-9, 2026: PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference
Sunday, June 7, 2026: NJYIP Nitecap
Tuesday, June 9, 2026: NJYIP Fun Run
