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PG&E Corp. has earned an upgrade to investment grade from Fitch Ratings, marking a significant step in the utility’s recovery from its bankruptcy and wildfire-related troubles. The upgrade follows the California legislature’s decision to expand a wildfire insurance fund by an additional $18 billion to help utilities cover costs from fire damages. Fitch highlighted the … Read more

Last year, IBFutureFest attracted 727 people to the Santa Monica Pier for an event that mixed the energy of a festival with serious business talks. Attendees formed new connections, struck deals, and gave clear feedback—they wanted it bigger and better. Now, InsuranceFest 2026 is set to return to the same spot on July 16, expecting … Read more

A year after the record-breaking wildfires in Los Angeles in 2025, experts in reinsurance are warning that California’s wildfire risks have changed for good. They say insurance brokers should expect shifts in how carriers handle wildfire coverage, including changes in strategy, appetite, and pricing. New data from Gallagher Re reveals that wildfire losses covered by … Read more

Global reinsurance capital has climbed back above $700 billion after years of tough market conditions. This growth is driven by strong investor returns and steady inflows from insurance-linked securities. Alongside this, property catastrophe reinsurance rates have settled following sharp increases in the early 2020s, leading to more capacity and competition than risk managers have seen … Read more

Minnesota’s cannabis laws are facing growing confusion as cities take different approaches in applying the rules, leading to disputes that may need court or legislative intervention to settle. Local governments in Minnesota have the right to limit the number of cannabis retailers, decide where they can operate, and set business hours. However, some cities are … Read more

The European Commission is preparing to fine Google for the first time under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to people familiar with the matter. The decision is expected in the coming months and follows complaints that Google has given unfair preference to its own vertical search services like Google Shopping, Google Flights, … Read more

ZestyAI’s water risk model, Z-WATER, has just been approved for use in Wisconsin, marking a big step forward for insurers in the state. This new tool helps insurance companies better understand and price the specific water-related risks for individual properties, without relying on weather data. Insurance providers in Wisconsin can now use Z-WATER to set … Read more

A Michigan insurance company is pursuing nearly $940,000 from Samsung and Best Buy after a recalled electric stove allegedly caused a house fire in Ohio. Auto-Owners Mutual Insurance Company filed a lawsuit on January 28, 2026, in a federal court in Cleveland. The claim concerns a Samsung Electric Slide-In Range that reportedly turned on by … Read more

Two well-known insurance companies are facing off in a federal court over a dispute about who should pay first in a construction injury case. Travelers Indemnity Company filed a lawsuit against Erie Insurance Company on January 29, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The case centers on an … Read more

Philip Mortimer, the chief financial officer of Heffernan Insurance Brokers, recently shared his journey to the top of the business in an interview. Recognized as part of the 2026 IBA Hot 100, Mortimer opened up about how he rose from humble beginnings to reach the executive level. He also discussed the steps he took to … Read more