The Insura-Preneur Podcast

J.D. Power Reveals Trends Agents Must Monitor and Understand

Marty Ellingsworth, Executive Managing Director, P&C Insurance Intelligence, J.D. Power
 
Over his many years of observing and working in the insurance industry, Martin Ellingsworth has created innovation at almost every link in the P&C value chain. Now Marty holds a birds-eye view of the entire industry in his position as Executive Managing Director of P&C Insurance Intelligence at J.D. Power. 
 
In this important podcast, Marty directs his attention toward the independent agency channel and the trends that are changing their very business:
 
What’s causing the hard marketing in auto insurance and where it’s going
Why independent agents should keep their eye on the State Farm business model
What agents should watch for as tech continues to have a massive impact on our industry
 
Serious agents, industry leaders, and insura-preneurs from all corners of the industry must make Marty’s insights 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.

Three Secrets About the Self-Scaling Insurance Agency

Michael Jans, Co-Founder, Agency Revolution, Principal, Michael Jans Advisory
 
Our host, Michael Jans, takes the mic to answer the question “Can an insurance agency grow by itself?” The Co-Founder and former CEO of Agency Revolution serves as a growth advisor to many of the largest and fastest growing insurance agencies and insurtechs in North America.
 
In this podcast, Michael pulls back the curtain on how his own fast-growth client agencies grow 25-40% or more per year. He openly shares insights on: 
 
Why a few key growth systems sky-rocket top-line revenue when installed
The four-stage process that gives agency principals and marketers clarity on how to drive growth
A simple method fast-growth agencies use to add new skills, capabilities, and customers
Why highly productive agents and principals choose peer-accountability groups for networking
 
If you’re serious about making growth easier and faster in the modern age, 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.

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.