Good morning, ! Today we dive into the macroeconomics of insurance, 85% of insurers now see AI as a competitive edge, and total insurance employment surpassed a record 3 million people.

First time here? Join the 40,000+ network of insurance leaders who read us every week! Subscribe here.

Know someone who would love this? Pass it along—they’ll thank you later! Here’s the link.

Insurance’s Hidden Economic Engine

Behind the scenes, insurance isn’t just a safety net—it’s an economic flywheel. This report shows how inflation has jacked up homeowner’s premiums by 25% over CPI, while commercial auto lags 58% below, a tale of two lines driven by rebuild costs and tech gains. Interest rates? Double-edged sword: insurers finally get yield relief, but reinsurance and capital costs are spiking too. 

And here’s a twist: unemployment claims act as an economic crystal ball, flashing early warnings that should be glued to every underwriter’s desk. Bottom line: insurance isn’t just weathering macro storms—it’s a barometer for them.

Premium Perks

Since you are an Executive Subscriber, you get access to all the full length reports our research team makes every week. Interested in learning all the hard data behind the article? If so, this report is just for you!

Want to check the other reports? Access the Report Repository here.

Insurance Jobs Cross the 3 Million Mark in 2024

The insurance industry just hit a milestone: total employment surpassed 3 million for the first time in 2024, with 1.4 million working in agencies and brokerages alone. After nearly a decade of steady growth, the sector continues to defy automation fears and economic headwinds.

Why it matters: While carriers (life, health, P&C) have held fairly steady, the real growth story is in distribution and advisory. Agencies and brokers added over 300,000 jobs since 2015, underscoring the demand for personalized guidance as products get more complex and clients navigate inflation and regulatory shifts.

Also notable: Reinsurance employment ticked up to 31,000, as risks like climate change and cyber threats keep pushing demand for deeper underwriting expertise.

Bottom line: Tech may be changing the game, but insurance remains a people-powered business, and the hiring trend shows no sign of slowing.

In Partnership with Build Wealth

WSJ Bestselling Author Walker Deibel’s BuildEnergy Fund Leverages 4-Decade Track Record (Over 65% Subscribed!)

​​B​uildEnergy Fund I is officially open to accredited investors​! This $100 million cashflowing fund offers family office terms and 30%+ IRR to its investors.

Why ​i​nvest? ​Walker Deibel, the serial entrepreneur, WSJ bestselling author, and founder of Build Wealth sees this fund as hitting all facets of his Growth Predictor Framework:

• Experienced Operating Team – A 4-decade / 6-fund track record of strong returns, including IRRs averaging 50%

• Attractive Returns – Prior fund is already cash flowing 15% cash-on-cash, and estimated 35% IRR only 18 months in.

• Institutional-Level Terms – Direct access to a $5M family office buy-in structure, reflecting a 7% immediate paper gain.

• Focused Sector Approach – A strategic, supply / demand imbalance play, acquiring $100 million roll-up of oil wells during a buyer’s market.

​If you’re an accredited investor, you can get access to the data room here:

Discover the deal

For questions, reach out to Mike Brown, Head of Investor Relations: [email protected]

KPMG’s AI Gospel: Believe, But Partner

85% of insurers now see AI as a competitive edge—which basically means if you’re not in, you’re out. KPMG’s latest 37-pager on AI in insurance makes it clear: the hype is real, but so are the headaches. While expectations for ROI (64%) are sky-high, challenges like data chaos and HR gaps keep even the boldest CDOs up at night. KPMG offers a three-step playbook—Enable, Embed, Evolve—but few have made it past the PoC stage. Most promising: startups operating in sales & marketing are leading the charge, even if risk functions remain oddly under-hyped. TL;DR: Don’t just pilot—partner.

Zurich Writes a £150M Policy on M&A Growth

Two founders, £60 million richer. Zurich’s acquisition of a significant minority stake in Icen Risk isn’t just a win for Dawn Bhoma and Rob Brown — it’s a bold play into a market that’s grown 50% in the last five years. With £70m GWP and a presence across Spain, Italy, and Austria, Icen isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. Zurich’s entry gives Icen the global clout to grow its Warranty & Indemnity, Tax, IP, and Environmental risk coverage for European mid-market deals, while keeping its leadership and culture intact. Completion is set for late 2025, pending regulatory nods.

Sponsored Content

This tech company grew 32,481%..

No, it's not Nvidia. It's Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.

Nasdaq ticker $MODE secured—invest at $0.26/share before their share price changes on 5/1.

Invest Now.

_{*An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com.
*The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research.}

Uncle Sam's Tariff Game: The White House Always Wins

Trump’s tariff reboot is less “America First” and more “Consumers Pay First.” A sweeping new wave of levies—ranging from 24% on Japan to a whopping 46% on Vietnam—ensnares nearly all of Asia in a geopolitical gamble. The supposed targets are trade imbalances and security gaps. The actual result? The U.S. government collects more revenue while American consumers and corporates eat the cost. 

Reconfigured supply chains? Not anytime soon. Most businesses aren’t about to rip up ops over policy whiplash. This isn’t just about higher prices—it’s about Value Chain Stress. Firms lose efficiency, and the "China-plus-one" model gets torched in the crossfire. In the end, there’s only one consistent winner: the IRS.

Love Insurance/FIG 150? Receive the Same In Private Equity!

PE150 delivers proprietary insights, market trends, and actionable tools for Private Equity & M&A professionals—in just one 5 minute weekly email. Subscribe now

"Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking."

William Butler Yeats