Insurance Business America has unveiled its 2026 Rising Stars, recognizing 96 high-performing professionals who are helping shape the future of the US insurance industry.
Now in its 12th year, the annual report celebrates insurance professionals aged 40 and under who have demonstrated industry expertise, career achievement, leadership and a clear commitment to building a long-term career in insurance.
The 2026 class has an average age of 33.6 and includes winners from 22 states. California leads the geographic breakdown with 15 honorees, followed by New York with 14, Florida with nine and Texas with eight.
The age profile spans professionals from 23 to 40, while most winners have between six and 15 years of insurance experience. The group includes 42 women and 54 men, reflecting talent from brokerage, underwriting, employee benefits, claims, insurtech, reinsurance, marketing and other specialist areas.
IBA opened nominations in January, seeking young professionals who could demonstrate a passion for insurance and a record of meaningful contribution. The final list, supported by the Association of Professional Insurance Women, captures a generation taking on greater responsibility amid a major transition in the industry’s workforce.
Experienced professionals are retiring as artificial intelligence, data and evolving customer expectations reshape underwriting, claims, distribution and service. The report finds that technical knowledge remains essential, but the professionals advancing fastest are also distinguished by empathy, commercial awareness, initiative and an ability to develop others.
“Technical competence is table stakes. What differentiates future leaders is initiative, learning agility, and the ability to influence others,” said Brett Carter, vice president and managing director at The Jacobson Group.
This year’s highlighted honorees include:
The complete Insurance Business America Rising Stars 2026 report is available online now.
