The Insura-Preneur Podcast

Richard Kerr – CEO of MarketScout

Is this the future of retail insurance?

Once a month, agents and carrier execs from throughout the US hungrily devour Richard Kerr’s MarketScout Barometer. It’s easily the most comprehensive analysis of market conditions the industry offers today. Yet, it’s only a side project for Richard, the founder and CEO of MarketScout, an electronic insurance exchange with 35,000 member agencies in its network. In this conversation, Richard shares:

• Insights on what you can expect in changes to insurance pricing in the next 12 months
• Observations on the changing forces that affect market conditions for retail agents
• His own controversial predictions about the future of insurance – and how insurtech will change everyone’s lives – and precisely what retail agents must do now to prepare

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.

 

Charles Specht – President of Permission Group Inc.

Million dollar book of commercial business... per producer? Here's how...

How would you know if someone could help a producer build a million dollar commission book? First question: did they do it themselves?

In this case, the answer is a resounding YES. Charles Specht, CEO of The Permission Group delivers detailed instructions (and provocative insights) every producer should know:

• The unstoppable method to position yourself as the ‘Obvious Choice’ in the marketplace…before you ever make an outbound call.
• The reason you should never give quotes away…even if that’s the established practice…even if the prospect wants to play it that way…ever, ever, ever. (Listen to the end, where Charles makes this an ethical issue…not just a business issue.)
• The direct route to Broker of Record letters (instead of competing against the incumbent…and competing for the underwriter’s attention!)
• Easy ways to deliver an ongoing stream of value to your prospects and customers (and how to present it so they know it!)

If what used to work doesn’t work so well anymore…or, if you just want to boost your production of that of your producers, don’t miss this important podcast conversation with Michael Jans and Charles Specht.

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.

Brandie Hinen – Founder & CEO of Powerhouse Learning

Insurance industry coach reveals how to get people to get more done (and love doing it)

If you want more productivity, less 'noise' - and a team that's aligned around 'getting important stuff done' - you'll want to tune into this podcast with Brandie Hinen, Founder and CEO of Powerhouse Learning. A few of the topics she addresses: 

• How to create agreements with people so everyone is crystal clear on moving forward
• Two 'extra' questions to ask people to make sure they 'get it' on the inside. (You know, not just nodding their head, secretly ready to bolt!)
• How to build a culture of high performance
• The powerful role that mentoring can play in transforming an agency
• How to listen to customers so that you can 'wow' them with high-value content they love

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.

Michael Jans – Co-founder of Agency Revolution

Insurance Marketing Today: What's working (and what's not)

Michael Jans turned the tables. This time, he let YOU - the audience - choose the questions. He gives his most poignant answers. (With a few surprises.)

Do NOT miss this podcast if you want to hear what Michael’s answers are to any of these questions:

1. What is the ONE place I should invest my resources for rapid organic growth?
2. Do commercial lines producers really need to ‘do digital marketing’ if they’re already constantly in touch with their clients?
3. Should the Independent Agency Channel give up on Personal Lines? (Do not miss Michael’s response to this important question.)
4. My CSR’s keep telling me that prospects just want the cheapest price. What should I do?
5. What are the ‘4 Kinds of Money’ in insurance. (This question comes from a broker who saw Michael’s recent keynote at an industry conference.)
6. Maybe I’m old school, but I just don’t ‘get’ digital. Should I throw in the towel?

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.

Seth Greene – Lead Generation & Marketing Expert

Renowned marketing expert shares 5 questions you must answer to effectively market to your audience

World class marketer Seth Greene is the only person to be nominated 3 times for the GKIC Dan Kennedy Marketer of the Year award. He's also the author of 7 best selling marketing books, and co-host of the SharkPreneur Podcast, alongside regular Shark Tank judge, Kevin Harrington. Seth has also been written about in Registered Rep Magazine, Insurance News Net, Horses Mouth, and is a regular contributor to Life Health Pro, and Think Advisor. He has also been featured in Inc Magazine, CBS MoneyWatch, CBS News, LA Times, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, and more. This episode Michael and Seth talk about marketing, marketing, and marketing. Discover exactly how you should be finding, defining, and reaching out to your audience using reliable processes and techniques, and learn about an unusual new marketing technology that generates leads based on specific locations.

