Agency Nation Radio
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On this episode of Agency Nation Radio Podcast, we explore the intersection of parenthood and professional growth with Lori Mihalich-Levin, the founder of Mindful Return. Lori shares insights, challenging stereotypes and offering practical strategies for both working parents and leaders seeking to foster a more supportive work environment for employees at every stage in life. Guest hosts Jana Foster, owner of Nevada Insurance Agency Co. and Jesse Konold, partner at BridgeMark Insurance Solutions in South Dakota experienced many parallels in life. The fast friends served the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee while raising young families and moving into agency ownership. They recently reconnected to talk with the leading empowerment expert “parenting out loud.” Lori talks about creating a parent-friendly work culture that encourages open communication, empathy, and flexibility. Additionally, she shares personal strategies that help her create structure and find success as a busy working parent. “There are these career critical skills that we gain through parenthood that make us inevitably more efficient and effective,” says Lori. “Working parents are some of the most productive and efficient people I have ever met because we don't have time for all the nonsense. Right? We are productivity, ninjas.” Get ready for this myth-busting session filled with techniques you can easily implement for a more productive and mindful life. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Guests: • Lori Mihalich-Levin https://www.mindfulreturn.com/about-lori-mihalich-levin/; https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimihalichlevin/ • Jesse Konold, https://keyagency.com/about/staff/jesse-konold; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-konold-cic-afis-568a5422/ • Jana Foster, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jana-schellin-foster-969667b1/ Resources: • Mindful Return Website: https://www.mindfulreturn.com • Lori's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimihalichlevin/ • Mindful Return's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindful-return/ • Mindful Return on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulreturn/ • Mindful Return on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulreturn • Mindful Return on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mindfulreturn/ Parents at Work Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parents-at-work/id1239258343
Join us for an inspiring conversation with David Garcia, the President of Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc. in San Diego, California. Discover how David transitioned from a career in professional baseball to founding a Best Practices agency with a unique approach to specialization. Learn about the agency's commitment to giving back, their innovative programs like SafetyStar™, SafetyOne™, and their dedication to impacting their clients' businesses positively. Tune in to find out how this agency goes the extra mile to ensure their clients' success in a challenging insurance market. Don't miss this episode of Agency Nation Radio as we explore David Garcia's journey and Rancho Mesa's grand slam. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Meet Our Guest: Read more: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/november/declaration-of-independents-david-garcia Rancho Mesa Insurance Services Inc.: https://www.ranchomesa.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-garcia-1507511a/
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Cassandra Keogel, sales executive with Eastern Insurance Group in Massachusetts and member of the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee, is joined by two very special guests: Max Revenue, half man, half meme, 100% producer, and Micah Salas, senior vice president at the Christensen Group Insurance. Together, they created the producer playbook, a 5-module video course for growth minded agents. As producers in the trenches of the hard market, they share sales stories and strategies, and advice for the often-grueling process that goes into building a book of business from scratch. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Meet Our Guests: Cassandra Keogel, sales executive with Eastern Insurance Group in Massachusetts: Micah Salas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahsalas Max Revenue: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maxrevenuegroup The Revenue Letter: https://maxrevenueletter.beehiiv.com/ The Producer Playbook: https://maxrevenuegroup.kartra.com/page/playbook
TrustedChoice.com employees have taken over the IA Advantage podcast once again with breaking news! Listen as Steve Gomez, Director of SEO, and Viviana Buzo, Director of Marketing, look back at TrustedChoice.com over the last decade and share the SEO strategies the company has employed leading to a major SEO event.
