18 May 2026

SME buying behaviour is shifting Three trends are reshaping how Australian SMEs approach insurance in 2026, each with direct implications for how brokers structure their service. The signals are visible across the industry, including in commentary from rural and contractor markets. Trend 1: Bundled policies and their limits More SMEs are gravitating toward bundled business […]

ASIC flags AI as a dual-edged risk ASIC’s 2026 Key Issues Outlook puts artificial intelligence and cyber-enabled scams directly on the agenda for Australian financial services – and general insurance brokers are squarely in scope. The regulator acknowledges AI’s potential to improve efficiency and personalisation across product design, pricing, marketing and claims decision-making, but its

For most small broker and AR businesses, the first non-broker hire is the most significant structural decision they’ll make after going out on their own. It changes the fixed cost base, the risk profile, and – if done well – how the principal spends their time from that point forward. Most brokers get to this

Compliance gets a bad reputation in broking circles. Ask most small broker principals what their biggest operational headaches are and compliance will sit near the top of the list – time-consuming, documentation-heavy, and stubbornly disconnected from anything that feels like revenue. An Insurance News survey of Australian brokers found a significant portion admitting they’d deliberately

At some point, most capable employed brokers ask the same question: would I be better off running my own book? It’s a reasonable question. The AR model gives you more control over your brand, your clients, and how you build your business. It creates an asset, not just a salary. And the broader market is