The Broker Investment Group’s (TBIG) business development director, Chris Clacy, argues that stepping away from daily operations—even for a single day—can yield professional relationships and opportunities that last for years. His advice centers on Broker Expo 2026, an annual industry event where brokers, underwriters, and specialists gather to discuss trends, challenges, and collaborations.
Why a single day out of the office can reshape business
For TBIG, the event is a chance to highlight its A-rated capacity across property, complex liability, professional indemnity, and financial lines, including D&O, cyber, and medical malpractice. The company positions itself not just as another market for difficult risks, but as a strategic partner for independent brokers handling a shifting industry.
Clacy emphasizes that the most valuable outcomes often come from unplanned conversations. A five-minute chat with an underwriter, a specialist, or a broker outside one’s usual network can lead to long-term partnerships, something that can’t be replicated by digital interactions alone. His warning? Don’t attend just to collect free pens. Come prepared, but stay open to serendipity.
While Broker Expo 2026 will likely feature discussions on AI, market consolidation, and capacity constraints, Clacy hopes the dominant theme will be simpler: how can we work together? Strong partnerships, he notes, are the bedrock of resilience in an industry where rates, competition, and client needs are constantly evolving.
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A technology shift that frees brokers to focus on relationships
Technology, particularly AI, is reshaping underwriting and claims, but its most useful application, according to Clacy, is automating administrative tasks. The goal should be to reduce friction so brokers can spend more time on what matters: understanding clients, building trust, and securing business. Insurance remains a relationship-driven industry, and tools that streamline paperwork or data entry should enhance, not replace, human connections.
This principle extends to the next generation of brokers. Through The Insurance Academy, Clacy advises young professionals to prioritize relationship-building over technical mastery alone. While knowledge of policies and markets is essential, curiosity about client motivations, broker objectives, and underwriter decision-making is what creates lasting value. “Markets and products change but those relationships endure,” he says.
Brokers as the backbone of resilience
Clacy singles out the independent broker community as the unsung heroes of the past year. Despite rising rates, capacity shortages, and consolidation pressures, they’ve continued delivering for clients. The brokers who thrive, he observes, are those who leverage relationships and seek out niche solutions, exactly the approach TBIG aims to support.
Looking ahead to 2027, the industry’s growing complexity is both a challenge and an opportunity. Businesses face more varied and sophisticated risks, creating demand for specialized advice. For TBIG, this means doubling down on its multi-specialist model, offering A-rated capacity and a collaborative approach to brokers who need flexible, tailored options. The message is clear: When a broker encounters a difficult risk or a new client need, TBIG wants to be the first market they consider.