Agency Nation Radio
671 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★ - 44 ratingsAgency Nation is the leading digital publication helping insurance professionals dominate marketing, sales and technology in the modern marketplace.
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Episodes
Part 3 of 3 InsurTech Summit: The Cyber Age
February 08, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutes - 33 MBOn 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...
Part 1 of 3 InsurTech Summit: Tech Trends Defined
February 08, 2023 10:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBThe 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...
Part 2 of 3 InsurTech Summit: The Future of the AMS
February 08, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutes - 30.6 MBJoin Chris Cline, executive director of Agents Council for Technology, and Jason Liu 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 fu...
Insurtech: Enhancing the Transaction, Not Eliminating the Tradition
February 01, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBInsurtech: Enhancing the Transaction, Not Eliminating the Tradition Live from the inaugural Big “I” InsurTech Summit! Chip Bacciocco and Chris Cline take a minute to sit down with Bill Devine and Sean Ramalho of Travelers to discuss the IA channel’s urgent need to take ownership of insurtech strategy in order to avoid the possibility of external players or factors dictating the way agencies do business. This is a must-listen for all insurance industry change-makers.
Jessica Mulder: Challenges of Acquisitions and Transitions
January 25, 2023 10:00 - 9 minutes - 12.9 MBJessica Mulder started her insurance career 14 years ago as a CSR for Ambank Insurance, now Perspective Insurance in Sioux City Iowa. Six years ago she took on the role of operations manager for the agency and in this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jessica reflects on purchasing three agencies in one year. Get a candid take on the challenges and opportunities that come with purchasing an agency. And talk about two issues on the minds of every agency owner-- staffing and tech...
Part 2 of 2: Practical Methods for Growth
January 19, 2023 10:00 - 27 minutes - 38 MBIn a two-part welcome to 2023 edition of Agency Nation Radio podcast guest host James Jenkins of host of Agency Freedom podcast and CEO RiskWell Insurance, Texas, hosts Michelle Rupp, owner NRG Insurance in Seattle, and Mark Ahart president of Ahart Frinzi and Smith with offices in New Jersey and Alexandria, Virginia. During part one, Resilience: Rising in a Recession, you’ll hear the group talk about leadership in a hard market. How do you prepare and support your team and h...
Part 1 of 2: Resilience: Rising in a Recession
January 18, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBIn a two-part welcome to 2023 edition of Agency Nation Radio podcast guest host James Jenkins of host of Agency Freedom podcast and CEO RiskWell Insurance, Texas, hosts Michelle Rupp, owner NRG Insurance in Seattle, and Mark Ahart president of Ahart Frinzi and Smith with offices in New Jersey and Alexandria, Virginia. During part one, Resilience: Rising in a Recession, you’ll hear the group talk about leadership in a hard market. How do you prepare and support your team and h...
Mikayla Cooper: Millennial Finds Independence
December 28, 2022 10:00 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBMikayla Cooper, owner of Mikayla Cooper Insurance Agency, Aurora Colorado, like many generations before her created a career in the insurance industry. But after years of working in a captive agency, she saw the need to provide more products and services to her clients. In April 2022, she started a fully-virtual independent agency. She created a network, built relationships and truly celebrated the advantages of being her own boss. Next on her list? Growth. Tune in to hear Mi...
Marketing Mix for the New Year
December 15, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBMarketing doesn't need to be complicated, but it does take time, and it's absolutely a team effort. Three industry experts share insights and top strategies for 2023. Kasey Connors, Trusted Choice VP of operations at the Big "I" national headquarters hosts Casey Rotary, director of marketing at Mason McBride in Michigan and Stacie Cooper, marketing project manager Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance/State Auto. The group talks about digital marketing, content creation and website...
20-Minute Master Class: Content Strategies for SEO
November 29, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBIA Advantage, presented by TrustedChoice.com TrustedChoice.com employees have taken over the IA Advantage podcast this month to bring you a master class in search engine optimization content strategies. Listen as Steve Gomez, Director of SEO, picks the brain of a leading SEO consultant to uncover strategies for creating web content that enhances your overall SEO. You’ll learn tips on selecting topics, how to improve existing content, how to deal with Google’s changing algor...
