More than 20 states now regulate litigation funding: Triple-I

The Connected Podcast: Navigating Developments in the Insurance Ecosystem Welcome to The Connected Podcast, your go-to source for the latest news and events shaping the ever-evolving insurance ecosystem. Join us as we deep dive into significant changes and strategic developments across the industry that are impacting insurers and policyholders alike. In our recent segment, we spotlighted crucial changes in litigation funding disclosure requirements and industry performance metrics. Over 20 states have mandated third-party litigation funding disclosures, with North Carolina taking a bold step by banning it outright through HB 315. Sean Kevelighan from the Insurance Information Institute emphasized the pressing need for stringent regulations due to the historically under-regulated nature of litigation funding. Industry Performance Insights One of the most remarkable highlights comes from Chubb's outstanding performance in the property and casualty sector for 2026, boasting a 33.7% increase in underwriting income to $5.79 billion. The U.S. farm bureau insurers have equally witnessed a resurgence with $1 billion in underwriting gains in early 2026. Progressive has also been on the rise within the auto insurance sector, reflecting increases in net premiums and policy counts, albeit amidst intense competition. The rising tide of insurance costs has not gone unnoticed, with notable hikes in auto and homeowners insurance. Meanwhile, executive compensations at major insurance companies surpassing $155 million in 2025 has sparked debate on transparency and fairness given the median household income. Strategic Preparedness and Technological Embrace FEMA's Cameron Hamilton advises state leaders on the critical necessity of establishing financial reserves for disaster management, anticipating potential federal disaster aid cuts. This call to action underscores the importance of state-level preparedness for faster recovery post-disasters. Our exploration into the evolving insurance landscape also highlighted the integral role of data and technology. W.R. Berkley Corp. positions itself for success in the digital era by leveraging data-driven AI technologies, as affirmed by CEO W. Robert Berkley, Jr. Jennifer Kessel from USG Insurance Services challenges traditional return on investment (ROI) perspectives, advocating for client value creation through time efficiency enhancements. We further delved into AI governance, emphasizing the significance of problem structuring in AI-assisted models for informed decision-making. This presents a pivotal opportunity for COOs and CIOs to harness AI's capabilities for faster underwriting and claim processing. Regulatory Updates and M&A Trends New regulatory updates in Washington, introduced by Commissioner Patty Kuderer, aim to enhance the insurance claims process with improved transparency and clear timelines for policyholders. These changes are set to streamline claim handling and minimize uncertainties. Finally, our discussion on agency mergers and acquisitions revealed a significant slowdown in 2026, with a 19% decline from the previous year—highlighting the effects of strategic shifts by private equity-backed platforms. With only 439 acquisitions in the first three quarters of 2026, this reflects the industry's shifting focus towards integration and recapitalization. The evolving strategies of private equity firms underscore the new dynamics in the insurance M&A landscape. Links: More than 20 states now regulate litigation funding: Triple-I Chubb posts record $5.79bn P&C underwriting income for first 9M'26 - Reinsurance News Farm Bureau P&C insurers post first underwriting gain since 2021 Progressive's Rising Auto Premiums Support Growth and Underwriting Insurance Companies Claim They Have to Hike Consumers’ Premiums. Their CEO Compensation, Dividends, and Advertising Costs Tell a Different Story FEMA retreats from disaster response and launches a tool to sell flood insurance without brokers WR Berkley CEO Shares Insights on AI Adoption During Q3 Call 'Saving time is not our ROI' - how US insurance firms are learning to measure tech investment Who Structures the Problem in AI-Assisted Insurance Decisions? Unified Agentic Core: Insurance Core Modernization Washington implements new claims-handling rules Insurance agency M&A sinks to 8-year low as PE exits loom