About 50 people filed into the Gold Ballroom in the Mountainlair Monday night for the final Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board public meeting on proposed health insurance plan changes.
The group provided the board information on what they would face due to the proposed three percent premium increase and the addition of a $200 spousal surcharge.
John Taylor, president of the Taylor County Association of Retired School Employees, said the increases cut directly into the income of his members. One of his members has been retired for 40 years and recently turned 100 years old, and the effects on her standard of living have been brutal.
State Treasurer Larry Pack has laid out his priorities for upcoming legislative session, and the top two focuses are related to education.
Pack held a press conference Monday morning where he addressed media members.
He says his first priority ‘without a doubt’ is defending the Hope Scholarship program. Up until now, the Hope Scholarship applied only to children leaving the public school system. At the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, any non-public school student will be eligible can apply for the funds.
Revenues are up for the West Virginia Lottery compared to last year, with officials crediting draw-based games, particularly high jackpots in both Powerball and Mega Millions.
For the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2025, more than $445 million in sales have been made, and David Bradley, the acting director of the WV Lottery, said things look promising.
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EPA puts modified WOTUS out for public comment
The federal EPA is proposing a new rule to redefine “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to comply with the 2023 Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision and to cut government bureaucracy.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the proposal keys in on federal jurisdiction over relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water, including adjacent wetlands connected by a continuous surface connection.
Government Shutdown Ends as NFIP Retroactively Reauthorized
The longest federal government shutdown in history is finally over. After 43 days, Congress passed a funding package through a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the federal government through Jan. 30, 2026.
Earlier this week, eight Democrats joined with 52 Republicans to approve the package in the U.S. Senate. Their support came with a guarantee from Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) that the Senate would hold a separate vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of December.
InsurPac Hits $1 Million and Has Sights Set on a Record Year
Every day, independent agents and brokers advocate for their clients—helping families, businesses, and communities protect their property and livelihoods. But who is protecting agents and brokers?
That’s where InsurPac, the Big “I” federal political action committee, comes into play. InsurPac is the insurance policy for independent agents and brokers. It provides the resources that allow the Big “I” government affairs team to represent the independent agency perspective in Washington, D.C., ensuring lawmakers understand how decisions made on Capitol Hill impact Main Street businesses across the country.
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Legal system abuse is costing American families over $5,000 per year — and most consumers don’t even realize it. This toolkit equips independent agents with the resources they need to explain the issue, build trust with clients, and advocate for legal reform.
What’s Inside:
- The Costs of Legal System Abuse
- How the Plaintiff Side Operates
- Combatting Legal System Abuse
- Social media posts you can share with clients to raise awareness
Download the Big "I" Legal System Abuse Toolkit here
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3 Questions to Confirm Who Owns Your Agency’s Data
In today’s insurance landscape, agencies rely on technology for nearly every part of their business: client communication, policy management, quoting, claims and marketing. The lifeblood of an agency is its data, which flows through multiple vendor systems every day. But as more technology enters the picture, so do new risks.
For example, who really owns that data once it’s stored in a vendor’s system? What happens if an agency decides to switch platforms? And can agents freely connect their data across tools to build the client experience they want, or are they locked into whatever their vendor dictates?
Stress Fracture: Identifying and Preventing Burnout at Independent Agencies
In response to the hard market, the vast majority of agency frontline staff—87%—say their workload has increased in the last year, according to the “2025 Independent Agents at Work Study” from Agent for the Future by Liberty Mutual and Safeco.
Meanwhile, half say they feel overwhelmed by their current workload. Further, 65% of staff say they often feel stressed at work and 57% say they feel mentally and physically exhausted.
The result? As many as 51% go so far as to say they feel burned out.