DOI: Family Matters with Katelyn Aitken Meyer
November 22, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutes - 10.1 MBKatelyn Aitken Myer is the third generation to work in the family agency, Aitken & Ormond Insurance in Michigan. On this edition of Declaration of Independents, we dig into expanding her role from accounting to overall agency operations and IT. She shares tips for keeping family drama at bay and how agencies should consider building roles that will help the agency grow and attract new talent. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unsc...
Prepare for Agency Ownership
November 09, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBOn this edition of Agency Nation Radio, Avery Moore, owner of ECI Insurance, and Scott Freiday, InsurBanc Division Director dig into the intricacies of financing an independent agency. The two share strategies and anecdotes for aspiring owners on the importance of relationships, mentorship, valuation, and interest rates. They also share key factors used to evaluate an agency for financing. "Most important is to start that conversation early and raise your hand. Let the owner ...
Agency Nation Radio: Election Preview for Independent Agents
October 28, 2022 09:00 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBTune in as Charles Symington, Big “I” EVP, and Nathan Riedel VP of political affairs give a preview of the 2022 election. Get an insider look at what's happening with the polls and dive into the fight for control of the House of Representatives. The beltway insiders will also share their perspectives on competitive Senate races. Who's going to take control of the House and Senate? Will history repeat itself? Listen in and our experts will cut through the noise, dust off the c...
DOI: Knowledge is Power with Angela Trimble
October 12, 2022 09:00 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBOn this episode of Declaration of Independence on Agency Nation Radio, we meet Angela Trimble, TrustPoint Insurance & Real Estate in Burlington, Kansas. Angela and her best friend purchased a branch of a local independent agency in 2009 and since then her agency has grown from 5 to 20 employees at three locations. At the cornerstone of Angela's continued growth is knowledge. The insurance industry and client needs are constantly changing and insurance professionals need to st...
DOI: Brian Bradley, Kindness is Contagious
September 29, 2022 09:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBOn this month's Agency Nation Radio Declaration of Independents we meet Brian Bradley, founder and co-owner of Covenant Insurance Services in Nebraska. The challenges of life as both a father and working in the community with a nonprofit presented Bradley with a dilemma. He loved giving back to the community, working with people and making a difference, “but if you can't take care of yourself, obviously something had to break," Bradley says. In 2009, Bradley made the decisio...
Next Gen Insurance Leaders: Opportunity Knocks
September 14, 2022 09:00 - 9 minutes - 13.6 MBHear from five young independent agents on how they found careers in insurance. Some found the industry by chance, others it's a family affair, but all of them note just how much they love their careers in insurance. And, with many agency owners navigating retirement, now is the time for professionals to consider an insurance career--- especially those with entrepreneurial spirit who want to help their community. "I have a hard time thinking of a different career that I wou...
DOI: Tiago Prado, For the Love of Service
August 31, 2022 09:00 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBTiago Prado We went from zero to 50 million in premium in less than five years.
After the Storm: Navigating Claims Following Catastrophes
August 17, 2022 09:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBOne in 10 homes in the U.S. were impacted by natural hazards in 2021, according to CoreLogic. And, according to Swiss Re, insured losses from natural disasters in 2021 again exceeded the previous ten-year average, continuing the trend of an annual 5-6% rise in losses seen in recent decades. Those moments, days and months after an event can bring out the best in an independent insurance agency—if it’s prepared. And as we are well into the 2022 hurricane season, now is an es...
DOI: Claims to Fame: Coach, Adjuster, Agent and Author John Bachmann on Building Relationships
August 03, 2022 09:00 - 13 minutes - 25.2 MBJohn Bachmann, vice president of client relations, Norwood Insurance, Groveland, Massachusetts, sits down with Olivia Overman, Big “I” content editor on this edition of Agency Nation Radio’s Declaration of Independents to talk about building relationships. Not just with clients, but with carrier representatives and claims teams. Establishing these relationships helps agents better understand policies and how to best support clients. “Insurance is a people business and I lov...
Hungry for Knowledge: Insurance Careers with Carrie Shaw
July 20, 2022 09:00 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MBI find it just fascinating that I can learn something new every day. It's been a wonderful career for me as an academic where I just want to constantly expand my knowledge and use my brain. I love working with business clients, helping them run their businesses and advising them on things that are going to affect their businesses. Carrie Shaw, account manager with Mirabito-Grsham Insurance and host Olivia Overman talk about insurance careers and how to attract more young pe...
