In this episode, Michael sits down with Samuel Belanger-Lamoureux, Co-Founder of Cemiar, one of Canada’s fastest-growing insurtech firms, to explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of “AI adoption.”

What emerges is not a conversation about tools—but about a fundamental restructuring of how agencies operate.

Cemiar is one of Canada’s leading insurtech firms, built and led by top engineering talent focused on transforming operational efficiency for insurance agencies.

In this conversation, we explore what happens when automation moves beyond tasks—and begins to take over entire workflows.

One standout example:

👉 Cemiar’s Commercial Lines automation module can reduce the need for human intervention by more than 50% in key workflows—while improving accuracy and reducing operational risk.

But the bigger story is this:

• Most agencies still can’t access their own data
• Integration—not AI—is the real bottleneck
• The winners won’t be tool users… they’ll be system builders

We also discuss Cemiar’s expansion into the U.S. market and their upcoming vendor session at Applied Net this October.

Samuel Belanger-Lamoureux

Co-Founder, Cemiar

📧 sbelanger@cemiar.com

📱 514-575-9457

🌐 Website: https://cemiar.com/

We break down how agencies are:

• Turning 15-minute workflows into 30-second automations
• Reducing operational costs by up to 75%
• Automating commercial billing, renewal shopping, and client communications
• Increasing compliance while reducing manual errors

This isn’t about experimenting with AI tools.

This is about rewiring how the agency runs.

If you’re an agency principal or operator, this episode will give you a clear look at what’s already possible—and what’s coming next.

Website: https://www.floapi.ca/

Email: mehdi.lhadj@floapi.ca

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most agencies are using it wrong.

In this episode, Michael Jans speaks with Daniel Yoo, CEO of FinMate AI, about one of the most important strategic decisions facing agency leaders today:

👉 Should you buy AI tools… or build AI into your agency?

You’ll discover:

• Why off-the-shelf AI is easy—but limited
• When customization becomes a competitive advantage
• How leading agencies are beginning to use AI to guide daily decisions
• What it actually takes to move beyond experimentation

If you’re serious about growth, efficiency, and long-term valuation, this conversation will help you see AI differently.

🤝 Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/smyoo/

🌐 Learn more about FinMate AI:

www.finmate.ai

✉️ Reach Daniel directly:

daniel@finmate.ai

But neither is risk.

In this solo episode, Michael Jans steps away from vendor interviews to deliver a critical message every agency principal needs to hear—right now.

Because while one side of the industry is shouting “Do it or die,” another is warning “Don’t touch it.”

And the truth?

They’re both right.

They’re just talking about completely different things.

In this episode, Michael introduces a clear, practical framework to guide every AI decision inside your agency:

• The 3 Zones of AI Use (and where most agencies get into trouble)
• Why E&O carriers are beginning to pay attention—and what that means for your next renewal
• The difference between safe, scalable AI and high-risk automation
• Why “AI did it” is not a defense—it’s a liability
• The simple rule: AI prepares. You decide. You own the outcome.

You’ll also walk away with specific next steps to protect your agency while still moving forward with confidence.

This is not a hype episode.

And it’s not a fear-based warning.

It’s a line in the sand.

👉 Book a 15-Minute AI Clarity Session with Michael: https://bit.ly/4rHNZiu

They have a trust problem.

In this episode, Michael sits down with Steve Pieroway, author of the 2026 InsurTech Trust Index, to unpack one of the most important (and overlooked) dynamics in the industry today:

👉 Agents trust the technology…

👉 But they don’t trust the vendors selling it

And that gap is costing agencies time, money, and momentum.

Inside this conversation, you’ll discover:

• Why 67% of agents believe InsurTech ROI is overstated
• The hidden divide between buyers vs. users (and why it changes everything)
• Why the traditional SaaS marketing playbook is breaking down
• The real reason onboarding fails (the “Rolex in 143 pieces” problem)
• How AI is about to make buying decisions harder—not easier
• What agency owners must do now to avoid falling behind

If you’re evaluating AI, InsurTech, or simply trying to make smarter decisions in a rapidly changing landscape…

This episode will change how you think about technology—permanently.

Want to go deeper or explore the data behind this conversation?

📊 Download the full InsurTech Trust Index (Broker Edition):

https://benevolentmarketing.com/2026-broker-insurtech-trust-index/

🤝 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepieroway/

🌐 Learn more about Benevolent Marketing:

https://benevolentmarketing.com/

✉️ Reach Steve directly:

steve@benevolentmarketing.com

If you’re currently evaluating AI or being approached by multiple vendors…

This conversation may save you months of frustration—and costly mistakes.

That includes insurance.

Ben Horowitz — co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz — is signaling a structural shift, not incremental change.

Here’s the real issue for independent agencies:

If productivity triples…

Will you convert that capacity into growth?

Or will it eventually convert into pressure — on payroll, margins, and valuation?

In this 10-minute episode, I break down:

• The 3X projection
• Why productivity ≠ growth
• The valuation implications
• The leadership fork in the road facing principals

This isn’t AI hype.

It’s a strategic moment.

If you care about growth, competitive position, and long-term valuation, this episode is for you.

But most agents are using it tactically — not strategically.

In this episode, I sit down with Anthony Blatner to break down:

• Why LinkedIn is the dominant platform for commercial lines
• The right sequence: organic → direct messaging → paid ads
• Why text-only posts often outperform polished marketing graphics
• How LinkedIn newsletters quietly compound authority
• Why video is rising — and how to approach it intelligently

But here’s the deeper issue:

LinkedIn isn’t just about posting content.

It’s about positioning.

When used correctly, LinkedIn becomes:

– A trust engine

– A distribution channel

– A thought leadership platform

– And, ultimately, a valuation lever

If you’re a commercial agency principal serious about growth, authority, and long-term enterprise value — this episode will clarify what actually matters.

In this refreshingly candid episode, Michael Jans returns from vacation with bold clarity and delivers a straight-shooting message to independent agency leaders: AI is here. And if you don’t have a strategy, you’re already behind.

From stories that date back to Agency Revolution’s early days to real-time warnings about cold outreach without credibility, Michael breaks down the 7 essential questions every insurance agency must answer before plugging AI into their business.

If you want to scale smarter, sell better, and lead with intention in 2026, don’t miss this one.

Insurance quoting functionality appeared inside ChatGPT.

Within one trading session, major publicly traded brokerages saw billions in market capitalization erased — not because earnings changed, but because the interface moved.

This episode is not about AI writing emails or summarizing coverage forms.

It is about distribution risk.

In this briefing, Michael Jans breaks down:

• Why public brokerage stocks reacted immediately
• What it means when AI enters the discovery and quoting layer
• The rise of agentic AI and structural operational leverage
• The Applied vs. AI-native litigation as a signal of deeper platform tension
• And the strategic question every independent agency principal must confront

When the front door moves, valuations reset.

The agencies that win will be those who recognize the shift early and align strategy, culture, and technology accordingly.

If you’re an independent insurance agency leader, this episode is required listening.

In this episode, Michael Jans sits down with Canadian insurance veteran and IBAC advisor Tom Reid, who shares what he’s uncovered after mapping 45 core brokerage workflows... and discovering AI can revolutionize 44 of them.

🔍 You’ll hear:

– How quoting time dropped from 30 minutes to just 5

– Why 80% of agency phone calls are non-revenue-generating

– What Canadian brokerages are testing right now

– How AI could soon replace SEO as the primary way clients find you

This is the strategic reality check every independent agent and broker needs.

🎧 Listen now — and future-proof your agency.

🎙️ with Michael Jans & Chris Tamm (AI Strategist + Former Agency Principal)

What happens when AI goes beyond blog posts and into the beating heart of your insurance agency?

