Brokers Have Expanded Access to Legacy Insurance Solutions
Insurers are shifting old liabilities more quickly as brokers integrate specialized capital advisory teams into their services.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Major broking firms have significantly increased their use of dedicated teams to handle legacy and retrospective insurance solutions. This shift allows insurers to optimize their balance sheets by offloading large accumulations of reserves more efficiently.
Why it matters
By moving legacy liabilities, insurers can free up capital and refine their underwriting strategies, which impacts the broader financial health and stability of the insurance sector. These moves allow companies to reduce risk exposure more effectively than in previous years.
The legacy insurance market has seen consistent growth over a 10-year period through 2026. This professionalized approach relies on three decades of industry experience in managing and structuring run-off business.
The players
Gallagher Re
A global reinsurance broker that provides risk management and capital advisory services to insurance companies.
Howden
An international insurance group that offers brokerage and investment banking services to help firms manage complex liabilities.
Lockton Re
A reinsurance broker specializing in capital advisory and the transfer of risk for institutional insurance clients.
The details
Broking houses now integrate capital advisory work directly with retrospective solution offerings, allowing them to engage alongside M&A advisers during complex corporate acquisitions. This process enables insurers to transfer liabilities at critical decision points rather than treating them as isolated back-office tasks. By centralizing management, firms like Howden and Gallagher Re have streamlined the path for insurers looking to optimize capital by shedding old exposures.
Timeline
The legacy insurance market has experienced a 10-year period of sustained expansion from 2016 through 2026.
Gallagher Re appointed a dedicated head of legacy in 2021.
Howden merged its legacy and investment banking divisions under common management in 2023.
Lockton Re expanded its capital advisory practice and Gallagher Re added a UK head of legacy in 2025.
Money Landscape
The integration of legacy solutions marks a shift from traditional run-off models toward active capital optimization. This trend follows a decade of growth that has fundamentally changed how insurers manage long-term liability accumulations.
While these moves occur at the institutional level, they signal increased liquidity and stability in the insurance markets that underpin household policies. Speak with a qualified financial professional to ensure your insurance providers remain well-capitalized and secure.
The takeaway
The insurance industry is increasingly treating legacy liabilities as an active tool for balance sheet optimization rather than a passive burden. Investors and policyholders should monitor how these shifts affect the overall financial resilience of their primary insurance carriers.
Further reading
To understand how market shifts impact long-term asset management, review our Financial Planning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Insurance Business.
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Do you trust that insurance brokers prioritize client interests when recommending long-term financial legacy solutions?
