The national survey will provide the insurance industry’s first annual benchmark measuring agent sentiment, ownership, growth, and future of the industry.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – July 9, 2026 – Darkhorse Insurance Brokers today announced the launch of its inaugural Agent Independence Index, a first-of-its-kind annual research initiative designed to measure the state of agency ownership and independence within the U.S. insurance industry. The nationwide survey will gather insights from 1,000 U.S.-based insurance professionals across captive, semi-captive and independent agency models to better understand how agents view their businesses, their future, and the industry’s evolving landscape.
As the insurance industry undergoes rapid transformation, from changing carrier compensation models and technology adoption to agency consolidation and shifting customer expectations, there has been little independent research measuring how agents themselves are experiencing these changes. Darkhorse’s Agent Independence Index aims to fill that gap by establishing an annual benchmark for the profession. The findings will establish a baseline for tracking how the profession evolves over time while providing the insurance industry with an objective, data-driven view of one of its most significant long-term trends: the growing movement toward agency ownership and independence.
“The insurance industry has no shortage of opinions, but it does have a shortage of data,” said Dan Garzella, founder and CEO of Darkhorse Insurance Brokers. “For years, conversations about agency ownership, independence, technology and growth have been driven by anecdotes. We’re creating the Agent Independence Index to provide a consistent, data-driven view into what agents are actually experiencing, where they see opportunity, and what they need to succeed.”
The Agent Independence Index will examine the issues shaping today’s insurance professionals, including:
- Confidence in the future of agency ownership and the independent channel
- Career satisfaction and long-term professional goals
- Barriers to agency ownership and business growth
- Technology adoption and operational efficiency
- Agency profitability, enterprise value, and succession planning
- Carrier relationships, compensation, and market access
- The resources agents believe are most critical to long-term success
Results will be published in Fall 2026 featuring benchmark data, trend analysis, expert commentary, and actionable insights for insurance professionals, carriers, technology providers, investors, and industry stakeholders. Future editions will track year-over-year changes, creating
the industry’s first longitudinal view of how agency ownership, independence, and the insurance profession continue to evolve.
About Darkhorse Insurance Brokers
Darkhorse Insurance Brokers helps insurance professionals build independent agencies without sacrificing the resources typically available only through large organizations. Through carrier access, operational support, technology, back-office services and business guidance, Darkhorse enables agents to own their business while accelerating growth and long-term enterprise value. Learn more at darkhorseinsurance.com.
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Media Contact:
Shayna Zeigen
