News
State Farm pulls back on ADT program
State Farm and ADT’s home security partnership, announced in September 2022 and launched in March 2023, was positioned as a way to blend insurance with smart-home protection. But recent regulatory filings in Nevada and Tennessee show the program is already being scaled back.
Effective August 31, 2025, State Farm — which holds a 15% stake in ADT — will discontinue the ADT Home Security program in both states, citing low adoption and high costs. Existing customers will not be affected, with ADT honoring current contracts and State Farm maintaining its Home Alert Protection discount.
In Nevada, the program offered a discounted ADT package that included installation of a security panel, water sensors, a smoke detector, and door/window sensors. In most states, participation required a 36-month monitoring contract starting at $19.99 per month, along with sharing telematics and system usage data (excluding audio and video) with State Farm.
CSAA Insurance Group Proposes to Expand Coverage and Discounts as Part of Commissioner Lara's Sustainable Insurance Strategy
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, today announced a new initiative to help transition AAA members from California's FAIR plan. This effort directly supports Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS) and reflects CSAA's commitment to helping build a more accessible insurance market for families across the state.
As part of the company's SIS filing, CSAA has proposed reducing reliance on the state's FAIR Plan. Upon approval of the filing, CSAA is preparing to offer quotes to some AAA members in Northern California who are FAIR Plan policyholders as an initial part of a broader, sustained commitment to depopulate the FAIR Plan. The filing also requests a homeowners' rate increase of 6.9% to reflect the rising costs associated with inflation and the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires and other natural disasters.
"The Sustainable Insurance Strategy provides a roadmap for restoring stability and access to California's homeowners' insurance market," said Ryan Vigus, executive vice president of Personal Lines at CSAA Insurance Group. "Reducing reliance on the FAIR Plan is critical to its success and we're working diligently with the Commissioner and the Department to make coverage more accessible to homeowners across the state."
While some insurers have reduced their presence in the state, CSAA has remained committed to California, including providing insurance in distressed areas where coverage is hardest to find. Today, CSAA insures more homeowners in these communities than required under SIS's 85% threshold.
Labor Day Car Insurance Guide | SmartFinancial
While there aren’t any Labor Day car insurance discounts, there are car buying discounts, making it a good day to shop around for new car insurance coverage.
In many cases, Labor Day is a great day to purchase a new vehicle because end-of-month discounts may converge with special holiday deals to create some of the lowest automobile prices of the year. Keep in mind that you’re required to maintain auto insurance for your new car in almost every state, so you may also need to look into shopping for car insurance on Labor Day.
Read the rest of this Labor Day car insurance guide to learn more about holiday car-buying deals and how you can insure your new ride at the lowest price possible.
Key Takeaways
- Many dealerships sell cars at cheaper prices toward the end of each month and around certain holidays, making Labor Day weekend a prime car-shopping opportunity — especially when the holiday falls within the first couple of days of September.
- If your current car is already covered by an auto insurance policy, that same coverage may extend to any new vehicle you purchase for up to 30 days, after which you will need to officially add the new car to your policy.
- Car insurance is required by law for new vehicles in almost every state, with minimum coverage types and limits varying from state to state.
Some of the main ways you can save money on car insurance include looking into discounts, increasing your deductible and comparison shopping.
Research
Reinsurance faces tech lag despite rising complexity – Deloitte
Reinsurance remains a critical component of the insurance industry, involving financial transactions that total hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
According to a report from Deloitte, reinsurance serves as a key strategic tool for managing earnings volatility and capital adequacy. Despite its importance, Deloitte’s survey of industry executives found that investment in reinsurance technology, processes, and analytics has lagged over the past decade.
Deloitte’s findings show that 62% of executives use reinsurance primarily for risk transfer, while 54% cite capacity expansion and 38% point to reducing income variability as core objectives.
The survey also revealed that underwriters are increasingly negotiating individual contracts and applying complex risk profiles, with 92% of respondents reporting that their companies’ contracts have medium or high levels of complexity.
The reinsurance sector is facing additional challenges due to the rising frequency and severity of natural catastrophe events. This trend has made the modernization of reinsurance systems even more important for operational efficiency and risk management.
Zywave's 2025 Employer Survey Reveals an Escalating Risk Trajectory
In a year marked by volatility and complexity, Zywave's 2025 Broker Services Survey reveals a clear message from employers: the future calls for more than quoting policies—it demands engagement, understanding and leadership. Insurance buyers are demanding strategic risk partnerships, deeper expertise, and proactive communication from their brokers.
