Dakotah Rice is stepping back into the founder’s seat. On Wednesday, he announced that his new company, the AI-native insurance brokerage Harper, has raised $46.8 million in a combined Series A and seed round. Previously, he founded the investment company Poolit, which closed in 2023. He spoke openly to TechCrunch about the collapse of that company, saying he never figured out how to make it profitable. “My ego made it hard to accept the failure,” he told TechCrunch. “In hindsight, I should have shut ...

The 33-year-old founder of By Monday morning, the over 7,000-word post was the talk of the market. And when trading opened, the selling started. The S&P 500 Index quickly went from green to red and ended down more than 1% on the day. A gauge of financial shares had its worst session since April. A major software exchange-traded fund tumbled more than 4%. The report also named a number of specific companies, including ServiceNow Inc., DoorDash Inc. and American Express Co., and those shares sank. By the end ...

FirstService Residential launches new resident insurance solution in partnership with VIU by HUB [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationDANIA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstService Residential, North America's leading property management company, is proud to announce the launch of a new resident insurance solution designed to close the insurance coverage gap, offer more choice, and simplify life for residents and boards at the communities it manages. This new program is delivered through ...

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Washington, Pennsylvania-based B&W Insurance Agency, Inc.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. B&W Insurance Agency offers personal lines and commercial brokerage services to clients in southwest Pennsylvania.Paul Barzd III, Jim Cote and their team will remain in their current location under the direction of Jen Tadin, head of Gallagher Select, its U.S. property/casualty operations for small businesses and personal insurance.“B&W Insurance Agency ...

Core Insights - Brown & Brown, Inc. has acquired the assets of American Adventure Insurance, enhancing its Dealer Services division [1][2] Company Overview - Brown & Brown, Inc. is a leading insurance brokerage firm established in 1939, with over 700 locations and a workforce of more than 23,000 professionals [3] - American Adventure specializes in dealership insurance solutions for various vehicles, including motor homes, boats, and motorcycles, and offers F&I products to automotive dealers [2] Leadership and Integration - Paul Bender, owner of American Adventure, will lead the integration of his team into Brown & Brown Dealer Services, reporting to Mike Neal, president of BBDS [2][3] - The acquisition aims to expand BBDS's capabilities and provide innovative solutions for dealers across the country [3] Strategic Importance - The acquisition is expected to leverage American Adventure's network of over 1,500 dealerships, combined with Brown & Brown's extensive product offerings, to create a scalable platform for growth [3]

Core Viewpoint - Brown & Brown, Inc. has appointed Dorothea Henderson as Chief Information Technology Officer to enhance its technology strategy and digital capabilities [1][2]. Group 1: Appointment and Role - Dorothea Henderson will direct the company's enterprise technology strategy and oversee efforts to expand digital capabilities [1][2]. - Henderson will collaborate with segment and functional leaders to improve tools and processes, advance data and AI strategy, and strengthen system reliability and security [3]. Group 2: Leadership and Vision - Powell Brown, President and CEO, emphasized Henderson's strategic perspective and operational discipline, which are crucial for delivering modern solutions and enhancing customer experience [4]. - Henderson expressed excitement about joining Brown & Brown and the opportunity to advance digital capabilities to support long-term growth [4]. Group 3: Background and Experience - Henderson previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Information Officer at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, where she led enterprise IT and digital initiatives [4]. - She has 18 years of experience at Collins Aerospace, holding leadership roles in various technology domains [5]. - Henderson holds a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting from Penn State and is recognized as a 2025 Modern Healthcare Leading Women honoree [5].

