The Insura-Preneur Podcast

Expert Insight on COVID-19 and Insurance Coverage

Bill Wilson, Founder, InsuranceCommentary.com

Your clients will have questions. Your team will have questions. Bill Wilson has answers about the technical and legal issues regarding insurance coverages affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Bob Rusbuldt, CEO of the IIABA said, “Bill Wilson is the nation’s foremost leading expert on form, coverage, and technical issues.” Bill holds nothing back:

• How do business income policies cover coronavirus or shutdown by civil authority?
• Examining exposure for remote workers on your team and your clients’ teams
• New liabilities clients could be unknowingly exposing themselves to

Now is the time to be an insurance expert, not just an agent. This discussion will give you the confidence and clarity to help you lead your team and your agency in the crisis – and keep your team out of trouble. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Protecting Your Data When Moving to a Remote Work Environment

Brad Ruben, President, Archway Computer

All of a sudden, agencies throughout North America are going remote. But as team members adapt to this new work environment, gaps in security become exposed – and the consequences of a breach could hurt you and your clients. 

Brad Ruben, President of Archway Computer—an insurance IT firm that specializes in insurance agency security and remote access—shares critical tips that every agency principal and manager must attend to quickly:

• How to setup remote employees without causing damage
• Which scams agencies need to be aware of
• Security updates to keep your data safe

As working remotely becomes a necessity, the information Brad shares in this discussion has become a priority. Take note as Brad shares security tips for remote log-in access, which operating systems are most vulnerable, and more advice that will keep your data secure and your community protected. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Independent Agencies

Robert Hartwig, Director of University of South Carolina Center for Risk and Uncertainty Management

This episode is a cannot-miss for every serious insurance professional. Please make this a priority for this week. Chief insurance industry economist, Robert Hartwig, PhD, CPCU, delivers a rational and clear-eyed perspective on how the coronavirus will affect the lives and agencies of the modern insurance agent. Dr. Hartwig shares his expert perspective on:

• The projected economic impact through the year, and how agencies’ ongoing operations will be affected
• The impact the virus will have on policies, including workers’ comp, EPLI, business income, E&O, and more
• How the virus will affect insurance pricing
• What agents should be doing now to navigate the difficult months ahead

Dr. Hartwig is the immediate past president of the Insurance Information Institute. He serves as a regular media spokesperson for the property & casualty insurance industry and is frequently quoted by leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, Newsweek, Fortune, Forbes, The Economist and any others. Dr. Hartwig also appears regularly on television, including programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, Fox, PBS, and BBC. 

He now serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Risk Management, Insurance and Finance in the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and Director of the school’s Center for Risk and Uncertainty Management. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Unprecedented Upheaval Coming to Agency Channel

Michael Konialian, VP and General Manager, CoverWallet for Agents

Trailing the disruption of financial services channels and functions—banking, payments, etc—Michael Konialian has declared that insurance has hit the tipping point. Yet he’s bullish on the independent agent. He sees more profit moving in the direction of the agency, along with a superior customer experience. 

But not for everyone. Drawing on his experience as VP and General Manager at CoverWallet for Agents, in this podcast episode he shares his insights on:

• The critical skill sets future agents will need to rise above the pack
• The unstoppable momentum of technology in the modern agency – and how agents can ride it in the right direction
• How today’s agent can deliver superior service and earn more loyal clients

The world of insurance is changing fast. If keeping up—and winning—is a priority for you, this conversation is a must-listen episode. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Measuring Customer Loyalty to Transform Your Agency

Brandon Brown, VP Product Experience & Creative, Agency Revolution

How loyal are your customers to your agency? How do you really know? The future of your agency can be measured in the strength of your bond with your customers. How do you go from “I think they really like us” to the data science that gives you the facts?

Brandon Brown, VP of Product Experience & Creative at Agency Revolution reveals what today’s agency principals must know about the science of loyalty. 

