For many Account Handlers, day-to-day work is rewarding but the long-term picture can feel murky. Are you building toward something greater, or simply staying busy? It’s a question many Account Handlers face as they weigh immediate satisfaction against long-term progression. As your role in the insurance industry evolves, the need for clear, structured Account Handler career progression should be your top priority. And with 79% of firms forecasting revenue growth but only just over half increasing headcount the industry is leaning heavily on its existing talent. Meaning your development and career progression should be top priority for your employer as well.  

What Supportive Workplaces Get Right 
Not all progression is linear, but it should be visible. A growth-minded workplace genuinely invests in Account Handler career progression. Not every firm gets it right, but the best offer you a blend of challenge, clarity, and investment in your future. Firms doing these well often see stronger retention, better client outcomes, and a more engaged internal culture.  

Here’s what to look for if you’re serious about building a long-term career 

How to Spot a Career-Limiting Environment

On the flip side, it’s important to recognise the signs that your current environment might be holding you back. Only 58.64% of insurance professionals currently say they’re satisfied in their roles, signally that stagnation is more common than many acknowledge. Many professionals are either disengaged or unclear on where they’re headed. Don’t wait until you’re burned out to ask the tough questions. Are you experiencing: 

Initiating a Productive Development Conversation 

Not sure how to raise the issue of progression in your Account Handler role with your current manager? Start with a scheduled conversation that sets clear intentions. For example, ask to book time for a "development review" that is more forward-looking than a standard appraisal. 

In the conversation, frame your questions to show initiative and curiosity: 

"I’ve been thinking about where I want to be in the next 12 months. Could we talk about what progression might look like for my role?" 

"I’d love the opportunity to work on more complex renewals or shadow a senior team member. Do you think that’s something we could explore?" 

"What are the benchmarks for stepping into a Senior Account Handler or Technical Broking role? I'd really value some clarity." 

These kinds of questions help open meaningful dialogue and demonstrate your commitment to professional growth; while also testing how ready your organisation is to support it. 
 

The Role of Mentorship in Career Progression 

A mentor can have a bigger role on career progression in your Account Handler role than you might think. Whether your firm offers a formal programme or not, seek out someone you respect and ask for 30 minutes over coffee. Most senior professionals are happy to share what they’ve learned. 

Having a mentor can help fast-track your understanding of complex processes, insurer nuances, and stakeholder management and having someone in your corner gives you permission to ask questions, take risks, and stretch your skills.Mentors can also help you think long-term to identify your strengths, shape any future career moves, and navigate internal dynamics. 

 
Knowing When to Move On 

Some firms simply aren’t set up to support growth. If you’ve tried to initiate change and hit a wall, it’s okay to look elsewhere.In today’s market, Account Handlers are in demand; especially those with platform fluency, compliance understanding, and commercial insight. You don’t have to settle for a role that underutilises you. 

 Key signals include: 

How Stride Helps You Find the Right Fit 

At Stride, we help Account Handlers move from stuck to supported. We work with brokerages who understand that strong internal teams are the foundation of long-term success.  

If you’re ready to assess your current setup and explore what’s possible, let’s talk.

Beyond the Book: Why Account Executives are Prioritising Career Progression, Cultural Fit and Leadership Pathways in 2025

Across the UK insurance market, experienced Account Executives are rethinking what progress in their careers really means. Progression is no longer just about growing a book or chasing bigger bonus. Many mid-to-senior professionals are asking different questions of their careers: Where can I have more strategic input? How well does the leadership align with my values? What does long-term growth actually look like here?Career progression for account executives is about autonomy, cultural fit and pathways to leadership. In short, it’s about value. And those who are ahead of the curve know it. The most compelling career decisions today are driven by desire for more meaningful growth. 

Moving Away FromThe Traditional View of Progression 

Historically, Account Executive career paths were benchmarked by book size, revenue growth and immediate compensation. Those levers still matter, but they’re no longer the whole picture. Many AEs with 10+ years of experience are telling us they’ve "hit their number" and are now looking for something more meaningful. 

"I wasn’t leaving for more commission,” shared a Commercial AE with 12+ years’ experience at a national broker. “I left because I couldn’t see a future in the structure I was in. There was no clear route to leadership.” 

As career goals change, Account Executive career progression is being redefined by influence, fit, and future potential.This often stems from a growing sense that high performance isn’t always matched by growth opportunities. AEs are beginning to question whether the effort and results they bring are recognised beyond monetary gain. They want to see how their role contributes to the bigger picture, and how they can shape that picture going forward. 