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.

Brett Pierce – Digital Marketing & Social Media Manager at Travelers

Major carrier's digital marketing expert delivers a masterclass in best practices for independent agents & brokers

Get ready to pay close attention as Brett Pierce delivers advice every insurance agent & broker would be wise to implement. This discussion is packed with tips, suggestions and best practices that can be applied to any agency quickly, and get results right away. From how to improve your website so it attracts more traffic and gets more conversions, to what you should be doing on social media platforms and which ones you should be focusing your attention on, and even the right way to build and influence feedback on major review platforms like google and yelp. Get ready to listen to this discussion twice, you don't want to miss a detail!

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 Christensen - Chief Product & Technology Officer at FMG Suite

What if prospects thanked you for your marketing?

The old ways of marketing are dying out, because in today's world where something interesting exists around every corner, consumer expectations have changed drastically. That's why Dave Christensen (and Agency Revolution) believe so strongly in marketing that constantly delivers valuable content to the audience you want. Together Dave Christensen and Michael Jans discuss what makes really great content marketing, and how it really is the most respectful way to advertise. They also discuss the fact that not everyone running an agency or brokerage is equipped to write blog posts, create interesting graphics, or videos – and how Attract^TM, the powerful suite of tools he created with Agency Revolution, will help insurance agents & brokers overcome the barriers of content creation and distribution.

Learn more about Attract^TM here

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.

Larry Morrison - President of the Business Transition Network

Leading Merger & Acquisition expert in the insurance industry shares how agencies thinking about perpetuation can put their best foot forward

Larry Morrison is the insurance industry's leading expert on Mergers & Acquisitions, Succession Planning, and Business Valuation. He carries with him 40 years of experience (25 years focusing on insurance), and more degrees and accreditation than we could possibly list here. Larry is even one of the few people in our industry accredited (twice over!) to appraise the work of other appraisers! In this information-overload of a discussion, Michael Jans and Larry Morrison dive into the nitty-gritty details about selling, merging, or acquiring an insurance agency, including the forces driving the heated M&A environment our industry currently occupies, and provides excellent advice for agencies looking at internal perpetuation. Get your pen and paper out and be prepared to listen to this one twice! You don't want to miss a single detail.

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.

Bill Wilson - Founder of InsuranceCommentary.com

Insurance education advocate shares how agents can do more for themselves, and their customers

Bill Wilson is a walking knowledge-base of everything insurance. Formerly the Associate Vice President of Education & Research at The Big I National, as well as the Founder & Director of the Big I's Virtual University, Bill is now the Founder and CEO of InsuranceCommentary.com, and is the recent recipient of the Jeff Yates Lifetime Achievement Award - The Big I's highest honor for non-agents. Bill Wilson has been published by nearly every major industry publication, and has been a featured speaker at so many industry events, it's more likely you've been a part of his audience. In this discussion Bill and Michael discuss the disruption in the industry caused by outside start-ups and why many of them are just a novelty, and the importance of insurance education among industry professionals, and what insurance agents & brokers can do to better educate themselves - and their customers.

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.

John Nemo - Keynote Speaker, Best-selling Author, LinkedIn Guru

LinkedIn expert delivers great advice on creating a profile that will generate leads

John Nemo is not an insurance guy - he's a lead generation expert. And what he has to tell you about using LinkedIn will transform the way you write your profile, and it will change the way you reach out to potential new connections. In this discussion John shares why 99% of all LinkedIn profiles are written all wrong - and exactly how to shape a profile that will have leads excited to talk to you. Not only that, John shares must-use advice for how to turn those leads into real connections, and a few tricks on how to leverage LinkedIn's search to becoming the Google of professional leads.

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.