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About Matt's expertise
Matt is a senior economic analyst and insurance correspondent at Insurify. His journalism background spans 11 years, beginning as a newspaper reporter before moving into data journalism. While working at the Redding Record Searchlight, Matt’s writing and reporting earned multiple awards from the California News Publishers Association.
Matt specializes in personal finance topics. His writing emphasizes data and trends, highlighting takeaways that help consumers make informed decisions. His research has been featured in the New York Times, CNBC, and the Wall Street Journal. He has been cited as a personal finance expert by the Associated Press.
Matt holds a B.S. in journalism from the University of Florida and resides in St. Petersburg, Florida. Outside of work, Matt enjoys exploring new cities, reading about history, and grumbling over his fantasy football team.
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Matt's latest posts
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The Iran War Has Shocked Gas Prices. Here’s What That Means for Car Insurance
The average car insurance premium could actually get cheaper by the end of 2026 if Americans drive less due to high gas prices.
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Drivers With Bad Credit Pay 40% More for Car Insurance — And Think They’re Getting a Good Deal
Poor credit is one of the most common ways drivers can end up overpaying for car insurance. But drivers also overly rely on loyalty for discounts and struggle to shop for coverage strategically.
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Insurify Projects Home Insurance Rates Will Rise for the 5th Consecutive Year, After a 12% Increase in 2025
The annual cost of home insurance will reach $3,057 (+4%) by the end of 2026, following a year in which nearly all states saw climbing premiums. Insurify projects that California, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Georgia will see home insurance premiums surge 10% or more by the end of this year.
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Survey: 45% of Homeowners Say Insurance Should Be Optional. Here’s the Price of Opting Out in Each State.
Lenders generally require homebuyers to carry home insurance. But nearly half of homeowners support making home insurance optional. Without insurance coverage, the average household would take on extreme long-term risk but save 13% or $281 on monthly housing payments.
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Insurance Premium Pressure: 57% Have Made Financial Sacrifices to Afford Home Insurance
Most homeowners (59%) saw their insurance premiums increase in 2025. As costs rise, more than one quarter said they would drop home insurance if they could (28%).
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Car Insurance Prices Tumbled 6% in 2025 — Insurify Projects an Affordability Gap Between States in 2026
Insurers are cutting rates to compete for drivers — but not everywhere. Many of the most expensive states saw premium increases, as cheaper states experienced decreases. Insurify expects that trend to continue in 2026.
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Flood Insurance Costs Could Soar 64% Without Government-Backed NFIP
Nine in 10 Americans with flood insurance get their coverage through the heavily subsidized National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If the NFIP ends, Americans could see average flood insurance costs rise by about $600 annually.
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Tariffs Could Raise Home Insurance Costs up to 38% Faster
With tariffs, Insurify projects the average annual cost of homeowners insurance could rise to $3,626 by the end of the year, an 11% increase from the end of 2024.
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Drive It Like You … The Most Stolen Cars in America (2025 Data)
The Hyundai Elantra is the most stolen car in the U.S., with more than 11,000 thefts in the first half of 2025. Theft rates across all vehicles are highest in Washington, D.C., and California.
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Insurify’s AI Report: 86% of Americans Would Trust AI to Help Them Buy Car Insurance
And more than two-thirds of drivers (68%) would let AI secure them a policy with a new insurer if doing so could save them $1,000 annually, according to Insurify’s inaugural AI Insurance Report.
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Holiday Shopping Survey: Porch Pirates and Tariffs Threaten Gift-Giving in 2025
Americans face more risks than porch pirates this holiday season. While 46% of Americans have fallen victim to package theft, another 79% say tariffs will cause them to adjust their shopping plans.
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Hidden Costs of Homeownership Come in at $21,084 — on Top of a Mortgage
Insurance, utilities, and other homeownership costs are eating into Americans’ budgets. In states like Hawaii and California, non-mortgage costs can surpass $30,000 per year.
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Phasing Out FEMA: 10 States That Could Lose the Most
The White House is taking steps to wind down FEMA’s role in disaster relief funding. States like Florida, Louisiana, and Texas are likely to feel the impact more than most.
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Survey: 91% of Gen Z Has Homebuying Doubts. Most Young Homeowners Underestimated the Costs
Gen Z’s dreams of homeownership are still alive, but many worry they’ll end up with buyer’s remorse after pulling the trigger. Of those who bought a home, nearly 90% were surprised by the cost of expenses like home insurance and property taxes.
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10 States Facing the Highest Financial Losses from Severe Weather
Natural disasters have driven up insurance costs for homeowners. States like Florida, South Carolina, and North Dakota are among the most financially threatened by severe weather, according to an Insurify analysis of population-adjusted loss data.
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As Recession Fears Loom, the Majority of Americans Consider Reducing Car Insurance Coverage
More than four in five Americans (82%) are preparing for a recession, a new Insurify survey shows. More than half (53%) have considered lowering their car insurance coverage to save.
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Nearly 50% of EV Buyers Say the Tax Credit Was a Deciding Factor — How Will Ending It Affect Sales?
A new tax and spending bill eliminates the $7,500 credit that encouraged Americans to buy electric vehicles. An Insurify survey found that 45% of EV owners said they wouldn’t have bought their EVs without the tax credit.
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Tariffs Could Raise Prices for Popular New Models by 15% — and Make Car Insurance More Expensive
Prices for some bestselling new models may climb by up to 25%. Meanwhile, Insurify projects that the average annual cost of car insurance could rise to $2,527 by the end of 2025, based on the latest tariff updates.
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Tariffs on Auto Imports and More Would Raise Car Insurance Rates 280% Faster
Insurify projects the average annual cost of full-coverage car insurance will climb 19% by the end of 2025, hitting $2,759. Tariffs will contribute to the bulk of the price hike.
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Survey: 98% of College Students Find Renters Insurance Beneficial
Most students with renters insurance (72%) were not required to have insurance — but chose to purchase it anyway, according to an Insurify survey.
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Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Could Raise Car Insurance Rates 60% Faster
Insurify projects that tariffs on Canada and Mexico may cause car insurance rates to rise faster. Analysis suggests the annual cost of coverage would climb 8% by the end of 2025, up from a 5% increase before tariffs.
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10 States Where Climate Change Isn’t Driving Home Insurance Spikes
Major natural disasters have caused nearly $750 billion in damages in the U.S. over the past five years, leading to higher home insurance rates. Insurify analysis shows some states are faring better than others.
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How Many Car Crashes and Fatalities Happen Each Year? Car Accident Statistics for 2025
Car accident rates declined in every state except Vermont and New York from 2023 to 2024. Those states had a 2% and 10% increase, respectively.
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Pet Adoption Statistics and Animal Shelter Facts for 2026
In 2023, Americans adopted fewer pets than shelters took in, but recent data suggests that many are now turning to pet adoption and pet insurance.