[3] Meyer Shields interview, April 2, 2025. (Shields interview) [4] Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., “Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Imbs Holdings Inc.,” last modified April 10, 2025, https://investor.ajg.com/news/news-details/2025/Arthur-J–Gallagher–Co–Acquires-Imbs-Holdings-Inc-/default.aspx.​:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} [5] SeekingAlpha, “Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript,” accessed April 10, 2025, https://seekingalpha.com/article/4753684-arthur-j-gallagher-and-co-ajg-q4-2024-earnings-call-transcript. (Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript) [9] IBIS World. “OD5533: Benefit Administration Services in the US.” August, 2024. (Benefit Administration Services, IBIS World) [12] Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. “News.” Accessed April 15, 2025. https://investor.ajg.com/news/default.aspx. [15] Kittrell, Alison. The Gallagher Way: A Corporate History of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 1st ed.…

This post is part of a series sponsored by Old Republic Surety. Surety bonds have garnered an unfortunate reputation of being “ugly” or “uncomfortable” for independent insurance agents for many reasons. Unlike a traditional insurance contract, which is a two-party agreement between an insurance provider and a policyholder, a surety bond involves three parties: the principal, the obligee and the surety. The principal guarantees payment or performance of its bonded obligation to the obligee and if the principal defaults, the surety will make good on the obligation to the obligee (and then seek repayment from the principal). In many ways,…

By Lewis Nibbelin, Contributing Writer, Triple-I Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy recently took to the Senate floor to call for restoration of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, whose elimination the agency announced on April 4. Established by Congress through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, the BRIC program has allocated more than $5 billion for investment in mitigation projects to reduce economic losses from floods, wildfires, and other disasters for hundreds of communities. Ending BRIC will cancel all applications from 2020-2023 and rescind more than $185 million in grants intended for Louisiana, leaving the 34 submitted and accepted…

In recent years, inflation has put extensive pressure on the legal industry. According to our 2024 Legal Risk Index Report, 50% of attorneys now cite inflation as the biggest danger to their firm’s bottom line. And they’re not wrong. From rising overheads to mounting pressure on pricing, firms are feeling a squeeze that’s not likely to let up anytime soon. As financial pressures mount, strong law firm financial management has become a critical part of running a firm. Inflation’s impact on law firms is compounded by several economic factors. Recent tariffs on goods and services make it more expensive to…

The National Weather Service (NWS) – part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – recently announced that it was reducing the number of weather balloons it launches across the country, citing staffing shortages at 11 NWS locations. The launch cuts followed NOAA’s announcement of hundreds of layoffs or voluntary resignations across the agency, including at the NWS, related to efforts by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said in a press conference that about 650 NOAA employees were among those fired, and his former colleagues in the agency said they had…

This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. GPM Life fuels its growth with the ability to onboard more producers faster with AgentSync Executive Summary: With the demand for life insurance and annuities products growing constantly, GPM Life wanted to meet consumer demand by getting agents ready to sell as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, they realized they were being held back by inefficiencies in their producer onboarding and license compliance processes. That cost them money from both the internal staff side and through missed business opportunities. When looking for a producer management solution, GPM Life was committed to…

This post is part of a series sponsored by Expert Insured. In today’s highly competitive insurance market, MGAs and wholesalers require more than just basic management tools. They need intelligent, scalable solutions that streamline operations, enhance accuracy, and enable fast, data-driven decisions. Expert Insured, a platform evolved over 15 years, combines robust Rate, Quote, Bind (RQB) functionality with advanced AI-driven automation, redefining policy management for MGAs and wholesalers. Recently re-engineered on a .NET Core foundation by Selectsys Tech’s team of experts with over 20 years of experience in the MGA and wholesaler space, Expert Insured is tailored to meet the…

Jump to winners | Jump to methodology Providing for Golden State employees The bar for Californian workplace safety is high and only getting higher. That’s in part due to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the California Department of Industrial Relations (Cal/OSHA) proactively setting the tone, often exceeding federal OSHA requirements. This translates into California being highly regulated with an emphasis on preventive measures, especially around heat illness, ergonomics, and injury/illness prevention programs. Unlike some states, California mandates businesses have workers’ comp insurance, no matter how many employees they have. Even if the organization is headquartered elsewhere, if employees…

This post is part of a series sponsored by IAT Insurance Group. In the latest episode of What’s Brewing, Ben McDonald, Vice President of Underwriting for IAT’s Excess & Surplus Contract Binding Division, and Claire Rinker, Senior Underwriter, discuss the current state of the market, industry trends, and how underwriting is evolving in response. Tune into the episode here: Excess and Surplus Binding | What’s Brewing Below, we explore highlights from their discussion. Market Trends: A Shifting Landscape The Excess & Surplus (E&S) market has seen significant shifts over the past few years. Inflation has impacted liability, construction costs, and…

  [3] Meyer Shields interview, April 2, 2025. (Shields interview) [4] Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., “Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Imbs Holdings Inc.,” last modified April 10, 2025, https://investor.ajg.com/news/news-details/2025/Arthur-J–Gallagher–Co–Acquires-Imbs-Holdings-Inc-/default.aspx.​:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} [5] SeekingAlpha, “Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript,” accessed April 10, 2025, https://seekingalpha.com/article/4753684-arthur-j-gallagher-and-co-ajg-q4-2024-earnings-call-transcript. (Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript) [9] IBIS World. “OD5533: Benefit Administration Services in the US.” August, 2024. (Benefit Administration Services, IBIS World) [12] Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. “News.” Accessed April 15, 2025. https://investor.ajg.com/news/default.aspx. [15] Kittrell, Alison. The Gallagher Way: A Corporate History of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 1st ed.…