Episodes
"Is Your Agency's Email Marketing Striking Gold, or Striking Out?"
Unlock the secrets of high-ROI email strategies in this electrifying podcast episode with Jay Schwedelson, the wizard of email marketing. As an independent insurance agency, it's time to stop blending in and start standing out. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) reveals a staggering $43 return for every dollar invested in email marketing - but the real magic lies in mastering the craft.
Join us for this riveting podcast...
Published 11/20/23
Mike Alexander started his agency in a crisis. The ‘Great Texas Mold Crisis’ was sending agencies all over the state into a death spiral. He just purchased a small book with 400 clients.
One of his early - and critical - insights was that it wasn’t going to be enough to do a good job at insurance. He’d have to do a good job at marketing. Fast forward to today. 4000 customers. 20% annual growth.
Listen as Mike unravels the secrets to his insurance marketing success, including:
How Mike fixed...
Published 11/06/23
Arguably, the fastest growing family owned agency in America. Now, revealing the juicy secrets that have become insurance industry legend.
Meet Mike Mathisen. He bought a teeny agency with a few hundred customers, stepped on the gas and never hit the brakes. 30% growth for over a decade. Reliable, profitable - and, if you love growth yourself, deserving of your close attention.
In this podcast, Mike reveals the secrets of how he ‘did the impossible:’
The system he uses to absolutely JAM his...
Published 10/19/23
How This $10 Million Agency Doubled in One Year
Just as his college career ended, Michael DeLaGrange tragically lost his father. And gained an insurance agency. A small, one-man shop that mostly sold financial products.
Fast forward to today. That small agency now has 50 employees. Five stores. And $20 million for expansion. In this episode, Michael shares:
His “opposite” approach to a common industry trend—and why he went full boar on an unusual approach to a bricks ‘n mortar agency
The...
Published 08/10/23
A different kind of podcast. This time, our host - and ‘marketing guru’ - Michael Jans joins in on the conversation. Michael is joined by commercial insurance sales expert and trainer, Randy Schwantz.
This unique blend of expertise will reshape your insurance business. Get ready for talent acquisition secrets, revenue-boosting strategies, and content marketing mastery.
Elevate your game, attract top producers, and position yourself as a problem-solving expert. Don't miss out on the...
Published 06/16/23
Jeff Teschke was the founder & CEO of Forge3, the top website developer for independent agents - until it’s recent sale to Agency Revolution. In this podcast, Jeff reviews key lessons for agents, learned over his 18+ years serving the industry. He shares his insight on:
The value of ‘niching down’ for agencies
How the industry has changed (and what agents should do to keep up with that change)
The importance of ‘social proof’ to earn trust in the marketplace
Why agents should be careful...
Published 06/01/23
Your insurance agency makes money two ways. Now, as income. And later, when you sell.
Here’s the magic. The decisions you make now create the value you get later.
Few people know that better than our podcast guest, Michael Mensch, CEO of Agency Brokerage Consultants. Michael has assisted in over 400 M&A transactions and over 1,700 valuations of insurance agencies and brokerages in the US for privately-held businesses and lenders including Live Oak Bank, Westfield Bank, Crestmark Bank,...
Published 05/24/23
Chuck Blondino, Author, The Remarkable Insurance Agency
He was Safeco and Liberty Mutual’s Director of Agency Capabilities and Programs. He’s walked through the front door of thousands of agencies. He’s taught reliable methods of growth to agency principals from coast-to-coast.
Chuck Blondino is a rare three-time encore interviewee because he always brings the goods. This time, Chuck shares the inside story of 11 actual agencies, actual steps to growth, and actual, real-world results....
Published 12/20/22
Michael Jans, Co-Founder, Agency Revolution, Principal, Michael Jans.
A message from our host, Michael Jans:
“I’ve interviewed over 225 top leaders in the insurance industry. I want to share the most important things they’ve said to me. I’ve analyzed those conversations. And as I organized them, some critical themes and messages were very clear, and they were all connected to six areas the serious insura-preneur must pay attention to…
Strategy
Technology
The Modern Consumer
Marketing...
Published 11/17/22
Eric Ayala, Senior Vice President, U.S. Market General Manager, Novidea
Our guest today is a long-time venture capitalist, tech pioneer, and sales leader who sees the insurance industry as the ideal marketplace for entrepreneurs. Eric Ayala, SVP and GM for Novidea says “It’s big and it’s ripe for disruption.”
When the industry is constantly changing, understanding the forces driving new change can make all the difference. Listen to this episode for Eric’s insights on:
Why the line...
Published 10/19/22
Matheus Riolfi, Co-Founder, CEO, Tint
What does a modern insurance agency look like? It might not be what you’d think. Today’s podcast guest, Matheus Riolfi, is Co-Founder and CEO of Tint—one of these “modern agencies.” Like other agencies, Tint sits between consumers and carriers. Where things get interesting, though, is how Matheus’ company embeds insurance into its tech platform.
In this discussion, Matheus shares his insights on:
Why carriers will support embedded...
Published 10/05/22
Kabir Syed, Founder, CEO, Ennabl
When Kabir Syed was a Managing Director at Marsh, he was given a little data project that generated millions of dollars and opened his eyes to just how much money agencies leave on the table.
This seasoned insurance professional and entrepreneur said, “I’m not really that good at technology, but I LOVE data.” That’s why he built a team of engineers to handle the technology for him while he showed them where to mine and how to polish the wealth of data...
Published 09/21/22
John Jackson, Insurance Copywriter, SME, Agency Revolution
Every agency is seeking growth, and many are turning to professional marketers to help. This jam-packed episode turns to a seasoned agency marketer for insight. John Jackson, formerly the marketer at Alliance Insurance Services in North Carolina is now a copywriter and content creator for Agency Revolution clients. John looks back at his success at Alliance and shares what worked.
Whether you have a marketer on your team, are...
Published 08/25/22
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...
Published 08/10/22
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...
Published 07/21/22
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...
Published 07/06/22
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...
Published 06/09/22
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,...
Published 05/18/22
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...
Published 04/27/22
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,...
Published 04/06/22
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...
Published 03/23/22
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...
Published 03/09/22
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...
Published 02/16/22
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...
Published 01/27/22