Stressed business owners and HR professionals are turning to their insurance brokers for services and advice more than ever–on everything from workplace wellness to employee communications. But in nearly every category that employers ranked as important for their brokers to deliver, fewer than last year are satisfactorily delivering, according to a broker services survey report by Zywave, a provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology solutions for insurance and financial services.

The "2013 Broker Services Survey" used insight from more than 5,500 respondents nationwide to examine how corporate risk management expectations measure up to what brokers are providing.

Respondents said their top criteria for selecting a property-casualty broker were exceptional service, education on compliance issues and competitive pricing. This translates to at least two-thirds of employers seeking regular communication, access to benchmark data and industry expertise. Most employers expect to hear from their broker monthly on topics like benefits, HR and health. However, while employers expected more than ever, brokers' delivery actually decreased.