People—Your Most Powerful Asset
July 08, 2022 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBA conversation with agency owner Jana Foster and Progressive’s Karen Bailo Creating an organizational culture where employee perspectives are valued, and staff feels part of something bigger fosters an environment where individuals and the organization flourish. Jana Foster owner of Nevada Insurance Agency Company and chair of the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee sits down with Karen Bailo, commercial lines president, Progressive to talk organizational culture, inclu...
Giving Back is Good for Business
June 09, 2022 19:00 - 25 minutes - 34.5 MBTake two third generation agency owners, mix in a passion for giving back to the community and you've got one inspiring conversation that will make you rethink how you connect with your community and build a stronger business. Brock Elliott, Elliott Group Kansas and member of the national Young Agent Committee and Ben Rathbun, president of Rathbun Insurance and winner of the Dan Fulwider reflect on their shared history of giving and how it brought them together as friends. ...
Rushing into Agency Ownership with Katherine Rushing
May 27, 2022 17:00 - 16 minutes - 271 MBWelcome to Declaration of Independence. Today, we meet Kristine Rushing, co-owner and risk consultant at Rushing Insurance Agency in Pensacola, Florida. At the beginning of her career, Rushing interviewed with a bank and an insurance agency. The insurance agency was the first one to offer her a job—and so her insurance career began. When Nationwide released its exclusive agents from their contracts in 2008, Rushing and her now husband jumped at the opportunity to buy an age...
Rushing into Agency Ownership with Kristine Rushing
May 27, 2022 17:00 - 8 minutes - 16.3 MBWelcome to Declaration of Independence. Today, we meet Kristine Rushing, co-owner and risk consultant at Rushing Insurance Agency in Pensacola, Florida. At the beginning of her career, Rushing interviewed with a bank and an insurance agency. The insurance agency was the first one to offer her a job—and so her insurance career began. When Nationwide released its exclusive agents from their contracts in 2008, Rushing and her now husband jumped at the opportunity to buy an agen...
Agency Nation Radio: CHUBB's Growing Cyber Concern
May 06, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutes - 8.19 MBOn today's episode, we welcome Bill Wise from CHUBB to speak on their latest white paper, Catastrophic Cyber Risks - A Growing Concern, hosted by Peter van Aartrijk. This podcast is brought to you exclusively by Agency Nation Radio. Visit www.independentagent.com/podcasts for show notes, agency information, podcasts, articles and more.
One and Done: Saying "I Do" to Insurance with Robbie Moore
April 22, 2022 18:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBWelcome to Declarations of Independence. Today, we meet Robbie Moore, Executive Vice President at Blanchard & Calhoun Insurance in Augusta, Georgia. As a risk management graduate from the University of Georgia, he is a self-confessed insurance nerd and is quite literally infatuated with all things insurance. After choosing to begin his career at an independent agency, he’s remained there ever since, and is in love with insurance today as he was when he took his first risk man...
Ready to Run the World: Women Leaders in Insurance
April 04, 2022 20:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBAccording to a new study from Safeco Insurance and Liberty Mutual Insurance shows, 60% of employees in agencies are women, yet, they are underrepresented in leadership roles. The report also found that 1 in 4 female frontline staff don't feel they are given equal opportunity in their agency and more than one-third of female agency principals say they are often the only woman in the room. On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet three women who are leaders in the in...
Welcome to the New Age: Embracing Digital with Dana Dattola
March 25, 2022 09:30 - 10 minutes - 24.1 MBDana took the reins at her family owned agency, implementing diverse work and marketing strategies, which provided a platform for the business to adapt to the pandemic. From building a recording studio in the now empty office to transitioning to a new AMS, Dana is a leader among new breed of trailblazing independent agency owners. Welcome to Declaration of Independents on Agency Nation Radio where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about le...
Ready to Launch: From Captive to Independent Insurance Agency with Ivan Hudson
February 17, 2022 18:44 - 10 minutes - 10.2 MBAfter more than a decade leading a captive insurance agency, Ivan Hudson knew he was ready to launch into independent agency ownership. The story of Ivan Hudson Agency in Little Rock begins when Ivan recognized the advantage independence brings to his clients and the expansive business opportunities that follow. Hear how he finds his purpose and embraces the value he brings to the IA channel. Welcome to Declaration of Independents on Agency Nation Radio where insuranc...
