Agency Intelligence

In this episode, James talks with Dane Williams, Insurance Advisor at Shoemaker Insurance Solutions. To learn more about Shoemaker Insurance Solutions, visit https://www.shoemakerins.com/. Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe. Episode Highlights: Dane shares his background and how he got into the insurance profession. (2:32) Dane mentions that Shoemaker Insurance has three divisions: commercial, personal lines, and group benefits which are part of the financial planning firm, which has been around for 35-40 years. (4:52) Dane explains that their financial planning clients make up about 35% of their personal lines book. (6:55) Dane shares what he learned when faced wit

In this episode of The Ryan Hanley Show, Ryan Hanley sits down with Billy Van Jura. "Billy Van Jura is an unabashed slayer/supporter of innovation, agency model advocate and is intolerable of weak stuff. He has multiple length sticks to poke into the Hornet's nest." Bill Van Jura founded Birchyard LLC and is one of the most prophetic and antagonistic voices in the independent insurance industry. He's also among the most thought-provoking people I've ever met, and I relish every time we chat. Don't miss this episode…  Episode Highlights: Billy and Ryan discuss content production quality. (4:42) Billy mentions that people should take the time to search for existing information before asking questions. (10:33) Ryan shares how COVID forced him to solve problems that he never had to solve before. (13:12) Ryan and Billy discuss Propeller Bonds and how it is a value add to the industry. (26:23) Billy mentions that he has met with basic insurance agents in New York who have been in business for 35 to 65

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Crystal Fox, Founder and Creator of Beauty Queen Insurance. Crystal is a new insurance producer who has decided to niche into the Beauty industry and has done a great job building her book and connecting with her clients. Episode Highlights: Crystal shares that her journey in the past year has been a whirlwind of growth and figuring out carrier services and state regulations and that permanent makeup is a bulk of their business, but it requires a lot of work due to different state regulations. (1:43) Crystal emphasizes the importance of meeting certain requirements such as completing 40 hours of training and five models to obtain insurance coverage for PMU services. (3:06) Crystal discusses how she manages the growth of her insurance business while creating standard operating procedures and emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions during initial customer communication. (13:53) Crystal explains the importance of

In this episode of Agents Influence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Jon Spaugy, Founder of Agents Brokers United. Episode Highlights: Jon discusses the current state of the insurance industry in California. (3:06) Jon mentions that the biggest change in the insurance industry in the last 14 years has been in technology and the fact that agents no longer have to meet with clients face to face. (4:47) John explains that with the technology resources available in the insurance industry, insurance professionals can get to the personality traits and customer service work much quicker, leaving more time for the insurance agent to prospect. (8:10) Jon discusses what happened in the insurance industry when Proposition 103 was implemented, and how it connects to what is happening currently in the insurance industry in California. (12:34) Jon discusses the BIG Independent Group's Convention, including some of the speakers, and how the convention and tradeshow have grown from previous years. (14:37) Jon

In this episode, James talks with Meg McKeen, Founder of Adjunct Advisors. To learn more about Adjunct Advisors, visit https://www.adjunctadvisors.com/. Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe. Episode Highlights: Meg discusses the importance of personal development and self-exploration, which led her to build a successful consulting career and helped her to create opportunities for others. (4:21) Meg shares how she struggled with being out of alignment in her traditional insurance job and how taking a year off to reevaluate and realign with her values led her to entrepreneurship. (8:05) Meg mentions the importance of energy alignment and cultural fit in hiring and leverag

Jason Cass is the Managing Partner of The Insurance Alliance, Founder of Agency Intelligence, and Managing Partner of Virtual Intelligence.  In this episode of The Ryan Hanley Show, Jason explains his newest project, IndieTech 2023 IndieTech 2023 is the first of its kind, Independent Agent Insurtech Conference. You do NOT want to miss this conversation... Episode Highlights: Ryan believes that valuing both the traditional and innovative aspects of the insurance industry is essential, but it's hard to find individuals who can excel in both.  (5:27) Jason mentions being caught between the analog generation and the digital generation. (8:20) Ryan discusses the importance of self-awareness in leadership and personal growth, and how understanding oneself, learning from mistakes, and not being too hard on oneself can positively impact professional development. (18:42) Jason shares that he is realizing the importance of time as he is getting older and has decided to cut unnecessary things and focus on del

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Kaleigh Kitchens, Sales Executive at Sterling Insurance Group. Kaleigh and Teresa have a series chronicling her first year in the insurance industry. She was licensed in Feb 2022 and she is at the halfway point of her State Auto Commercial Training Program. They discuss her struggles, the challenges of working with family, and the experience of being a remote producer in a virtual agency. Episode Highlights: Kaleigh shares the highlights of her first year in the insurance industry. (2:55) Kaleigh mentions that each generation handles relationships, especially business relationships, differently, and adapting that in her role has been interesting. (5:06) Kaleigh shares her strategy for handling everything she had to accomplish for her CLCS exam, as well as how she digests all of the information, knowledge, and particularly the insurance terminology. (8:28) Kaleigh believes that the Auto State program has significantly helped h

