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Competing for Technology Talent

Technology talent continues to be in high demand as insurers work to enhance customer experience, increase operational efficiency, personalize their offerings and compete in a quickly evolving environment.

Read our blog post for ways to be strategic and intentional in overcoming this talent challenge and effectively appealing to candidates within the technology space.

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Compass 19.1: The Changing Face of Insurance Talent

This quarter’s Compass feature article covers ways to understand, support and develop the industry's next generation of leaders. The newsletter also includes an overview of the industry's current labor market and recent executive-level job changes.

Setting Meaningful Goals

The new year is in full swing, and many professionals are taking time to define their goals and development plans for the months ahead. In the past, annual goals have often followed a predictable, linear path tied to traditional career progression. However, ongoing technological transformation and shifting workplace expectations have made a more agile, future-focused approach essential. In a business environment that is constantly evolving, becoming comfortable with ambiguity – and open to ongoing learning – is key. As you set and refine your goals for this year, there are a few areas of focus that will help you prepare for whatever the future may bring. Be forward-thinking. How can you use this year to best set yourself up for a potentially unpredictable future? Focus on learning and skill development, rather than angling solely for an updated title. This may be the right time to seek out mentors or to step into a mentoring role yourself. These relationships support growth on both sides. Also consider how you can deepen relationships with colleagues across your company. Are there opportunities to contribute beyond your core role, such as participating in cross-functional initiatives or emerging committees? Revisit longer-term career goals and adjust them as needed to ensure they remain relevant. Look for areas where recent transformation has created new needs or possibilities. Embrace AI. Uncertainty around AI’s role in the workplace is understandable. However, embracing it as a tool to support your work, skill development and efficiency can help you get ahead. Experiment with where AI may help streamline tasks or surface information more quickly, while remaining mindful that it does not replace human judgement, experience or creativity. AI may provide immediate answers and data at your fingertips, yet effectively interpreting and applying this information is equally important. The ability to assess AI’s outputs critically, ask the right follow-up questions and determine appropriate next steps remains a differentiator. Professionals who can translate data into informed decisions and meaningful action will continue to stand out. Strengthen essential soft skills.  Adaptability and resiliency are increasingly important as roles and expectations continue to shift. Leaders may find themselves guiding teams through uncertainty and providing clarity when there is no clear roadmap. At the same time, those earlier in their careers may benefit from learning how to navigate change, influence outcomes and make an impact without formal authority. Across all career stages, skills like active listening, emotional intelligence and clear communication remain foundational. Seek feedback from trusted colleagues and mentors to identify opportunities for growth. Observe how effective communicators lead discussions, pose questions and manage complex situations. Partner with your manager and network to determine which skills will have the greatest impact today, along with which will support your next steps. Give yourself grace. The pace of change can be challenging. New technologies, evolving roles and ongoing pressure to stay current can create fatigue or self-doubt. If your professional progress doesn’t look the way you originally envisioned it, that’s okay. Focus on your ability to adapt, reassess your priorities and support those around you. Take advantage of new opportunities and reflect on the learnings and challenges you’ve faced. For many, it may be about redefining success and reinventing your professional identity within a shifting landscape. As you develop your goals, take time to consider the skills that will help you remain effective, resilient and engaged. Be open in conversations with your manager, ask thoughtful questions and approach goal setting as an ongoing process that can evolve alongside a changing workplace. This post was originally published in December 2020 and has been updated for relevance and accuracy.

100 Best Insurance Leaders in the USA | Hot 100

The Jacobson Group’s CEO, Corey Pinkham, is quoted in Insurance Business Magazine's list of the 100 best insurance leaders in the U.S. 