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5 Tips for Working with an Underwriter to Build a Successful Niche Practice
In today’s competitive insurance landscape, being a generalist isn’t always a viable long-term strategy for success. Clients increasingly demand specialized expertise and tailored coverage, expecting their advisors to have a deep understanding of their industry’s specific risks. For agents, this shift presents an opportunity to build a unique book of business in a niche market, especially if they can align with underwriters in a collaborative, strategic way.
Personal Lines Telematics Moves
Beyond Auto Into Homeowners
Telematics and usage-based insurance are common offerings for personal auto insurance customers. However, insurers are now beginning to expand the use of auto telematics data to inform risk assessment and pricing in other personal lines.
Nationwide recently launched its Telematics Property Discount, which connects driving behavior to homeowners policy discounts.
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On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Dallas Ross, agent at Timmco Insurance.
Like many others, Ross was born into the insurance industry and always knew the industry was where she belonged. Right out of college, she landed a job in insurance sales, but after two years, she discovered her true passion wasn’t selling—it was serving clients, supporting them, and fostering long-term relationships.
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Lorraine Jeckells is co-founder and CEO of Free Brands (FREE), a global marketing agency specializing in the insurance sector. Since 2012, she has led the agency’s growth from a small London studio to an internationally recognized firm serving clients across the U.K., U.S. and Bermuda. With a background in HR and a people-first approach, Lorraine has built a culture of trust, creativity and long-term client partnerships.
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Trey Griffy
Account Executive
Nesbit Insurance Agencies
Minnetonka, Minnesota
How did you get started at your agency?
When I graduated from Georgia College in 2011 with a degree in marketing, I didn’t expect to end up in insurance, much less homeowners association (HOA) insurance. A simple conversation with an insurance agent launched my career and shaped the niche I still work in today.
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Legal System Abuse: Rising Costs for Insurance
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, host Nathan Riedel, Big “I” senior vice president of federal government affairs, is joined by Jeff Beck, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs at Selective Insurance, and John Barbour, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia.
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BIG I WV LEADERSHIP
Suzette Raines Ashley, President
Ashley Insurance Agency, LLC
Chris Parker, Vice President
Ferrell & Hill Insurance Agency
Anthony Deal, Treasurer
Insurance Centers
Chad Nuzum, Immediate Past President
Hood Insurance Group, LLC
Terri Dodrill, State National Director
McGriff Insurance Services
Brady Campbell, Young Agents Chair
Mountain State Insurance Agency
Traci Nelson, Chief Executive Officer
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DIRECTORS
Michael Winter
Bray & Oakley Insurance Agency
Beth Bailey
Bill Bailey Insurance Agency
Mike Cvechko
Cvechko Insurance Services
Charlie Robinson
Assured Partners dba Insurance Systems
Nick Dyer
Blueridge Risk Partners
| | A Letter From Our President | | | |
Dear Members,
I hope this message finds you well as we settle into the final months of the year. I also hope each of you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family, friends, and gratitude. This season offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and appreciate the relationships that support both our personal lives and our professional community.
As we move forward, I want to remind you of an important upcoming event for our association—Big “I” WV Insurance Day at the Capitol, scheduled for January 20–21, 2026, in Charleston. This annual event is one of the most impactful ways our association advocates on behalf of independent insurance agents. It provides a critical opportunity for agents to meet directly with legislators, discuss the issues affecting our industry, and ensure that the independent agent’s voice is heard where decisions are made.
Your participation truly makes a difference, and I strongly encourage you to attend if you are able. Registration is now open and can be completed at the following link:
Register for Big "I" WV Insurance Day here.
As the year draws to a close, many of us are reviewing challenges faced, successes achieved, and goals for the year ahead. Independent agents continue to play a vital role in our communities—serving as trusted advisors and advocates for clients navigating an increasingly complex insurance landscape. Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to service do not go unnoticed.
Thank you for your continued support of Big “I” WV and for all that you do on behalf of our industry. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Capitol in January and working together to ensure a strong future for independent agents across West Virginia.
Warm regards,
Suzette Raines Ashley
President, Big “I” WV
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