The annual survey, completed by nearly 900 employers across the U.S., highlights a growing concern around escalating risk—from intensifying compliance burdens to shrinking budgets and tightening timelines. In this environment, brokers must evolve from transactional service providers to trusted advisors.
"Today's consumers expect timely and effective service, and insurance buyers are no exception," said Patrick Noonan, vice president of content development for Zywave. "Brokers need to stay informed of their clients' challenges and look for opportunities to offer guidance to maintain strong relationships and retention numbers. Encouragingly, the majority of respondents reported satisfaction with their broker's services, meaning many brokers are meeting those expectations."
Key Findings: What Employers Expect from Brokers
- 87% of employers are satisfied or very satisfied with their broker's services.
- 84% want regular updates—monthly or weekly—from their brokers. -74% prioritize prompt, effective service and timely answers (up from 57% last year).
- 69% want brokers to act as strategic advisors, not just salespeople (up from 53%).
Despite high satisfaction levels, the survey uncovered critical service gaps:
- 94% expect quality risk management services, but only 50% feel they receive them.
- 98% expect guidance on market conditions, yet only 64% say brokers deliver.
Employment Claims Surge as Workplace Transformation Creates New Risk Exposures
Nearly seven in 10 organizations experienced employment-related claims in the past year while new workplace dynamics are creating unprecedented risk exposures, according to an analysis of the employment practices liability landscape by QBE Insurance.
The modern workplace transformation is driving a notable increase in employment-related legal challenges, QBE reported. Among the 200 legal and HR professionals surveyed from companies with annual revenues between $500 million and $5 billion, 69% reported their organizations faced claims alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation or other employment issues over the past 12 months.
Looking ahead, the trajectory for employment-related claims appears concerning. More than four in 10 respondents anticipate claim frequency will rise over the next year, with 8% predicting a significant increase and 34% expecting a slight uptick.
The risk landscape is shifting toward both traditional and emerging exposure areas. Wage, hour and leave-related issues top the list of claims concerns over the next 12 months at 55%, tied with breach of employment contract claims.
However, newer risks are gaining prominence, with 51% identifying artificial intelligence use in HR functions as a likely source of future claims, matching the percentage concerned about workplace harassment and discrimination.
Predict & Prevent
IBHS research shows creating ember-resistant buffer around a home cuts its risk of igniting from a wildfire in half
Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) say adding an ember-resistant buffer to the landscaping nearest a home is a critical step homeowners can take to prevent it from igniting in a wildfire. The good news is that much of the work to create this zone can be do-it-yourself.
The upcoming Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to get started taking steps to reduce your home's wildfire risk.
This California home provides an example of an attractive ember-resistant Zone Zero — coupled with native landscaping and trees — to reduce wildfire risk.
This California home provides an example of an attractive ember-resistant Zone Zero — coupled with native landscaping and trees — to reduce wildfire risk.
"The upcoming Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to get started," said IBHS Senior Director for Wildfire Steve Hawks, who had a 30-year career with CAL FIRE. "You can begin at the curb with a lush lawn and native landscaping that extends up to five feet from your home. Then use those last few steps to create an outdoor space where embers can't survive."
As the leading cause of home ignition, embers often travel miles ahead of the fire front and can accumulate at the base of a structure. Replacing combustible groundcover with hardscaping such as river rocks or steppingstones and using ceramic planters and wrought iron patio furniture in this five-foot buffer adds style while also eliminating items that can ignite, often spreading the fire to the structure.
Smart landscaping does not mean stripping the yard of life. Healthy trees and plants add beauty and value to a yard when they are situated away from the home and ladder fuels are removed from the trees' base.
A 2021 research study from IBHS and ZestyAI found property owners who clear vegetation from the perimeter of their home can nearly double their structure's likelihood of surviving a wildfire.
Financial Results
Globe Life, W. R. Berkley, The Hartford shares outperform US industry peers YTD | S&P Global
Globe Life Inc., W. R. Berkley Corp. and The Hartford Insurance Group Inc. are among the top performing US insurance stocks year-to-date, with all seeing double-digit increases above 20%.
From the start of the year through close of business Aug. 21, Globe Life leads US insurers as the highest performing stock, an apparent signal that investor confidence toward the insurer is returning after it faced a number of scandals including a federal inquiry and claims of misconduct by short-sellers in 2024. Globe Life shares are up 25.2% year-to-date through market close Aug. 21.
