WebCE's Weekly Wrap-Up: July 18, 2025
WebCE Staff
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July 18, 2025
This week’s wrap-up covers shifting dynamics across cybersecurity, insurance, health care, real estate, and professional services.
Cybersecurity experts warn that AI-driven scams are exposing serious security gaps, prompting calls for improved best practices. Health insurance headlines point to rising ACA premiums and reduced subsidies, while financial advisors are urged to start long-term care conversations earlier with younger clients.
In regulatory news, Congress passed a bill empowering the IRS to offer tax relief in times of disaster, South Dakota adopted a streamlined insurance licensing system, and an exploration into why accounting firms are seeing increased acquisition by non-CPA buyers. Meanwhile, real estate data shows mounting signs of a market correction, and the power of preplanning takes center stage in the funeral profession.
To close the week, the BiggerPockets podcast offers a sharp look at what’s next for the housing market—and the Weekend Wind-Down reminds us that humor isn't just welcome in sales, it’s often what seals the deal.
Let’s dive in.
Top News of the Week
Cybersecurity Bosses Grow Increasingly Worried About AI Attacks and Misuse (Insurance Journal)
“We’ve already seen the impact of AI-driven attacks — especially sophisticated phishing and deepfake campaigns that are incredibly convincing and hard to catch,” said Mandy Andress, the CISO at Elastic, an information technology and data analysis firm, in a statement provided with Team8’s survey. “It’s clear we’re in the early stages of an AI arms race, and right now, the attackers moved first and have the edge.”
AI-Generated Summaries Mistakenly Suggest Phishing Sites (KnowBe4)
“When an AI model hallucinates a phishing link or recommends a scam site, the error is presented with confidence and clarity. The user is far more likely to click and follow through. We’ve already seen troubling public examples, but our deeper investigation shows that the issue isn’t confined to hypothetical or early-stage rollouts. It’s systemic—and increasingly exploitable.”
Women Who 'Hacked the Status Quo' Aim to Inspire Cybersecurity Careers (Dark Reading)
"In my academic and professional journey, I've often heard comments like, 'Wow, you’re a woman studying engineering? You must be really smart,' or 'It's impressive that you work in IT as a woman,'" she tells Dark Reading.
While she recognizes that the comments are well-intentioned and takes pride in her professional capabilities, Shen realized over time "that such remarks subtly reinforce the idea that women in STEM must be exceptional just to belong," she says.
Tips to help advisors sell long-term care insurance to younger prospects (InsuranceNewsNet)
Because younger clients are usually focused on other life milestones, early planning can feel unnecessary. “By bringing it up early and regularly – whether during annual reviews and other touch points throughout the year – you can help clients see the immense value of extended care planning and help them build it into their overall financial strategy.”
Insurers and Customers Brace for Double Whammy to Obamacare Premiums (KFF Health News)
“Most of the 24 million people in Affordable Care Act health plans face a potential one-two punch next year — double-digit premium increases along with a sharp drop in the federal subsidies that most consumers depend on to buy the coverage, also known as Obamacare.”
South Dakota Becomes 36th NAIC Member to Implement State Based Systems (NAIC)
“SBS empowers state insurance departments to seamlessly process license applications, renewals, inquiries, complaints, enforcement actions, and more—delivering results with minimal effort while ensuring compliance with national uniformity initiatives. The integration between SBS and the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) is a cornerstone for streamlining mission-critical regulatory tasks.”
The Rise of Non-CPAs in CPA Firm Acquisitions (CPA Practice Advisor)
“A growing number of non-CPA buyers are acquiring multiple CPA firms to build scalable, regional, and niche accounting businesses. These buyers see opportunities to modernize operations, leverage technology, and implement new service models that traditional CPA firm owners may not have explored."
Congress passes act allowing tax relief when a state declares disaster (Journal of Accountancy)
“The new law will authorize the IRS to postpone federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a qualified state-declared disaster upon written request by the state’s governor or the authorities in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. It will apply to declarations made after the date the law is enacted.”
FINRA Foundation Releases Sixth Wave of the National Financial Capability Study (FINRA)
“The latest findings reveal an overall pattern of decline in U.S. adults’ ability to make ends meet and save for emergencies. While the comprehensive study shows no signs of overall declines in income, the findings show that increased costs have put more households under strain than in previous waves of the study.”
These High-Profile Funerals Can Help You Illustrate the Power of Preplanning (Connecting Directors)
“Although 90% of people in the profession assume that families understand preneed, […] less than 30% of families actually know preneed is available.” Filling this huge knowledge gap is the key to building loyalty and community engagement, not to mention revenue. One way to educate consumers is to show them real-life examples of the benefits of preplanning — and two recent high-profile and socially viral funerals can help you tell these stories.
Top Podcast of the Week
July 2025 Housing Market Update: A New “Correction” Begins
BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast
37 Minutes
The real estate correction is here, but is a crash coming next?
New data suggests sellers are getting increasingly frustrated as their houses sit—and they’ve finally had enough. Buyers are ready to pounce on lower-priced homes, but can they actually afford them?
Inventory is growing—fast. We’re up double-digit percentage points year-over-year. But buyers are starting to catch on, getting back into the market. So, if we’ve got supply and demand, why are home prices falling—and could they fall even more? With so many homes on the market, are we on a crash course? What’s stopping us from seeing double-digit home price declines in the most oversupplied markets?
We’re halfway through 2025, with a much better outlook on what’s to come. Host Dave Meyer a full update in the latest episode on home prices, new listings, buyer demand, and the likelihood that this correction goes even deeper, becoming a full-fledged housing market crash.
Weekend Wind-Down
Laughing all the way to the bank: How humor in your sales style can win more business (Rochester Business Journal)
There is a solid psychological reason why humor works in sales. When people laugh, their brains release endorphins, the feel-good chemicals. This reduces stress and increases a sense of connection.
In a sales context, this connection can be the difference between being seen as just another vendor and becoming a trusted advisor.
Studies have shown that humor enhances persuasion, increases likability, and boosts retention. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Business Research found that salespeople who used humor appropriately had significantly higher closing rates than those who did not.
Why?
Because laughter creates trust and trust closes deals.
In today’s crowded marketplace, the human connection matters more than ever. Humor is not just about getting a laugh, it is about getting attention, earning trust, and building relationships. When used with authenticity and timing, humor becomes a secret sales superpower.