If I've learned one thing about the P&C insurance industry over the years, it is this: If you really want to know what's going on in this business, you have to talk to the boots on the ground. In 2017, NU forged a partnership with the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) and Flaspöhler | NMG to conduct the inaugural Independent Agent Study — a research project designed to annually take the pulse of independent Property & Casualty insurance agents throughout the U.S. and provide revealing insight into the demographics, books of business and challenges they face, and reveal their most highly rated carrier partners.

Flaspöhler has long conducted its own larger annual study of agents (the Flaspöhler | NMG Producer Study) on behalf of key P&C carriers, which use the results to help them best meet agent needs.

This year's study, the findings of which are currently being shared on PropertyCasualty360.com, has revealed several things worth drawing attention to, not the least of which is this: A good number of independent agents — the backbone of the P&C distribution system — aren't exactly feeling the love these days.