Globe Life's independent audit review found "no merit" to the short-seller allegations and in July 2025, both the SEC and the Justice Department concluded their investigations with no enforcement actions recommended.
"With both investigations now resolved, we expect the valuation overhang to abate, and see strong momentum on a number of fronts," TD Cowen analyst Andrew Kligerman said in a July 28 note.
Announcements
McKenzie Intelligence, Eagleview Partner on North American Catastrophe Response
McKenzie Intelligence Services (London) and Eagleview (Bellevue, Wash.) have announced a collaboration to combine intelligence analysis with aerial imagery to support insurers’ responses to North American catastrophes. The agreement integrates MIS’s military-grade assessments with Eagleview’s pre- and post-event imagery to provide faster and more detailed post-disaster insights.
MIS clients will be able to access Eagleview’s library of aerial imagery through the GEO platform, expanding coverage of hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and wildfires. The integration enables MIS analysts to deliver event assessments more quickly and with greater depth.
Eagleview clients will gain access to the GEO platform and its archive of more than 200 global events. The platform allows carriers to host portfolio data and supplement imagery with verified exposure, claims, and building-level analysis, supporting faster claims decisions in the aftermath of catastrophes.
Commentary/Opinion
Insurance Ecosystem: Navigating a New and Unfamiliar World | Insurance Innovation Reporter
Even as so much has changed so quickly, including the entire insurance, automotive and mobility ecosystem, market leaders and their long-time trusted partners are better positioned than ever to weather the storm, adapt and succeed.
These include auto insurers, agents, brokers, car manufacturers, dealers and the automotive aftermarket. The extended Auto Physical Damage supply chain with which they all interact includes roadside, emergency response, towing and temporary rental car service providers. Related and interdependent segments include connected services, telematics-based and other IoT and sensor-based programs.
But driven by sudden and dramatic changes in socio-economics, politics, technology, and consumer expectations, almost all of the historical financial models that applied for so long among the participants are suddenly unrealistic and unworkable but the relationships and partnership are more relevant than ever.
Alan Demers and Stephen Applebaum as featured in Insurance Innovation Reporter
Reinsurers Have Made Major Structural Changes to Improve Profits. Will Discipline Last?
Reinsurance underwriting remains disciplined, with terms and conditions and attachment points largely intact, despite signs of rate moderation, according to an AM Best market segment report.
During the January 2023 renewals, the global reinsurance market saw a significant recalibration, which marked “a decisive shift in how risk is priced, shared, and retained,” said AM Best in “Reinsurers’ Disciplined Capital Deployment and Underwriting Remain Key Foundations,” published on Aug. 14.
“Across property catastrophe lines in particular, reinsurers implemented meaningful changes: higher attachment points, tighter terms and conditions, and across-the-board rate increases,” the report said, noting that this reset continued into the 2024 renewals and has established a more durable market structure characterized by reduced earnings volatility and stronger margins.
People
The Top 25 Insurance Consultants and Leaders of 2025 – The Consulting Report
The Consulting Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Insurance Consultants and Leaders of 2025. This year’s awardees represent a wide spectrum of expertise across strategy, risk, technology, and operations, reflecting the diverse challenges insurers face today.
From financial reporting and compliance to AI-driven underwriting, cloud-based platforms, and modern claims systems, these leaders help insurers adapt while maintaining stability in a complex sector. Many have steered large-scale transformations at global firms, while others bring specialized knowledge in auditing, solvency, and internal controls.
Their influence is evident in the way insurers are rethinking core operations. These leaders have advanced compliance with evolving standards such as IFRS 17 and Solvency II, led organizational and portfolio restructuring, and uncovered risks that could compromise stability. Their contributions show how consultants both address immediate challenges and position insurers to manage long-term shifts redefining the industry.
Among this year’s awardees, Alissa Ristic, Managing Director at KPMG, is recognized for leading the firm’s Digital Insurance practice and Global Claims solutions, advising insurers in the U.S. and UK on digital transformation, multichannel distribution, and operational excellence.
Chris Raimondo, Partner at EY and Americas Insurance Consulting Leader, is noted for driving strategy and execution across business, technology, AI and data, risk and actuarial, and workforce consulting, with a focus on modernizing core operations for property and casualty and life and annuity carriers.
Recommended Events
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