Happy Wednesday! In this week’s Big I Buzz: a study shows essential household costs are driving Wisconsin's affordability challenge. Plus: ChatGPT & Insurify launch an auto insurance comparison app.

Report: Essential Household Costs are Driving Wisconsin’s Affordability Challenge

A new report from Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association, reveals that while median wages in Wisconsin have generally kept pace with inflation over the past 25 years, many essential household expenses have increased at a much faster rate.

The study points to rising costs for necessities such as housing and healthcare as major factors putting pressure on household budgets across the state.

Preliminary estimates show that median household income in Wisconsin increased by 90% from 2000 to 2025, while overall costs of goods and services—measured by the Consumer Price Index—rose by 87% during the same period. However, essential expenses have outpaced both wage growth and inflation. Read more here.

ChatGPT and Insurify Launch Auto Insurance Comparison App  

Insurify, an online insurance comparison platform, has launched a new ChatGPT app that allows users to browse, research, and compare auto insurance directly through the platform’s app library.

This marks the first insurance-related app in ChatGPT’s library, sparking discussion across the industry, including concerns about potential market disruption.

The ChatGPT app library features a collection of tools and third-party integrations available within the ChatGPT app. The new Insurify digital insurance comparison tool lets consumers shop for and compare insurance quotes in one place. 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: forecasters are calling for an active tornado season in the U.S., and new proposals in two states raise concerns about workers’ comp coverage for undocumented workers.

Active Tornado Season Expected in the US

Forecasters are predicting an active 2026 tornado season across the Central Plains, with activity expected to run 15% above the 20-year average, according to the Kansas Institute of Tornado Dynamics.

Several factors are contributing to the increased outlook, including ongoing La Niña conditions, warmer-than-normal Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperatures, and a strengthened low-level jet stream. Together, these conditions could lead to an estimated 1,450 to 1,600 tornadoes nationwide this year. Read more here.

No Comp for Undocumented Workers Risks Perils

Lawmakers in Florida and New Jersey recently introduced legislation that could limit workers’ compensation benefits for undocumented workers or shift liability away from insurers. While similar proposals have appeared in other states over the past decade, few have become law.

Florida’s H.B. 1307 is among the most far-reaching. The bill would require employers to verify work authorization through the E-Verify system before submitting a workers’ compensation claim. If an injured worker is found to be unauthorized, employers—not insurers—would be responsible for medical and indemnity costs.

In New Jersey, S.B. 1521 would restrict many undocumented workers from receiving wage-replacement benefits under workers’ compensation and temporary disability programs. 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: industry risk trends from global insurers, an industry performance snapshot in P&C underwriting, and a notable civil court award in Wisconsin.

AI Rises as a Top Global Business Risk
Cyber incidents remain the number one global business risk for 2026, landing at the top of the latest Allianz Risk Barometer — and for the fifth straight year. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence surged to second place, climbing sharply from its 2025 position. Risks tied to AI include implementation challenges, liability concerns, and the potential for misinformation and deepfakes. Other top concerns for businesses globally include business interruption, regulatory change, natural catastrophes, and climate change. These rankings reflect how technology and operational risk are reshaping corporate risk priorities in 2026. Read more here.

Improved P&C Underwriting Results Through Q3 2025
The U.S. property and casualty (P&C) insurance market showed marked improvement through the third quarter of 2025, according to a recent AM Best report. Personal lines — particularly private passenger auto and homeowners/farmowners coverage — helped drive underwriting performance, offsetting a tougher start to the year marked by wildfires and severe storms. Net underwriting income reached roughly $35 billion for the first nine months of 2025, up from approximately $3.7 billion in the same period of 2024. Loss ratios in several personal coverage lines improved year over year, illustrating the impact of sustained pricing adequacy and risk management practices. However, some liability segments and workers’ compensation showed mixed results, and narrower underwriting margins raise questions about future trends if premium declines continue. Read more here.

$3.46 Billion Jury Award in Wisconsin Civil Suit
A Waukesha County jury awarded $3.46 billion in damages to state Senator Rob Hutton and his wife in a recent civil case. The eye-popping figure is widely viewed as symbolic, as Wisconsin law caps punitive damages — which means the full amount may never be paid as written. This verdict fits into a wider pattern often described in legal and insurance circles as “nuclear” verdicts — jury awards that are unusually large relative to the underlying harm. While some high awards are tied to clear, serious wrongdoing, others are driven by juror sentiment and broader trends in the civil justice system. Read more here.

For more industry 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 email list.

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.