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Ray Robertson, principal of Limestone Agency in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, sits down with Olivia Overman, content editor of Independent Agent magazine, to discuss his agency’s 175-year-old roots in Kentucky, community involvement and more. Robertson joined the agency in 1996 after spending several years working as a marketing representative in eastern Kentucky. Moving back to Mount Sterling with his expectant wife and young child was like a homecoming for Robertson, who had grown up about 15 miles away. In 2022, Limestone Agency celebrated its 175th anniversary and, like Robertson, has deep roots in the local community. “I’m chairman of the planning and zoning commission in Mount Sterling and have been for almost 20 years,” he says. “I’m also chairman of the board of a Main Street committee that owns some property in the name of the city.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. MEET OUR GUEST: Independent Agent magazine: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/october/declaration-of-independents-ray-robertson Limestone Agency: https://limestoneagency.com/
Grab your favorite beverage and settle in for a conversation among friends on this edition of Agency Nation Radio podcast. Mike McBride your new Big “I” chairman and president of Mason-McBride, Will Lemanski owner of Meiers Lombardini Lemanski Insurance and Lisa Lemanski, agency operation manager of Meiers Lombardini Lemanski Insurance explore the importance of actively engaging in a supportive business community. Tune in as these insurance professionals, all hailing from Michigan, share their origin stories, their unwavering commitment to improving the industry, and their deep appreciation for the sense of community within the Big "I." Discover what truly sets the insurance industry apart: the connections, mentorship, and friendships that thrive within it. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Guests: Will Lemanski, Agency Owner, Meiers Lombardini Lemanski Insurance Lisa Lemanski, Insurance Agent Operations Manager, Meiers Lombardini Lemanski Insurance Big “I” chairman, Mike McBride, president of Mason-McBride in Troy, Michigan
IA Advantage Presented by TrustedChoice.com Chip and team announce major product news, revealing more options and greater control over prospecting for individual producers.
In this episode of Declaration of Independence on Agency Nation Radio Podcast, Osiris Maldonado, the co-founder of Pronto Insurance located in Schaumburg, Illinois sits down with Will Jones, Independent Agent magazine editor-in-chief. Osiris shares her journey from car sales into agency ownership and how educating her staff and the community creates a ripple effect of loyalty and success. “I always thought, if I ever had an agency, I would do things differently,” says Osiris. “A lot of agencies focus on selling a policy to be profitable, not on educating the Hispanic community.” Today, Pronto Insurance is focusing on expanding into new states, entering new lines of insurance, and training licensed agents. As the majority of Pronto’s clients and staff are Hispanic, Osiris is making it her mission to educate her community about insurance, and provide a stable, rewarding career to her staff. Find out how she expanded her team, writing over $4.5 million in personal lines premium in 2022. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by AM Best, a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. The AM Best Mobile App lets users monitor Best's Credit Ratings, look up information on specific insurers, and keep up with AM Best's insurance industry research and news headlines—all at no cost. Learn about the new, enhanced version of the app at www.ambest.com/mobileapp. MEET OUR GUEST: Independent Agent magazine: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/september/declaration-of-independents-osiris-maldonado Pronto Insurance Services: https://www.prontoinsuranceservices.com/
On this edition of Agency Nation Radio Podcast guest host Nancy Germond, ARM, AIC, ITP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, executive director, risk management and education sits down with Karen O’Connor Corrigan, CIC, CIRMS, president, and owner of O’Connor Insurance located in St. Louis Missouri and one of the foremost experts on community associations. Together they provide an update on the state of the multifamily housing market. The Foundation for Community Association Research Factbook reported that 52.9% of U.S. housing was built prior to 1979 leading to aging roofs, failing plumbing, and more. "The habitational market has long been claim-ridden. High frequency, high severity, you know, the insurance covers accidents that are typically confined to one home, but now imagine it's spreading to your neighbors,” says Karen. Additionally, the two discuss the complexities of the hard market on both property and liability insurance. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Meet Our Guests: Nancy Germond, ARM, AIC, ITP, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Executive Director. Risk Management and Education https://www.linkedin.com/in/insurancewriter/ Karen O’Connor Corrigan, CIC, CIRMS President, Owner, O’Connor Insurance, Missouri https://www.oconnor-ins.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-o-connor-corrigan-6184569/ Additional Resources: https://www.independentagent.com/vu/Agency-Management/Sales/Other/GermondHardSoftInsuranceMarket.aspx Webinar: https://youtu.be/2hj7zgDaLHw https://www.independentagent.com/resources/SiteAssets/Aluminum%20Wiring%20Explanation.pdf https://www.independentagent.com/resources/SiteAssets/Big%20i%20Habitational%20Hot%20Mess%20by%20KOC.pdf https://www.independentagent.com/resources/SiteAssets/CAI%20National%20Survey.pdf
