ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 9 -- Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America issued the following news release:

Duck Creek Technologies is the newest company partner of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's Agents Council for Technology (ACT).

"To stay relevant in today's market, industry stakeholders continue to pursue technology solutions that let them respond quickly to the needs of their customers and the requirements of their business. It's a pursuit we fully support. Our software and services are designed to keep pace with the changing demands of agents, brokers and insurers around the globe," said Michael A. Jackowski, CEO at Duck Creek Technologies. "We are delighted to be a supportive member of this organization and look forward to sharing our expertise as they advance their technology goals."

Founded in 2000, Duck Creek Technologies provides comprehensive P&C insurance software and services for insurers of all sizes worldwide. Employing progressive technology, Duck Creek solutions enable insurers to optimize outcomes and enhance engagement through advanced digital and data capabilities and integrated functionality that can be delivered via the cloud or on premise. The global company has U.S. offices in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina. Its international locations are in Australia, India, Spain and United Kingdom.

"ACT is proud to welcome Duck Creek Technologies as its newest technology provider member," says Ron Berg, ACT executive director. "We look forward to working with the Duck Creek Technologies team on efforts to improve effective technology solutions for independent insurance agents and brokers."

Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big "I") was founded in 1896 and is the nation's oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of approximately a quarter of a million agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance--property, casualty, life and health--as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.

The Agents Council for Technology (ACT) was established in January 1999 by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big "I") to provide a candid, action-oriented forum to address the critical workflow and technology issues facing the independent agency system. ACT helps participants understand the perspectives of the other stakeholders in the process and provides excellent networking opportunities with the participants who are shaping the future for the industry on these issues. For more information about ACT visit www.iiaba.net/act.

ACT members include:

Industry associations and consultants: AAMGA, ACORD, CSIO, IIABA, Insurance Brokers Association of Canada, NAPLSO, Angela Adams Consulting Services, Red Barn Consulting, Steve Anderson Consulting;

Technology providers: Applied Systems/IVANS, AssureSign, Citrix Sharefile, CoreLogic Insurance Solutions, Duck Creek Technologies, EZLynx, HawkSoft, ITC, InsureSign, My Insurance Videos, North American Software Associates, Simply Easier Payments/EchoSage, Strategic Insurance Software, Vertafore/QQ Solutions;

User groups: Applied Client Network, InStar Users Group, National Association of S.I.S. Partner Agents, Inc., NetVU, Nexsure User Group;

Carriers: Allstate IA, The Berkley Companies, Central Insurance Companies, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, CNA, Columbia Insurance Group, Dryden Mutual Insurance Company, EMC Insurance Companies, The Hanover Insurance Group, The Hartford, Kemper Preferred, Liberty Mutual Insurance, The Main Street America Group, Merchants Insurance Group, MetLife Auto & Home, Motorists Insurance Group, Nationwide Insurance, New York Central Mutual Insurance, Penn National Insurance, Progressive, Safeco Insurance, Selective Insurance Company of America, State Auto, Travelers, West Bend Mutual and Westfield Insurance.

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a” (Excellent) of the property/casualty (P/C) and life/health (L/H) members of Horace Mann Educators Corporation (HMEC) (headquartered in Springfield, IL). Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb” (Good) of HMEC and the associated Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. (See below for a detailed list of the subsidiaries and Long-Term IRs.)

The ratings reflect HMEC’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

HMEC’s Long-Term ICR is driven by the group’s very strong balance sheet strength assessment, which is supported by its strongest risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and utilization of highly rated reinsurers with a strong level of reinsurance catastrophe protection. However, these positive factors are offset partially by restricted fungibility of capital as excess capital rests within the operating entities and a higher allocation to less liquid asset classes, and structured securities, along with lower-rated investment-grade bonds. The group entered into two separate agreements with Medical Mutual of Ohio to acquire Employee Services, LLC and Reserve National Insurance Company (RNIC), and to reinsure MedMutual Life Insurance Company’s group life and disability business. The transaction is modest relative to HMEC’s overall operations, and AM Best does not expect it to affect the organization’s balance sheet strength materially.

HMEC benefits from a well-diversified operating profile within P/C, life and supplemental benefit business segments. Overall results have been positive over the recent five-year period, with the group generating consistently growing earnings in each of the past five quarters. Strong net investment income continues to boost overall earnings. Significant rate and non-rate underwriting actions within the auto and property lines of business have contributed to significant improvements in overall operating results. The agreement to acquire RNIC is expected to be accretive immediately in 2027, strengthening the company’s earnings profile. While the transaction is expected to impact the supplemental block of business materially, the overall impact is not expected to influence the opinion of the group’s operating performance, which remains as adequate.

HMEC maintains a neutral business profile through a strong market position within its niche and name brand recognition within the educator’s market and policyholder loyalty. These advantages provide cross-marketing opportunities between P/C product lines, as well as life, annuity and supplemental products. The group operates in target market competing with a number of national providers of auto, home, and life. The group’s business is expected to receive a diversification benefit with the acquisition of RNIC contributing to the supplemental block of business.

The group operates under a formal ERM framework, which is appropriate for the scope and complexity of the group’s risk profile. Within Horace Mann, ERM is an ongoing assessment process used to identify, manage and/or mitigate risk, which continues to influence the company’s strategy and direction. The group employs an extensive reinsurance program with high-quality reinsurers. Reinsurance is purchased at the operating entity level and tailored to its specific business segment.

The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of “a” (Excellent) have been affirmed with stable outlooks for the following P/C and L/H subsidiaries of Horace Mann Educators Corporation:

• Horace Mann Insurance Company
• Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Company
• Horace Mann Life Insurance Company
• Teachers Insurance Company
• National Teachers Associates Life Insurance Company
• Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc.
• NTA Life Insurance Company of New York

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

Horace Mann Educators Corporation—

--“bbb” (Good) on $300 million 7.25 % senior unsecured notes, due 2028

--“bbb” (Good) on $300 million 4.7% senior unsecured notes, due 2030

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2026 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Michael Vallario
Financial Analyst

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Edin Imsirovic
Director

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Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

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Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

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Source: AM Best