Group 1: Software Sector Impact - Software stocks have experienced significant declines, with Adobe down 25%, Atlassian down 47%, Intuit down 40%, Salesforce down approximately 30%, and Workday losing one-third of its market value [1][3]. Group 2: Insurance Brokerage Sector - The introduction of AI tools like Insurify has severely impacted insurance brokers, leading to declines in stock prices: Willis Towers Watson down 15%, Aon down 9%, and Arthur J. Gallagher down 15% [3][6]. Group 3: Wealth Management Sector - AI tools from Altruist have disrupted wealth management, causing stocks of firms like Charles Schwab, LPL Financial, and Raymond James to drop over 7% each [9]. Group 4: Logistics and Transportation Sector - Companies in logistics have faced stock declines, with CBRE down 20% over two days, JLL down around 20%, and Cushman & Wakefield experiencing a drop of 14% [11][12]. Group 5: Commercial Real Estate Sector - The expectation of layoffs and remote work due to AI advancements has led to a decline in demand for commercial real estate, negatively affecting companies like CBRE [14]. Group 6: Broader Market Impact - Other companies affected include Cisco down 12%, S&P Global down over 25%, and AppLovin down 20%, indicating a widespread concern about traditional sectors being threatened by AI [15]. Group 7: Future Employment Landscape - The article suggests that jobs reliant on information processing and standardization are at high risk of being replaced by AI, leading to potential large-scale unemployment while capital and technology flourish [16][17].

Market Overview - Wall Street is experiencing significant disruption concerns due to AI, leading to a sell-off in various sectors, particularly software companies, which has resulted in sharp losses in U.S. stocks this week [1][2]. Software Sector - The S&P 500 Software & Services index has lost approximately $2 trillion in value since its peak in October, with half of this loss occurring in the past two weeks due to fears that AI could disrupt traditional subscription and enterprise tools [2]. - Notable declines in the Nasdaq 100 include Atlassian down 47%, Intuit down 40%, and Workday down 33% [4]. - The U.S. software sector is facing its worst drawdown in over three years, impacting alternative asset managers with exposure to software-related loans, with firms like Ares, Blackstone, and KKR seeing declines between 13% and 24% this year [5]. Financial Brokerage, Data Analytics & Legal Services - The financial industry, especially brokerages and data analytics firms, has been negatively affected after Altruist introduced AI-enabled tax planning features, raising fears about the viability of their business models [6]. - Shares of brokers such as LPL Financial and Charles Schwab fell over 7%, while S&P Global's shares dropped more than 25% in February, marking its worst month since 2009 [7]. Real Estate Services - Commercial real estate and investment managers have suffered as investors shift away from high-fee, labor-intensive business models perceived as vulnerable to AI disruption, with CBRE Group and Jones Lang LaSalle each dropping about 12% [8]. Insurance Sector - Insurance stocks have experienced a significant decline, with the S&P 500 insurance index falling 3.9% on a single day, its largest drop since mid-October, following the release of an AI-powered comparison tool by Insurify [10]. - Shares of Willis Towers Watson have decreased by 15% this week, while Aon and Arthur J. Gallagher fell by 9% and 15%, respectively [11]. Trucking & Logistics - The trucking and logistics sector saw unexpected declines, with stocks like Landstar System and C.H. Robinson dropping sharply after Algorhythm Holdings reported a significant increase in freight volumes without a corresponding rise in operational headcount [13].

Group 1: Share Repurchase Announcement - Brown & Brown, Inc. announced a $250 million accelerated share repurchase program with Bank of America, part of a broader $1.5 billion share buyback authorization approved by the board on October 22, 2025 [1] Group 2: Market Trends Report - The 2026 Market Trends report indicates that rate conditions are shifting in favor of buyers who are prepared for renewals and have a solid claims record, while certain industries and coverage lines may continue to experience firm pricing and stricter terms [2] - This report is the first since Brown & Brown's acquisition of Risk Strategies in 2025, combining insights from specialists across both organizations for a comprehensive view of the commercial insurance landscape [3] Group 3: Market Conditions and Challenges - The report highlights that while capital and underwriting capacity are improving in some market areas, challenges persist, particularly in commercial lines facing large losses and high-risk exposures [4] - In employee benefits, employers are increasingly utilizing digital tools to manage costs and attract talent, while personal insurance in catastrophe-prone regions continues to encounter tighter conditions [4] - Brown & Brown emphasizes its scale and global reach as significant advantages in assisting clients to navigate these evolving market challenges [4]

Core Viewpoint - The insurance brokerage sector is experiencing a decline in stock prices due to investor concerns about disruption from new AI applications, referred to as superagents [1] Group 1: Industry Impact - Insurance brokerage stocks have continued to slide, indicating a negative market reaction to the potential impact of AI superagents [1] - The emergence of AI superagents is creating a competitive threat to traditional insurance agents, leading to fears of disruption within the industry [1]