At the start of 2025, insurance professionals readied themselves for a year in which brokers and risk managers experienced rate fatigue while carriers faced increased litigation costs and property losses along with an uptick in repair prices. AI was poised to revolutionize process management as insurance professionals faced down the year ahead, and cybersecurity was part of most clients' coverage or renewal conversations. Meanwhile, regime change in Washington, D.C., a shifting regulatory environment, and ever-present pressure to respond to climate change all characterized the insurance landscape in January.

Now, as 2025 winds down, how have these trends and others truly affected independent insurance agents, and what might such pressures mean for the year ahead?

Join Elana Ashanti Jefferson, editor-in-chief of PropertyCasualty360.com, and Mike Skiados, CEO of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National), as they answer these questions and so many others posed to the insurance workforce as part of the 2025 Independent Insurance Agent Survey. Over several weeks this fall, hundreds of survey respondents shared their take on such issues as competitive markets, digitized workflows, hiring challenges and so much more.

One notable theme to emerge from the survey was workplace flexibility. Many agencies and brokerages in 2025 recognize that flexibility is essential to attracting and retaining top talent: 49% of respondents offer remote work for some staff, 19% extend remote-work options to all staff, and 32% continue to require employees to work fully in-office.

Find out how your work-life measures up to peers and percolate on success strategies for 2026 during this illuminating "fireside chat" style presentation.

Featured Speakers:

Elana Ashanti Jefferson | Editor-in-Chief | PropertyCasualty360 Group

Elana Ashanti Jefferson is chief editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. In this function, Elana directs a team of multimedia journalists who report, write, edit and disseminate timely, relevant, industry-specific news and information. Before working in digital media, Elana spent two decades as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, working for publications on both coasts as well as in her home state of Colorado. Elana is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism and the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Mike Skiados, MBA, CAE | CEO| National Association of Professional Insurance Agents

Mike Skiados, MBA, CAE, is a visionary association leader dedicated to empowering members and cultivating engagement through meaningful connections and tailored experiences. As CEO of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, Mike is leading transformative initiatives to elevate certification standards for independent insurance agents and modernize the membership structure, all while prioritizing member satisfaction and long-term value.

Previously, as Managing Director of Membership Strategy and Engagement at The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Mike collaborated with a dynamic team to amplify member value, foster participation in impactful programs, and achieve remarkable results in recruitment and retention.

Mike resides in Sunderland, MD with his wife, daughter, and son.

Brent Denton, CPCU | Senior Director of National Agency Distribution | Steadily

Brent Denton, CPCU has a long and varied work history. Brent began their career in 2008 as a Customer Service Representative at State Farm Insurance. Brent also held a Financial Representative Intern position at Northwestern Mutual during the same year. In 2010, they moved to Bituminous Insurance as an Underwriter. From 2012 to 2022, Brent held various roles at Travelers, including Sales Director, Underwriting Director, Managing Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, and Account Executive. Most recently, they have been the Director of National Agency Distribution at Steadily since 2022.

Brent Denton, CPCU, attended Illinois State University from 2006 to 2010, where they earned a Bachelor of Science in Insurance and Risk Management.

Thank you to our sponsor: Steadily

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