Join us for Declaration of Independents on Agency Nation Radio, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the insurance industry. On this episode, we meet Jason Rodriguez, the managing partner at Prominent Insurance in Wilmington, Delaware. From his entrepreneurial journey growing up in Brooklyn to serving on the board of the Delaware Association of Insurance Agents & Brokers, Rodriguez is on a mission to make insurance not just a profession, but a passionate pursuit and opportunity for others. Gain insights into his franchise expansion plans, with a goal of 20 franchises every year. This episode is hopsted by AnneMarie Spears, news editor at Independent Agent magazine. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Read the Declaration of Independence: Declaration of Independents: Jason RodriguezDeclaration of Independents: Jason Rodriguez (iamagazine.com) Meet our guest: Jason Rodriguez, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-rodriguez-06740028/
There’s no doubt insurance marketplace is harder to navigate, with economic pressures and increased natural disasters leading to rising premiums. How do you best support your clients, agency staff and successfully navigate the hard market? Tune into this episode of Agency Nation Radio Podcast, hosted by Kelley Donahue-Pirro, owner of Agency Performance Partners, who sits down with two experienced agency presidents, Michelle O’Connor of O’Connor Insurance in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Matt Simon, CIC, CPCU or CoverLink Insurance in Columbus, Ohio. They talk about how to navigate market conditions, what they have done, and the advice for other agents—especially those who haven’t experienced a hard market. It’s time to get back to basics. Hear strategies to help you evaluate your client outreach and double down on your communications. Find out how you can zero-in on internal processes to support your team and remind them that now, more than ever, independent agents bring value to their clients and the community. Hopefully this talk and the Hard Market Toolkit created by Trusted Choice will help make navigating today’s insurance environment a little easier. Get a copy of the Hard Market Toolkit by Trusted Choice. https://lp.independentagent.com/hardmarket Host Kelly Donahue-Pirro, Owner at Agency Performance Partners : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellydonahuepiro/ Michelle O’Connor, President O’Connor Insurance – Charlotte, NC : https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellenagelioconnor/ Matt Simon, CIC, CPCU, President CoverLink, Columbus, Ohio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewtsimon/
On this edition of Declaration of Independence, on Agency Nation Radio podcast, host Olivia Overman, content editor with Independent Agent magazine, sits down with Crystal Fox, the founder of Beauty Queen Insurance, a division of the Smith Sawyer Smith agency in Rochester, Indiana. The pandemic brought Crystal’s makeup career to a halt leading her to find new opportunities as an independent agent. Recognizing a gap in the market for an insurance agent with specialized knowledge of the beauty industry, Crystal created a career path to serve the industry she loved. She began to dive into the limited coverage options for services like permanent makeup, Medi spa treatments and permanent jewelry. Listen in to be inspired to find a niche that connects your passion to a career in insurance. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Read the Declaration of Independence: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/july/declaration-of-independents-crystal-fox Meet our guest: Crystal Fox, Founder and Creator, Beauty Queen Insurance https://beautyqueeninsurance.com/
What does the next generation want in a career? How does the insurance industry align with what Generation Z wants in a profession? We uncover the connections on this edition of Agency Nation Radio podcast. Guest host Cassandra Koegel with Eastern Insurance Group and a member of the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee talks to Will Huang, recent graduate of St. John’s University Risk Management and Insurance program and intern with the Big “I” Invest education foundation. Together, they talk about what they love about insurance and how we can position the industry to appeal to the next generation—giving back, a challenge, flexibility and the ability to make a really good living—what’s not to love? Find out what young people want in the workplace and how insurance is truly a hidden gem. Tune in today. Want to learn more about attracting the next generation to your agency? Invest connects insurance professionals with schools and resources to help students learn about insurance and careers in the industry. Find internship guides, help connecting with schools and career day materials to help you educate students on careers in insurance at investprogram.org. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Our Guest: Cassandra Koegel CISR, AINS, AILP, MLIS, Commercial Lines Producer at Eastern Insurance Group LLC https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-koegel-cisr-ains-ailp-mlis-b2329390/ Will Huang, Graduate St. John’s University Risk Management and Insurance, Sec. Gamma, Big I intern working with Invest, soon to be underwriter at Chubb everlasting passion for underwriting. https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-huang-6501/
David Watson, executive vice president of Mappus Insurance, South Carolina sits down with Will Jones, editor-in-chief of Independent Agent magazine to share his origin story on this edition of Declaration of Independence on Agency Nation Radio podcast. After working for State Farm and Allstate, David became a Farm Bureau contractor and in 2016 he founded a scratch independent agency, BlueLake. However, he quickly noticed mundane tasks like lead generation and data entry were holding him back. The entrepreneurial bug bit again and David launched RiskAdvisor, a software program that streamlines the application and renewal process for independent agencies. Listen in to be inspired by his background and hear how carriers and agencies can work together to make it to do profitable business and service clients. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Our Guest: David Watson https://www.linkedin.com/in/agentdavidwatson/ Risk Advisor: https://riskadvisor.insure/ Mappus Insurance: https://www.mappusinsurance.com/ Read the interview: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/june/declaration-of-independents-david-watson
Chip learns the story behind Rocket Referrals' name change when he and Torey Maerz, CEO of ClientCircle and veteran IA channel insurtech leader, catch up for the first time since COVID.
