WebCE's Weekly Wrap-Up: May 30, 2025

From the surge in cyberattacks that’s prompting insurers to rethink coverage models to the underwritten businesses insurers are finally learning to see, this week’s top stories explore the tension between innovation and accountability across industries.

Real estate is grappling with its own shifts, as lawsuits target alleged insurer collusion in California and home browsing becomes a national obsession tied to our instinct for social intelligence. Meanwhile, funeral homes face rising demand—but not enough licensed directors to meet it.

This week’s featured podcast, Playmakers, invites real estate veteran Gino Blefari on its premiere episode to explain why mindset—not the market—is what makes a great agent. And to wind down the week, HBO’s “The Mortician” offers a chilling if controversial look into a funeral home scandal that reshaped industry regulations.

Let’s dive in. 

Top News Stories of the Week

1. We’re All Addicted to Zillow Now (The Washington Post)

   
   

   “The digital real estate boom taps into this same ancient instinct — when we browse home listings, we’re essentially gathering social intelligence about potential neighbors and community members. This lets them assess potential neighbors’ values and reliability.”

   
   

2. Did Insurers Collude to Force Homeowners onto State Insurance Plan? What to Know from Two Blockbuster Lawsuits (Los Angeles Times) 

   
   

   California home insurers are facing twin lawsuits filed by homeowners who accuse them of colluding over the last several years to force them into the plan in order to profit from the higher premiums while reducing their liabilities in the event of a catastrophe — just what the lawsuits allege happened after the fires. The result, according to one suit, is the insurers “collectively reaped a windfall worth billions of dollars.” 

   
   

3. No, Gen Z isn’t Like ‘Every Other Generation.’ And That’s a Good Thing (Fast Company)

   
   

   “There’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: Gen Z isn’t waiting to be molded—they’re choosing what’s worth shaping themselves around. And that’s not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of agency. It’s easy to compare them to how we were at 22, to say “They’ll figure it out,” and move on. But the truth is, they’ve come of age in a different world. Of course, they see things differently. That’s not a threat to tradition—it’s an invitation to evolve.”

   
   

4. Cyberattack Surge Creates Opportunity for Insurers, Prompts Rethink on Premiums (Insurance Journal) 

   
   

   “On top of the basic insurance service, some firms are building their own in-house cyber teams, helping companies to monitor the threats and suggest changes to firewalls, systems and processes.”

   
   

5. The Businesses Insurers Are Overlooking (Insurance Thought Leadership) 

   
   

   “Expanding access starts with rethinking how we define risk. A thoughtful underwriter doesn't immediately reject a policy because it's unfamiliar. They look deeper. Our insurance carriers have stepped up to cover everything from pet waste removal professionals to holiday light installers—trades most carriers wouldn't bother pricing. But by leveraging digital platforms and informed risk frameworks, we've been able to meet these customers where they are—and help them get to where they're going.” 

   
   

6. Here’s Why There’s No Perfect Policy for Snapping Pics at Funerals (Connecting Directors) 

   
   

   “Crafting a photo policy is a challenge — and enforcing one is even harder. There’s just no single right answer to what should be allowed … but that doesn’t mean that the internet isn’t offering plenty of opinions. Here are just a few of the issues you might run into, and some feedback from both sides of the argument.” 

   
   

7. How to Scale with Soul (Inc.) 

   
   

   “If you’re scaling a business, here’s the hard truth: Culture doesn’t scale on its own. You have to build systems that grow your values along with your headcount. Here are five things to keep in mind about culture when you scale.” 

   
   

8. Great Leaders Make People Feel Noticed (Harvard Business Review) 

   
   

   “There are three ways leaders can become better noticers. First, they must identify the barriers to seeing others, particularly being too busy to take the time. Second, leaders must deliberately make space and use time for connection. Finally, they must ask questions and check in, in order to gather information and address their people’s concerns.” 

   
   

9. 5 Best Real Estate Accounting Software Evaluated by a CPA & a Broker (Tech Republic) 

   
   

   - Best overall real estate accounting software: RealPage Accounting 

   - Enterprise-ready real estate accounting software: Yardi Voyager 

   - Best for pros wanting intuitive, flexible tools: QuickBooks Online 

   - Best for firms requiring built-in fixed asset tracking: Xero 

   - Best for teams needing client portals and easy payment tracking: Zoho Books 

   
   

10. After Spike in Mortality Rates, Nebraska Funeral Directors Say There Aren't Enough Workers in the Industry (Nebraska Public Media) 

    
    

    The shortage isn’t just in rural Nebraska. Dean Schneider, a funeral director and co-owner at Roper & Sons Funeral Home in Lincoln said retirement plays a big role in the decline of the number of licensed funeral directors. 

    
    

    “That's a major concern,” he said. “As far as replacing those aging and reaching-retirement-age funeral directors, I think that's something that is everywhere. I don't think Nebraska is unique to that potential problem and situation. I think every state is probably going through that.” 

    
    

Top Podcast of the Week

How to Be ‘Dangerous in Any Real Estate Market’

Playmakers 

41 Minutes 

On the premiere episode of the Playmakers podcast, Gino Blefari shares insights from his decades in real estate and explains why he believes a down market can be a goldmine for top agents.

Blefari stepped down as HomeServices of America's president and CEO last month, though he still holds a leadership role as the brokerage's chairman emeritus. The timing was unrelated to longtime Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett's retirement announcement a few weeks later, Blefari said — but he noted that they do have a few things in common. For one, they have each lived in the same house their entire adult lives, and they even share a favorite song: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 

Weekend Wind-Down

“The Mortician,” an HBO original three-part documentary series, debuts Sunday, June 1 (9-10pm ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

The controversial new series centers around David Sconce, newly released from prison, and examines his exploits after taking over the family-owned funeral home. “Driven by profit, the Lamb Funeral Home in Pasadena, California engaged in years of morally questionable and inhumane practices.” 

Watch the trailer for “The Mortician”: