Winning in 2026: How Products & Technology Are Powering Agent Success
by Ben Markland, VP of Sales at MWG Broker Services
2026 is here, and the benefits landscape continues to evolve. Rising healthcare costs mean employers are looking for solutions, not just lower premiums. To succeed, you need to leverage layered products like Premium Saver and tools such as Group Connect to create real value and strengthen client relationships.
- What should agents pay attention to in 2026 to stay successful? I believe, as insurance continues to become increasingly digital, it will be very important for agents to be up to speed with their digital skills and tech savviness. Digital customer experiences are no longer a “nice-to-have” option and have become more of a baseline expectation. Agents that can adopt AI and tech driven engagement will be well ahead of the curve as this industry continues to evolve. While I think human interaction will always be preferred by customers, embracing new technologies will allow agents to eliminate repetitive tasks and focus more on their relationships and interactions that really matter. Efficiency will be key to success.
- How does the Premium Saver Plan help agents address rising healthcare costs for employers? Premium Saver Plan helps agents reframe the healthcare cost conversation: instead of “How do we absorb another renewal increase?”, it becomes “How do we control costs without gutting benefits?” The Premium Saver helps employers lower costs without dropping health insurance or hurting employees. Instead of paying high premiums for a traditional health plan, the employer chooses a lower-cost high-deductible medical plan and then adds the Premium Saver which helps employees cover out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and hospital bills.
- How does the Group Connect platform help agents simplify quoting and enrollment? MWG's Group Connect platform gives agents access to multiple carriers and multiple lines of coverage in all 50 states. This saves the agent the time it would take to go to multiple carriers to request quotes for multiple products which sometimes can take as long as weeks to receive. Group Connect can generate quotes within a matter of minutes with no need for a census or any paperwork. Group Connect is also a fully functional online enrollment platform. Agents can enroll their customers in a matter of minutes with no paperwork. 2025 was a banner year for Group Connect and we saw more enrollments than ever before. More agents are jumping on board with the Group Connect platform and I cannot wait to see what they will do in 2026.
- What advice do you have for agents using MWG's products and technology to drive growth this year? As I touched on earlier, I think it is imperative for agents to embrace technology and take advantage of the tools available to them. MWG's Group Connect and Insurance for Everyone Platforms are built specifically to make agents more efficient and deliver the carriers and products their customers are looking for. The Premium Saver plan is also a fantastic option for any group that is experiencing rate increases or maybe is even looking to increase benefits without increasing cost. I would highly recommend talking to one of our territory managers if you are not using any of these platforms or strategies today.
As 2026 moves forward, agents have more opportunities than ever to make a real impact. By pairing proven benefit solutions like Premium Saver with efficient technology such as Group Connect, agents can simplify the benefits process, strengthen employer relationships, and deliver value beyond price. With the right strategy and tools, this year offers a strong path to growth and success.