The Insura-Preneur Podcast

What 80,000 Insurance Consumers told Bain & Company About Our Industry

Darci Darnell, Partner, Global Head of Customer Practice, Bain & Company

 

You know insurance is changing. So do consumers—and it shouldn’t surprise you that they want it to change. They don’t want it to be slow, frustrating, or confusing. 

 

Few people know the insurance consumer better than our gest, Darci Darnell, Partner and Global Head of Customer Practice at Bain & Company. Bain’s insight on the relationship between the industry and the modern consumer is legendary. 

 

In this conversation, Darci reveals insights on critical issues the savvy agent must address today:

 

• How climate change, disease, and tech disruptions are producing new types of risk
• The direct line relationship between customer loyalty and customer lifetime value
• How insurers are going beyond reimbursing damages by incentivizing preventative behaviors to reduce risk

 

This episode will be one of the most important conversations about changes to the agent's role in insurance consumer behavior you’ll hear this year. Serious agents must make this conversation a priority. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

Head of IBM Insurance Shares Important Research

Mark McLaughlin, General Manager - Insurance, IBM

Market forces continue to shift and agents who want to thrive in the future must be ready for change as the market demands it. Our guest, Mark McLaughlin, IBM’s General Manager of Insurance, reveals the direction their research shows the wind is blowing—and the response agency principals must have today.

Listen to this discussion for Mark’s powerful insight: 

• What 12,000 insurance execs reported as the top driver affecting their business
• How the customer experience across other industries is forcing insurance to play catch-up
• Why more consumers are judging agencies by the experience and not the product
• How savvy agents are standing out from other channels and increasing customer loyalty

Agents who want to lead their enterprise into a thriving future should make this discussion a top priority today.

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

Where Insurtech is Taking Agencies

James Benham, CEO, Co-Founder, JBKnowledge

 

Savvy agents know they need to make critical decisions now to thrive in the future of this fast-changing industry. James Benham, CEO, and Co-Founder of the leading insurtech, JBKnowledge, freely shares insight and surprises he’s found from over 20 years of creating and distributing insurtech that’s used every day throughout the insurance industry.

 

In this conversation, James reveals insights on: 

 

• Major emerging trends in insurtech, including AI, big data, cloud computing, and more
• Steps agents can take today to improve their clients’ experience dramatically in the future
• How to minimize waste and maximize profit in your agency

 

Serious agents who want a sneak peek into the future—and want to thrive—should make this episode a priority. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

Cyber Expert Predicts Emerging Threats and Opportunities Jack Kudale, Founder, CEO, Cowbell

There’s a looming cybersecurity threat over small and medium business clients. Jack Kudale, Founder & CEO of Cowbell—a leader in cyber insurance for SMBs—has the bird’s-eye view on the critical trends in cyber risks.

 

His company monitors 23 million US based businesses for cyber threats (for perspective, that means nearly 3 out of every 4 of your commercial lines clients). And Jack doesn’t like what he sees. 

 

In this podcast, Jack shares his remarkable insights on cyber threats and insurance, including:

 

• The key factors that are forcing huge spikes in demand, and why this is a huge growth opportunity for agencies
• Three imperative forms of protection you should use in your own agency—and share with your customers
• How everything from the Russia-Ukraine War, Work-From-Home, and Supply Chain weakness amplify cyber threats
• A practical action plan for any business who gets hit by a cyber threat

 

Any insurance professional who is serious about protecting their customers, and their own organic growth, should make this podcast a priority. This may be the new E&O threat agencies can no longer ignore. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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 Agents Can Sell More Virtually

For the insurance producer, COVID claimed a reliable marketing tool—in-person meetings. Agents were forced to communicate online; some figured it out, some hated it, and many were in-between. 

 

Now, a series of best practices can make online selling a high-leverage (and easy-to-use) avenue that saves time and boosts conversion rates. 

