Blogs

Attracting the Next Generation of Insurance Talent

By PIMA Admin posted 5 days ago
Key Takeaways The insurance talent shortage is driven by retirements, high turnover, and shifting workforce expectations. Younger professionals prioritize purpose, flexibility, and tech innovation over brand loyalty or tradition. Addressing the insurance talent shortage requires rethinking recruitment strategies and internal culture. Affinity -focused community groups , such as PIMA , offer mentorship, networking, and education to support long-term retention. The insurance industry stands at a pivotal moment. A significant portion of ...

The Future of Leadership in Insurance: Why Relationship-Building Is the Key to Success

By PIMA Admin posted 5 days ago
Key Takeaways Future insurance leaders are emerging from environments that prioritize mentorship, trust, and collaboration. Relationship-oriented leadership is becoming a defining trait among future insurance leaders. Insurance leadership development programs help formalize connections between rising talent and experienced mentors. Shifting generational expectations are reshaping what future insurance leaders value in workplace culture. For generations, the insurance industry has been defined by its legacy and stability, but a new era demands an evolution ...

Prioritizing People: How Insurance Leaders Can Build the Future Workforce

By PIMA Admin posted 5 days ago
Key Takeaways Insurance leadership plays a central role in shaping a modern, adaptable insurance workforce that meets the needs of a changing talent landscape. Developing the next generation of leaders requires mentorship, flexible communication, and cross-generational collaboration. A successful workforce development strategy blends phased retirement, tech-forward training, and formal mentorship programs. Organizations like PIMA help advance insurance leadership through professional development, networking, and community-driven learning. The insurance ...

Navigating the Podcast Landscape: WAEPA’S Strategic Approach

By PIMA Admin posted 17 days ago
By Shane Canfield, Chief Executive Officer, WAEPA Podcasts have had a meteoric rise in today’s digital landscape. In 2023, there were more than 67 million monthly listeners in the U.S. This demand has resulted in increased supply with 4.3 million total podcasts registered worldwide. For an organization like WAEPA – 80 years old, with a niche audience – to wade into a hyper-saturated market meant our team needed to think strategically about our audience, value proposition and promotional strategy. Here, I’ll discuss two key questions that guided the 2021 launch of our “Lessons in Leadership” podcast. What Value Could WAEPA Add to the ...

Navigating New Regulations in Supplemental Health Benefits and STLDI

By PIMA Admin posted 17 days ago
By Muhammed Gulen, Esq. Vice President & Legal Consultant , Lewis & Ellis, LLC The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and the Treasury recently finalized regulations that significantly impact short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) and supplemental fixed indemnity health plans. These changes aim to enhance consumer protections and clarify the limitations of these insurance products. Significant Changes to Insurance Regulations One of the most significant adjustments is the stringent limitation imposed on STLDI plans. Previously, these plans could be extended to a maximum of 36 months under certain conditions. ...

The Next Generation of Insurance Buyers: How to Reach Gen Z and Millennials

By PIMA Admin posted 17 days ago
By Sabrina Sebastian, Vice President, Group Benefits, Performance Marketing, MetLife Insurance Gen Z and Millennials are reshaping how the insurance industry goes to market, bringing higher expectations, digital behaviors, and experience preferences. While younger generations may not purchase policies the same way their parents and grandparents did, they are signing up for coverage — just on their own terms. The shift from traditional agent-led sales to online research, digital purchasing, and social media-driven decisions requires a modernized approach to marketing, customer engagement, and the overall insurance experience. To meet the demands of ...

How Distribution Partnerships Create Long-Term Value

By PIMA Admin posted 10-20-2025
Key Takeaways: Long-term distribution partnerships thrive on shared purpose and alignment, not short-term promotions. Collaboration between insurers and brands enhances customer experience through seamless, trust-based solutions. Co-created strategies and shared data drive efficiency, retention, and sustainable growth. PIMA fosters these connections, helping members build lasting, strategically aligned partnerships. Long before a policy is issued, before terms are negotiated or premiums calculated, there’s a question at the heart of every successful insurance ...