On this edition of Agency Nation Radio podcast, guest host Bob Fee, President, Fee Insurance, Kansas and immediate past chair of the Big “I” is joined by Kathy Conley-Jones LUTCF, Chief Insurance Strategist, Williamson Financial Management Group in St. Louis. She also founded The Conley Financial Group, a multi-line insurance and employee benefits firm that provides holistic insurance solutions to its clients. They share their backgrounds in benefits and provide strategies and tips for agencies considering expanding their service as a trusted advisor. Find out how to get started, markets to consider, income potential, and staffing. “I think it’s so important that our independent agents start to expand and see themselves in a different light because most of your clients are hoping that you will,” says Kathy. Tune in today and take note of actionable strategies to help you enhance your agency’s service profile. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts. Bob Fee, President, Fee Insurance, Kansas Immediate past chair, Big “I” Bob currently has a benefits team of 4 and some unique obstacles in Kansas. The agency is actively working to expand into the benefits space even further. https://www.feeinsurance.com/bob https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-fee-8289488/ Kathy Conley-Jones LUTCF, Chief Insurance Strategist, Williamson Financial Management Group, St. Louis Founder of The Conley Financial Group, a multi-line insurance and employee benefits firm that provides holistic insurance solutions to their clientele https://www.williamsonfinancial-mg.com/Kathy-Conley-Jones,-LUTCF.e1177836.htm https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-conley-jones-lutcf-47886b3/
On this edition of Declaration of Independence on the Agency Nation Radio podcast, Dean Giem, president of Paradox Insurance Agency in Montana talks about technology. The self-proclaimed technology geek shares his journey from a captive agency to independent agency ownership. Now, as a member of the NetVu board and the AUGIE executive council, he explains technology is accessible and affordable for small and mid-size agencies. From chatbots to AI, he explores the future of insurtech. “I think the way data is collected, the way data is consumed and shared, is going to be a major shift in the next two to three years,” says Dean. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. Catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Want to learn more about technology for your agency? The following resources can help: Big “I” Agents Council for Technology: https://www.independentagent.com/ACT/Pages/default.aspx NetVu: https://www.netvu.org/web AUGIE https://augiegroup.org/ GUESTS: Dean Giem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deangiem/ Paradox Insurance: https://paradoxinsurance.com/
Chip’s guest this week is Jason Keck of Broker Buddha. Chip & Jason discuss some shared history and their evolving insurtech perspectives. Jason also reveals news of an affordable new solution from Broker Buddha specifically designed to help smaller independent insurance agencies with five or fewer customer-facing employees.
