CIWA at 35: How a Legacy Association is Steering Through California’s Insurance Storm

FAIRFIELD, CA – February 10, 2026 – As the California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) celebrates its 35th anniversary, it does so against a backdrop of unprecedented turmoil in the state's insurance market. While homeowners face soaring premiums and dwindling coverage options from standard carriers, the wholesale insurance sector that CIWA represents is experiencing a historic boom. This paradox highlights the critical, and growing, role of wholesale professionals in providing essential coverage in a market under immense pressure.

This year, the association marks more than three decades of community, advocacy, and growth. Its milestone anniversary is less a quiet reflection on the past and more a testament to its enduring relevance in a state grappling with the intersecting crises of climate change, regulatory overhaul, and market volatility.

A Legacy Forged in Regulation

To understand CIWA's role today, one must look back to its origins in the late 1980s. The association was formally incorporated in 1991, born directly from the seismic shifts caused by California's Proposition 103. Passed in 1988, the proposition mandated rate reductions, established an elected Insurance Commissioner, and fundamentally altered the state's regulatory landscape.

Industry visionaries, including Marv Uritz, Norm Levine, and Dave Anderson, recognized that this new era demanded a unified voice for managing general agents (MGAs) and wholesale intermediaries. These professionals operate in the surplus lines market, which specializes in covering risks that the standard, or "admitted," market is unwilling or unable to take on. Proposition 103 created a complex new environment, and wholesale professionals needed a dedicated forum to navigate legislation, advocate for their interests, and build the collaborative relationships necessary to function effectively. From its inception, CIWA's dual mission has been to facilitate these vital connections and address the practical needs of its members through education and legislative engagement.

Navigating a Market in Flux

That founding mission has never been more critical. California's standard insurance market is in a state of 'dislocation.' Devastating wildfires, such as the Los Angeles fires in January 2025, have led to staggering losses, causing major insurers like State Farm to significantly scale back or cease writing new home insurance policies altogether. Consequently, the California FAIR Plan, the state's insurer of last resort, has seen its policy count swell, even as it faces its own solvency questions and criticism over its claims handling, prompting legislative reform proposals like the "Make It FAIR Act."

This retreat from the admitted market has created a massive surge in demand for the surplus lines market. When standard carriers step back, wholesale brokers step in. The numbers are staggering. According to AM Best, the U.S. surplus lines market soared to nearly $130 billion in direct premiums in 2024. In California, the growth is just as dramatic, with premiums increasing by 11.58% to $18.5 billion in 2024. Most tellingly, the state saw a 124% increase in residential line transaction filings in the surplus market, a direct consequence of the crisis in standard homeowners' insurance.

"What makes CIWA special after 35 years is the quality of connections our members make," said Yana Connors, President of CIWA, in a recent statement. "We're focused on creating an environment where California's wholesale insurance professionals can build real relationships, learn from each other, and support the next generation of industry leaders. That personal touch has been our foundation since day one, and it's what keeps our community strong."

This focus on community is proving to be a powerful asset. With membership at an all-time high, the association serves as the central hub for a sector that is now an indispensable part of the state's economic infrastructure, providing coverage for everything from complex commercial properties to homes in high-risk fire zones.

Building the Future of Wholesale Insurance

CIWA is not simply riding the wave of market demand; it is actively shaping the future of its profession. Recognizing the need to adapt, the association has launched several forward-looking initiatives. CIWA Future aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders by connecting professionals under 40 and partnering with university Risk Management and Insurance programs to create a talent pipeline.

Under Connors' leadership, the association also launched CIWA Women, a program dedicated to empowering and promoting women within the wholesale and carrier distribution channels. Meanwhile, the Insurtech Committee, chaired by Vice President Garett Kaneko, is tasked with helping members navigate the complex world of technology, from new management systems to the risks and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and escalating cyber threats.

These programs demonstrate a keen awareness of the challenges ahead. As California implements its new "Sustainable Insurance Strategy"—a sweeping regulatory reform allowing insurers to use forward-looking climate models in exchange for writing more policies in high-risk areas—and grapples with new rules on everything from auto liability to long-term solvency, the need for expert guidance and collaboration will only intensify.

As members and industry partners prepare to gather in Monterey for the CIWA Summer Forum in July, the 35th-anniversary celebration will be about more than just looking back. It will be a crucial opportunity for the professionals on the front lines of California's insurance crisis to connect, learn, and strategize for the uncertain, yet opportunity-rich, road ahead. The association's continued focus on fostering community and adapting to change ensures it remains a vital hub for navigating the complex and ever-evolving landscape of California's insurance industry.