Understanding the Flexibility of Affinity Insurance Programs

By PIMA Admin posted 10-20-2025
Key Takeaways: Affinity insurance programs provide flexible, customizable coverage for diverse groups. Tailored products, marketing, and partnerships ensure relevance and accessibility. Real-world examples like Airbnb AirCover show adaptability to unique risks. Technology enables personalization at scale, balancing flexibility and efficiency. The idea that insurance is a rigid, one-size-fits-all product is a common misconception, especially when it comes to affinity insurance programs . Far from being inflexible, these offerings are specifically ...

The Framework of Affinity Distribution: How It Works & Why It’s Essential

By PIMA Admin posted 10-20-2025
Key Takeaways: Affinity distribution leverages trusted group relationships to deliver tailored insurance. Rising gig economy, memberships, and tech drive relevance of affinity group insurance. Misconceptions about marketing, data, and control overlook the model’s efficiency. PIMA supports industry players with strategies, insights, and collaboration on trends. In an increasingly competitive and fragmented insurance landscape, staying ahead means effectively mastering the art of reach and relevance. The traditional models are evolving, and new opportunities ...

Protecting What Matters: Reframing the True Value of Insurance in Modern Life

By PIMA Admin posted 09-17-2025
Key Takeaways: Insurance provides financial stability, confidence, and resilience in modern life. Affinity programs build trust through tailored coverage and community ties. Real stories and specialized models show insurance’s human-centered value. PIMA leads with collaboration, transparency, and innovation in affinity insurance. Insurance plays a foundational role in the financial and emotional security of individuals, families, and businesses. Yet, despite its critical importance, it remains a service that is often misunderstood—or worse, underappreciated—until ...

How the Affinity Model Positions Insurance for a Future of Aligned Expectations

By PIMA Admin posted 09-17-2025
Key Takeaways: Modern consumers expect personalized, digital, and seamless insurance experiences. The affinity model builds trust through communities and deep customization. Member-centric design and loyalty programs drive engagement and retention. Affinity insurance aligns with emerging trends, shaping the industry’s future. The modern consumer's relationship with financial services is fundamentally driven by an expectation for personalization, convenience, and value. This shift profoundly impacts the insurance distribution strategy , challenging ...

What Happens Without Insurance? The Cost of Being Uninsured vs. Underinsured

By PIMA Admin posted 09-17-2025
Key Takeaways: Being uninsured vs underinsured creates financial, social, and economic risks. Insurance gaps cause debt, business failures, and strained communities. Affinity programs provide tailored, economical solutions for coverage gaps. PIMA promotes sustainable, inclusive insurance strategies worldwide. Understanding t he distinction between being uninsured vs underinsured is critical when considering the financial and social well-being of individuals and communities. While being uninsured means having no insurance coverage at all, hav ing underinsured ...

The Trust Deficit: Building the Public Perception of Insurance Companies

By PIMA Admin posted 09-17-2025
Key Takeaways: Public perception of insurance companies is shaped by trust and transparency. Complexity, poor communication, and stressful claims processes fuel skepticism. Affinity distribution builds credibility through trusted community relationships. Clear communication, positive outcomes, and long-term support rebuild confidence. The public perception of insurance companies often grapples with skepticism, a challenge that the industry can proactively address to foster greater confidence. While headlines frequently highlight disputes or complex ...

How the Affinity Market Provides Security When It Matters Most

By PIMA Admin posted 09-17-2025
Key Takeaways: Affinity insurance delivers tailored, economical coverage to groups with shared interests or affiliations. Programs provide portability, ensuring uninterrupted protection even during job changes or life transitions. Trust within established communities makes affinity models a credible and reliable insurance option . By adapting to evolving work and lifestyle trends, affinity insurance strengthens long-term financial security. In a world filled with uncertainties, the question , “ W hat does financial security mean ?” often comes ...