10 Skills to Future-Proof Your Insurance Career

Whether you’re navigating a promotion, considering a lateral move or setting professional development goals, there are a number of transferable skills that contribute to success in a variety of roles. Below are a few skills that have a large impact at all career stages and will continue to be essential as the industry evolves. While it’s likely some align with your innate strengths and others may require more intentionality and practice, all these skills will help you excel as future needs and priorities arise.     Active Listening Active listening goes beyond hearing words – it involves understanding tone, emotion, intent and delivery – skills that AI cannot replicate. Through active listening, you’re able to provide more thoughtful feedback and more efficiently resolve conflicts, helping create stronger connections and build trust.     Empathy Amid ongoing uncertainty, technological transformations, return to office mandates and more, professionals are dealing with a number of pressures. By being empathetic to what others may be going through, you’re able to build better connections and paths of communication, often contributing to increased collaboration and productivity.   Patience Insurance involves complex concepts and emotional situations, from working directly with policyholders to managing a team. Taking time to listen, learn and educate leads to less stress, better outcomes and fewer errors.     Problem-Solving Finding creative solutions – whether it’s improving an existing process or handling unexpected challenges – is essential for advancement and innovation. Strong problem-solvers are also able to streamline operations, make better decisions and work well under pressure.     Communication Effective communication – from translating technical concepts to managing change or delivering feedback – will remain irreplaceable in an AI-driven future. Those who can articulate ideas and provide clear information will drive and influence outcomes with customers, colleagues and other stakeholders.     Adaptability Ongoing change is inevitable. Leaning into innovation and the new roles, processes and environments that come with it help ensure you won’t be left behind. Leverage your current strengths and transferable skills, embracing the advantage they provide even in uncharted territory.   Optimism A positive outlook can lead to better outcomes and higher engagement. The ability stay positive through challenges creates a ripple effect that elevates team performance, motivates others and drives a positive workplace culture.     Accountability When you own both your successes and failures, it demonstrates a commitment to growth and self-reflection, helping build trust with your manager, peers and employees. Holding yourself responsible and working to make things right, while learning from mistakes, is key as you develop as a professional.   Self-Assurance Confident professionals trust their instincts and decisions. Often these individuals are natural leaders and provide a sense of stability to others.   Growth Mindset The insurance professionals who thrive tomorrow are those who welcome today’s challenges as learning opportunities. Continually adding to your toolkit will help you meet your full potential. The insurance industry offers countless paths for professional growth, with a number of transferable skills being essential for paving the way, regardless of the specific role or level. As the industry and overall business landscape continue to evolve, those who have taken the time to hone the above skills will be best prepared to embrace new opportunities and tackle unforeseen challenges.

Mentorship: A Strategic Imperative for Today’s Insurance Leaders

In our third article in partnership with the International Insurance Society, Jacobson's Jeff Blair shares ways leaders can champion mentorships in all forms while building and promoting these relationships within their teams.

January 2026: Labor Market PULSE

AT-A-GLANCE LABOR MARKET NUMBERS Unemployment for the insurance carriers and related activities sector increased to 3% in December. The insurance carriers and related activities sector lost 1,800 jobs in December. At more than 3 million jobs, industry employment decreased by approximately 16,600 jobs compared to December 2024. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.4% in December and the overall economy added 50,000 jobs. INSURANCE INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS On a year-to-year basis, November* insurance industry employment saw job increases in agents/brokers (up 1.5%), title (up 1.3%), property and casualty (up 0.8%) and TPAs (up 0.5%). Meanwhile, jobs decreased in claims (down 17.4%), reinsurance (down 4.5%) and life/health (down 2.4%).  On a year-to-year basis, November saw weekly earnings increases in all categories: agents/brokers (up 10.3%), title (up 7.3%), property and casualty (up 5.4%), claims (up 2.7%) and TPAs (up 1.7%). ** Within the larger finance and insurance sector, job openings increased to 245,000 for November. * Retirement levels remained stable while the level of voluntary quits increased for finance and insurance in November. The average rate of hires within finance and insurance is tracking ahead for 2025 (at 2.1%) compared to 2024 (1.9%) and 2023 (1.8%). Notes: The BLS continues to revise numbers to be most accurate, which may contribute to inconsistencies, depending on when reports were pulled.  *The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report and reports on wages and employment for the industry category are only available for two months prior. **The BLS has not reported on reinsurance and life/health insurance earnings since December 2024. The source for the data represented in PULSE is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Insurance data is derived from the insurance carriers and related activities sector.

