The surety landscape is evolving with greater speed and complexity than many firms have experienced in prior cycles. Growth expectations are rising, talent dynamics are shifting, and client demands continue to expand beyond traditional transaction execution. In this environment, perspective matters. More specifically, relevant, actionable data matters.

NASBP, in partnership with MarshBerry, is launching the 2026 Surety Benchmarking Survey with a clear objective: to provide surety agency practices with a sharper, more informed view of how leading organizations are operating, investing, and outperforming in today’s market. The output will not be theoretical. It will be a practical, data-driven perspective on how high-performing agencies are navigating the current business environment.

This initiative builds on a long-standing relationship between NASBP and MarshBerry. For decades, MarshBerry has contributed to the NASBP community through research, thought leadership, and strategic insight. Most recently, Brian Refici and Brian Ambrosia presented at the 2024 NASBP Fall Meetings on the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing client service and operational efficiency. In 2022, NASBP partnered with MarshBerry on a comprehensive survey of bonding agencies, examining producer compensation, service structures, human capital, and talent acquisition. The findings, summarized by Wayne Walkotten in a fall 2022 NASBP Surety Bond Quarterly article, provided a meaningful benchmark for firms evaluating their own strategies. That article is available at https://www.suretybondquarterly-digital.com/sbpq/library/item/0322_fall_2022/4042135/.

The 2026 survey represents a continuation of that work, with a more targeted and intentional design. The survey has been refined through direct input from selected NASBP producers to ensure it addresses the issues that matter most today. Areas of focus include producer productivity, compensation alignment, technology utilization, service model design, and the operating frameworks required to sustain profitable growth.

It is also important to frame MarshBerry’s role appropriately. While the firm is widely known for its capital markets advisory work, its broader value to the industry is rooted in data, benchmarking, and long-term strategic guidance. This survey reflects that foundation. The intent is not transactional. It is to equip firms with objective insight into how top performers are building durable, high-growth businesses.

For participating agencies, the value is twofold. First, access to aggregated, anonymized benchmarking provides a clear view of how your organization compares to a relevant peer group. Second, participation helps shape the broader NASBP community dialogue, ensuring that future initiatives and resources are grounded in real operating data rather than anecdote.

We understand that confidentiality is paramount. All responses will be aggregated and anonymized, with no firm-specific information disclosed. Maintaining trust and data integrity is central to this effort.

The quality of the output, however, will be directly tied to the level of participation. A broader response set will yield more precise, more actionable insights. So, please participate, as this is not simply a survey. It is an opportunity for the surety community to define what “best-in-class” looks like in today’s environment.

Additional details on participation will be shared in the coming weeks, including at the NASBP Annual Meeting. Following completion, results will be delivered through multiple channels, including written analysis and targeted insights designed to be immediately applicable to your agency.