Doug Smart ( President) & Kyle Becker (Vice President) of Smart Insurance
December 17, 2021 18:00 - 24 minutes - 56.2 MBDoug Smart and Kyle Becker of Smart Agency share stories of growth, successes and challenges, and how they made the most of the profitable, agency ownership transition. Attached is an excerpt from the 2021 Best Practices Study (annual study published in partnership with the Big “I” - click here for more information about this dynamic resource). This document is part of the whitepaper that focuses on perpetuation and how agencies can rethink their internal strategies. Als...
Chaundra Monday – Product Manager, Progressive Chris Ziance – Business Leader of Government Affairs, Progressive Robert Gordon – Sr. Vice President of Policy, Research & International, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
December 10, 2021 08:00 - 24 minutes - 56.6 MBHost Kevin Brandt hosts this one with guests: Chaundra Monday – Product Manager, Progressive Chris Ziance – Business Leader of Government Affairs, Progressive Robert Gordon – Sr. Vice President of Policy, Research & International, American Property Casualty Insurance Association Risk-based pricing. It’s a method used by insurers to set policy prices. But what rating variables are used and is risk-based pricing really the best tool to predict future losses? It’s a hot...
Sarah Brown, Keller Insurance Services
December 03, 2021 08:00 - 27 minutes - 30.2 MBJim Schubert interviews Sarah Brown from Keller Brown Insurance Services in Shrewsberry, PA. Sarah discusses her journey of perpetuating her parent's insurance agency, and how the pandemic altered their timeline. She also explains how she helped transform their agency's marketing from traditional media to 21st century digital marketing. And you'll learn about Keller Brown's philosophy of educating customers so they are empowered to make good insurance decisions, instead of j...
James Felton Keith
November 19, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 78.7 MBInsurance Industry Can Lead on DEI Solutions Do you recall the early days of the insurance industry’s response with EPLI, D&O, and other emerging risks and coverages? Well, we are witnessing a vast new risk area with diversity and inclusion insurance. The industry can play a huge role as both an employer and risk taker. Moreover, there is a new standard (ISO 30415) that offers a measured way to assess and reduce risk and price coverage. The angles are everywhere; cyber r...
Advanced Data- with Ron Glozman of Chisel AI, Raghav Tannah of Tarmika, Ido Deutsch of Agentero and Ron Shroyer of Aureus Analytics with host Ray Roentz
November 05, 2021 07:00 - 49 minutes - 114 MBThe decision to invest in technology for your agency can be a difficult process if you don’t start with a goal in mind. What you can potentially do with the data generated from these technologies has endless possibilities. In this session we will discuss how having easier to work with technology partners and access to data can help you better understand your business, uncover clear new business and retention opportunities, maximize your carrier and client relationships by k...
Sydney Hedberg & Isabelle Repinski
October 22, 2021 07:00 - 37 minutes - 86.3 MBAgency Nation Radio Podcast Fireside chat with with host Heath Shearon and his guests Sydney Hedberg of Marsh McClennan and Isabelle Repinski of Lockton Companies and Marsh about attracting talent to the insurance industry. The insurance industry needs new talent and Sydney & Isabelle will share their thoughts and experience on how agencies need to be doing just that!
Jason Kilgo of Kilgo Insurance
October 08, 2021 07:00 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBAre you looking to create a sales culture in your insurance agency? Listen to Kelly Donahue-Piro from Agency Performance Partners interview Jason Kilgo of Kilgo Insurance on how they created a sales centric agency powered by Agency Zoom.
Fred Wharton & "Dr. Fraud" himself, Dr. Michael Skiba
September 24, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBIn this episode, you will hear from two of the leading experts on insurance fraud. Host George Robertson sits down with Fred Wharton, president of North American Training Group and the International Fraud Training Group, and “Dr. Fraud” himself, Dr. Michael Skiba, vice president of International Counter Fraud Strategies with INFORM. During this discussion, you will learn how to detect potential fraud from your clients and employees and hear about some of the specific cases e...
Amy Zupon, Vertafore
September 10, 2021 07:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBAdapted for the podcast from our Elevate Trilogy Data Conference from July, is this exclusive interview being released to the public for the first time. This one features Vertafore CEO Amy Zupon as she sits down with Big "I" president & CEO Bob Rusbuldt in an informal and candid discussion on the data and tech priorities and issues facing the independent agency channel and our industry. Hear how data and analytics have changed the way agencies operate. This session explore...