 

In this workshop-style episode, Amazon best-selling author, international sales trainer, and Founder and CEO of The Authority Factor, Steve Brossman, shares his method for the mastery of online selling: 

 

• What to do before an appointment to boost the “buying energy” for an online sales call
• How to give prospects a taste of the relationship before closing the sale
• Steve’s “Presentation/Annotation” method to move prospects to your side of the table during sales calls
• Simple webcam tricks to help producers master their video presence

 

Steve Brossman doesn’t just train clients in these sales methods across five continents. He uses them every day himself. If you’re a producer, sales manager, or principal looking to boost conversion rates, you don’t want to miss this jam-packed and practical podcast discussion. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

Making Insurance Better for the Customer

Jeff Harris, Co-Founder, CEO, Appulate

 

Years ago, this tech entrepreneur groaned at the sight of the insurance application process. So he decided to do something about it. 250,000 users later, Jeff Harris, Co-Founder, and CEO of Appulate can claim some progress. Founded 17 years ago, Appulate is one of the industry’s earliest insurtechs and one of the most widely distributed today. 

 

In this important essential discussion, Jeff shares insights on:

 

• What parts of the insurance process can be fixed by pushing buttons, and the parts that should be reserved for the human touch 
• What modern agencies can do to prepare for emerging technology in the insurance industry
• How the agency of the future will look and behave, compared to today’s agencies

 

If you want to stay on top of the latest industry trends, make this discussion with an industry transformer a priority. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

Could This be the Future of the Insurance Agency?

Aaron Gordon, Vice President, Gordon Companies Insurance Services

 

Our guest Aaron Gordon is a second-generation insurance agent with 11 years in his family’s agency in Manhattan—and is rapidly becoming a leading voice for millennials in the insurance industry. Aaron has something to say to boomers as well as younger generations: “The future is bright.” However, there’s a big “but” attached to that optimism. 

 

Listen to hear Aaron share insights on: 

 

• What to know about recruiting and retaining talent today
• Why Gen X and millennials are saying “Thank you” to the boomer generation but “respectfully moving on.”
• Technologies that help agencies grow and better service clients

 

Whether you’re seeking to hire or contemplating perpetuation, this agency VP has a message that can’t be ignored. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

National PIA Survey Reveals Major Agency Trends

Mike Becker, CEO, National Association of Professional Insurance Agents

 

The Industry is changing, consumer behavior is changing, and so are agencies. But how well are today’s agents keeping up with market trends? What about your agency? 

 

Our guest, Mike Becker, CEO of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents will help answer this question and share the results from the just-release 2022 Annual Independent Agent Survey. PIA and National Underwriter worked together to ask thousands of agents the questions we need to get our finger on the “state of the agency” today. 

 

In this fast-paced conversation, Mike shares illuminating details on topics such as:

 

• The dramatic shift in agents’ opinions on the use of tech to build trust
• The biggest challenges to growth and operations agencies across the country are facing today
• How agencies are planning for their post-COVID workforce—and where those workers will actually perform their job

 

Find out how your insurance agency stacks up against the rest of the industry as our guest unpacks the results of the most important agent survey of the year. If keeping up matters to your agency leadership, make this podcast a priority this week. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

What Agents Must Know About Cybersecurity Coverage

Kingsley Flynn, Head of Insurance, Sayata

 

A client shows up at their office at 8 am, turns on their computer… and sees a ransom demand. After breaking out in a cold sweat, they call you. What do you say?

 

This scenario doesn’t “only happen in movies” anymore, it could happen to any agency, as it already has for others. And protecting, advising, and guiding a client’s cyber decision-making is quickly becoming an agent’s job.

 

Our guest, Kingsley Flynn, Head of Insurance at Sayata brings 46 years of insurance experience—from Marsh to Lloyd’s—to today’s cyber industry. 

 

In this timely conversation, Kingsley shares insight on:

• Emerging cyber threats to small and medium businesses
• Trends in cyber premiums agents should be aware of
• Breakthroughs in delivering cybersecurity to today’s client base

 

Every serious commercial lines agent should make this conversation a priority. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.

7 Predictions for Insurance Marketing in 2022

Michael Jans, Co-Founder, Agency Revolution, Principal, Michael Jans Advisory

 

In recent years we’ve seen a dizzying pace of change, a steady stream of new tech, and constant changes in consumer behavior. Against a backdrop like this, how should an agency grow in 2022?

 

Our podcast host, Michael Jans, dives into that very question and delivers 7 predictions for insurance marketing, including: 

 

• What fast-growth agencies are doing differently than average agencies
• How will the agency tech stack look different in 2022
• How hungry agencies can rise above the noise and command their market

 

If agency growth is on your agenda in 2022, make this podcast a priority today. 

 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-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.