In this eye-opening episode, Michael sits down with Chris—a 7x founder, agency veteran, and global AI implementation strategist—to unpack what really lies ahead for independent agencies.

🔥 Inside this episode:

• The 3 levels of transformation: Individual, Team, Organization
• Why waiting until 2028 is a dangerous trap
• What Microsoft’s CEO just predicted about SaaS (and why it matters)
• Real-world agency use cases—beyond ChatGPT
• How to double revenue per employee without increasing headcount
• The cold, hard fate of agencies that don’t evolve

This isn’t hype. This is your wake-up call.

👉 Whether you’re AI-curious or already automating, this conversation will change how you lead.

In this episode, Michael sits down with Dylan DiMarchi, CEO of Eventual (the company behind Premium Lock), to unpack a simple but potentially disruptive idea: multi-year premium predictability.

“Insurance pricing actually was more volatile than any other period in human history.”

• The real-world problem: why homeowners are burned out on surprise renewals
• How Premium Lock works (a supplementary product that reimburses amounts above a pre-set threshold)
• Why agents are using it not just for retention—but as point-of-sale differentiation
• Market insight: what Dylan’s data suggests about where premium growth could trend next

If you’re an independent agent—or an agency leader thinking strategically about differentiation and retention—this one will give you new angles (and a product category to watch).

In this episode, Michael Jans sits down with Cheri Martinen, Managing Partner of Bancorp Insurance, to unpack how her family’s small Oregon agency has grown 6–7x while being surrounded by national forest on three sides.

You’ll hear how Cheri’s parents:

• Started by cross-selling their existing book
• Stumbled into their first contractor niche
• Then built out a portfolio of highly profitable specialties—from wildland firefighters to special water districts and Medicare

Today, Bancorp operates in 20+ states, runs a marketing-driven model, and closes big commercial accounts from inbound demand—no door-knocking producers.

Cheri also breaks down her modern marketing stack:

• Consistent blogging and SEO
• YouTube shorts and multi-platform social
• Hulu ads and geo-targeting around senior centers
• Email + voicemail + direct mail campaigns
• Automated renewal and cross-sell workflows supported by in-house staff and VAs

And we wrap with Cheri’s angle on AI and visibility:

“At this point, we’re getting leads from ChatGPT. So if you’re not getting leads from ChatGPT, you don’t have enough content out there yet.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a rural “middle of nowhere” agency made geography irrelevant with smart niche strategy
• The contractor campaign that turned a hard-market disruption into a growth surge
• How Bancorp built and scaled niches in wildland firefighters and water districts
• What a marketing-driven growth model looks like when you close six-figure accounts without a traditional producer force
• Real examples of integrated campaigns (email, voicemail, streaming, geo-targeting) that keep the pipeline full
• How Cheri thinks about AI, content, and why agencies must “test the waters before it’s too late”

If you’re an independent agency owner wondering how to grow faster, niche deeper, and use modern marketing (and AI) to win big accounts, this conversation is a practical blueprint.

While most of the insurance world is still “thinking about AI,” other industries are already cashing in:

• A global fintech using AI to replace the work of ~700 people in 35 languages
• A major carrier cutting claim cycle times by weeks and slashing complaints by 65%
• A wealth management giant adding tens of billions in new assets with AI-assisted advisors
• Streaming, retail, and coffee brands using AI to quietly reduce churn and boost revenue

This isn’t a thought experiment. It’s an alarm clock.

Then Michael brings it home: what this means for independent agencies, why the “wait and see” crowd is already behind, and how to start using AI intelligently—without turning it into an expensive hobby.

You’ll hear:

• Concrete examples of AI driving profit and efficiency in 2025
• The hidden risk of treating AI as a “future project”
• How to think about AI in the context of your growth, margins, and valuation
• A first look at Michael’s suite of 12 custom GPTs designed specifically for independent insurance agencies

If you’re serious about growth—and serious about not getting left behind—this is your wake-up call.

👉 Want details on the AI tools Michael mentions in the episode? Email him at michael@michaeljans.com with “AI” in the subject line.

In this episode of The AI for IA Podcast, Michael talks with Carl, founder of Gaya, the browser-based tool built specifically for insurance agencies. Gaya sits on top of the systems you already use and turns painful, repetitive data entry into a few clicks.

Instead of spending 10–15 minutes keying information into each carrier portal, agencies using Gaya often get it down to 4–5 minutes per carrier — without a single API integration. With Gaya, agencies can:

• Extract data from PDFs, images, AMS systems, and carrier portals
• Paste that data directly into carrier portals, browser-based AMS platforms, or new forms
• Handle remarketing surges and multi-carrier quoting with the same headcount

Carl and Michael also unpack the bigger picture of AI in insurance distribution:

• Why so many agencies fall into “shiny object syndrome” with AI tools
• What separates novelty from real operational impact
• Why today’s AI is about capacity and leverage, not job replacement
• How “process eats technology for breakfast” — and what to streamline before adopting AI

If you want your team quoting faster, remarketing more, and spending less time on repetitive data entry, this conversation shows what’s possible right now — using the systems you already have.

👉 Learn more about Gaya here: www.gaya.ai

Trae reveals how he built a life-insurance pipeline inside a P&C agency, why he believes discussing life coverage is a moral obligation, and how these deeper conversations create durable, long-term relationships that strengthen the entire book.

You’ll learn the culture cues that get teams comfortable, the scripts his staff uses daily, and why the 1:15 benchmark is the perfect starting point for agencies that want measurable gains without changing their business model.

In this episode:

• How deeper protection conversations drive retention

• The pipeline Trae built for new & existing clients

• Why clients with life stay longer, engage more, and refer more

• How small policies create big loyalty

• The culture shift behind Trae’s national recognition

A powerful message for P&C principals ready to unlock the retention and revenue lift hiding in their own book.

AI isn’t coming to independent agencies—it’s already inside them. In this fast, high-signal conversation, Michael Jans sits down with longtime industry friend Dale Steinke of Liberty to break down what agency owners are really feeling about AI today: the excitement, the confusion, the overwhelm, and the massive opportunity hiding in plain sight.

Dale shares what he sees across hundreds of agencies: why most principals underestimate how much AI their teams are already using, the tools that are quietly reshaping daily operations, and how top agencies are using AI to eliminate drudge work, sharpen renewal reviews, supercharge staff, and build client experiences that simply weren’t possible a few years ago.

You’ll also hear:

• Why there’s never been a better time to start—or scale—an independent agency
• How a 7-person agency is using two developers and AI tools to build a next-level customer experience
• Why leaders must adopt AI themselves and create a clear AI governance policy
• What agencies should do first to prepare for the next wave of change

Insightful, practical, and direct—this 10-minute “vitamin shot” delivers exactly what independent agencies need to know now.

We also dig into an overlooked profit lever that recovers 1–3% of annual revenue, the surge in niche MGA/MGU valuations, and the surprising line of business slipping while everything else climbs.

If you want to lead your agency through a shifting market — not react to it — this is your essential weekly intelligence hit.

Matt reveals the simple but powerful systems he’s used for two decades, including:

• His 24,000-postcards-a-month direct mail engine
• The niche strategy that built his affluent book (hint: boats)
• Why he stopped selling policies 15 years ago—and grew faster
• How hurricane claims turned him into a local hero
• The referral playbook that keeps the pipeline full
• Carrier contingency tactics that added an extra 10% to his income

If you want to see how real, organic, sustainable agency growth is built—especially in hard markets—this is the episode.

