Blogs

How Automation in Insurance Is Powering the Next Phase of Affinity Growth

By Jill Fecher posted 3 hours ago
Automation in insurance is rapidly moving from a back-office function to a core strategic advantage. The affinity insurance ecosystem is expanding into new verticals, incorporating new partners, and facing increasingly complex data requirements. This growth necessitates modernization. The organizations preparing for 2026 are already modernizing their operations, starting with automated data workflows to manage this complexity. Why Automation in Insurance Is Now a Strategic Imperative The affinity space is characterized by rising operational complexity: more distribution channels, more partners, and more data touchpoints. This environment makes ...

PIMA Announces 2026 Board of Directors

By PIMA Admin posted 25 days ago
CHICAGO (January 30, 2026) – The PIMA membership elected its 2026-2027 Board of Directors during its annual business meeting on January 28 at the 2026 Winter Insights Conference. The 2026 Board of Directors: Executive Committee: President – Sean Cox, First Consulting & Administration Inc. President-Elect – Avery Smith, Kelsey National Corporation Secretary – Jean-Marie Lovett, Bindable Treasurer – Lance Dordick, Farmers Insurance At-Large Director – Shane Canfield, WAEPA Immediate Past President (ex-officio) – Kelly Abeles, Everest PIMA Executive Director (ex-officio) – Jill Fecher Directors: Sharon Alford, ...

The Future of Distribution: How Innovation Is Redefining Affinity Sales

By PIMA Admin posted 01-13-2026
Key Takeaways: Distribution remains the primary growth engine for affinity insurance, but traditional models are under pressure to evolve. Embedded insurance, platform partnerships, and micro-affinity niches are redefining modern insurance distribution models. Technology and automation are reducing friction, accelerating partner onboarding, and improving conversion across channels. Marketing is becoming an integrated extension of distribution, amplifying partner performance and long-term growth. Distribution remains the engine ...

Affinity Insurance Trends Driving Growth In 2026

By PIMA Admin posted 01-13-2026
Key Takeaways: AI is evolving from a back-office efficiency tool into a front- and back-end growth engine for affinity insurance. Embedded, micro-affinity, and contextual distribution models are expanding how and where insurance reaches customers. Innovative ecosystem partnerships are redefining value by combining brand trust, data, and digital platforms. The insurance customer experience has become a primary competitive differentiator, driven by expectations for speed, transparency, and seamless journeys. The affinity insurance sector is entering a new era. ...

Insurance Thought Leadership: Attracting Next-Generation Talent to Insurance

By PIMA Admin posted 12-19-2025
Insurance Thought Leadership: Attracting Next-Generation Talent to Insurance By Jean-Marie Lovett (December 18, 2025) With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting the loss of nearly 400,000 workers by 2026, the insurance industry is entering a period of significant change. This potential workforce decline underscores the urgent need for insurers to invest in people, culture, and modern career paths that appeal to today's professionals. To attract and retain future insurance leaders, insurers must rethink how they engage talent and structure career development. Though often seen as traditional and slow to adapt, the industry is actually ...

Staying Relevant with Technology in the Insurance Industry: Insights from Hallmark’s Transformation

By PIMA Admin posted 11-25-2025
Key Takeaways: Hallmark’s evolution shows how technology in the insurance industry can drive relevance without losing core values Building a connection with customers through shared experiences deepens long-term loyalty Innovation rooted in purpose helps the insurance industry stay agile and trustworthy Hallmark’s Sabrina Wiewel delivered a powerful opening keynote at a recent PIMA Insights Conference on how a legacy brand stays relevant in a rapidly changing world . Her presentation served as a valuable case study for the insurance market, showing how technology ...

Attracting the Next Generation of Insurance Talent

By PIMA Admin posted 11-17-2025
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 11-17-2025
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 11-17-2025
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 11-05-2025
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 11-05-2025
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 11-05-2025
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 ...