-

AM Best Associate Director Joins Vertafore Insurance Podcast to Discuss Leading Trends in Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprise Market

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best’s Dawn Walker appears as a guest in an episode of the Vertafore® Insurance Podcast, which highlights leading trends in the insurance industry, to discuss growth in the delegated underwriting authority enterprise (DUAE) segment.

During the episode, Walker, associate director, Industry Relations – DUAE, talks about the leading trends shaping the DUAE market, as well as why carriers are leaning into MGAs for diversification and AM Best’s role in assessing DUAEs through its Best’s Performance Assessments. She also discusses AM Best’s recent survey of rated carriers on the DUAE segment’s growth potential. Walker joined AM Best in 2022 with an extensive background in risk management.

Each week, the Vertafore Insurance Podcast covers the latest conversations, trends and technologies that matter to independent agencies, MGAs and carriers. To listen, please go to Vertafore Insurance Podcast episode or the company’s YouTube page. For all episodes, please visit the Vertafore Insurance Podcast home page. Vertafore is a leading InsurTech company operating in the United States and Canada.

To access AM Best’s survey report on the DUAE segment, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=350962.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

AM Best


Release Versions
Hashtags

Contacts

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Social Media Profiles
More News From AM Best

AM Best’s Market Briefing in Milan to Present on Analysis of Insurance and Reinsurance Markets and Current Industry Issues; Guy Carpenter’s Italy CEO to Present

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best will deliver its latest perspectives, examining trends in the global (re)insurance industry, together with an outline of Italy’s insurance market segment outlooks, in a market briefing scheduled for 17 June 2026, in Milan, Italy. Vincenzo Cacìa, CEO, Guy Carpenter Italy, will deliver a guest presentation on Italy’s reinsurance market. The market briefing this year is scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CEST) at The Westin Palace Milan, and will...

Best’s Special Report: Personal Auto and Homeowners Markets’ Stabilization Evident Despite a Decline in Approved Rate Changes

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Average annual rate increases for U.S. private passenger auto and homeowners’ policies shifted back to pre-pandemic levels in 2025, following years of large increases amid elevated losses in each line of business, according to a new AM Best report. The average approved rate increase for homeowners’ policies dropped off 5.2 percentage points to 8.3% in 2025, compared with a year earlier. For private passenger auto (PPA), the average approved rate increase was 3.7%...

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska and First Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” (Superior) of Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska (BHLN) (Omaha, NE). In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICR of “aa-” (Superior) of First Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company (First Berkshire Hathaway Life) (New York, NY). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (rat...
Back to Newsroom