In this episode, agency owner & industry thought leader, Chris Paradiso explains:

• Why AI is a fundamentally different kind of disruption
• How agencies can leverage AI to move faster than carriers
• Real examples of AI in daily agency operations: sentiment scoring, policy gap analysis, coverage review, client communication, and multilingual training
• Why some roles will shift—and why relationships still matter
• The emerging divide between agencies that adapt and those that fall behind

Chris shares how his agency has implemented AI from frontline workflows to training systems—and what agency owners must do now to remain competitive.

Key Message: Do not sit on the sidelines. The agencies that act now will lead the market. The others will be forced out of it.

In this episode you’ll discover:

✅ Why InsurTech funding surged in October and what it means for Main Street agencies

✅ How private equity now controls 72% of all M&A — and what that means for valuation

✅ The new wave of social inflation driving casualty costs through the roof

✅ Why 21 states now have comprehensive data privacy laws (and the NAIC Model 668 push for 2026)

✅ How ENS/surplus lines hit $130B and why the trend isn’t slowing

✅ The stat every agency owner should memorize:

👉 Agencies adopting advanced digital tools are growing 70% faster than their peers

If you’ve ever wished you had a “7-minute dashboard” for the industry… this is it.

Want to explore how the fastest-growing agencies are using AI to scale?

Grab a 15-minute call with Michael [Click here].

From the Niche Master who dominates their vertical… to the Complexity Specialist who thrives on sophisticated risks… to the Platform Powerhouse scaling like Geico on steroids—Michael reveals the six types of agencies that will define the next decade.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why strategy means “thriving in the world as it is”

✅ What separates the green zone agencies from the red zone wreckage

✅ Why 2030 isn’t the starting gun—it’s game over

✅ How to engineer growth and efficiency through AI

Subscribe, listen, and get your agency ready for the AI age.

In this episode, Michael sits down with Terry Walby, co-founder and CEO of Open Dialog, to explore how AI agents are transforming the insurance industry—far beyond the limitations of chatbots.

Terry breaks down the real-world impact of AI agents on improving quote conversions, reducing friction in online policy applications, and even predicting buyer behavior. With Open Dialog’s footprint now extending from the UK to the U.S. (and soon, Canada), this conversation is a must-listen for insurance leaders looking to stay ahead.

💡 Learn:

• What makes an AI agent actually different from a chatbot
• How behavioral psychology and real-time interaction boost conversions
• The compliance edge AI agents offer in regulated environments

🔗 Dive deeper at www.opendialog.ai

In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down six critical developments reshaping growth, profitability, risk, client expectations, and agency valuation in the next 6–18 months.

You’ll hear what the data actually says about AI adoption, why cyber insurance growth is both a financial and ethical imperative, how top agencies are driving organic growth even in tough markets, and the new frontier of AI-driven claims fraud.

If you’re an agency principal, marketing leader, or someone responsible for strategic planning—this is your briefing.

In this episode, Michael Jans lays out the 5-Step AI Playbook for Insurance Agencies:

1. Know – What’s real and what’s noise
2. Grow – Where AI actually drives revenue
3. Integrate – How to blend humans + automation
4. Buy – Smart investment decisions in tech
5. Scale – Building a system that compounds

Straight talk. No hype. Just a clear path from overwhelm to opportunity.

Subscribe, listen, and get your agency ready for the AI age.

Michael Jans sits down with Marc Lanzkowsky, founder of Lanzko AI and 30-year veteran of the insurance world — attorney, carrier exec, and IT innovator — to explore how AI is reshaping compliance, claims, and operations.

You’ll hear:

• The biggest AI compliance traps agencies are walking into right now
• Why “free” AI tools might expose your client data to model training
• What smart agencies are doing to integrate AI safely and intelligently
• Why AI won’t replace the human element — but will multiply your impact
• How custom GPTs and prompt libraries are becoming an agency’s secret weapon

A fast, thought-provoking conversation — one that might just reshape how you lead your agency through the next 36 months of transformation.

🎙️ Hosted by Michael Jans

Follow for new episodes of AI for the IA — where independent agencies learn how to think, act, and grow with intelligence.

That frustration drove Trace Meek, a third-generation agency owner, to build something extraordinary: Ask Fetch — an AI-powered underwriting and quoting platform that cuts hours of manual work down to under 90 seconds.

In this episode, Trace shares:

• How he turned a daily headache into a nationwide insurtech.
• The “21x MIT Rule” that proves speed wins every time.
• Why 400,000 industry veterans leaving the business will make AI essential for survival.
• What the next 36 months look like for independent agencies who adopt (or ignore) AI.

Listen in — this one’s not theory. It’s the future unfolding, one frustrated agent at a time.

🎙️ Hosted by Michael Jans, Founder of The Society of Insura-Preneurs.

Each episode packs six real-time bulletins on the forces shaping our industry: carrier performance, underwriting trends, tech disruption, and what it all means for your agency’s growth.

From profit margins to AI breakthroughs, you’ll get the data, context, and strategic edge to stay informed, stay sharp, and stay ahead.

🎙️ Subscribe now and make seven minutes the most profitable part of your week.

In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down Google’s landmark behavioral-science study Decoding Decisions — and shows independent insurance agencies how to use the six psychological biases that actually drive buying behavior:

✅ Social Proof

✅ Authority

✅ Scarcity

✅ Power of Now

✅ Power of Free

✅ Category Heuristics

You’ll learn how to stack these triggers, eliminate friction, and meet buyers where they loop — on LinkedIn, email, podcasts, and beyond.

Plus, Michael connects the dots between the Messy Middle and the coming AI revolution that will reshape how agencies attract, convert, and retain clients.

🎯 Funnels are linear. The customer journey isn’t.

🎧 Listen now and get the science behind your next big growth leap.

Together they trace the path from the first digital ACORD forms to modern-day AI. You’ll hear:

• Why “Bad Data. Bad AI.” is the new truth every agency must face
• Real-world examples of AI that augment people — not replace them
• The single smartest question to ask before buying any AI tool

If you’ve ever wondered how to separate the gold from the garbage in today’s AI hype, this is your short course in sanity.

🎧 Listen now — it might save you from your next bad software decision.

This week, Michael Jans fires off six rapid-fire insights you need to know:

🚗 Tesla gets busted (and proves agents are still the smart money 😉)

📉 Commercial lines soften — but not all markets

🤝 Networks gain power — and access is everything

🤖 57% of InsurTech deals now flow to AI-first firms

💰 Carrier investments quietly become the new margin shield

⚡ AI doubles every 4–7 months — and you cannot afford to sit this one out

When tech moves this fast, the winners are the ones who act fast and think smart.

🎁 Want the free AI Buyer’s Guide (v2) before it drops publicly?

Email Michael at michael@michaeljans.com and say “Send me the Guide.”

The problem isn’t too few tools — it’s that most agency owners don’t have a system for buying them.

In this episode, Michael Jans lays out his 8-Point AI Buyer’s Filter — the same framework he uses to separate the brilliant from the bogus. You’ll learn how to evaluate:

• Real business fit (not hype)
• Whether the tech uses the right kind of AI
• The team’s domain knowledge and credibility
• Data security and financial stability
• Onboarding, support, and roadmap transparency

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI noise or pressured by slick sales decks, this episode is your BS detector.

🎧 Listen in — and learn to buy AI like a strategist.

If you’ve been wondering how to separate hype from opportunity, this briefing is your shortcut. Get the signal without the noise—then decide how you’ll lead your agency into growth while others stumble.

You’ll discover:

• The 5 strategies every agency must execute to raise revenue per client.
• How multi-policy households can quadruple retention rates.
• Why “Defensive AI” only saves pennies… while “Offensive AI” creates exponential growth.

Plus, Michael shares free resources — including the Client Optimizer Tool and the AI Divide Report — to help you move from wondering and waiting to leading and winning.

👉 Listen now and make sure you’re on the right side of the AI Divide.