• Two simple but powerful questions that reveal the best indicators about how your clients feel about your agency
• How to use the Net Promoter Score to get the most honest, unvarnished feedback about their relationship with you
• The action items that will drive deeper loyalty from your clients

If you believe the heart of your agency is the relationship with your customer, do not miss this masterclass on measuring and building customer loyalty by using modern tools that make it easy.

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Best-Kept Secret on Tripling Referrals

Stacey Brown Randall, Award-Winning Author 

If you have time to invest in rock-solid, practical-tactical advice on generating the best leads your agency can get, please invest it in this one conversation. 

Award-winning author and business coach, Stacy Brown Randall, pulls the curtain back on the system she shares with her private clients:

• Her simple 5-step system to make your referral generating strategy run automatically
• Why the traditional system of asking for referrals doesn’t get you nearly the referrals it could
• The small but overlooked tweak that makes people love giving you referrals

Everyone who talks to clients, closes business, or has a book of business must catch this timely advice for the modern insurance agency. You’ll see why Stacey’s book Generating Referrals Without Asking: A Simple 5 Step Plan to a Referral Explosion is flying off the shelves. If you’re looking for a dose of practical marketing vitamins, you’ve found it in this episode. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

How to Sell Your Agency High and Buy One Low

Michael Mensch, Managing Partner & Client Advisor, Agency Brokerage Consultants

Agency valuations are at an all-time high. But will those sky-high valuations be there when you need them? Our guest Michael Mensch, CBI, M&AMI, is a managing partner at the esteemed Agency Brokerage Consultants. With over 150 M&A transactions and hundreds of valuations in his portfolio, Mike reveals:

• The forces pushing agency valuations up, and where they’re going in the future
• His checklist to make your agency more valuable and generate higher income before you sell
• How to buy an agency now at the lowest price

Listen to this discussion for practical real-world advice to determine what your agency is worth, and how you can make it worth more. Don’t miss this must-listen discussion with one of the industry’s most respected M&A specialists. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Secrets to Double-Digit Growth

Recently selected by Safeco as an Agent for the Future, Zinc Insurance owner Seth Zaremba has captured the attention of agents and carriers across the nation for his clear strategy, innovative marketing, and data-driven approach to resolving challenges faced by modern insurance agencies. 

Listen to this podcast episode and learn how Seth:

• Achieved double-digit growth by aligning his agency with the customer journey
• Discovered that nearly 20% of his payroll was not serving the customer nor the agency
• Is ruthlessly shedding agency activities that no longer add value

Don’t miss this conversation with one of the insurance industry’s most respected marketer-agents. Listen today and get ideas you’ll put into practice tomorrow!

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

AI, Driverless Cars, and the How the Agent’s Role is Changing

Tony Tarquini, European Director of Insurance, Pegasystems

If you see your future in the independent insurance agency system,  this one conversation will give you insight into what the future of that system looks like – and how to prepare for it now. Tony Tarquini is the European Director of Insurance at Pegasystems—a leader in transformative software with thirty-eight locations across three continents. Tony has been delivering technology and driving business improvements with many of the largest insurance organizations in the world, long before anyone ever uttered the word “insurtech.”

Tony delivers a fact-based forecast every insurance professional should pay close attention to:

• How the insurance agents role is shifting from selling risk mitigation to risk management and prevention
• What the inevitable trend towards driverless cars and “owner-less” millennials means for independent agents
• How real-time AI assistants will transform the consumer-agency relationship

Don’t miss this conversation with one of the most respected technology experts in the insurance industry. Listen today and be prepared for a very different future!

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

How to Engage as Many Clients as Possible With Insurtech

Dustin Boss, CEO, Emerge Apps

Built by agents for agents, Emerge Apps partners with the nation’s leading insurance agencies to provide their clients and prospects with amazing software, sales tools, and resources to help them win with value… not insurance quotes. Dustin Boss knows the importance of using the right technology to get the job done. Listen to this discussion to discover: 

• How a technology platform can help agents do all of their OSHA record keeping.
• When the right time is to “poke the bear” with your prospects.
• How to show your clients that you care about more than just selling policies.

By investing in the right technologies, you can offer your clients real value and benefits that will tip the scales in your favor when it comes time to purchase. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.