7 Unwritten Rules for Running an Independent Insurance Agency

In this Independent Agent Magazine article, Jacobson's Brett Carter outlines why “failure is one of the greatest teachers we can have.”

Building Strong Interpersonal and Communication Skills

In partnership with the International Insurance Society, Jacobson's Jeff Black authored an article on building strong interpersonal and communication skills within your organization.

December 2025: Labor Market PULSE

U.S. Unemployment Hits a Four-Year High, Insurance Unemployment Sees Slight Increase AT-A-GLANCE NUMBERS Unemployment for the insurance carriers and related activities sector increased to 2.5% in November. The insurance carriers and related activities sector lost 9,200 jobs in November. At more than 3 million jobs, industry employment decreased by approximately 10,600 jobs compared to November 2024. The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.6% in November and the overall economy added 64,000 jobs. INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS On a year-to-year basis, October* insurance industry employment saw job increases in agents/brokers (up 2%), property and casualty (up 1.8%), title (up 1.3%) and TPAs (up 0.2%). Meanwhile, jobs decreased in claims (down 11.5%), reinsurance (down 3.5%) and life/health (down 2.2%).  On a year-to-year basis, October saw weekly earnings increases in all categories: agents/brokers (up 10.1%), property and casualty (up 6.8%),  title (up 3.5%), TPAs (up 3.1%) and claims (up 1.9%). ** Within the larger finance and insurance sector, job openings decreased to 224,000 for October*. Retirement levels remained stable while the level of voluntary quits decreased for finance and insurance in October. The average rate of hires within finance and insurance is tracking ahead for 2025 (at 2.2%) compared to 2024 (2%) and 2023 (1.9%). Notes: The BLS continues to revise numbers to be most accurate, which may contribute to inconsistencies, depending on when reports were pulled.  *The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report and reports on wages and employment for the industry category are only available for two months prior. **The BLS has not reported on reinsurance and life/health insurance earnings since December 2024. The BLS did not publish an October 2025 Employment Situation news release. The source for the data represented in PULSE is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Insurance data is derived from the insurance carriers and related activities sector.

2026 Insurance Talent Trends

As 2025 comes to a close, insurers are sharpening their focus on the talent dynamics that will shape 2026 and beyond. From building more adaptable teams to navigating AI-driven change and evolving expectations of where and how work gets done, the need for thoughtful talent planning has never been greater.

Fueling Innovation with Data-Driven Decisions

In partnership with the International Insurance Society, Jacobson's Corey Pinkham authored an article discussing how to build a culture that supports the technology shifts happening industrywide and prepares teams to remain competitive in the dynamic landscape. 

