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When Someone from the Cable Company Stops By, Do You Let Them In? Cyber Security Tip: This can happen at work or at your home By Gabriel Ness, Vieth Consulting A secretary unknowingly gave a con artist access to her law firm’s server room when a total stranger showed up in a Comcast Cable shirt…

Dear Consumer: Before you buy insurance online, read this… DEAR CONSUMER: BEFORE YOU BUY INSURANCE ONLINE, READ THIS…  By April Tarras In today’s digital age, almost everything can be purchased online—from groceries to vacation packages. Insurance providers have also made it possible for consumers to buy policies with just a few clicks. While the convenience is undeniable, there are…

Demotech: Systemic tech-driven lawsuit practices destabilize U.S. insurance markets A new and rapidly expanding threat is undermining the stability of U.S. insurance markets: tech-enabled litigation instigation. Since about 2017, AI-driven search manipulation, phishing emails, data scraping, and automated outreach have redirected storm-affected property owners into litigation pathways—often without any awareness that they bypassed their insurer’s…

2025 Company Representative of the Year: Mike Tietz Company Representative of the Year, awarded by the PIA of Wisconsin Board of Directors, recognizes a company representative who goes above and beyond to support independent agents and exemplifies outstanding service and dedication to the insurance community. Mike Tietz of IMT Insurance Company was awarded this honor…

Jon Strom Named Stony Steinbach Award Winner for 2025 The Stony Steinbach Achievement Award is presented each year to a PIA of Wisconsin member who embodies the same energy, efficiency, and enthusiasm that its first leader brought to the organization for more than forty years. It’s one of our most meaningful honors — not just…

Brenda Steinbach’s Legacy Brenda Steinbach Presented with First-Ever Lifetime Achievement Award Last week, the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (PIAW) Board of Directors awarded Brenda Steinbach the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual ENGAGE Convention in the Wisconsin Dells. A Career Rooted in Commitment Brenda’s journey with PIAW began in March 1984. Over the…

2025 Ron Von Haden Agent of the Year: Steve Albinger The Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (PIAW) is proud to announce Steve Albinger of Couri Insurance Associates in Waukesha as the 2025 recipient of the Ron Von Haden Agent of the Year Award! This prestigious award, named after the late Ron Von Haden, a long-time…

Tech, Transparency, and Teamwork: Keys to Agency Growth in 2026 Deloitte’s 2026 Insurance Outlook points to a shifting environment where property/casualty carriers are balancing margin pressure, technological transformation, and distribution realignment. For independent agents, the message is clear: adaptation and partnership will define success. The report notes that rising claims costs and moderating premium growth…

Annual Meeting Notice and Nominations Committee Report The Annual Meeting of the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin, Inc. will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. At that meeting, the Nominations Committee will place the following names in nomination for election to the Board of…

Member Alert: Support Assignment of Benefits Reform! Assignment of Benefits (AOB) contracts allow policyholders to assign their rights under an insurance contract to a third party, such as a contractor. Unfortunately, this creates opportunities for abuse, inflated claims, and can disrupt the ability for an insurer to work with their insured directly. The negative effects…