Introduction
The insurance market is shifting, creating new opportunities and complexities across commercial, benefits, and high-net-worth (HNW) lines.
Commercial: The market has softened for the first time since 2017, as premiums fell across all account sizes.
- Overall premiums down -1.2%; large accounts down -2.7%, medium accounts down -1.9%.
- Commercial property led the decline at -5.8%, as carrier capacity returned and some catastrophe risk moved back from E&S to traditional markets.
- Commercial auto is the exception: +5.8%, now its 59th consecutive quarter of increases, driven by claim severity and litigation risk.
Bottom line: Expect relief on property lines, but continued pressure on fleet and auto exposures.
Source: The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, Q1 2026 P&C Market Survey
Benefits: Pharmacy is now the dominant cost driver in employee benefits, but strategy and confidence haven't caught up.
- Pharmacy now exceeds 30% of total medical spend for some employers.
- 3 in 4 employers cite cost (specialty drugs, affordability, gene therapies) as their top pharmacy challenge.
- ~6 in 10 feel only neutral or unprepared to manage future cost trends.
- 43% aren't sure when their pharmacy strategy was last reviewed.
Bottom line: The gap is strategic, not informational; a disciplined, data-driven review is overdue.
Source: Assurex Global, Employee Benefits Market Check Survey, August 2026
High-Net-Worth (HNW): Capacity is improving, but the market is getting more sophisticated.
- Carriers are prioritizing risk quality, loss prevention, and accurate property/exposure data over price alone.
- Catastrophe exposure, rebuilding cost inflation, and rising liability severity are now core underwriting factors.
- Portfolio-level thinking (not policy-by-policy) is increasingly what separates strong placements from weak ones.
Bottom line: Insurability itself has become an asset families need to actively manage.
Source: Dowling & Partners, HNW Insurance Market Research Report
Insurance Market Insights
STRATEGY
The High-Net-Worth Insurance Market Is Stabilizing, But the Market is Changing.
More insurance capacity is returning, but securing the right coverage still requires a strategic approach. As underwriting becomes more sophisticated, protecting significant assets means managing insurability alongside the broader wealth portfolio.
Connection in Action
National Recognition, Powered by Our People
CCIG continues to earn recognition for both our growth and our people. We recently moved up five spots to #86 on Insurance Journal’s Top 100 Independent Property/Casualty Agencies, while our Employee Benefits practice ranked #20 nationally among Business Insurance’s Top 25 Benefits Brokers by Growth, following 18.2% revenue growth in 2025.
That momentum is backed by a strong culture. For the second consecutive year, CCIG was named one of Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in Insurance, with employees reporting 93% overall engagement and a 90% average across survey categories.
These recognitions reflect what continues to drive CCIG forward: talented people, strong relationships, and a commitment to helping clients better understand and manage risk.
Give For Good: Supporting Communities Across Colorado
Members of our CCIG Give for Good Team recently spent the day at the Denver Rescue Mission, rolling up their sleeves and serving lunch to more than 300 people.
We’re proud of our team for showing up and supporting our community. A big thank you to the Denver Rescue Mission for the important work you do every day; we were grateful to be a small part of it.
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