The Insura-Preneur Podcast

John Prichard – President of OLI Insurance Services, and Executive Vice President of Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Innovation is alive and well in the agency system! Here’s how one company supports agents with cutting edge service…

They say the agency channel is under siege from disrupters who want to knock the agent out of the equation. What should an agent do? Hide their head in the sand? No! Here’s one agency advocate with a vision – and a solution! John Prichard, President of OLI Insurance Services (and a third generation retail agent) holds the belief that agents matter – and, he has a vision that with a little help, agents can build on their strength, and keep on growing:

• Many agents do feel threatened by the mere pace of change. John shares his insights on the trends and forces agents should keep their eye on.
• What do agents do that no other channel can do? And, who is the ideal customer for the agency channel? John uses his vast experience to show how agents can deliver on a promise that consumers really care about.
• Technology, sales support, market access…John shares his vision for small and local agent, and how his innovative company can help them in turbulent times.

If you care about the agency channel…want to know about the innovations that are injecting energy back into the channel…or, if you’re a small or local agent wanting every ‘unfair advantage,’ don’t miss this exciting conversation!

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Greg Wilkes – Partner at Insurance Solutions Group

Agency owner grows business 20X. Here’s how!

Greg Wilkes started a scratch agency…then grew it…then grew it again…and again. His agency is 20 times the size it was just 13 years ago, with five locations – and accounts from Alabama to South America. In this podcast, Greg doesn’t hold back. This one conversation could change the way you look at your agency – forever:

• Greg’s method for ‘whale hunting’ – how to get those ultra-big accounts that you always thought were ‘too big’ for your agency.
• How to steal those big accounts from agencies ten times your size (and how to make the incumbent completely irrelevant to your prospect!)
• The simple way that Greg uses technology to nurture those highly desirable prospects (so they want to do business with you before they even meet you!)

Greg’s system has been copied by agencies throughout North America, as he has generously presented this step-by-step model to agency groups throughout the US. You’ll see why he’s a much-loved presenter…and a well-respected agent by carriers, competitors and, of course, his rapidly growing customer base.

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Tyler McConvill – Vice President of Marketing at FMG Suite

SEO masterclass: how to flood your website with hot leads!

If you have time to listen to this one conversation, you’ll wipe out any confusion you have about SEO – forever! (And, you’ll know the secrets that master SEO experts use to flood their websites with high quality business every day!) Get ready to eavesdrop on one of the most important, information-loaded conversations for any agent or broker who’s serious about organic growth, as Michael Jans interviews one of the marketing industry’s most esteemed SEO masters, Tyler McConvill, Vice President of Marketing at FMG Suite:

•  Discover why the most important part of SEO isn’t technical! You will learn what every agency principal needs to know about SEO…especially if you don’t ‘do’ SEO yourself!
• White hat…black hat…changing algorithms…new technologies. SEO can be confusing. Tyler answers basic and advanced questions. (You will impress your team with how much you know…and, you’ll want them to listen to this podcast immediately!)
• What you cannot ignore about your website! Get easy solutions to some of the most troubling problems agents and brokers have with their sites – and getting traffic to pay you a visit (lots of visits!)

Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the marketing industry’s top SEO experts. Listen close and take notes today – get ideas you’ll put into practice tomorrow!

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Mike Mathisen – President of Colorado Insurance

30+% Annual Growth…Year After Year After Year!

Mike Mathisen runs one of the premier – and fastest growing – insurance agencies in North America, exceeding top line growth of over 30% every year. Curious how he does it? He holds nothing back from this conversation with Michael Jans:

• Exactly how he sees his job differently than almost every personal lines agency owner (and why this is central to his success!)
• Mike’s ‘Big 5’ – and why that motivates his entire service team to sell more, get more referrals and make customers love their agency!
• The unique business model for selling insurance that outguns every competitor in his state (and the other states he’s moving into!)

If you’re serious about organic growth, this is the one podcast you don’t want to miss. Do it today – and see results the next time you talk to your staff!

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Paul Hawkins – President & CEO of HawkSoft

Now hear this! Industry leader, Paul Hawkins shares insights on agency success – from over 25 years of building one of the industry’s premier technology companies.

22 years ago, Paul Hawkins launched the HawkSoft agency management system – when the idea was almost a novelty. Now recognized as one of the leaders in helping insurance agencies manage and grow, Paul shares his insights on agency success:

• The ‘one word’ that agents should live and breathe if they want to thrive.
• How to handle the rapid pace of change in the industry – without losing a clear and reliable sense of direction.
• From among the many thousands of customers that Paul and his company have served, he shares the unique behaviors of the ‘best of the best’ – and what they do differently.

Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry’s most respected thought leaders. Paul’s rich history in the insurance and his incessant leadership provide insight the entire industry can benefit from.

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

2018 State of the Industry Report with Michael Jans (Part 2 of 2)

‘I’m worried my agency is not keeping up with today’s consumer.’ In a recent survey, 96% of agents agreed with that statement. When the world changes fast, how do you stay on top? And how do you thrive?

Our podcast host, Michael Jans, delivers the second part of his acclaimed State of the Industry report for 2018. In this section, Michael shares his insights on:

• How serious agents can capture the huge and growing insurance business of the millennial generation. (Hint: this is a case of ‘what used to work doesn’t work anymore!’ Michael shares insights on precisely what millennials look for in an insurance relationship.)
• Six strategies to ‘get faster,’ stay on top of change – and shoot ahead of your competition.
• How private equity is changing the independent agency sector. (And, what’s missing in the private equity strategy that agents should be aware of.)
• Why agents should not give up on personal lines…and the one thing they must do to thrive in that business. (And why so-called analysts are completely wrong when they say P/L is a lost cause.)

Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry’s most respected thought leaders. Michael is a leading advocate for insurance agents, as he has been for 25 years – but he doesn’t mince words. He believes that agents must take action forcefully in 2018 – and that the year will not be kind to the complacent, confused or overly-cautious. 2018 is a year for action.

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

2018 State of the Industry Report with Michael Jans

Is 2018 the watershed year for insurance agents? Michael Jans reviews forces too powerful to ignore…

Our podcast host, Michael Jans, has delivered a highly consumed ‘State of the Industry’ report to the insurance industry for years. In this podcast, Michael shares ‘Part One’ of his analysis of the forces that are too big to ignore. With his usual obsession for making it practical, he also shares his insights on the ‘big so what’ – what agents should do to position themselves for success in 2018.

• Why ‘go digital or die’ is a meaningless slogan – unless you’ve got clear direction, clear strategy and alignment around what matters most.
• Competitive channels aren’t going away…but most agents have taken a wrong turn by competing against them on their terms! Why Michael says that competing on price is a great strategy for other channels…and the wrong strategy for agents.
• Beware the marketing guru who flashes the shiny new thing, and says ‘follow me.’ Michael shares his insight on how to pick and choose what to do – in a way that makes you smarter than the gurus with a secret agenda.

Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry’s most respected thought leaders. Michael is a leading advocate for insurance agents, as he has been for 25 years – but he doesn’t mince words. He believes that agents must take action forcefully in 2018 – and that the year will not be kind to the complacent, confused or overly-cautious. 2018 is a year for action.

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Marty Agather – Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at TrustedChoice.com

This is how agents & brokers can stand out and capture new business

Our podcast has ‘done it all’ – from family agency to insurance software executive to one of the industry’s most respected thought leaders. Marty’s high energy, no-holds-barred passion for independent agents & brokers practically jumps out of the speakers in this discussion! If you’re interested in where our industry is headed – and how to prepare, this conversation is one you don’t want to miss!

• What’s driving the massive change in insurance today?
• Where are the immediate impacts?
• What does this mean to the agency owner now?
• What exactly should agents be doing today to capture more business?

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Kirk Faulkner – Marketing Strategist at FMG Suite

This is how agencies stand out (and win!)

Is insurance a commodity? Not if you don’t want it to be. But…how do you convince your market that your agency is different? Content marketing professional, Kirk Faulkner reveals:

• How to stand out, when consumers think ‘you’re all the same!’
• A 4-Step Process to creating marketing that people love (and getting them to consume it –and engage with you about it!)
• The most important elements of your agency brand

If you never want to sell on price…but DO want your customers to feel undying loyalty, don’t miss this important podcast!

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.

Jim Keating – Founder, CEO, and Chairman of The Keating Group

0 to $200 million revenue in 12 years…

Jim Keating, founder, CEO and Chairman of The Keating Group has earned the right to talk about maximizing technology. It’s been core to building the fastest growing wholesale brokerage in the US. Every agent who cares about the future of the industry must listen to Jim share his insights on:

• Why retail agents should feel bewildered or confused about the fast-changing world of technology (and what that means to retail agents)
• How Jim used technology to leverage hyper-fast growth
• The cornerstones of success in today’s insurance world (what remains the same…and what’s different forever)
• What separates the winners from the losers in the insurance world

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster? Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.