• Why slowing premium hikes point to an impending soft market 📉
• M&A trends: fewer deals, bigger valuations 💰
• California’s wildfire model shift — and what it could mean for the nation 🌲🔥
• AI’s overlooked growth power (hint: it’s not cost-cutting) 🤖
• Cyber coverage: new capacity, low penetration, big opportunity 🔐
• Record profitability… but is it real? 📊

Plus: who got bought this week, and why niches always win.

👉 Subscribe for your weekly dose of growth intelligence — fast, focused, and built for Insura-Preneurs.

Discover why some agencies grow in leaps while others drop money on the way to the bank — and how to stop leaving half your growth behind. Plus: a behind-the-scenes look at Michael’s own career breakthroughs and the simple tactics you can steal today.

In less than 7 minutes, Michael Jans delivers the week’s must-know news for serious Insura-Preneurs.

• Underwriting profit triples in 2025.
• UnitedHealthcare slashes Medicare agent commissions.
• Global cat losses surge to $80B.
• AI governance shifts from optional to mandated (24 states onboard).
• Liability costs continue their relentless climb.
• M&A activity heats up with World, Duffy, and Everpeak on the move.

Short. Timely. Actionable. Stay future-proof in a fast-changing industry.

In this episode, Michael Jans sounds the alarm on 10 red flags that put your agency at risk—from the “expensive hobby” trap to the compliance catastrophe—and shows how to avoid them.

You’ll discover:

• Why AI can’t just be a side project
• The 5 elements of an AI governance framework
• How AI impacts EBITDA, growth, and valuation
• The difference between efficiency gains and exponential growth

If you want to stay safe, grow faster, and protect your agency’s valuation, this episode is your wake-up call.

A fast, 7-minute roundup of the biggest stories shaping the insurance industry — delivered straight to independent agency leaders who want to stay sharp without wasting time.

In this week’s brief:

• 📈 Health benefit costs set to climb 6–7% by 2026
• 💰 Valuations holding nearly 20% above the 10-year average
• 🤖 1 in 3 agencies already using AI — with principals leading adoption
• 🧭 Why AI may soon decide product “winners and losers”
• 🚗 Personal auto shows recovery, but claim severity still bites
• 📰 This week’s agency acquisitions…

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Each Thursday, get the industry brief that helps you move faster, grow smarter, and stay ahead.

In this episode, Michael Jans pulls back the curtain on the simple but powerful “Growth Ritual” that keeps agencies on track month after month.

You’ll discover:

• Why your P&L is a lagging indicator—and what you should track instead.
• The Rule of 50 (and why it’s the ticket into premium valuation lanes).
• How to use the Four Tributaries of Income (referrals, retention, revenue per customer, and new customers).
• The ACOR framework—Attract, Convert, Optimize, Retain—and how to use it as a monthly diagnostic.
• The cultural ritual Michael used as CEO to hardwire growth into his team.

Plus: insider announcements, free strategic tools, and the launch of Michael’s new short-form podcast: The Insura-Preneur News Brief.

👉 If you’re serious about growth and valuation, you’ll want this in your calendar.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• The deliberate decision to move up-market—and why Pasadena Insurance rejected the “small account ceiling.”
• How adding benefits and high-value personal lines created handcuffs that lock in retention.
• The “agency-within-an-agency” approach that turns every department into a self-sustaining growth engine.
• Why investing in culture, producer systems, and client experience isn’t fluff—it’s strategy that drives EBITDA and valuation.

Whether you're chasing growth, improving EBITDA, or engineering a higher valuation, this episode is packed with strategies you can apply today.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

You’ll discover:

• Why niching down accelerates revenue, retention, and profitability
• The math behind a 60%+ income difference between two markets
• Michael’s Bullseye Market Selector — a 10-factor framework for choosing your ideal client profile
• How your market choice impacts valuation (with real numbers!)
• Where AI and niche authority intersect to create lasting competitive advantage

📥 Want the Bullseye Market Selector Tool free? Email michael@michaeljans.com and I’ll send it to you.

In this episode, Michael Jans reveals the 10 science-backed optimization levers that can take your email results from “meh” to 27X better. You’ll discover:

• The core campaigns every agency must run to attract, convert, optimize, and retain clients
• Why “event triggered campaigns” beats manual campaigns by 260%
• How AI-powered GPTs make “done-for-you marketing” possible
• The “Social Proof Bomb” that accelerates conversion rates instantly

If you’ve ever wondered why some agencies dominate while others stall… this is the episode that answers it.

🎧 Listen now and unlock the science behind high-performing campaigns.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• Why “Traditional Tom” will lose to “AI-Enabled Sarah” every time
• How agencies are using AI to double growth while working fewer hours
• The simple framework to assess your agency’s AI maturity today
• Why mastering Advanced Prompt Engineering (APE) is a game-changer
• What it will take to become an AI-Native Agency in the next 24–36 months

Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or already experimenting, this episode shows you exactly where your agency stands — and how to move up the ladder fast.

🎧 Listen now and future-proof your agency’s growth, profitability, and valuation.

Worse, you could face an E&O claim if a client suffers a breach you never warned them about.

Cyber expert Jack Kudale (CEO & Founder of Cowbell, EY Entrepreneur of the Year) returns to reveal the new wave of attacks hitting independent insurance agencies — and why most owners are dangerously unprepared.

It’s not just ransomware anymore. The real threats now are social engineering scams and third-party platform exploits that can drain your accounts, lock you out of your systems, or steal your client data — all before you know what’s happening.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The 5 must-do protections every agency should implement today
• How to use these same steps as a sales conversation to sell more cyber coverage
• Why you might be one employee click away from total shutdown
• How third-party apps create silent backdoors into your systems
• Why AI is both a savior and a saboteur in the new cyber war

🎧 Listen now — walk away with a checklist that could keep your agency open, protect your clients, and grow your book — even if you’re not a cyber expert.

Discover:

• The 3 historical phases of agency strategy
• Why AI adoption and niche focus are now mandatory
• The 7 strategic decisions every agency principal must make

If you’re serious about growth, legacy, and peak valuation, this episode is your roadmap.

In this episode, Michael Jans reveals the true origin and power of the Unique Selling Proposition—drawing on lessons from advertising legends, Dan Kennedy’s 7-point framework, and decades spent guiding agencies to top-tier growth, margin, and valuation. You’ll learn:

• The real reason most agencies get ignored—and how to never blend in again
• How Rosser Reeves and Madison Avenue created the original USPs (and why they still work)
• Kennedy’s 7 secrets for a USP that builds your business from the inside out
• The single question every client is asking (even if they never say it)
• Plus: A powerful family story you won’t forget

Ready to build the USP that sets you apart—and wins?

Download your free USP brainstorm prompt at ValuationPlaybook.com or email michael@michaeljans.com for direct access.

You’ll learn:

• Why “using” AI isn’t enough—why mastery is the new competitive edge
• The four pillars of AI-powered agency advantage (with actionable examples)
• What top industry research says about the AI arms race—and what agile agencies are doing right now to seize first-mover advantage
• How advanced prompt engineering, custom GPTs, and agency-specific AI can deliver market domination, higher retention, and peak valuation
• Plus: Michael’s exclusive “Daily Briefing” tool and a straight-shooting offer for early access to the upcoming AI Growth Academy

Whether you’re ready to lead—or worried about being left behind—don’t miss this deep dive into the strategies, tools, and mindset shifts that will define the next era of insurance.

Subscribe now, and get ready to build the agency of the future—starting today.

You’ll get:

• Key signals pointing to an impending soft market
• Strategic advice on expense discipline, AI, and sales culture
• What smart agencies are doing now to engineer growth and valuation

Plus: Michael shares updates on killer new resources—like AI for the IA University, the 2025 Valuation Playbook, and the Soft Market Prep Kit.

