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Navigating this hard market takes extreme intentionality. Prioritizing mental health and having a great culture in your organization are just as important as having a solid foundation of process and procedure in your agency. Both lead to finding success in these times and today we have 2 great guests to talk more about this. Scott Howell is more than an insurance agent; he’s an educator, a thought leader, and a trusted advisor. His dedication to the industry and his clients is unmatched, making him a true “insurance guy” in every sense of the word. Scott is owner of iprotect Insurance and financial services and the co-host of the Insurance Guys Podcast. The podcast has become a go-to resource for insurance agents seeking guidance on everything from sales and hiring to the day-to-day operations of running a successful agency. Kenneth Williamson is the Director of Operations at Portal Insurance. He is a breath of fresh air as a voice in our industry. He leads his team with compassion and intentionality.
Listen in on this conversation as they talk about:Scott Howell and the Insurance Guys Podcast as they celebrate 1 million downloads and what that means to himScott Howell and Kenneth Williamson as they introduce themselves to the audience The importance of having a good culture in your agency and leading with compassion and mindfulnessKenneth's approach to managing a service team during the hard marketScott discusses his agency's tech stack, and how important it to the success of his agencyHow important it is to have a solid foundation build on solid processes and proceduresThe creation of their new company Mind Your Agency, and how it came to be.
You may want to bookmark this one
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Alexis Cierra Vaughn was recently named "Women to Watch in InsurTech 2023', "Insurance Business America" as one of the top 85 trailblazing Elite Women in Insurance for 2022", Litghitco named her a top "Influencer" on the "Top 100 Insurance Innovators" list & ACORD and Alchemy Crew named her "Top 14 Global InsurTech Leaders of 2022 Globally.”
In other words, if you want a guide to identifying the right insurtech partner, start here.
Meet Alexis and learn:
how she grew Cowbell Cyber agency appointments from a few hundred to 23,000the genesis and early successes of her new consulting company, off-coursethe difference between a great insurtech CEO and an ego-driven onebleeding-edge technologies to consider when building your tech stackquestions to ask in your insurtech interview process -
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Scott Knowles is a serial entrepreneur in the Insur-Tech industry, recognized for his innovative contributions as the CEO and Co-Founder of Loss Scan. Scott has been instrumental in developing Loss Scan’s one-click tool that imports and extracts detailed information from loss-runs, eliminating manual processes and saving time for carriers and agents, His deep understanding of the insurance industry has allowed him to create technology that not only solves problems but also enhances human capabilities. Loss Scan was created, not to replace humans but to improve and enhance what they are doing. He wanted to provide a tool that could handle the tedious work of data extraction, so his clients could concentrate on interpreting the data and making informed decisions. Loss Scan, has since become a game-changer in the insurance technology space, demonstrating the limitless potential of AI in enhancing human capabilities.
Listen in as Scott talks about:
His journey from his first successful start-up in Modgic to co-founding LossscanHow he came to the idea of LossscanThe importance of the technology behind Lossscan Various use cases for the technologyArtificial Intelligence and how he is taking advantage of it to enhance the customer journeyA data-driven , AI powered approach to underwritingThe creation of Lossscan was not to replace humans but to enhance their capabilities.You may want to bookmark this one, there is a lot of information in this episode.
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Andrew Filar is the CEO and Managing Partner of Peachy Insurance, the fastest growing Allstate agency in the U.S. Andrew is focused on building the best team in the insurance industry. He has acquired seven Allstate agencies and has organically grown them from $0 to $36,000,000 in annual premiums in just 5 years. Additionally, Andrew is involved with Next Call Club, where he helps businesses turn cold leads into warm leads, close more clients, and improve ROI through effective outbound calling.
