Surplus lines / non-admitted misunderstood by retail

Retail brokers misunderstand E&S/non-admitted markets, treating surplus lines as a last resort and lacking standardized quoting and connectivity with E&S markets.

Analysis:

A marketplace connecting retail agents to E&S carriers with standardized quoting and education could improve flow and efficiency. The E&S market is growing rapidly (now ~$100B+ in premium) as standard markets retreat. Companies like Brokerage Builder and Flow are early movers.