The report points to independent agencies' dominance in commercial lines, with nearly 88% of all commercial lines written premium placed by the independent agency channel.
The independent agency channel places 62% of all property-casualty insurance written in the U.S., according to the Big “I" 2022 Market Share Report, which also points to independent agencies' dominance in commercial lines, finding that nearly 88% of all commercial lines written premium is placed by the independent agency channel.
The annual Market Share Report compiles and analyzes property and casualty premium data from AM Best and provides insights for agencies and carriers on current market shares by distribution types.
While independent agencies are the clear leaders in commercial lines, the independent agencies in the U.S. also place 37% of all personal lines premium. Overall, independent agents place approximately 62% of all p-c premium written in the U.S.
Of the $765 billion in total premium written in the U.S., personal lines accounts for approximately 50% to the total premiums, just over 38% comes from commercial lines, and the remaining 12% is “unclassified" coverage that cannot be easily categorized as either personal or commercial lines. Independent agents place approximately 85% of this “unclassified" business.
“The demise of the independent agency channel has been predicted by various sources for many years, but the Market Share Report affirms the reality that independent agents have and continue to place the majority of all p-c business," says Chris Boggs, Big “I" vice president of agent development, education and research. “In particular, independent agents continue to prove their dominance in commercial lines."
Within the top 10 lines written by independent agents, workers compensation was the only line that did not see at least some growth in the percentage written by the independent agency channel between 2017 and 2021. All other lines saw the percentage written by independent agents remain steady or grow.
The Market Share Report is free for Big “I" members and partners. To order or purchase a copy of the complete 2022 Market Share Report, visit the Big “I" Market Share Report webpage.
AnneMarie McPherson Spears is IA news editor.