Listen in as Andrew talks about:
His journey and how he got to be the fastest-growing Allstate agencyHis training for unlicensed callers, and the steps to take before passing them to a licensed sales agentA live role-play with Heath to demonstrate an outbound call processThe importance of understanding the client journey and the tools he uses for follow-upThe lead scoring model and how he optimizes his process using this model qualification and verification for lead sources A data-driven approach to not only optimize the funnel but also leverage the digital footprintA closer look at how the cost moves through the process as opposed to the sticker priceA playbook for implementing an outbound calling strategy in your agency
The myth that online leads don’t stick around and how he shares his retention rate to respond to the judgmental biasNext Call Club works and how to learn more about the service.
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The highlighted main stage session on Wednesday was a panel discussion led by Vertafore’s CFO, Teresa Chia. We dove into topics that ranged from the current state of the market for independent agents, carriers, and MGA’s to current technology trends such as Artificial Intelligence. Let’s just say….there weren’t any quiet moments!Hear the leaders below challenge each other and the industry:
Charles Symington, CEO of Big IBobby Reagan, Executive Chairman of Reagan ConsultingStephanie Bush, Former Head of Small Commercial & Personal Lines at The HartfordDrew Aldrich, Managing Partner at Viewpoint -
Accelerate by Netvu in 2024 was hosted by the great city of New Orleans, and widely attended by independent agents and vendors from all over the country. With over 85 thousand hours of learning across those in attendance, over 250 techhub appointments, over 100 exhibitors, and so much more. This year's mainstage sessions were highlighted by two of our executives, CEO, Amy Zupon, and Chief Product officer, James Thom. They had the audience on the edge of their seats as they discussed 5 exciting product enhancements, gave away some amazing door prizes, and so much more.Listen in as Amy and James talk about:
How proud they are to be a part of the Netvu community Vertafore’s commitment to the indie channel by Investing record amounts back into our productsAmy’s top 3 trends insurance industry as she sees it – Security, Data, Artificial IntelligenceJames discusses our desire to give back time empower to success by streamline process, eliminate manual tasks, equipping agents with the tools they need5 product highlights that exemplifies our relentless pursuit of innovation and excellenceProject impact, a project that shadows 72 agents and how we are identifying tons of opportunities to improve day to day processesJames talks about the launch of the bind button on PL RatingAmy addresses the misconception that AZ is only for the small agencyAll this and so much more…
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We have a big announcement to make here at Vertafore! We made a promise 6 months ago and we are making good on our promise. The buy button is here. This is a story of passion and persistence that peaked at our Sales Kick-off Meeting. The buy button is not just about efficiency, it’s about giving the power back to the agency. With this new feature, your account managers, producers, and all other staff in your agencies, have the power to start and end a quote process without leaving the system of their choice.It is about building trust. We built this buy button with both the agency and the carrier in mind. This is a big milestone for the industry, but we aren’t done yet. We will continue to evolve and continue to enhance this technology with you in mind.
In this special episode, we discuss:
The history of this project and the impact it will have on our industry How important it is to build trust with your clients and how important it is for us to build that same trust with youThe idea that this button goes far beyond efficiency. We also acknowledge that, while this is a big announcement, there is still more work to do, more enhancements and more to evolve.There's a lot to unpack in this episode.Click below to dig in.
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Brian Comerford is an accomplished digital transformation strategist with a diverse background who began his journey in tv and radio. Brian’s specialties include innovation strategy, enterprise technology, and creativity. His work involves staying at the forefront of digital transformation and driving innovative solutions. Brian Comerford’s expertise and contributions play a significant role in shaping the insurance technology sector,and his, and work at Vertafore reflects a commitment to advancing the industry through technology and creative thinking.
Listen in as Brian sheds light on:
The necessary mindset change that needs to take place in many agenciesThe reason he returned to VertaforeThe evolution our industry has taken, from an order-taking mentality to one centered on consumer demandA strategic plan to cleanse your agency’s dataData Maturity and quality begins with self-awarenessNavigating the challenges of change management in an agency. -
Episode 11 of Season 3 on the VIP Podcast is now LIVE!