Digital Insurance: InsureThink: How Insurance Brands Can Win Back Consumer Trust

By PIMA Admin posted 08-19-2025
Digital Insurance: InsureThink: How Insurance Brands Can Win Back Consumer Trust By Ann Dieleman (July 31, 2025) A recent survey by Economist Impact and SAS found that 76.5% of insurance executives identified waning consumer trust as a major barrier to closing the global protection gap. Policyholders often perceive insurers as slow, rigid, and focused on profits rather than customer wellbeing. This prevailing sentiment echoes what consumers have shared—a growing disconnect between insurance companies and the communities they serve. The sense of skepticism creates a significant opportunity for an industry built on the premise of security and reliability. ...

PIMA Announces Inaugural 2025 iMPACT Award Winners

By PIMA Admin posted 06-09-2025
CHICAGO, IL (June 9, 2025): PIMA announces the winners of the iMPACT Awards, a new awards program designed to honor individuals at PIMA member companies who play a crucial role in advancing the organization’s mission. These individuals are making significant contributions within their companies, the affinity market, and to PIMA’s success as an organization. The iMPACT Awards recipients were recognized during PIMA’s 2025 Summer Insights Conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration in Kansas City, MO. STAR Award The PIMA RISING STAR Award celebrates an affinity industry professional who exhibits leadership qualities within their company and as a volunteer ...

The NAIC Model Bulletin: A Compass for Ethical AI In Insurance

By William Buebendorf posted 05-06-2025
By Josh Hammerquist, FSA, MAAA, Vice President & Principal, Lewis & Ellis and Muhammed Gulen, Esq., Vice President & Legal Consultant, Lewis & Ellis The “NAIC Model Bulletin: Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems by Insurers” issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) outlines an ethical framework for AI deployment in the insurance industry. This bulletin delineates ethical boundaries and regulatory standards for AI systems, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination. For carriers, the bulletin serves as a guide to navigate the complex landscape of AI integration, impacting how insurers ...

Incubator Labs Are Disrupting the Insurance Marketing Game

By William Buebendorf posted 05-06-2025
By Bethany Ramos, Marketing Copywriter, FM Engage Marketing teams are notoriously busy—and often behind. It’s no wonder testing slips through the cracks. Between juggling projects and introducing new products, there’s barely time to breathe, let alone conduct the kind of multivariate testing that can save time and money by accurately directing each campaign. When there aren’t resources available for testing, busyness can come at a cost. No Time to Test? 3 Reasons to Outsource to an Incubator More than ever, insurance companies are relying on outside agencies—or incubators—to test. Here’s why: 1. Cut costs and save time. ...

A “6G” View of the Workforce

By William Buebendorf posted 05-06-2025
By Alex Morales, CAE In today’s work environment, the definition of ‘diversity’ has grown beyond a description of background. The Harvard Business Review recently published1 that some workplaces are reporting up to six generations present in their workforce, from octogenarians who have postponed retirement to the Generation Alpha interns who are the newest members just entering the workforce. With nearly 3 million employees in the United States, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2 , the insurance industry is not insulated from the diversity of multiple generations in the workplace. Even if you don’t quite have all six generations in your current ...

Separating Value from FOMO: Why Old Processes on New Tech is Not the Solution

By William Buebendorf posted 05-06-2025
By Chuck Johnston, Insurance Technology Strategist, Johnston Digital Ventures, LLC Recently, I spoke at a PIMA conference about the current state of InsurTech. A recurring theme was the executive Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) on the strategic advantages AI and other new tech can bring to our industry. Insurance still has an undeserved reputation for being technically backward when there is a strong desire to embrace new tech as the next driver of strategic advantage. Despite the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence and the promise of open systems enabled by APIs, technology alone doesn’t guarantee a competitive edge. It must be paired with innovative business ...