Which coverages and insurer services top broker wish-lists?

Insurance products mitigating climate risks, including flood and wildfire coverages, are what brokers want most from carriers.

When presented with a wish list of product offerings that could help meet clients’ evolving needs, 70% of brokers responding to Canadian Underwriter’s 2026 National Broker Survey chose ‘climate-related products.’

Also high on the list were cyber insurance (67%) and specialized coverages for emerging industries (65%), such as renewable energy and high-tech companies. Another 65% point to a need for more choice in environmental liability coverages.

Brokers’ survey responses stress these products don’t simply need to be available for purchase. They also have to address client needs directly and be practical for brokers to place.

“Carriers should focus on flexible, industry tailored products supported by quick quoting tools and clear underwriting guidelines,” says a woman broker who’s newer to the P&C business and works at a smaller firm. “Products that adapt to real client situations, rather than forcing clients into rigid categories, are the ones that help brokers serve clients best and grow business.”

Other verbatim responses point to a need for “contingent loss-type products,” including parametric products, as well as coverages that provide better international trade protections as Canada works to diversify its import-export base away from the U.S.

One commenter points out an old-economy need insurers aren’t properly addressing. “[We need] flexibility within the standard market for drivers of heavy [truck] units with less than three years’ experience,” says a mid-career broker at a smaller firm. In its recent annual report, residual market Facility Association noted it has faced challenges as certain categories of trucker turn to them as the affordable insurer of choice.

Tech requests

In terms of other carrier offerings, 66% of brokers say online claims tracking is the top technology they need from carriers to support business objectives. That’s five percentage points above 61% saying the same thing last year. Women brokers n 2026 favour the tool more strongly (70%) than do men (58%). It’s also popular with those at large firms with more than 100 employees (69%) and with those newer to the business (68%).

Rounding out the Top 5, 64% of respondents say insurers help their businesses by providing broker portal options that include access to wordings and client policies – with a sharp favourability split between women (83%) and men (52%).

“Carriers should provide broker-ready toolkits organized by industry with downloadable client handouts, loss prevention checklists, and quick talking points,” says a women who’s newer to the business and works at a smaller firm. “That format is the most useful because it saves time and can be used immediately in client conversations.”

Fifty eight percent overall say the same about quoting tools, while 48% favour online claims submissions and 38% say remote risk inspection services support their business growth.

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Brokers need to specialize. But where should they focus?

Specialization is becoming table stakes, but there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, advises specialized commercial insurer Sovereign Insurance.

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Other wish-list items brokers suggest include creation of generic commercial/agricultural cost evaluators, plus more help with building valuation – including case studies and ‘lessons learned,’ replacement-cost calculators, and assessments on life expectancy for a building’s mechanical, electrical, and structural systems.   

Overall, 51% of brokers surveyed say they find access to risk engineering content, including guides, insights or tools, to be either ‘valuable’ or ‘extremely valuable.’ Forty percent were neutral on those offerings, while 6% say they they’re of ‘little value,’ and 3% say they’re ‘not at all valuable.’

Phil Porado

Phil, an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience in financial topics, has been managing editor of Canadian Underwriter for more than three years.