TheBindBrief
The brief on the business of insurance.
Independent insurance publication

The brief on the business of insurance.

Independent analysis for principals of independent P&C agencies: the M&A wave, agency valuation, carrier dynamics, and the operational decisions that determine what an agency is worth in five years. Sourced from public filings and named industry data, in the operator's own vocabulary.

Cornerstone guides & analysis

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Analysis

Why Agency Multiples Held While Deal Volume Fell: The 2026 M&A Picture in Four Datasets

Three years of declining deal counts barely moved the price of an agency. The borrowing-spread math the advisors publish explains both, and they expect it to turn.

By Mario Bailey · Jun 11, 2026 · 9-min

Cornerstone Guide

E&O Insurance for Independent Insurance Agencies

What drives agency E&O pricing, the coverage-form questions that decide claims, and the renewal discipline that keeps both premium and gaps down.

By Mario Bailey · Jun 10, 2026 · 6-min

Cornerstone Guide

Premium Financing for Insurance Agencies: How It Works and How to Choose a Partner

How premium finance companies earn, how agencies earn on the volume they originate, where the E&O exposure hides, and the framework for choosing a partner.

By Mario Bailey · Jun 10, 2026 · 5-min

Cornerstone Guide

Comparing the Top Agency M&A Advisors: MarshBerry, Sica Fletcher, Reagan Consulting, OPTIS Partners

An operator-perspective overview of the four major firms and a six-step selection framework.

By Mario Bailey · Apr 14, 2026 · 8-min

Cornerstone Guide

How to Value an Insurance Agency in 2026

The framework serious M&A advisors use, anchored on the 2025 publicly reported multiple data.

By Mario Bailey · Mar 31, 2026 · 11-min

Cornerstone Guide

The Complete Guide to Agency Management Systems for Independent P&C Agencies

The seven decisions that actually matter when choosing an agency management system, the six-step selection framework, and why platform-fit beats platform-quality every time.

By Mario Bailey · Mar 17, 2026 · 9-min

The brief on the business of insurance.

Tuesdays. 4-minute read. Operator-level intelligence. No carrier funding, no consultant vocabulary, no spam.