Eric Chemi of Team Insurance (NJ) with Host Kevin Brandt
August 20, 2021 06:00 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MBIn this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Kevin Brandt of Trusted Choice sits down with Eric Chemi of Team and Total Insurance Solutions to discuss Eric’s interesting background, why he decided to start a scratch agency, and the trials and tribulations of starting and running a small business in the insurance industry. They cover a lot of ground during this discussion including marketing via Tik Tok, agency technology and agency alliances – and much more.
Patience Noah, Agency Owner at Patience Noah Insurance, LLC
August 06, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBDuring the pandemic, our guest is a star and millennial agent, Patience Noah, who saw the perfect opportunity to escape the captive insurance world and start her own independent agency. Host Heath Shearon asks Patience about her background in pageants and being crowned as Miss Liberia USA in 2013. She shares how pageants helped her to come out of her shell and helped her to improve her public speaking skills. It is an awesome story of how to be proactive in learning the skil...
Jason Walker, CEO of Agency Insurtech
July 23, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 82.2 MBTune in to this episode of the Agency Nation Radio with guest host Mitch Gibson. Today, Mitch welcomes on Jason Walker, founder, and CEO of Agency Insurtech. Jason is in the industry to change the industry and he says we are all in it together. This interview gets into the topics surrounding the modernization of data and analytics. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!
Reid Holzworth, IVANS Insurance
July 09, 2021 06:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBAsk any independent agent if they have heard of IVANS and they will undoubtedly say yes. In fact, most will tell you they have an IVANS account. But if you ask them how IVANS connectivity solutions with carriers, agency management systems, and agencies are headed in the next 12 months and you will often get a blank stare. In this interview between two insurance industry powerhouses, Reid Holzworth, CEO of IVANS, and Dr. Billy R. Williams take a deep dive into how IVANS is opening the custome...
Reid Holzworth, IVANS Insurance
July 09, 2021 06:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBAsk any independent agent if they have heard of IVANS and they will undoubtedly say yes. In fact, most will tell you they have an IVANS account. But if you ask them how IVANS connectivity solutions with carriers, agency management systems, and agencies are headed in the next 12 months and you will often get a blank stare. In this interview between two insurance industry powerhouses, Reid Holzworth, CEO of IVANS, and Dr. Billy R. Williams take a deep dive into how IVANS is op...
Matt Bruno
July 02, 2021 06:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBAgency Nation Radio guest hosts Arleen and Ted Taveras sit down with Matt Bruno, COO of ReSource Pro, to discuss handling crisis management in your business. ReSource Pro was one of the first companies to deal with the coronavirus crisis in China...and has helped insurance firms around the globe improve their business operations and management. What can you learn to help your agency?
Matt Bruno, COO of ReSource Pro
July 02, 2021 06:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBAgency Nation Radio guest hosts Arleen and Ted Taveras sit down with Matt Bruno, COO of ReSource Pro, to discuss handling crisis management in your business. ReSource Pro was one of the first companies to deal with the coronavirus crisis in China...and has helped insurance firms around the globe improve their business operations and management. What can you learn to help your agency?
Securing your Agency from Cyber Threats
June 18, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBGuests Katlyn Eggar and Ron Berg outline the free resources you can use to build a better strategy for how to deal with cyber attacks. You spend most of your time protecting everyone else, so today's episode is about how to protect yourself and the agency you've worked so hard to build.
Mitch Gibson
June 11, 2021 06:00 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBIn this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Heath "the Mayor" Shearon interviews Mitch Gibson of HRM Insurance and they discuss developing lead sources, referral partners, Building your brand, and so much more.
James Whitley, Senior Life Services
June 04, 2021 06:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBHost Landon McCarter of Secure Agent Marketing welcomes James Whitley of Senior Life Services who runs a 200-seat call center that sells millions of dollars of insurance premium over the phone! Find out how. They will discuss Whitley's talk time strategy success and ways to make it work for you.
Trevor Bunker, Applied Systems
May 28, 2021 06:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBCustomer Experience: What We’ve Learned. Talk about enthusiasm! This recording with Trevor Bunker will leave you energized about examining your agency’s workflows – to benefit not only the customer but your associates too. Trevor is new to insurance and to Applied Systems as chief customer officer, which is a good thing because he offers some refreshing advice for smart work and service.
Kat Ternes, Agency Zoom
May 21, 2021 07:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBJoin Agency Nation OG Marty Agather and Columbus Insurance Mafia member Kat Ternes of Agency Zoom as they explore the lessons and possibilities of the parable of David and Goliath.