Taking Stock of Your Career Harvest

As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s natural to reflect on what we're grateful for in all areas of our lives – including our careers. Below, our colleagues from across The Jacobson Group share their personal perspectives on cultivating gratitude, nurturing their professional networks, and recognizing the moments and people that have enriched their careers. We hope their insights inspire you to reflect on your own career harvest and the abundance that comes from expressing appreciation in your professional life. What does “harvesting your career” mean to you right now? 'Harvesting my career' means hitting a peak state of efficiency and knowledge, allowing me to evolve and pivot into more advanced capabilities. I’m continuously using every interaction to learn and refine my output, planting the seeds for my next chapters while actively giving back high-value in my current one.  – Tyler Thompson, Executive Recruiter For me, this means finding fulfillment and leveraging my accumulated skills and network in a thoughtful way. I try to take time to appreciate the impact of the work I’ve done, the lessons learned (especially from failures) and the strong professional relationships I’ve cultivated. Additionally, I try to focus on mentoring others and sharing the knowledge I’ve collected over time. Helping the next generation grow and develop is very rewarding for me.  – Catherine Prete, Senior Vice President What are you most grateful for in this season of your professional life? I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to truly develop my own strategies and team. While I have relied on input from other leaders and team members, the flexibility and autonomy Jacobson allows me is truly inspiring. In the past I have been part of organizations where there is a lot of bureaucracy which limits or crushes the ability to make incremental changes. With little barriers, it allows decisions to go quickly from ideas to implementation with the understanding it might fail but at least it is tested in the field. Failing quickly and pivoting is essential in making changes from the "norm" to find new ways to achieve goals.  – Jeff Black, Senior Vice President Relationships. I’m grateful for the people I can bounce ideas off of, ask for help from, share a laugh with during stressful moments and count on when it matters most. Having those genuine connections makes all the difference.  – Nikki St.Martin, Vice President In this season specifically, a company that supports a work/life balance and flexibility. With small children, finding a company that understands, values and appreciates that you are a busy mom outside of work is so important. I know when I look back and my kids are grown, I won’t regret the sacrifices I made in my professional life to be present in theirs.  – Shelby Punke, Recruiter Having a robust and diverse network of insurance professionals, having leadership support and being able to mentor younger professionals starting in their career is something I’m grateful for in this season.  – Karen Lopez, Assistant Vice President In this season of my professional life, I'm most grateful for a super supportive team. On our Executive Search team, we always like to say that “teamwork makes the dream work,” and we really live that daily. My work is better because of the support of everyone on our team.  – Gillian Gryz, Researcher In this season of my career, I’m grateful to be in a role where my work truly matches my purpose. Being at Jacobson feels like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be—connecting great leaders with great organizations and helping shape the future of the insurance industry in a meaningful and inclusive way. I’m also grateful for all the opportunities the insurance industry has afforded me. Although I’ve made several pivots throughout my career, I’m proud to be in a place where I can continue to grow and evolve professionally, while still being present for my family.  – Brett Carter, Vice President and Managing Director In what ways do you think expressing gratitude contributes to effective leadership? Everyone wants to feel appreciated and know that their contributions matter—regardless of whether it’s part of their job or not. Taking the time to thank someone directly, recognize them in a team meeting or highlight their efforts through a company awards program goes a long way. People are more engaged and motivated when they feel valued, and they’ll go the extra mile for a leader who genuinely appreciates them. – Nikki St.Martin, Vice President Far too many leaders adhere to the Don Draper quote from Mad Men, 'that’s what the money is for.' I feel it is a requirement for a leader to catch people doing the right thing, let them know you appreciate what they are doing, and share the positive impact it has on others. Among the many hats a leader needs to wear, that of a cheerleader is crucial to success.  – Jeff Blair, Senior Vice President Expressing gratitude keeps me grounded and connected. It reminds me to see people clearly, acknowledge their contributions and lead with humility instead of ego. When I show genuine appreciation, it builds trust, strengthens relationships and creates space for others to do their best work. Gratitude centers me, sharpens my presence, and makes my influence less about authority and more about creating wins for everyone.  – Brett Carter, Vice President and Managing Director How have you grown through mentorship - either as a mentor or mentee? As a mentor/supporter, I’ve learned to ask more questions. Not only can I learn more, but it forces me to be a better listener. Additionally, I run into many situations I’ve not previously encountered, allowing me to problem solve alongside my mentee – we are learning together. – Karen Lopez, Assistant Vice President Teaching and mentoring have become the most powerful tools for my own growth. To teach others is to teach thyself.  – Cody Fincher, Client Advisor Mentorship has taught me that it’s less about having the answers and more about creating space for others to find their own. Every conversation reminds me how much we learn by supporting others.  – Michelle Velto, Assistant Vice President Who is at your career table? My career table has grown to encompass more technology innovation, project management, and process documentation. Knowing my interests were developing this way, my manager encouraged me to work across departments to find opportunities to do the things I was interested in. As a result, I’ve cultivated relationships with other members of the organization who can benefit from my expertise, as well as help me grow into new areas. I’ve been really fortunate to get to experiment a lot, while learning a lot of new things, and this supports my next chapter in operations.  – Ann-Marie McManaman, Enterprise Reporting and Administration Leader While your career harvest is unique to you, it’s shaped by the mentors you've encountered, the risks you've taken, and the relationships you've intentionally cultivated along the way. This giving season, we encourage you to not only take stock of what you've achieved, but also to express gratitude to those who've had a seat at your career table. Sometimes the simplest gesture of appreciation can plant seeds for future growth, strengthen vital connections and remind us that success is rarely a solo endeavor. Here’s to a bountiful harvest - today and in every season of your career!