In this episode of Agency Nation Radio podcast, Brandon Okita, FIA Insurance Services and Big “I” Diversity Council chair sits down with Kelly McDonald to answer questions submitted by Big “I” members live and online. Kelly is one of the nation’s top experts in diversity and inclusion, leadership, marketing, customer experience, and consumer trends. Together they discuss how leaders can continue to advance diversity by creating an inclusive and respectful culture. They answer Big “I” member questions about diversity training, advertising, tattoos, and strategies for handling difficult conversations in the workplace. “All voices are welcome here, because we value all employees, and we value all perspectives—that’s what diversity brings to the table,” says Kelly. Kelly was named one of the “10 Most Booked Speakers in the U.S.” and ranked #1 on the list of “25 Hot Speakers” by Successful Meetings Magazine. She has been featured on CNBC, in Forbes, INC. Magazine, BusinessWeek, CEO World, Fast Company, and more. She is the author of four bestselling books. Her newest, “It’s Time to Talk about Race at Work: Every Leader’s Guide to Making Progress on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” is one of the top Bestselling Business Books in the U.S. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. Catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Guests: Brandon Okita, FAI Insurance Services and Big “I” Diversity chair https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-okita-7b16497/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/fia-insurance-services/about/ Kelly McDonald, author, speaker DEI expert https://www.mcdonaldmarketing.com/aboutkelly
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Tonya Thomason, president of David A. Crotts & Associates in Greenwood, South Carolina shares a few of the secrets to how she helped the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina (IIABSC) win the InsurPac “Triple Crown” three years in a row. After consecutively raising the most InsurPac contributions of any state, the most from young agents and the most from past presidents, Thomason says “it’s about getting everybody involved ... piquing that curiosity is key, because we can get up on the stage and we can talk about InsurPac, what it’s doing and how it’s doing it, but most people—unless they see it or feel it—find it difficult to comprehend. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform. Mann was also featured in the April issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/april/declaration-of-independents-tonya-thomason OUR SPONSOR: This episode is supported by the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association, or IMCA, where all of the smartest marketing minds in the insurance industry come together to network. You’re invited to IMCA’s annual conference, “Ignite,” in Nashville this June. Learn more at imcanet.com
Chip talks to Aubie Knight and Pat Cline about 101 Weston Labs, the first insurtech accelerator founded and operated by an association of independent agencies. Learn how this venture seeks to transform insurance technology and how agents and startups can get involved.
In honor of women’s history month, Toni Jones, Vice President of Transportation Marketing, Palomar Insurance, and member of the Big “I” National Young Agents Committee sits down with a cast of remarkable leaders who are blazing the way for women in their organizations and the insurance industry. On this episode of Agency Nation Radio hear from Angela Ripley, President VW Brown Insurance Services and Big “I” Executive Committee Member; Courtney Rains, Chief Marketing Officer, Applied Systems and Crista Walker, VP, Agent Engagement & Technology at Liberty Mutal Insurance. Liberty Mutual research shows that while 85% of women who work on the frontline can picture themselves as a leader at an agency, fewer than one-third of agency principals and owners are women. Together the women talk about the disconnect and how to create leadership opportunities for women in the insurance industry. What can organizations and individuals do to be more intentional in helping women grow into leadership roles? How can women take steps to rid imposter syndrome? How do women start conversations that help them get a seat at the table and the position they deserve to create a rewarding future in insurance? Additionally, the group discusses data on the division of labor at home, who are making financial decisions for families when it comes to supporting personal lines clients. The group talks about how self-awareness and grace-- both are critical to growth. Tune in and be inspired to blaze a future that’s good for women—because women are good for business. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. Catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Toni Jones, Vice President Transportation Marketing, Palomar Insurance, and member of the Big “I” National Young Agents Committee https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-jones-mba-cic-crm-cisr-trs-star-b6759b2b/ Angela Ripley, President VW Brown Insurance Services and Big “I” Executive Committee Member https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelakokoskoripley/ Courtney Rains, Chief Marketing Officer, Applied Systems https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-rains-a0543715/ Crista Walker, VP, Agent Engagement & Technology, Liberty Mutal Insurance https://www.linkedin.com/in/crista-walker-0bb6a327/ https://www.iamagazine.com/strategies/5-practical-ways-to-create-more-leadership-opportunities-for-women-in-insurance https://www.agentforthefuture.com/womenininsurance/
Scott Insurance, a Virginia agency founded in 1864, has been a Big "I" Best Practices Agency since the program started. With 30 years of Best Practices experience, agency leadership knows what it takes to strengthen incrementally with the right data and benchmarks. Keith Mann, COO/CFO sits down with Will Jones, editor-in-chief, Independent Agent magazine to talk about what the 100% employee-owned agency gleans from the study. Together they talk about importance of understanding sales data including sales velocity and organic growth and how looking at weakness is an opportunity for growth. Additionally, Keith shares strategies the agency has implemented to help attract and retain producers who help grow the business, but also become part of the agency's perpetuation story. Scott Agency has more than 350 employees and agency locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. Catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Scott Agency: https://www.scottins.com/ Read DOI in Independent Agent Magazine: https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2023/march/declaration-of-independents-keith-mann
With the recent launch of ChatGPT, the insurance industry is taking a hard look at artificial intelligence and how it can be leveraged to help independent agents. In this podcast, Chip explores how AI may be able to streamline some of agents' biggest challenges with Marcus Daley, co-founder of NeuralMetrics.