Each agency, carrier, and MGA has unique tech needs. That’s why we created the Vertafore Orange Partner Program—leveraging our open platform and APIs to create integrations with best-in-class solutions that complement your Vertafore suite of products. In this episode of the VIP Podcast, we went live at our annual Sales Kickoff meeting to meet some of our Orange Partners.
Listen in as we:
Introduce our Orange Partner Vendors Discuss what being anOrange Parner program means to them Showcase their products and solutions Find out how to contact each vendorThere's a lot to unpack in this episode. Click below to dig in.
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Dustyne Bryant of The National Alliance for Insurance Education definitely has her finger on the pulse, when it comes to our industry. Which is why she was a perfect guest to bring on for this episode. Dustyne Bryant sits down with, good friend and host of this episode, Heath Shearon, to talk all things state of the industry. She shares her experience and her advice on so many different topics on this one. Together, we discuss:
Dustyne Bryant's journey go get into the industry and where she is today.The Hard Market, and Why she believes we are where we are experiencing this type of marketInsuretech and the State of the industry from a tech perspectiveBuzz words in the industry The future of our industry with regards to Artificial IntelligenceTrending Coverages such as Parametric Insurance, Cyber Insurance, etc Finally we wrap up the podcast discussing the National Alliance- Practitioners Teaching Practitioners -
Mike Becker, CEO of the National Professional Insurance Agents has his finger on the pulse of what is going on out there in our industry, discuss, which is exactly why we invited him to come on the show today and the state of the industry with, the Mayor, Heath Shearon. Mike Becker has connections all over the country inside insurance agencies big and small as well as significant connections on Capitol Hill. Mike share with us how PIA is advocating for insurance agents every day and also bridging the gap between agencies and technology, Together, we discuss:
Mike Beckers story on finding his way to the PIA of Arkansas What Pia is doing every single say to fight on behalf of the Small Business owners of our industry.How they are tackling the numner one issue facing PIA members today ... Finding and Keeping Talent.The importance of the Relaunch of the PIA Tech Council. The Experience of Joining Amy Zupon and others on the CEO panel at the Indie Tech Conference last year. How PIA is addressing the topic of AIThere's a lot to unpack in this episode. Click below to dig in.
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Chris Paradiso of Paradiso Insurance is the guru of the customer journey. He gives us a peek behind the scenes and walks us through what makes his agency' so special as it relates to the customer journey. He talks so highly of his staff and how important it is to train your staff up and lead with proper communication. His agency has a robust touch point system post bind, and he has been very intentional every step of the way to ensure that each of his clients have a great experience with the Paradiso Agency....Together, we discuss:
Chris Paradiso's story of successes and he even shares with us his mistakes too.
How Speed and Price are not the most important thingHe talks about educating and training your team. Process and Procedures and how important it is to be intentional in setting those upChris walks us through step by step through what they do at his agency.The importance of training your staff and communicating effectively.Email is about information-Phone calls are about communication.How important Flag Day is for his agency, and it sets the tone for the culture of his agency.There's a lot to unpack in this episode. Click below to dig in.
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David Watson, CEO and Founder of RiskAdvisor and Equity Partner of Mappus Insurance Agency, is a thought leader in the industry, as it pertains to processes and procedures in your agency. He talks us through the impact of the customer journey, and how important it is to have a Customer Journey enhanced and driven by technology. Not only does he walk us through what he is doing in his agency at Mappus, but also talks to us about RiskAdvisor and how he's found a way to improve the quoting process.
Meet David Watson and hear:
David Watson's story of how he got in the industry and where he is today.How important David feels that it is to have Processes and Procedures set up for your agency.How he has leveraged automation in his agency's customer journey.A walkthrough step by step of his customer's journey, and the tech he uses to power this journey.A walk through RiskAdvisor and how you can use his product to enhance your agency process for quoting. -
CJ Hutsenpillar of Hutsenpillar Insurance takes us behind the scenes and shows us how he has built his tech stack to focus on the needs of his customers. With a tagline in his agency of "where the convenience of online shopping meets the security of having a local agent," its no wonder why Hustsenpillar insurance setting the bar high for customer experience. Not only does he walk us through the sales cycle of his customers, but we also talk about so much more...