👉 Don’t just survive the shift. Engineer your future.

In this episode, Michael Jans continues his eye-opening list of the 33 Deadly Marketing Mistakes made by Insura-Preneurs. This is Part 2—and it’s packed with real-world insight, hard-earned lessons, and straight-up advice for growth-focused agency owners. If you want to stop wasting time, stop leaking leads, and start making smarter marketing moves—this episode is for you.

In this episode, Michael Jans reveals the first 13 of 33 deadly marketing mistakes he’s seen insurance agencies make over decades in the trenches. If you’re serious about growth, valuation, or even just getting leads that actually convert, this episode will change how you think.

You’ll get practical insights, candid stories, and field-tested fixes from one of the industry's top strategic minds. Don’t just fix your marketing—transform it.

If you’re looking for better subject lines or how to get more likes on your next post… wrong time, wrong episode.

This one’s big picture. Strategy. CEO-to-CEO.

Michael steps back and scans the landscape of the insurance industry — and the wider economy — to highlight 10 major shifts that could dramatically impact your agency in the months and years ahead. Some are obvious. Some are subtle. All of them are real.

From AI-powered direct-to-consumer models to valuation cliffs, from producer droughts to internal cost-cutting with AI, this episode is a boardroom-level conversation with one goal:

→ Help you prepare while others wait.

You’ll hear:

• What Apple’s China risk can teach every agency owner
• Why hard markets create “false growth” (and what comes next)
• How embedded insurance and underwriting AI could quietly eat your lunch
• Why lagging on AI adoption isn’t just inefficient — it’s dangerous
• The strategic shift you can make now that most agencies still ignore

Get out your notepad. This one’s a checklist episode — and it might be the most valuable 30 minutes of your quarter.

If Part 1 was the blueprint, Part 2 is the ignition switch.

This final episode in the two-part series dives into the operational levers that separate scalable agencies from stagnant ones — the kind of moves most owners never make, but the best never skip.

Inside this episode:

✅ Why “Customer Experience Innovation” is the last true moat in a commoditized market ✅ The growth ritual 90% of agencies ignore — and the high cost of skipping it ✅ Time productivity myths that kill your margins ✅ What real talent cultivation looks like (hint: it’s not just hiring) ✅ How to weaponize content to dominate your niche and become the obvious #1 ✅ The brutal difference between owning a job vs. owning a business — and how to fix it fast

This isn’t theory. It’s the real-world discipline behind Maximum Customer Lifetime Value — and the path to Peak Valuation.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to build a business that doesn’t depend on you pulling all the levers.

In this solo strategy session, I’m handing you the same high-leverage tools I’ve taught to 7- and 8-figure agency owners — the exact plays that helped them scale smarter, work less, and command premium valuations.

💡 Inside this episode:

✅ The Strategic Horizon framework (and why most owners are stuck in the wrong stage)

✅ The three Growth Models Sales, Marketing, or Blended (and which one fits your agency best!)

✅ A real Growth Plan that turns strategy into action (and behavior into results)

✅ System-building that frees you from day-to-day labor (while growth keeps accelerating)

✅ The ACOR Marketing Model (finally, a way to organize your marketing that makes sense)

✅ Lead Gen & CLV— two sides of the same profitability coin (and most agencies only focus on one)

✅ Choosing customers intentionally (the simple move that increases retention and margin)

This isn’t theory. These are real-world strategies that have added millions in value and returned hundreds of hours to agency owners just like you.

🎯 You’re one insight away.

They’re stuck on “What’s my agency worth today?”

But the real question — the $10 million question — is this:

Are you deliberately engineering its value… or just hoping for the best?

In this hard-hitting solo episode, Michael Jans throws open the strategic vault and lets you in on the 12 critical levers that drive value — not someday, but right now.

You’ll discover:

✅ Why two nearly identical agencies can sell for 4X… or 13X — and what makes the difference ✅ The silent killer of valuation: being indispensable ✅ How to quickly pinpoint your agency’s strengths and value traps with the 3-Minute Valuation Scorecard ✅ The 3 Growth Models that quietly separate scalable businesses from burnout-prone shops ✅ What today’s smartest acquirers really want (and how to make sure you have it)

If you’re building a business for income and asset value — this one’s required listening.

Whether you're 24 months from selling, or just want the freedom to choose your path — this episode could reframe your future.

👉 Listen now. Reclaim your power. And start engineering the future you actually want.

🔥 In this episode, Michael Jans – the mind behind The Society of Insura-Preneurs, dives deep into:

💥 The seismic shifts shaking the industry in Q1 2025 🏆 Why niche-focused agencies command a premium 💡 The 5-step blueprint to engineer your agency’s true worth 🗝️ How to shift into the premier lane of buyers

⚡ If you’re serious about building something of lasting value, this is THE podcast you can’t afford to miss. Listen in and level up! 🎧💰

🍽️ Why insuring restaurants is way more complex (and profitable) than it looks 🧠 How Bobby built two breakout companies without writing a line of code 📉 Why most agencies stay average—and what the exceptional few do differently 💥 The real impact of private equity rollups on independent agents (and how to win anyway) 🏗️ How specialization + smart tech = the new moat for modern agencies

This isn’t theory. It’s boots-on-the-ground strategy from someone who's helped tens of thousands of agents grow and thrive in a transforming industry.

🎙️ Whether you're running lean or scaling fast, you’ll walk away from this conversation with real-world insight—and maybe a few uncomfortable truths.

👉 Hit play, and discover why “less is more” might be the most profitable advice you'll hear all year.

🔹 The hiring strategy that changed everything

🔹 The marketing + sales formula behind his explosive growth

🔹 How to win in a hard market

🔹 The #1 growth driver for agencies in 2025

🔥 Listen now and learn how to scale smarter, retain more clients, and dominate the market!

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights! 

🎧 Tune in for the straight talk you didn’t know you needed.

www.insura-preneur.com

Join us as we dive into the latest *valuation and acquisition trends* reshaping the insurance industry. Learn how to position your agency as the clear leader in a competitive market while avoiding the common traps that can sink your valuation.

Then, discover the **5-Step 30% Growth Blueprint**—a proven system to boost organic growth, maximize profit margins, and pave the way for your agency’s next-level success. This isn’t just theory—it’s your opportunity to adapt cutting-edge strategies to your agency and achieve exponential results. **

Don’t miss it. Your future valuation starts here.

👉 Your agency’s next-level breakthrough starts here.

🎧 Listen now! For more information : Visit : www.insura-preneur.com

✉️michael@michaeljans.com

In this must-listen episode, you’ll discover:

✅ Proven tactics to stand out in an industry where everyone looks the same.

✅ The secret to crafting marketing campaigns that not only attract leads but convert them into loyal clients.

✅ How to turn your agency’s unique strengths into a magnet for growth.

Dale’s insights are sharp, actionable, and backed by real-world success stories. Whether you’re struggling with ineffective campaigns or just looking for the next big idea, this episode is packed with practical tips to supercharge your marketing and dominate your niche.

🎙️ Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best. Tune in now and discover how to market smarter, not harder.

www.insura-preneur.com

Discover the secrets behind his bold leap, including:

✅ The systems and strategies that keep his agency firing on all cylinders from thousands of miles away.

✅ How to attract dream clients who value your expertise (and not just the lowest price).

✅ The mindset shift that turns "impossible" into inevitable.

This isn’t just another story about remote work. It’s a masterclass in freedom through focus, designed for insura-preneurs ready to think bigger, move faster, and live bolder.

🎙️ Whether you're planning your escape or looking for a roadmap to take your agency to the next level, this episode will leave you inspired, fired up, and ready to execute.