Cultural Fit and Strategic Influence 

The day-to-day culture of a brokerage can be a key differentiator. How leadership communicates, how teams operate, and whether your voice carries any real weight can all influence how successfully you perform.  

Positive team cultures are not surface level. They are embedded much more deeply in an organisation. Great cultures offer clarity of purpose, are opento listen to differing viewpoints and willing to enact change, with leadership that listens. 

Strategic influence is particularly important for senior AEs who bring years of insight but feel stifled by top-down structures. In forward-thinking firms, Account Executives are positioned as partners to growth, not just salespeople.  

Our own experience confirms that cultural alignment and strategic input are fast becoming key markers of satisfaction and success for professionals. These aren’t soft considerations. They’re central to retention, performance and longevity. 

"I wanted to be in a business where my ideas weren’t just heard but actually implemented," said another AE who moved from a national to a growing independent. 

Autonomy and Flexibility as Non-Negotiables 

The rigidity of target-heavy environments is starting to wear thin. For seasoned professionals who’ve already proven themselves, autonomy is not a perk, it’s expected. That includes how they manage their time, portfolio, and even working location. 

"After 15 years in the game, I know how to hit targets. What I needed was space to do it my way," shared one London-based AE. 

Organisation’s offering true flexibility understand that it encompasses trust in decision-making, room to shape client strategies, and the ability to structure a portfolio around your own personal strengths and preferences. That trust leads to better outcomes for clients and employers alike.  
 

Recognising the Signs It Might Be Time to Move 

Moving on and taking the next step in your career is not always down to dissatisfaction. Sometimes it’sjust about misalignment. The right role for your current skills and aspirations may not be the same one that got you here. Knowing when to reassess is critical. 

 Here are some signals it might be time to explore something new: 

An honest self-assessment can go a long way. Career progression for AEs should feel energising, not frustrating. If it’s starting to feel like a grind, it might be time to explore what else is out there. 
 

What Today’s Progression Really Looks Like 

With 74% of insurance brokers actively recruiting in 2025 and 59% reporting senior vacancies, the opportunities are there. However, the best roles aren’t always on the open market. Partnering with a recruiter who understands nuance and trajectory can make the difference between a lateral move and a leap forward. 

Stride often supports opportunities shaped around top-tier AEs and that offer real leadership pathways, clear equity prospects, or influence over new verticals. These roles are designed with mutual value in mind, for the AE and the business. 

That means account executive career paths that are built with clear progression available from the outset. Whether it’s a pathway to regional leadership, greater P&L responsibility, or eventual equity, these roles exist. But they’re not posted on job boards. They’re unlocked through network, insight, and timing. 

Technology is also playing a growing role in shaping Account Executive career progression. With advancements in artificial intelligence and automation changing how policies are quoted, serviced, and analysed, many AEs are now seeking out firms that invest in smart tools, freeing them up to focus on client relationships and strategic development. Being part of a tech-forward brokerage isn’t just about efficiency, as AI becomes more integrated into underwriting and client service, AEs who embrace digital tools will increasingly be positioned as strategic advisors rather than intermediaries 

 
How Stride Helps Build Careers 

Stride works differently. We don’t rely on volume. Instead, we invest in market intelligence, long-term relationships, and an immersive understanding of what AEs really want. 

We know that: 

We speak your language. Whether you're a producer with ambitions to build out a niche book or a relationship-first AE eyeing leadership, our process is built to uncover what matters most to you and to find roles that reflect that.When we introduce you to an opportunity, it’s not about backfilling a vacancy. It’s about matching ambition with possibility. That’s how we support career progression for ambitious Account Executives.  

If you’re ready to find a role that aligns with your values and ambitions, get in touch for a confidential conversation about your career. 

Insurance Account Handlers are critical tobroking firms, essential to client service and satisfaction yet rarely in the spotlight. But, as the insurance industry faces mounting pressures around regulation, retention, and efficiency, forward-thinking firms are finally recognising just how integral Account Handlers are to commercial success. Whether you’re new to the profession or have years of technical experience under your belt, the role is gaining new visibility, credibility, and strategic value. 