In this episode of Agents Influence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews, Lindsay Wallace, Marketing Coordinator at Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina. Episode Highlights: Lindsay explains how she got into the insurance industry. (2:55) Lindsay mentions that it was eye-opening to see that companies are developing technologies specifically for independent insurance agents. (9:13) Lindsay believes that the most important aspect that IndieTech will take over is the relationship aspect since that is what differentiates independent agents from national companies. (11:36) Lindsay mentions that it will be really interesting to watch how the ChatGPT technology develops. (16:04) Lindsay explains that she finds marketing fascinating since it covers so many different aspects and there is a lot to learn about it. (18:06) Lindsay discusses her favorite three social sites and how she utilizes them. (20:04) Jason and Lindsay discuss the benefits of using AI over Google. (24:35) Lindsay mentions th

Many insurance agents do a poor job of clearly explaining to their prospects and clients about what the insurance program covers or excludes.  In this throwback episode of the Millionaire Insurance Producer podcast, host Charles Specht explains how you can transition prospects into loyal, paying clients by being ultra-transparent and educational. Episode Highlights: Charles mentions that many insurance agencies do not have a formalized proposal. (2:05) Charles explains why you will lose clients and prospects if you confuse them. (4:47) Charles discusses a different way of meeting with prospects in order to win their business. (7:30) According to Charles, if you can explain how you'll be able to produce a better positive outcome, clients and prospects will be much more inclined to desire to do business with you. (12:58) Charles explains that you can win more clients by being more transparent and advocating for education. (15:36) Charles gives an example of how you could do a much better job of maki

In this episode, James talks with J.C. Wogomon, Owner and Founder of Catalyst Insurance Group. To learn more about Catalyst Insurance Group, visit https://www.catalystinsgrp.com/. Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe. Episode Highlights: James shares how he and J.C. Wogomon met in Phoenix in April 2021. (2:03) J.C. explains that when he originally considered creating Catalyst Insurance Group, he had approximately a six-month runway, so the first thing he did was jump on as many podcasts as he could find. (3:00) J.C. discusses his beginnings and how he got into the insurance industry. (5:00) J.C. believes that the first two years of his insurance job were a learning pr

In this episode of The Ryan Hanley Show, Ryan Hanley sits down with Tim Hardcastle. Tim Hardcastle is CEO and co-founder of INSTANDA, a digital insurance solution for the innovative insurance professional. This is one of my favorite conversations on this podcast in a long time… The INSTANDA platform enables carriers and MGAs to create, build and implement complex insurance products in weeks or months. Capitalize on opportunities and be first to market while lowering overall TCO. Seamlessly integrate with your ecosystem and technology environment.  Tim and Ryan dive deep into their entrepreneurial journeys as well. This is an episode you don't want to miss… Episode Highlights: Tim discusses what motivated him to launch INSTANDA. (3:35) Tim believes that a risk perspective is important in business and that every successful entrepreneur must have the belief, passion, and drive to do whatever it takes to get the business going. (8:12) Tim mentions that they launched INSTANDA in 2016 and that they are c

Asking for the signed Broker of Record Letter is hard enough, but what do you do if the prospect actually says no? Do you have a 'Plan B' or do you just rollover at that point and agree to blindly offer quotes? I would tell you that you need to stick to your guns, do not quote (yet), and utilize a 'Plan B' so the prospect will make a choice in your favor after they get a chance to test your Bugatti-like services. In this episode of the Millionaire Insurance Producer podcast, host Charles Specht teaches not only what the 'Plan B' ought to be but he'll give you the exact script to use when creating your own personalized 'Plan B.' MOREOVER..... stay tuned at the end to hear about the "Broker of Record Letter BOOTCAMP" Charles is putting on 3/24/23. You won't want to miss this one! For more details on it this live BOR training, check out: brokerofrecordletter.com Episode Highlights: Charles explains that Plan A is to have a strategy prepared for getting the Broker of Record letter signed on the first meeting wi

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Jason Cass, Founder of Agency Intelligence. Jason and Teresa talk about technology and how agencies can embrace it for a smoother operating office. Episode Highlights: Jason shares his journey and how, over the last five to ten years, he has truly settled into who he is in the insurance world. (2:11) Jason believes that his 2015 book "Customer Service Is Just For Play" is still relevant today, except that the tools mentioned in the book now use technology. (5:11) Jason discusses how he came up with the concept for IndieTech 2023, where agents can come to find the technology that is right for their business. (8:30) Jason explains that with AI technology inside their browser, people don't need API’s, integrations, or to go from one program. (13:06) Teresa discusses why agents must be forward-thinking, particularly when it comes to technology that bridges the gap between speed and information availability. (14:58) Jason expla

