Happy Wednesday! In this week’s Big I Buzz: In this week’s Big I Buzz: trends insurance agents and brokers should watch in 2026, and why rising gold prices could mean it’s time to revisit jewelry coverage.

7 Trends for Insurance Agents & Brokers in 2026

As the new year gets underway, several themes are emerging across the industry. Insights from experts highlight key trends agents and brokers can expect to see in 2026, including the growing role of artificial intelligence in daily workflows, evolving cyber risks for agencies, and new approaches to attracting and retaining the next generation of insurance talent. Read the full list here.

As Gold Prices Soar, Jewelry Owners May Need More Coverage

With gold and other precious metal prices climbing, jewelry owners may want to take a closer look at their homeowners insurance coverage. Gold jewelry accounted for 54% of the $366.8 billion global jewelry market last year, according to Grand View Research. Standard homeowners policies typically provide limited coverage for jewelry (often capped at $1,000 or $2,500) leaving higher-value pieces underinsured. Read more here.

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here to join our emailing list.

Happy Wednesday! In this week’s Big I Buzz: a Zillow update highlights the challenges of climate-risk data, and California moves closer to allowing driverless trucks on its highways.

Zillow Deleting Climate Risk Scores Reveals Limits of Flood, Fire Data

Zillow recently removed climate risk scores from its home listings after receiving a complaint from the real estate industry. The move sparked conversation across news outlets and social media, with many noting that eliminating the data doesn’t eliminate the underlying risk.

As severe weather becomes more common, homeowners and buyers need insight into a property’s exposure to flooding or wildfire. Advanced climate-risk ratings — like those Zillow discontinued — can provide more current insights than many federal flood maps or state wildfire maps.

However, research shows that these tools are still evolving, and different models can produce varying results, underscoring the ongoing complexity of climate-risk assessment. Read more here.

Driverless Trucks Could Soon Be Headed to California Highways

California motorists are already sharing roads with driverless cars, and autonomous big-rigs may be next. The California DMV has released another round of proposed regulations for a statewide testing program involving self-driving trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds. Watch the report from NBC Bay Area and read more here.

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here to join our emailing list.

New survey shows widespread concern that excessive lawsuits are hurting policyholders.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (November 19, 2025)—As insurance lawsuits hit record levels, a new survey from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) reveals growing concern that excessive and abusive litigation is driving up costs for consumers and reforms are needed.

According to the survey, 64.3% of respondents said they were concerned about how excessive lawsuits increase their premiums, and 80.5% believe that the legal system is used in ways that unfairly drive up insurance costs. Overwhelmingly, 8 in 10 (80.3%) respondents also believed that their premiums would increase due to excessive lawsuits, even if they had never filed a claim themselves.

“Consumers are absolutely correct. They are paying the price for unnecessary lawsuits in the form of higher insurance costs for their households,” said Charles Symington, Big "I" president & CEO. “The survey makes it clear: Americans want reform and accountability. Independent agents are working with their customers so they further understand the impact of lawsuit abuse and how to advocate for reform.”

Consumers also expressed skepticism about who truly benefits from lawsuits against insurers. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said attorneys and law firms profit most, compared to only 30.9% who believe consumers with valid claims benefit.

Third-Party Litigation Funding Drives Costs Even Higher

Despite awareness of traditional lawsuit abuse, many consumers remain unfamiliar with “third-party litigation funding,” a growing practice where outside investors finance lawsuits for profit. Nearly 40% said they were not at all familiar with this trend, underscoring a gap in public understanding of how global capital is increasingly driving U.S. insurance litigation and consumer costs.

Call for Action and Reform

Consumers aren’t just aware of the problem; they’re ready for change. The survey reveals overwhelming demand for action to rein in abusive litigation and restore fairness to the insurance system.

• 89.7% say it’s important to reduce unnecessary lawsuits to help control insurance costs.
• 84.3% would support reforms if they knew certain legal practices were making their insurance more expensive.
• A majority (54.8%) believe that the state and federal government should take the lead in addressing the issue, while many also pointed to insurance companies (33.6%) and courts (32.6%).

“Consumers overwhelmingly agree that unchecked litigation is not protecting them, it’s costing them. It directly affects their family budgets by adding thousands of dollars every year in unnecessary costs for their insurance and other products and services.” added Symington.

According to The Perryman Group, lawsuit abuse is costing the average American family $5135 a year. Another recent study from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. (Munich Re US) estimates the impact is even higher—at more than $6,500 for a family of four. The Big “I” is working with a broad coalition of stakeholders across a variety of industries to educate consumers and legislators about litigation funding and hold those accountable for driving up insurance costs.

Methodology

National survey conducted by Mfour Data Research via mobile targeting consumers ages 25+ who have home, auto and/or business insurance.

About the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”)

Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing more than 25,000 agency locations. Big “I” members are trusted insurance advisers who offer consumers all types of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products—from a choice of insurance companies.

Happy Wednesday! In this week’s Big I Buzz: thousands of Wisconsinites could lose Obamacare coverage if federal subsidies expire, and new data shows more Americans are moving away from flood-prone areas.

Up to 60,000 Wisconsinites Could Lose Obamacare Coverage if Subsidies Expire

Between 40,000 and 60,000 Wisconsinites who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could lose their coverage if Congress fails to extend subsidies that lower plan costs, according to Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek.

The subsidies have driven record-high enrollment in Wisconsin’s ACA marketplace this year, with roughly 300,000 residents signing up for coverage. If the enhanced subsidies expire at the end of the year, those gains could be reversed. Read more here.

Americans Are Moving Out of Flood-Prone Neighborhoods

For the first time since 2019, U.S. counties at the highest risk of flooding saw more residents moving out than in — about 30,000 more people left than arrived, according to a new Redfin report.

The trend marks a shift from the pandemic years, when remote workers flocked to coastal and Sun Belt regions. Despite the outflow, some of those high-risk counties still experienced overall population growth due to strong immigration from abroad.

Of the 310 counties identified as high flood risk, 132 saw net population losses while 178 saw gains — but the number of people leaving outpaced those arriving. Read more here.

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here to join our emailing list.

Happy Wednesday! In this week’s Big I Buzz: The Illinois Department of Insurance requests policyholder relief during the federal government shutdown, and the top automobiles for customer satisfaction in 2025 are revealed.

Illinois Department of Insurance Asks Insurers for Policyholder Relief During Shutdown

The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) is urging insurers to provide relief to policyholders affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown to ensure they do not lose insurance coverage.

The department noted that more than 153,000 Illinois residents employed by the federal government have been impacted since the lapse in federal appropriations began on October 1. To support these consumers, IDOI is asking insurers to consider measures such as temporary moratoriums on cancellations and extensions for payment or repair timeframes. Read more here.

Top Automobiles for Customer Satisfaction in 2025

Driver satisfaction with the auto industry has dipped slightly in 2025, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Longer loan terms have increased consumer focus on vehicle reliability and dependability, as many drivers continue making payments beyond their warranty periods.

According to ACSI, Subaru, Mazda, and Toyota ranked highest among automakers for customer satisfaction this year. See the full list and read more here.

For more news, check out the Action News section of our weekly e-newsletter, Big I Buzz. If you aren’t subscribed, click here to add your email to our emailing list.