Uncategorized

Agencies with Business Entity License Must Complete Annual Cybersecurity Certification Form Beginning in 2023, agencies licensed by OCI and domiciled in Wisconsin must annually certify by March 1st that they are following the information security program requirements of Wisconsin Act 73. Does My Agency Need to Complete the Certification? Most PIA Member agencies are exempt from…

Urge Governor Evers to Sign AB 225 – Support Venue Fairness! The law in Wisconsin was designed to ensure that lawsuits are heard in a fair and convenient location, typically the county where the incident at hand occurred. Unfortunately, a growing practice coined “forum shopping” undermines this and has led to court cases in Wisconsin being…

Start Fresh: Your 2026 Clean Slate Brought to you by: We’ve turned the page to 2026—a brand-new year and a chance to start fresh. The calendar gives us a symbolic reset, but what will you do with yours? Research shows that nearly half of Americans set New Year’s resolutions, yet most don’t stick. Why? Because…

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…