Agency Nation Radio - Insurance Marketing, Sales And Technology

Insurtech: 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 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 technology. 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. SPONSORED BY: This episode is supported by PersonalUmbrella.com, where you can quote standalone p

In 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 help them navigate landmines? And how does agency culture create value, especially when getting the right people in the right seats? In the second episode, Practical Methods for Growth the group discusses creating realistic outcomes and systems, processes, and workflows that help make the magic happen. Don't forget to tune into episode 403 for part 1! 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 th

In 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 help them navigate landmines? And how does agency culture create value, especially when getting the right people in the right seats? In the second episode, Practical Methods for Growth the group discusses creating realistic outcomes and systems, processes, and workflows that help make the magic happen. Don't forget to tune into episode 404 for part 2! 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 th

Mikayla 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 Mikayla's journey into IA ownership. Be sure to share this podcast with young professionals who want to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit. 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

Marketing 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 strategy that will help independent agents grow their visibility with the right clients for their agency. 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.

IA 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 algorithm, and more.

Katelyn 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 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.

On 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 know that you'd like to be the candidate for the next generation of ownership," says Scott. Whether you are an aspiring owner or considering retirement, the InsurBanc leader shares strategies to help you understand your next step. 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 y

Tune 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 crystal ball, and predict the nation’s most competitive seats. 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.

On 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 stay up to date on the evolution. 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. Have a story to tell? Contact Susan Bonner, Big "I" assistant vice presi

On 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 decision to leave the nonprofit world and began working for a captive insurer. Seven years later, Bradley founded Covenant Insurance Services with Stan Gatchenko, his co-worker and “work wife." Today, along with his duties as an independent agent, Bradley remains very active in his church, his community and particularly in the foster care and adoption community. He and his wife are currently the proud parents of 8 children. Tune in as host Olivia Overman, content editor, and Brain Bradley talk about his journey into insurance and what the futu

Hear 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 would wanna be in. I work with the commercial line side of the industry, so I get to help business owners every day. And I love hearing about the businesses they've built, that they are so proud of at the, an amazing feeling, being able to work with them, to protect their businesses. And each day is different from the one before it, because each client is so different. I've never had a boring get yet," says Leah Robinson, My Member Insurance Agency in Saginaw Michigan. Tune in and hear what these emerging leaders love about insurance-- thi

Tiago Prado We went from zero to 50 million in premium in less than five years.

One 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 especially good time to be prepared. In this episode of Agency Nation Radio with Independent Agent magazine news editor AnneMarie McPherson Spears, we hear from independent agents on how they steered their communities through the aftermath of catastrophes, even as their own businesses were impacted as well. “Having a good disaster recovery plan…is first and foremost,” says Roy Riley of Peel & Holland Insurance in Benton, Kentucky. “You know, having a plan on how we are going to respond to that. Our agency always lives by the mantra th

John 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 love developing those relationships. I worked in the claims field for the first 17 years of my insurance career and some of the worst conversations I've ever had have been telling people they don’t have coverage. Now, I can prevent those conversations from happening,” says John. John is known as a claims leader, author of “Successful Adjuster’s Playbook: The Secret Skills for Providing the Best Claim Experience” and a self-professed insurance nerd. He started consulting and speaking in different venues all over the country, mostly with an

I 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 people to the industry. Declaration of Independents on 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. Have a story to tell? Contact Susan Bonner, Big "I" as

A 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, inclusion, and the importance communication and supporting the personal development of staff. Karen is what Progressive calls a “lifer. ” She’s been in the business for more than 32 years, starting as a service representative, moving onto many analytical roles and eventually leading the independent agency channel. Now, Karen leads the fast-growing commercial business as commercial lines president. “People are it for us, we know that our people are our most powerful asset as a company. Without our customer service teams and claims organizatio

Take 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. Find out how you can make giving back a part of your organizational culture and just feel good about what you do! Welcome Agency Nation Radio 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. https://noahsbandageproject.com/ https://www.elesplace.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brock-elliott-7168568a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrathbun/

Welcome 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 agency. Being an agency owner showed Rushing a completely different side to the industry and confirmed insurance was the right career path for her. -- This is Declaration of Independents on Agency Nation Radio, 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. Today’s episode is narrated by editor-in-chief, Will Jones, brought