From Back Office to Backbone 

Smart firms recognise that client loyalty is about the consistency and depth of service across the whole team. In progressive brokerages, insurance Account Handlers are no longer seen as junior support. They’re regarded as core to client retention, accuracy, and compliance.A skilled Account Handler can pre-empt issues, troubleshoot placement challenges, and maintain momentum in the background.Increasingly, clients build strong relationships with their Account Handler, particularly in complex or regulated sectors where trust and detail are paramount. This has turned what was once an internal support role into a client-facing, reputation-critical position. 
 

Why the Account Handler Role Is Changing 

Once viewed as purely administrative, the Account Handler role encompasses compliance oversight, client retention strategy, technical broking, and relationship management. They play a central role in in maintaining client trust, ensuring compliance, and delivering on service promises, shaping the overall client experience.This change has been driven by: 

Skills That Are Driving Demand 

Because Account Handler job descriptions now include a blend of technical, interpersonal, and strategic competencies experienced professionals are hard to replace, and highly valued. The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) reports a 15% annual increase in the number of its insurance qualifications completed, demonstrating just how crucial learning and development are for well-rounded Account Handlers. Firms that used to look for “plug-and-play” hires are now investing in development and retention, recognising that expertise is not built overnight. 

Key areas of expertise include: 

As insurance firms accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, the nature of the Account Executive role is shifting. While the full impact of these technologies is still unfolding, it’s clear that a digital first culture is gaining momentum. For mid-to-senior level professionals, staying commercially relevant now involves understanding how digital tools enhance, rather than replace, your human expertise. 

What a Digital First Culture Means 

A digital first culture refers to the strategic prioritisation of digital tools and processes in how organisations operate, communicate and serve clients. For Account Executives (AEs), this could mean adapting to environments where CRM systems, underwriting platforms, and client communications are increasingly powered by automation and AI. 

Adapting doesn’t require you to become a tech specialist. But it does require a mindset shift. The real value lies in understanding how these tools can reduce admin, surface insights, and free up more time for high-value client work.As more brokers adopt generative AI for insurance processes, from client proposals to post-renewal analysis, by embracing these tools you will gain more time to focus on client strategy, relationship-building, and high-value advisory work. 

The Rise of AI in Insurance 

While still in early stages for many, AI adoption is gaining ground. According to Conning, 55% of insurers are already in the early or full stages of adopting Generative AI tools. Meaning that regular, sustained use of AI in insurance and brokerage firms is already operational. For Account Executives, the most relevant use cases of AI in insurance include: 

The use of AI in insurance isn't about replacing the AE, it's reshaping how you spend your time. In practical terms, it can reduce time spent on low-value admin work and free you up to focus on client-facing strategy. 
 

What Tech Can’t Replace 

Despite the power of automation, AI still lacks the emotional intelligence, commercial instinct and nuanced judgement that define the best Account Executives.In complex placements, high-value accounts, or emerging risks, human value becomes even more critical. Clients need the reassurance, interpretation, and strategic guidance provided by a skilled AE.  

Clients still want someone who: 

Being an effective AI-driven Account Executive means knowing when to leverage tech, and when to lean into your expertise. 
 

How Progressive Firms Are Blending AI and Advisory 

Forward-thinking brokerages aren’t asking AEs to become digitally fluent overnight. Instead, they’re building ecosystems where digital tools support human talent.In these firms, a digital first culture is not about automation for its own sake. Instead, they are beginning to use technology to enable AEs to deliver more value, faster. 

This can mean restructuring Account Executive roles and responsibilities to let tech handle routine admin, investing in client-facing platforms that allow AEs to personalise experiences at scale and, rolling out training programs that integrate AI literacy with day-to-day workflows.  
 

Future-Proofing Your Skill Set as an AE 

The best way to stay relevant is by leaning into change. Remember: clients still choose people they trust. Being and AE today means being digitally aware, not digitally defined. You’ve already built a successful foundation. You don’t have to lead with tech — but you should be able to translate it into value: 

How Stride Supports Tech-Forward Account Executives 

At Stride, we’re tracking the trends shaping insurance — from early AI adoption to changing AE skill sets. We understand where the technology in the insurance industry is headed, and which firms are preparing for what's next. 

Whether you're looking to upskill or explore roles at more progressive brokerages, we can help you: 

With generative AI set to impact up to 71% of working hours in the insurance sector, being proactive about your adaptation isn’t optional. But with the right support, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. 

Ready to align your expertise to a brokerage that investing in the future?Reach out for a confidential conversation about your next step.