Becoming an independent agency owner brings freedom and often that means a chance to leave the 9 to 5 behind. There’s a lot of flexibility, and with hard work, there’s no cap on the income potential. In June 2021 Christopher Sheely launched a new agency, but he used the Great Resignation to his advantage, creating opportunities that professionals were looking for. On this episode of Declaration of Independents on Agency Nation Radio, AnneMarie McPherson Spears, Independent Agent magazine news editor, sits down with the owner of Christopher Sheely Agency, Atlanta. Find out how he fast-tracked growth, found staff, and connected with the community. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From main street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. Catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. SPONSORED BY: This episode is supported by PersonalUmbrella.com, where you can quote standalone personal umbrella policies of up to 5 million in 3 minutes online — just by answering 4 simple questions. https://www.personalumbrella.com. The GUEST: Christopher Sheely https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheelychris/ Christopher Sheely Agency https://www.csainsuranceagency.com/ The HOST: AnneMarie McPherson Spears, news editor, Independent Agent Magazine, https://www.iamagazine.com/podcasts
On this edition of Agency Nation Radio, Will Jones, Independent Agent magazine editor-in-chief sits down with Dr. Leroy Nunery II, president, Evolution Advisors LLC, and author of the 2018 “The Journey of African-American Insurance Professionals,” and the follow-up study “The Next Steps on the Journey: Has Anything Changed?” released in January 2023. While the new study shows positive change in the industry, with 60% of respondents agreeing their agency is committed to diversity, nearly 84% of respondents remarked that they still encounter obstacles in their career because of either conscious or unconscious racial bias. Tune in as Leroy and Will discuss how the George Floyd murder was a turning point for race in the insurance industry, with more resources and initiatives devoted to inclusion. Still, Leroy says the industry has an awareness issue. With his years of expertise championing diversity in American business, he shares what you can do now—your next steps on the journey to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Find Dr. Leroy Nunery II: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldn2educate/ The Journey of African American Insurance Professionals: https://www.marsh.com/us/about/about-marsh/diversity-and-inclusion-marsh/insights/the-journey-of-african-american-insurance-professionals.html The Next Steps on the Journey: Has Anything Changed: https://www.independentagent.com/diversity/SiteAssets/NextStepsNunery.pdf
Live from the patio of the Big “I” InsurTech Summit! Listen as insurtech and IA channel leaders share their insights on agency technology adoption with hosts Chip Bacciocco and Chris Cline.
The Big “I” recently hosted an InsurTech Summit with TrustedChoice.com. Chris Cline, Agents Council for Technology, executive director, talks to Lou Moran III, Big “I" InsurTech Task Force chair, principal of Inter-Agency Insurance Services in Knoxville, and Jason Walker, president of Agency Revolution kick off the three-part series. The insurance leaders play a quick round of word association, in their own words, defining key terms in the insurance technology. See where your understanding of data, APIs, and marketing stands up to these leaders! And the future? You’ll hear a bit about that too! Remember to tune into parts 2 and 3, episodes 408 and 409!
On the final edition of the three-part series from the Big “I” InsurTech Summit, Chris Cline, executive director of Agents Council for Technology, and Bill Haber, co-founder TEKRiSQ talk about the cyber age. Cyber is the new cost of doing business and agency owners need to be more proactive in their approach to data security—creating policies and having staff and services in place to prevent breaches. With the ramp-up of email, EFT fraud, and phishing, it’s also important for owners to become more resilient as well. Tune in for a future-focused talk on cyber. Rember to check out Parts 1 and 2 from the InsurTech Summit.
Join Chris Cline, executive director of Agents Council for Technology, and Jason Lui the CEO of Zywave on the water’s edge of Savannah, Georgia at the Big “I” InsurTech Summit. Dive into one of an agency's biggest technology spends—the agency management system. But, are agencies getting the most out of their investment? Probably not. Together the insurance technology leaders talk about spending less on AMS to free up more for agencies to spend on agency growth. Is that the future? Speaking of what’s on the horizon….what are Jason's thoughts on the future of digital quoting, data, AI, segmentation, and more. Remember to check into episodes parts 1 and 3 from the InsurTech Summit.