In this episode of the Agency Intelligence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Dale Langehennig, CIC, the owner of Texas Preferred Insurance. Dale talks about his shift from working in a prison system to the insurance industry and shares advice on how to overcome obstacles in your agency. Episode Highlights: Dale shares his background and his present career. (16:02) How did Dale shift his career from working in the prison system to the insurance industry? (24:03) What does Dale’s agency look like today and how many employees does he have? (29:16) Dale mentions the main goal that he wanted for his agency. (29:25) Dale shares where his second office is located. (29:39) What was the main change that Dale made? (32:37) Dale shares the most significant leading factor in his agency. (38:22) Dale mentions a piece of good advice from Michael Hyatt. (40:23) Dale shares why he wanted to get to a salesforce-based platform. (46:59) Dale mentions Michael Hyatt’s book entitled, Your Best Year Ever: A 5-

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, James talks with Aaron Farmer, Principal of Top Dog Pet Health Insurance, and President of California Flood Insurance. To learn more about California Flood Insurance, visit https://californiafloodinsurance.com/. Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe. Episode Highlights: Aaron discusses how his agency initially planned to get homeowners insurance and how they ended up with a private flood program. (4:09) Aaron explains what a syndicate is and how Lloyds works. (10:45) James mentions that one of these days he'll find someone high up at Lloyds willing to go on a podcast episode. (13:07) Aaron explains that the broker's duty is to consta

In this episode of The Ryan Hanley Show, Ryan Hanley sits down with Josip Rupena. Josip Rupena is the founder and CEO of Milo. Milo is reimagining how global and crypto consumers access credit and financial services in a borderless world. They have built the first digital home lending solution to buy U.S. real estate or cash out their equity. This is an incredible conversation you don't want to miss... Episode Highlights: Josip shares about his background in financial services and asset management and what led him to start Milo. (5:57) Josip mentions that he hopes that the current market, in which mortgage volumes are decreasing due to high rates and a lack of inventory, inspires agencies to become more innovative, including discovering other means of insuring income and other factors. (8:18) Josip explains that they've done over $130 million in mortgages and haven't had a single person who hasn't made payments. (13:36) Josip shares what a crypto mortgage is and how it works. (17:29) Josip discus

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Jessica Klatt, Founder of Be Industries. They talk about how she helps business owners to find the right applicants to hire and she even goes one step further by helping to build a more effective team. Episode Highlights: Jessica shares how her career started and what led her to start her own company. (1:59) Jessica discusses how AcuMax differs from other tools and how Be Industries helps businesses build better teams. (5:28) Jessica explains that one of the most difficult challenges that company owners or hiring managers face in order to be successful is leadership. (13:56) Teresa discusses how to be a better leader while working with your team. (21:51) Teresa discusses how important it is to make sure your team enjoys working together and how each person works with the others to be able to work in their own love language. (24:47) Jessica expresses her desire for everyone in the world to be able to have the level of self

In this episode of Agency Intelligence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Elijah Goodman, Producer at Goodman Family Insurance. Episode Highlights: Elijah discusses Goodman Family Insurance and how he gets leads by posting videos and other content on TikTok and social media. (3:46) Elijah explains how he came up with the concept for his first TikTok video, which is about cold calling. (5:57) Elijah recommends those who wish to post on TikTok or Instagram to include a quote sheet or an intake form in each video so that viewers can contact them for a quote since you never know which video could go viral. (10:11) Elijah mentions the need for making the video interesting from the start in order to attract people's attention. (12:12) Elijah explains why it is important to ride the wave of a video that goes viral. (14:41) Elijah mentions that you should not be too concerned with how a video performs, some will perform well and others will not. (17:24) Elijah explains how gaining more leads from his v

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, James talks with Aaron Farmer, Principal of Top Dog Pet Health Insurance, and President of California Flood Insurance. To learn more about California Flood Insurance, visit https://californiafloodinsurance.com/. Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe. Episode Highlights: Aaron discusses how he got his start in the insurance industry and shares that he has a soft spot in his heart for farmers. (5:10) James discusses the benefits of an independent agency vs a captive agency. (8:08) Aaron shares that he had a bit of an advantage that most people don't have, and that is that he had gotten into the private flood game and used private flood to

This podcast episode is a live recording of my keynote presentation at the One City World Tour event by Bradley Flowers and Scott Howell of Insurance Guys Podcast and the team over at Glovebox. In this keynote, we detail, with stories, the concept behind "How to Close 89% of Inbound Leads". You do not want to miss this... Resources Mentioned: Reach out to Ryan Hanley Rogue Risk Finding Peak One City World Tour