🔗 Tune in now and find out what’s waiting for you on the other side of fear.

www.insura-preneur.com

Unlock the secrets of high-ROI email strategies in this electrifying podcast episode with Jay Schwedelson, the wizard of email marketing. As an independent insurance agency, it's time to stop blending in and start standing out. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) reveals a staggering $43 return for every dollar invested in email marketing - but the real magic lies in mastering the craft.

Join us for this riveting podcast master class, meticulously tailored for independent insurance agencies. Jay Schwedelson, the genius behind subjectline.com uncovers the covert tactics and strategies that make emails irresistible. Here's a glimpse of the gold you're about to discover:

• The "Three Dots Phenomenon": How a simple ellipsis (...) can skyrocket your open rates by a staggering 17%.
• "Emoji Enchantment": Harness the untapped power of ‘business icons’ to boost open rates by up to 28%.
• "Segmentation Sorcery": Learn a little-known technique that can amplify response rates by an unbelievable 760%.

Seize this rare chance to sit at the feet of two masters of the email marketing realm. Transform your agency's email approach from lead to gold. This is more than just a podcast - it's a treasure map to email marketing success.

One of his early - and critical - insights was that it wasn’t going to be enough to do a good job at insurance. He’d have to do a good job at marketing. Fast forward to today. 4000 customers. 20% annual growth.

Listen as Mike unravels the secrets to his insurance marketing success, including:

• How Mike fixed his agency’s ‘leaky bucket’ and created a seamless system to re-capture ‘lost souls’, convert unconverted leads and maximize Customer Lifetime Value.
• The simple pivot Mike made from ‘Main Street Agency’ to niche marketer (with an greatly expanded territory)
• His transition from ‘selling insurance’ (and always offering to ‘save, save, save!) to marketing to the deeper ‘what-keeps-’em-up-at-night’ pain.
• The critical way Mike learned marketing (and the network of peers that holds him accountable for performance).

Serious growth-minded insura-preneurs will want to make this conversation their highest priority of the week.

Meet Mike Mathisen. He bought a teeny agency with a few hundred customers, stepped on the gas and never hit the brakes. 30% growth for over a decade. Reliable, profitable - and, if you love growth yourself, deserving of your close attention.

In this podcast, Mike reveals the secrets of how he ‘did the impossible:’

• The system he uses to absolutely JAM his marketing funnel with sizzling hot leads!
• The processes he has in to earn maximum policy per customer AND a steady 93% retention! (And they say you can’t do that with tens of thousands of customers. Ha!)
• The unique internal system Mike employs to create a total ‘sales culture’ (with the numbers to prove it!)

Serious insura-preneurs: this is your wake-up call. Mike pulls the curtains back and lets you see the simple but powerful systems he installed to earn coast-to-coast recognition for ‘fastest growing agency!’

Fast forward to today. That small agency now has 50 employees. Five stores. And $20 million for expansion. In this episode, Michael shares:

• His “opposite” approach to a common industry trend—and why he went full boar on an unusual approach to a bricks ‘n mortar agency
• The reverse thinking he applied to the customer experience and how he made customers love buying insurance
• The unusual “look and feel” of how he delivers insurance (and what people hold in their hands when they leave his stores)

If organic growth gets your juices flowing, this story is so full of lessons you’ll want to have your pen and paper handy. Find out how he doubled his agency in one year when you listen to this podcast!

This unique blend of expertise will reshape your insurance business. Get ready for talent acquisition secrets, revenue-boosting strategies, and content marketing mastery.

Elevate your game, attract top producers, and position yourself as a problem-solving expert. Don't miss out on the transformative insights that serious insurance agents need to hear!

1️⃣ Talent Acquisition Reinvented: Master the art of finding the perfect talent with tailored personality profiles and a winning onboarding process.

2️⃣ Unlock Revenue Potential: Maximize customer lifetime value and watch your profits soar. Discover retention-boosting techniques and uncover new revenue streams.

3️⃣ Dominate with Content Marketing: Become a thought leader and captivate your audience with compelling content. Harness the power of AI in content creation and revolutionize your marketing game.

🎧 Tune in now and take your insurance business to new heights with this groundbreaking podcast conversation! Gain the upper hand in marketing and sales, reshape your strategies, and dominate the insurance industry. This is the podcast episode that serious insurance agents cannot afford to miss!

• The value of ‘niching down’ for agencies
• How the industry has changed (and what agents should do to keep up with that change)
• The importance of ‘social proof’ to earn trust in the marketplace
• Why agents should be careful not to ‘hide’ behind tech and lose their humanity in the marketplace
• His insights on the ideal ‘marketing tech stack’ for today’s growth-oriented agency

Growth oriented agents will make this episode a high priority this week.

Here’s the magic. The decisions you make now create the value you get later.

Few people know that better than our podcast guest, Michael Mensch, CEO of Agency Brokerage Consultants. Michael has assisted in over 400 M&A transactions and over 1,700 valuations of insurance agencies and brokerages in the US for privately-held businesses and lenders including Live Oak Bank, Westfield Bank, Crestmark Bank, ReadyCap Lending, and Oak Street Funding.

Those few but critical decisions can mean millions of dollars for the sharp ‘insura-preneuer.’ In this real-world and practical conversation, Michael helps answer questions like:

• What are the most important factors that determine ultimate value?
• What are the best kinds of customers and lines of business for value?
• What decisions should I make about carriers to create the most value…and much, much more.

Regardless of whether you’re selling in 20 months or 20 years, this will surely be one of the most important conversations you’ll listen to for your agency. Make this podcast a priority for your both your short and long-term strategy.

He was Safeco and Liberty Mutual’s Director of Agency Capabilities and Programs. He’s walked through the front door of thousands of agencies. He’s taught reliable methods of growth to agency principals from coast-to-coast. 

Chuck Blondino is a rare three-time encore interviewee because he always brings the goods. This time, Chuck shares the inside story of 11 actual agencies, actual steps to growth, and actual, real-world results. Drawn from his long, practical background and the extensive research he has done for his new book, The Remarkable Insurance Agency, Chuck shares practical secrets any agency can put to work for growth. 

• How these remarkable agencies generate up to 700% more referrals than the industry average
• The growing role of the marketer in the modern insurance agency
• Why it’s people, not technology, that drives disruption for independent agencies
• The simple trick these 11 steady-growth agencies used to boost retention an average of 4.85%

Every serious insurance professional responsible for growth should make this practical conversation a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

“I’ve interviewed over 225 top leaders in the insurance industry. I want to share the most important things they’ve said to me. I’ve analyzed those conversations. And as I organized them, some critical themes and messages were very clear, and they were all connected to six areas the serious insura-preneur must pay attention to… 

• Strategy
• Technology
• The Modern Consumer
• Marketing & Communication
• Entrepreneurship
• The Rapid Change of Pace

This episode will show you the lessons I’ve learned in each of these areas across hundreds of discussions.” 

Michael has conducted some of the most eye-opening conversations in the independent agency system, always guided by one principle: what should the serious insura-preneur know and do now to thrive in this industry?

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Our guest today is a long-time venture capitalist, tech pioneer, and sales leader who sees the insurance industry as the ideal marketplace for entrepreneurs. Eric Ayala, SVP and GM for Novidea says “It’s big and it’s ripe for disruption.”

When the industry is constantly changing, understanding the forces driving new change can make all the difference. Listen to this episode for Eric’s insights on: 

• Why the line between “tech companies” and any other is disappearing
• The difference between truly innovating and merely going digital
• What agents need to focus on today to thrive in the very near future

Novidea is an ambitious young company with an interesting story to tell about the insurance industry and a whole lot of VC funding. Invest 30 minutes into your agency’s future and listen to this episode today. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

What does a modern insurance agency look like? It might not be what you’d think. Today’s podcast guest, Matheus Riolfi, is Co-Founder and CEO of Tint—one of these “modern agencies.” Like other agencies, Tint sits between consumers and carriers. Where things get interesting, though, is how Matheus’ company embeds insurance into its tech platform. 

