The Insura-Preneur Podcast

Michael Jans – The 5 Levels of the Modern Insurance Agency

Michael Jans on ‘The 5 Levels of the Modern Insurance Agency’ – Where do you stand?
Are you ready for the Modern Insurance Age? It’s not coming. It’s here. In this special 100th episode of the Connected Insurance Podcast, Agency Revolution Founder, Michael Jans reveals:
The 5 big domains of change that will drive the industry in the next three years.
The 5 Levels of the Modern Agency… designed to reveal both how prepared your agency is to dominate the market of your choice – and, show how to get to the next level up.
The dangers of addressing change in the wrong way (like chasing the ‘Guru with a gimmick’ or the next shiny new thing the marketing world tosses your direction.)
Wondering how prepared your agency is for tomorrow’s marketplace? (Or, today’s?!) If you’re a serious professional, don’t miss this chance to get a clear sense of direction – in an era that demands clarity, confidence and control.
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.

Ken Crerar – President & CEO of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers

“It’s the speed of change that’s really changing.”
Ken was recently named one of the industry’s ‘Top 100 Game Changers’. In this podcast, you’re about to discover why.
Under Ken’s leadership, The Council—as its often called—had grown six-fold and solidified its unique position as the association for the largest commercial insurance firms in the world.
Ken shares his insights on a wide-range of topics affecting today’s retail agent, including:
How today’s leader faces the unique challenges of guiding the future of a 3-generation workforce
Ken’s keys to success. He paints a clear picture on how the best of the best get that way. With changes in behavior. In attitude. In the way they treat others. And, in the way they treat themselves.
How the industry deals with change. (You may be surprised at his answer. Most people think the industry resists change. Or tries to sleep through it. Not Ken.)
If you’ve got time to invest one podcast in your own business and career, make it this one. Ken is both insightful… and delightful.
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.

Keith Savino – Managing Partner at Broadfield Insurance Group

Chairman of PIA National & Father of the ‘Insurance Buy-Button’ declares, ‘This is still a relationship business. But, relationships are different!’
Keith Savino has probably attended more meetings, led more industry organizations, logged more volunteer hours, and led more industry organizations than a thousand agents. Keith brings a long resume of advocacy and activism for the independent agency channel to this conversation.
He currently serves as the volunteer President of PIA National. Keith has served as State Director of the New Jersey PIA, President of the New Jersey PIA, Chairman of NetVU (the Vertafore Users Group), Chair of Industry Relations for Agents Council for Technology (ACT), the CPIA Society, board member for AUGIE and much more.
Of course, he’s also an agency principal at the highly successful Warwick Resource Group, LLC/ Broadfield Group a national insurance agency/brokerage with roots dating back to the 1800's.
What hasn’t Keith done? Well, he’s never been on the Connected Insurance Podcast... Until now! In this episode discover Keith’s insights about:
How agents & brokers need to get involved with the insurance community so they can really prepare for the future.
The reason the agent-broker channel is in a great position today (and why the ‘efficiency’ of direct sales isn’t the colossal threat many believe it is).
Keith’s ‘Insurance Buy-Button’ philosophy to building a great experience for both the customer and the agent.
What does the future of insurance look like for retail agents? No one else has the unique perspective, connections, and experience as this agency owner. If you have time to listen to one agent, please make this conversation a priority!
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.

Kitty Ambers - CEO of Network of Vertafore Users

Kitty Ambers, CEO of Network of Vertafore Users Paints Clear Picture of the Future for Successful Agents
Are you ready for 2019? If you’re hoping to make this your best year ever, you don’t want to miss Michael’s conversation with Kitty Ambers. Kitty has been providing independent agents with guidance and leadership through her many positions and professional roles for over 25 years. She is the Executive Director of the Instar Users’ Group, CEO of NetVU, CIC Faculty member… the list of her qualifications goes on and on. Like many of our best guests, Kitty also cares about the agency channel. (It’s been in her blood for three generations). In this interview, she shares her insights into our fast-changing industry like:
The three critical roles of the agency principal of the future: Strategic Leader, Relationship Manager, Team Leader…and, how that’s different today from how it’s ever been! (As Kitty says: With today’s media, ‘It’s like being on stage all the time!’)
Why it’s not just the change but the speed of change that scares so many agents – and Kitty’s remedy for staying on top!
How the nature of the Independent Insurance Agency is forcing agents to re-think their ‘business blueprint’… and how your deepest expertise drives growth.
Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry’s most respected thought leaders. Listen today and get ideas you’ll want to put into your 2019 business plan!

Dan Faggella – Founder & CEO of Emerj

Why this leading expert on Artificial Intelligence is urging insurance agents to 'lean upmarket'
Whether you realize it or not, Artificial intelligence is part of your everyday life. It’s even become part of normal operations in the insurance industry. But, for as much as AI has permeated our lives, this is just the beginning.
Our podcast guest, Dan Faggella, predicts big changes ahead. As the AI consultant to the UN, INTERPOL, The World Bank, global pharmaceutical and insurance companies, Dan Faggella has a clear-eyed view on the promise (and potential pitfalls) of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry. In this podcast you will learn:
How artificial intelligence will likely affect the purchase of insurance (and how agents select their markets) in the very near future.
Why insurance agents must pay attention to the rise of AI in other industries because, as Dan says, ‘Those very waves will hit you.’
The four places in the insurance value chain most likely to be transformed by AI (including customer relations).
The strategic imperative that agents must wake up to quickly (and how that may change your entire book of business for the better)!
Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the world’s top artificial intelligence experts. Listen today and be better prepared for 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.

