Zywave's 2025 Employer Survey Unveils Key Insights on Risk Management
Brokers play a crucial role in guiding employers through various challenges.
In a dynamic landscape with increasing complexity, Zywave's latest survey delivers a significant insight from employers: the future relies heavily on more than just quoting policies—it demands a solid commitment to engagement, understanding, and leadership. Insurers are increasingly seeking strategic risk partnerships, advanced expertise, and proactive communication from their brokers.
This annual survey encompassed feedback from nearly 900 employers nationwide, underscoring a rising concern about escalating risks. From looming compliance challenges to shrinking budgets and tight deadlines, it’s evident that brokers must transition from merely transactional service providers to trusted advisors.
Patrick Noonan, vice president of content development for Zywave, emphasized, "Today's consumers anticipate swift and effective service, and insurance buyers are no exception. Brokers must remain attuned to their clients' challenges and proactively seek opportunities to offer guidance, thereby fostering strong relationships and retention. It’s encouraging that most survey respondents reported satisfaction with their broker's services, indicating that many brokers are indeed meeting these expectations."
Key Findings: What Employers Expect from Their Brokers
As the survey reveals, there are essential takeaways regarding what employers expect from their brokers:
High Satisfaction Level
- An impressive 87% of employers noted they are satisfied or very satisfied with the services provided by their brokers.
- 84% desire regular updates—either monthly or weekly—from their brokers.
- 74% prioritize timely and effective service responses, a notable increase from 57% in the previous year.
- 69% expect brokers to act as strategic advisors rather than just salespeople, which is an increase from 53% in the last survey.
Despite these generally high satisfaction rates, critical gaps in service have been identified:
Service Gaps That Need Addressing
- While 94% expect quality risk management services, only 50% feel these expectations are met.
- A significant 98% anticipate guidance regarding market conditions; however, merely 64% believe their brokers fulfill this need.
What Are Clients' Major Business Challenges?
The survey aims to identify the most pressing business challenges related to insurance as perceived by employers. Notably, challenges surrounding affordability, policy coverage, and packages dominate concerns from both employee benefits and commercial insurance standpoints.
Top Employee Benefits Challenges
When asked to highlight their top challenges regarding employee benefits, participants identified:
- Offering competitive benefits while managing increasing healthcare costs.
- Assisting employees in understanding and utilizing their benefits effectively.
- Maintaining compliance with constantly evolving federal and state regulations.
Top Commercial Challenges
When inquiring about commercial challenges, employers pointed out:
- Affording adequate insurance coverage remains a top concern.
- Many struggle to understand the level of coverage their organizations truly need.
- Determining what is included and excluded by current policies is a significant challenge.
Noonan noted that the survey responses reveal an escalating anxiety about affordability among employers. He stressed that brokers must enhance their industry knowledge and expertise to effectively support clients in navigating the ever-increasing costs and policy changes.
Investing in Client Relationships and Insights
Zywave has been conducting its Broker Services Survey for over a decade to provide brokers with insights that highlight what matters most to their clients. This ongoing effort enables brokers to refine their focus, optimize their offerings, and tackle the most urgent business challenges faced by employers today.
To dive deeper into the findings, the full survey results are available for those interested in gaining further insights.
About Zywave
Zywave is dedicated to empowering insurers and brokers to foster profitable growth and thrive in an increasingly complex risk landscape. The company’s innovative Performance Multiplier combines transformative capabilities across data, processes, and customer experiences, amplifying overall effectiveness. With over 15,000 insurers, Managing General Agents (MGAs), agencies, and brokerages relying on Zywave, organizations trust their resources to enhance risk assessments, strengthen client relationships, and streamline operations. For more information about Zywave, visit the official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main findings from Zywave's survey?
The survey indicates a strong desire among employers for deeper engagement and expertise from brokers, highlighting key expectations like timely communication and strategic advisory roles.
2. What challenges do employers face regarding insurance?
Employers are primarily concerned about affordability, compliance with evolving laws, and ensuring their employees understand their benefits.
3. How has broker satisfaction changed according to the survey?
Broker satisfaction remains high, with around 87% of employers expressing either satisfaction or a high level of satisfaction with their brokers' services this year.
4. What should brokers focus on based on the survey results?
Brokers should enhance their market knowledge and focus on providing comprehensive risk management services to meet client expectations.
5. How long has Zywave conducted this survey?
Zywave has been conducting the Broker Services Survey for over ten years, gathering valuable insights that help brokers address their clients' pressing challenges.