In this discussion, Matheus shares his insights on: 

• Why carriers will support embedded insurance
• Why more and more companies will embed insurance into their product
• The direction embedded insurance is moving and how it’s impacting the industry

If you’re ready for an eye-opening look into the future of insurance, make this podcast a priority for your agency this week. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

When Kabir Syed was a Managing Director at Marsh, he was given a little data project that generated millions of dollars and opened his eyes to just how much money agencies leave on the table. 

This seasoned insurance professional and entrepreneur said, “I’m not really that good at technology, but I LOVE data.” That’s why he built a team of engineers to handle the technology for him while he showed them where to mine and how to polish the wealth of data hidden within every single agency today. 

Since he started Ennabl, Kabir has learned a lot about agency data, including: 

• How to mix private and public data for a huge marketing advantage over the competition
• Why agency margins should be much higher than the average agency sees today
• Remarkable secrets about clients, carriers, producers, and niches hiding inside an agency’s book of business

Data makes you an expert in your business. It also makes you an expert in your customers. Hear from one of the insurance industry’s leading data analysts on how to unleash the power of data in your business when you listen to this episode.

Every agency is seeking growth, and many are turning to professional marketers to help. This jam-packed episode turns to a seasoned agency marketer for insight. John Jackson, formerly the marketer at Alliance Insurance Services in North Carolina is now a copywriter and content creator for Agency Revolution clients. John looks back at his success at Alliance and shares what worked. 

Whether you have a marketer on your team, are thinking of hiring one, or are a marketer yourself, you’ll want to hear John’s insights on:

• What worked to boost retention by 7 points and nearly double the policy-per-customer count
• How an agency marketer can make the biggest impact on agency growth 
• How a marketer and agency principal can work together for the best results

The agency marketer is the fastest growing position in insurance. Get the most results from this critical position when you listen to John’s poignant and practical insights.

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Over his many years of observing and working in the insurance industry, Martin Ellingsworth has created innovation at almost every link in the P&C value chain. Now Marty holds a birds-eye view of the entire industry in his position as Executive Managing Director of P&C Insurance Intelligence at J.D. Power. 

In this important podcast, Marty directs his attention toward the independent agency channel and the trends that are changing their very business:

• What’s causing the hard marketing in auto insurance and where it’s going
• Why independent agents should keep their eye on the State Farm business model
• What agents should watch for as tech continues to have a massive impact on our industry

Serious agents, industry leaders, and insura-preneurs from all corners of the industry must make Marty’s insights a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Our host, Michael Jans, takes the mic to answer the question “Can an insurance agency grow by itself?” The Co-Founder and former CEO of Agency Revolution serves as a growth advisor to many of the largest and fastest growing insurance agencies and insurtechs in North America.

In this podcast, Michael pulls back the curtain on how his own fast-growth client agencies grow 25-40% or more per year. He openly shares insights on: 

• Why a few key growth systems sky-rocket top-line revenue when installed
• The four-stage process that gives agency principals and marketers clarity on how to drive growth
• A simple method fast-growth agencies use to add new skills, capabilities, and customers
• Why highly productive agents and principals choose peer-accountability groups for networking

If you’re serious about making growth easier and faster in the modern age, make this episode a priority!

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

You know insurance is changing. So do consumers—and it shouldn’t surprise you that they want it to change. They don’t want it to be slow, frustrating, or confusing. 

Few people know the insurance consumer better than our gest, Darci Darnell, Partner and Global Head of Customer Practice at Bain & Company. Bain’s insight on the relationship between the industry and the modern consumer is legendary. 

In this conversation, Darci reveals insights on critical issues the savvy agent must address today:

• How climate change, disease, and tech disruptions are producing new types of risk
• The direct line relationship between customer loyalty and customer lifetime value
• How insurers are going beyond reimbursing damages by incentivizing preventative behaviors to reduce risk

This episode will be one of the most important conversations about changes to the agent's role in insurance consumer behavior you’ll hear this year. Serious agents must make this conversation a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Listen to this discussion for Mark’s powerful insight: 

• What 12,000 insurance execs reported as the top driver affecting their business
• How the customer experience across other industries is forcing insurance to play catch-up
• Why more consumers are judging agencies by the experience and not the product
• How savvy agents are standing out from other channels and increasing customer loyalty

Agents who want to lead their enterprise into a thriving future should make this discussion a top priority today.

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Savvy agents know they need to make critical decisions now to thrive in the future of this fast-changing industry. James Benham, CEO, and Co-Founder of the leading insurtech, JBKnowledge, freely shares insight and surprises he’s found from over 20 years of creating and distributing insurtech that’s used every day throughout the insurance industry.

In this conversation, James reveals insights on: 

• Major emerging trends in insurtech, including AI, big data, cloud computing, and more
• Steps agents can take today to improve their clients’ experience dramatically in the future
• How to minimize waste and maximize profit in your agency

Serious agents who want a sneak peek into the future—and want to thrive—should make this episode a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

His company monitors 23 million US based businesses for cyber threats (for perspective, that means nearly 3 out of every 4 of your commercial lines clients). And Jack doesn’t like what he sees. 

In this podcast, Jack shares his remarkable insights on cyber threats and insurance, including:

• The key factors that are forcing huge spikes in demand, and why this is a huge growth opportunity for agencies
• Three imperative forms of protection you should use in your own agency—and share with your customers
• How everything from the Russia-Ukraine War, Work-From-Home, and Supply Chain weakness amplify cyber threats
• A practical action plan for any business who gets hit by a cyber threat

Any insurance professional who is serious about protecting their customers, and their own organic growth, should make this podcast a priority. This may be the new E&O threat agencies can no longer ignore. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Now, a series of best practices can make online selling a high-leverage (and easy-to-use) avenue that saves time and boosts conversion rates. 

In this workshop-style episode, Amazon best-selling author, international sales trainer, and Founder and CEO of The Authority Factor, Steve Brossman, shares his method for the mastery of online selling: 

• What to do before an appointment to boost the “buying energy” for an online sales call
• How to give prospects a taste of the relationship before closing the sale
• Steve’s “Presentation/Annotation” method to move prospects to your side of the table during sales calls
• Simple webcam tricks to help producers master their video presence

Steve Brossman doesn’t just train clients in these sales methods across five continents. He uses them every day himself. If you’re a producer, sales manager, or principal looking to boost conversion rates, you don’t want to miss this jam-packed and practical podcast discussion. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Years ago, this tech entrepreneur groaned at the sight of the insurance application process. So he decided to do something about it. 250,000 users later, Jeff Harris, Co-Founder, and CEO of Appulate can claim some progress. Founded 17 years ago, Appulate is one of the industry’s earliest insurtechs and one of the most widely distributed today. 

In this important essential discussion, Jeff shares insights on:

• What parts of the insurance process can be fixed by pushing buttons, and the parts that should be reserved for the human touch 
• What modern agencies can do to prepare for emerging technology in the insurance industry
• How the agency of the future will look and behave, compared to today’s agencies

If you want to stay on top of the latest industry trends, make this discussion with an industry transformer a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Our guest Aaron Gordon is a second-generation insurance agent with 11 years in his family’s agency in Manhattan—and is rapidly becoming a leading voice for millennials in the insurance industry. Aaron has something to say to boomers as well as younger generations: “The future is bright.” However, there’s a big “but” attached to that optimism. 

