The Insura-Preneur Podcast

Michael Jans - Insurance Marketing Guru, Founder of Agency Revolution

Michael Jans discusses the stark choices old-school insurance agents face in today's marketplace

We're joined by Rick Fox so we can once again turn the tables on Michael Jans and put him in the hotseat! Together they discuss what Michael has learned and observed from interviewing the top minds in the independent insurance channel. Discover the risks Michael Jans thinks insurance agents & brokers are opening themselves up to if they rely on what worked 10 years ago, and the mindset that today's thriving agents & brokers use to make their customers love them.

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.

Jeremiah Desmarais - Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Insurance Marketing Authority

Insurance marketing mastermind shares how successful agents find ROI.

Jeremiah D. Desmarais is a 23-time award-winning financial marketer, TED Speaker and philanthropist that has been featured on Forbes, CNN, and Worth. His work has generated over two million insurance leads and helped advisors in over 51 countries generate over $300M in sales commissions. Labeled “One the greatest marketing minds in the financial industry”, he’s a sought after speaker, coach and private mentor to advisors, carriers and marketing organizations. He was key in building one of the top 17 fastest growing insurance software companies in the country on the Inc 500 List in less than three years – hitting a record 1503% growth. He then turned around the marketing systems at a multinational insurance automation firm to increase sales by $26M in only 9 months – effectively tripling sales prospects within 60 days. The firm went to be sold for $1.2B a short time thereafter. His #1 best-selling book, SHIFT: 201 Instant-Action Proven Marketing Strategies to Sell More Insurance and Financial Products Now is available on Amazon

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.

Randy Schwantz - Author of 'The Wedge'

Commercial Insurance Sales Guru Delivers Step-By-Step Advice To Build Sales Systems

Author of the classic insurance agency sales book, 'The Wedge', Randy Schwantz has a deep and detailed discussion with Michael about how to build really great systems to make your insurance agency or brokerage as effective as possible. Learn all about how to map a conversation to always be prepared, provide value and close sales - get details on a hiring process guaranteed bring the right producer into your agency or brokerage.

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.

Ryan Fleming - Vice President of JGS Insurance

Fast-growth insurance agency VP delivers practical details to generate new customers.

For the third year in a row JGS insuance has been named an 'Elite Agency' by IBA. In this discussion Ryan Fleming shares how to take yourself from being an agent or broker to a 'trusted advisor' and digs into the nitty-gritty details about how to be transparent while leveraging your knowledge to generate more customers for you insurance agency or brokerage.

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 Hartnett - President of Hartnett Advisors

Microsoft's Godfather of insurance services shares valuable insight about why independent agents aren't going anywhere

Bill Hartnett was an Agency Princiapl and PIA Rhode Island board member, but while on the Board of Directors at ACORD in 1994 he met with some people from Microsoft that wanted to understand the insurance industry better. He told them "If you ever get serious about this, why don't you give me a call? Maybe I'll come help you." They took him up on that offer and for 18 years Bill Hartnett was 'Mr. Insurance' at Microsoft before returning to ACORD as the Head of Innovation. Now Bill is the President of Hartnett Advisors, where he provides strategic advice on the transformational power of technology in business. Bill and Michael have an absolutely fascinating discussion covering everything from what it was like working with Bill Gates to why he believes the independent insurance channel isn't going anywhere, and the role technology can play in helping independent agents & brokers thrive in a world of direct insurance sales.

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.

Chris Paradiso - Owner of Paradiso Financial & Insurance Services

Practical and in-depth details about how to build a great marketing plan

Chris Paradiso has been running his own insurance agency for almost 20 years, but it wasn't until about 10 years ago that everything started to really click for him. When Chris started seriously studying and investing in marketing and engaging his marketplace, his agency soared above the competition. In this in-depth discussion Chris provides practical details about the tools and strategies that make an effective marketing plan.

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.

Ryan Hanley - Senior Vice President of Marketing at TrustedChoice.com and Managing Editor of Agency Nation

Content marketing mastermind shares how to engage the modern consumer

When Ryan Hanley started as an insurance salesperson, he struggled with how much he was interrupting other people's lives. Then Ryan developed a strategy that brought customers to him - on their own terms - and his success launched into the stratosphere. In one of our most information-packed discussions to date, Ryan Hanley reveals how to design a successful content marketing strategy, and the low-cost but effective ways insurance agents & brokers can embrace technology to engage their audience on a deeper level. 

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.

Peter van Aartrijk - President & CEO of Aartrijk and Principal, Insurance Practice Leader at Chromium

Marketing and branding expert reveals secrets to staying relevant and maintaining a good company culture

Peter van Aartrijk has been helping insurance agencies & brokerages find their voice and engage their customers for nearly 20 years - and longer than that he's followed the insurance industry as a journalist. Peter has appeared on networks like CNN, CNBC, Fox News - and he's been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other national media for his expertise. Together Michael and Peter discuss what insurance agencies & brokerages need to do to stay relevant to consumers and how to cultivate a company culture that will attract the customers and the team you want.

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 Sarzen - Senior Analyst at Aité Group

Master analyst sheds light on major opportunities for independent agencies & brokerages

For nearly 20 years Jay Sarzen has been consulting, analyzing, and leading at some of the largest companies in insurance and finance, such as MassMutual, BearingPoint, The Hartford Group, and now Aité Group where he focuses on P&C insurance. Together Michael and Jay have a thorough discussion about the behaviors and expectations of the modern insurance consumer, areas that independent agents & brokers are falling short, and the enormous opportunities few agencies & brokerages are taking.

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

Agent activist delivers roadmap to a successful future for independent insurance agents & brokers

Name a corner of the insurance industry, and Keith Savino probably has his hands in it. On top of being Chief Operating Officer of the highly successful Broadfield Insurance Group (formerly Warwick Resource Group), Keith sits on the ACORD board of Directors as Vice Chair of Standards for the Industry, holds a seat on the NetVU board of Directors, is the State Director for the New Jersey PIA, sits on the leadership council for AUGIE, and is an active member of pretty much any insurance advisory board you can think of. There are few people in the world that can match Keith's knowledge and passion for the independent insurance channel.

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.