Jay Weintraub – Co-founder & CEO of Insuretech Connect

CEO of Insuretech Connect: ‘Service and support is never a commodity!’
Why did 6000 insurance professionals swarm Las Vegas a few weeks ago? Because Insuretech Connect had their third conference. (Yes, you read that right. 3 years. 6000 people.) In the middle of it all is this week’s podcast guest, the Co-Founder and CEO of the conference, Jay Weintraub.
Anyone who plans to be in this industry (more than a few months!) must keep their finger on the pulse of this game-changing mash-up of technology and insurance. Hear what this industry giant shares about:
The ‘safest harbors’ for the retail agent in the future of the industry.
How to exploit insuretechs for your own growth.
The challenges and disruptions insuretech is most likely to cause for retail agents in the near future.
Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the insurance industry’s most respected ‘match-makers’ and transformers. This is an important 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. 

Jeff Roy – President & CEO of Excalibur Insurance Group

Jeff Roy, Award Winning Broker: ‘The ones at the top aren’t in the insurance business first. They’re in the experience business first.’
How can you know what’s really working today in insurance marketing? One way is to listen to agents and brokers whose marketing is doing just that: working.
Jeff Roy, President & CEO of the Excalibur Insurance Group in Canada delivers a plateful of ‘real beef’ in this podcast conversation with Michael Jans. You’ll discover why he was awarded Aviva Canada’s first Broker’s Hackathon, a contest designed to encourage groundbreaking ideas on how technology can enhance the industry:
Be prepared to take notes when Jeff describes the different technologies he uses to communicate with his customers and marketplace. (And ‘take note’ when he explains that ‘technology is not’).
Get Jeff’s take on the agency of today… and which ones are not prepared for the industry of tomorrow.
See how Jeff’s agency connects with customers at the deepest possible levels… with content the customer actually wants!
Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry industry’s most respected insurance brokers. Listen today and 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.

Bruce Dickhoff – President & CEO of the North American Software Associates

Long-time insurance software executive warns, ‘pay attention to the changes. Know what’s happening!’
Bruce Dickhoff was a coder, crashing through barriers of ‘old school’ insurance agencies 32 years ago. And, he never stopped. As CEO of North American Software Associates – commonly known as NASA – Bruce has been delivering solutions to insurance agencies for decades. (Little known secret: The Home Shopping Network had an insurance agency – once upon a time – and Bruce provided their agency management system.) In this interview with Michael, Bruce shares his insights on:
What the future may look like for today’s agents… including their use of software solutions, ‘getting modern’, and emerging competition.
The mindset shift agents must make about technology. (Not-too-subtle hint: make it your friend, not your enemy!)
Why and how agents must become ‘lifelong learners’ to survive in a turbulent, fast-moving marketplace.
Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry industry’s most respected providers of agency management systems – and a long-time industry observer and thought leader.
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 Reddy – President of the Benefits Division, and Senior Vice President of Field Operations at Keystone Insurers Group

Why agents must change their ways... or their days will be numbered.
Almost a third of a century ‘in the biz’ – and still on the cutting edge. Long-time benefit wizard, Mike Reddy, serves as President, Employee Benefits Division at the Keystone Insurance Group, as well as SVP of Field Operations. From this unusually powerful perch, Mike shares his observations of an industry in transition:
The ‘different’ behaviors that separate the winners from the losers. (In his role as SVP of Field Operations at Keystone, Mike gets the ‘birds-eye’ on hundreds of agencies. As he said, ‘There will be clear disruption. And, clear winners and clear losers.’ He shared what he thinks will determine which way agencies will go.)
The future of benefits in the P&C agency. (Whether you have a full-fledged benefit division – or you write it when you can – Mike shares his crystal ball with the industry right here.)
Strategy vs. tactics (and planning vs. chaos!). Mike shares his insight on what happens to agencies when they really plan…and thoughts on how to go about it… the right way.
Please don’t miss this conversation with one of the industry industry’s most respected benefit and planning leaders – and one of the industry’s tireless advocates for the independent agent. Listen today and 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. 

Dave Ellis – Founder of Ellis Marketing

Facebook magic! How to get a steady stream of hot leads with Facebook… Now that the rules have changed for everyone!
Dave Ellis is one of the Top Facebook Advertising Experts in the nation. You’ll soon see why, as he unravels the mysteries of how huge internet marketers make millions – starting with one simple (but perfect!) Facebook ad.
If you're an agency principal who knows you’re responsible for revenue, and you want to make certain your agency has the most effective, high volume marketing engine possible... then you need to listen to this discussion.
If you're an agency marketer who wants to deliver real results, and not just more clever postings about ‘auto safety’ or your ‘super-fun’ Halloween party... then you need to listen to this discussion.
Dave takes time from his jammed client calendar to reveal:
Why (and how) your Facebook ad must be part of a ‘system’ – not just a one-shot ad. (Dave tears apart his 4-part system to show how you can ‘engineer’ the right emotions to get the best prospects—and only the best ones—to move through your funnel!)
One little surprise tweak that Dave used to get a 400%(!) bump to his advertising results.
The big changes in the social advertising platforms you must know about: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram – and where they fit into your marketing plan.
Don't let your agency get stuck making the marketing moves of yesterday. Listen to this conversation with one of the online advertising industry’s most respected experts today and 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.