Listen to hear Aaron share insights on: 

• What to know about recruiting and retaining talent today
• Why Gen X and millennials are saying “Thank you” to the boomer generation but “respectfully moving on.”
• Technologies that help agencies grow and better service clients

Whether you’re seeking to hire or contemplating perpetuation, this agency VP has a message that can’t be ignored. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

The Industry is changing, consumer behavior is changing, and so are agencies. But how well are today’s agents keeping up with market trends? What about your agency? 

Our guest, Mike Becker, CEO of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents will help answer this question and share the results from the just-release 2022 Annual Independent Agent Survey. PIA and National Underwriter worked together to ask thousands of agents the questions we need to get our finger on the “state of the agency” today. 

In this fast-paced conversation, Mike shares illuminating details on topics such as:

• The dramatic shift in agents’ opinions on the use of tech to build trust
• The biggest challenges to growth and operations agencies across the country are facing today
• How agencies are planning for their post-COVID workforce—and where those workers will actually perform their job

Find out how your insurance agency stacks up against the rest of the industry as our guest unpacks the results of the most important agent survey of the year. If keeping up matters to your agency leadership, make this podcast a priority this week. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

A client shows up at their office at 8 am, turns on their computer… and sees a ransom demand. After breaking out in a cold sweat, they call you. What do you say?

This scenario doesn’t “only happen in movies” anymore, it could happen to any agency, as it already has for others. And protecting, advising, and guiding a client’s cyber decision-making is quickly becoming an agent’s job.

Our guest, Kingsley Flynn, Head of Insurance at Sayata brings 46 years of insurance experience—from Marsh to Lloyd’s—to today’s cyber industry. 

In this timely conversation, Kingsley shares insight on:

• Emerging cyber threats to small and medium businesses
• Trends in cyber premiums agents should be aware of
• Breakthroughs in delivering cybersecurity to today’s client base

Every serious commercial lines agent should make this conversation a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

In recent years we’ve seen a dizzying pace of change, a steady stream of new tech, and constant changes in consumer behavior. Against a backdrop like this, how should an agency grow in 2022?

Our podcast host, Michael Jans, dives into that very question and delivers 7 predictions for insurance marketing, including: 

• What fast-growth agencies are doing differently than average agencies
• How will the agency tech stack look different in 2022
• How hungry agencies can rise above the noise and command their market

If agency growth is on your agenda in 2022, make this podcast a priority today. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

In this eye-opening discussion, Jim shares:

• A 5-step model to becoming a stronger, better, and more respected leader for your team and customers
• The best actions to take as the industry changes faster and presents new challenges
• The top qualities that research reveals teams want most from their leaders

Challenging times call on us to be our best, and the success of your business rests on rising to the challenge. Be sure to listen in as Jim delivers actionable answers to help guide your agency to a strong and profitable future.

In this robust discussion, Peter and Michael discuss:

• How agencies can recruit and retain talent in a competitive job market
• What agents are doing now to simplify the application process
• Understanding the key triggers that drive people to purchase insurance
• How agency principals should structure their technology buying process

If growing efficiently is a goal for your agency, make this conversation a priority and learn how agencies are solving stubborn industry problems. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

• The method Mike uses to keep his team focused on key growth indicators
• Mike’s strategy to achieve high retention on a super-sized book of business
• His twist on the traditional structure to turn his agency into an policy selling machine

If you want proven growth strategies, this may be the most important conversation you’ve heard in a long time. Get inspired with proven, practical strategies. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Luis shares insights on the fast-moving world of agency distribution and technology: 

• How to use new tech to enhance the agent’s role as a trusted advisor
• Simple ways tech will free your time so you can focus on what matters most
• Using tech to analyze your book of business and uncover hidden opportunities and unseen threats

Listen to this episode to catch up on the accelerating trends impacting the independent insurance agency system. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

In this revealing podcast discussion, Marc openly shares his strategy for rapid and reliable growth:

• Why building the right content for your audience changes everything
• Marc’s strategy for nurturing his growing leads list and converting them into clients
• How the content strategy de-emphasizes insurance to get the conversation started

If organic growth is important to your insurance agency, make this conversation a priority. Marc holds nothing back and offers practical ideas that can transform your agency quickly.

In this robust conversation, Susanne shares her perspective on:

• What insurtech will likely look like in the near and midterm future for agencies
• Changes coming to personal and small commercial lines markets
• The three most important keys to success for agents to thrive in the future
• Trends in Asia and Europe that are foreshadowing changes in the U.S. market

If you’re serious about how to compete over the next few years, do not miss this conversation. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Listen now to hear Michael share:

• The 4 building blocks of thought leadership marketing
• A step-by-step method to earn the attention that becomes long-term loyalty
• Why thought leadership marketing generates high-quality leads and earns maximum customer lifetime value

If marketing with integrity and authority, and becoming the obvious choice in your market is important to you, don’t miss this special episode of the Connected Insurance Podcast.

In this conversation, Erik shares his perspective on what today’s agency must know and do: 

• Why “the biggest currency is speed” and how agencies can move faster than their competitors with the right tools
• How to use data to make the right decisions to grow your agency
• How agencies can change the way they take risks in order to maximize innovation and minimize mistakes

If your agency has any commercial lines business, you don’t want to miss this podcast.

Technology has been changing everything from consumer behavior to carrier strategy to agency operations. Lucas Jans, VP of Product at Agency Revolution, has been building tech solutions for insurance agencies for more than 20 years. With one of the industry’s largest tech teams, he oversees a constant stream of updates, product innovations, and new technologies with the goal of making tech useful and easy for agents to use. 

In this important podcast, Luke and Michael discuss the future of the insurance agency with insights on:

• Why it’s not about the tech, but the real problems it solves for agents and clients
• How agency leaders can think differently about tech and confidently make the right decisions
• Where agencies are headed due to new technologies

If getting tech right and preparing for future changes is important to your agency, make this conversation a priority. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Branch Insurance has convinced some of the top investors that it’s cracked the code on “instant insurance” for independent agencies—and it’s convincing more and more consumers of the same. How? By asking fewer underwriting questions. Name and address don’t just get you a quote, it gets you one click from binding insurance. 

In this episode, Branch Insurance Co-Founder and CEO shares insights and secrets on:

• How public data is transforming the client acquisition process
• What consumers have declared they wish would change about insurance today
• How independent agencies can catch up to the demand for convenience

Listen to this episode now to learn how Branch Insurance is trying to transform the industry from within, and how they’re bringing agents along for the ride. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Whitney Norcup, COO of Columbia Insurance & Wealth Management tells the “before and after” story of her company. How they went from a small, stagnant agency trying to figure out the modern insurance landscape to a fast-growth agency with deeper customer relationships and a bright new future. When Whitney joined her family-run agency, she brought experience from outside the industry with her and was able to see different ways of doing business. 

In this podcast Whitney readily shares secrets to her agency’s success:

• What the agency did to boost retention by 6 points, premium per customer by 143%, and policy per customer count by 60%
• How the agency changed everything after they embraced new technologies
• The biggest obstacles she sees standing in the way of rapid growth for most agencies

Listen to this episode to learn how a real-world agency moved from their past and created a new future for themselves, their team, and their customers. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

On this episode we have one of the nation’s top pricing experts, Reed Holden, Founder and Coach at Holden Advisors and author of Pricing with Confidence: Ten Ways to Stop Leaving Money on the Table. With articles published by Harvard Business Review, The Journal of Business Strategy, and many more, Reed delivers clear answers to the common pricing problems facing today’s independent insurance agents. 

On today’s episode, Reed and podcast host Michael discuss:

• What to do about the hidden profit killer in your existing book of business
• The simple but powerful formula to overcome the price issue
• How your team should respond when someone calls for a quote

If you want maximum growth in 2021, make this episode a priority this week.

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides bi-weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.