Together, we Discuss:
What sets Hutsenpillar Insurance apart from the competitionQQ Catalyst, AgencyZoom and the open API's that allowed them to build out a robust tech stackHow he stopped looking at geographic location and focus the best talent available He walks us through his his customer journey from start to finish. The lessons learned from Direct-To-Consumer carriers and how to differentiate yourself from them. Automation presale and post bind.The importance of educating your customers as a part of the Customer JourneyThere's a lot to unpack in this episode. Click below to dig in.
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Carl Ziade and Jean-Pierre Vertil, Co-Founders of Gaya, make a lofty promise to “speed up your insurance quoting process by 10x.” Their AI-powered Chrome extension allows you to move data between carrier portals, management systems, and other software in just a few clicks. We have a sneaky suspicion this niche solution will grow to do big things in the future.
Meet Carl and Jean-Pierre to hear:
- The story of two immigrant founders taking their shot in America - Why these Standford MBAs choose to tackle the insurance industry- How Gaya leverages AI and Natural Language Processing- Real agency use cases- The vision for Gaya’s future
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Mike Fusco of Fusco and Orsini pulls back the curtain and talk to us about the hard market through his lens. Mike and his agency have a strong focus on Commercial Insurance and Employee Benefits. He tells us how he uses robot process automation to improve efficiency, employee morale, and overall customer satisfaction. Not only do we discuss this, but also we discuss why he loves the hard market and so much more...Together, we tackle:
What sets Fusco & Orsini apart from the competitionHow his Team Dynamic produces big returnsWhat is Robot Process Automation ? Why should we be paying closer attention to RPA?What's next in his agency for technology and RobotsWhat should agencies expect in 2024?There's a lot to unpack in this episode.
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Rick Warter, SVP of Customer Success, discusses how we’re thinking about system conversions differently at Vertafore. Moving massive amounts of data from one system to another is no easy feat. Doing so accurately? Even tougher. Rick explains how his team is tackling this challenge using artificial intelligence in creative ways.
Meet Rick and learn:
The current state of conversions at VertaforeWhat makes a system conversion so challengingHow AI is improving accuracy and speedWhere the conversions team is headed next -
Jamie Peers, VP of Business Development at Synatic, guides us through the unknown as he peels back the layers of AI’s real impact on insurance. Fluent in data architecture and connectivity through his work at a leading API insurtech, Jamie’s outlook on the future of AI is intriguing. Ultimately, he wants to help you answer the question…for yourself.
Meet Jamie and learn:
Who is Jamie Peers (and why you should know him)A 30,000 foot view on how AI worksThe unknown cost of AI in insuranceAI challenges you should be aware ofWhere will insurance AI be in 3, 5 and 10 years? -
The Vega-Sanz brothers started out as two frustrated and car-less college students trying to get to a local pizzeria. Now? They have been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 for building the first ever AI-powered insurance agent. This is a company to watch in 2024. Not just because of their innovative tech, but because of their endless ability to pivot.
Meet Matthew Vega-Sanz & Roberto Salinas and learn:
The unbelievable (and at-times-humorous) story behind how Gail startedWhat an AI-powered Insurance Agent can do in an agency todayHow Gail (aka, the AI) worksWhy agencies should see AI as a competitive advantageHow Gail empowers (not replaces) the insurance agency team -
Casey Nelson, founder and Ceo of Stakwise, is the Insurance tech stack guru and someone to count on to question the status quo and make you change the way you think about the technology in your agency. He is a former agency principal and has spent his entire career developing processes and procedures to increase efficiencies. Early in his career he saw technology as the answer to so much of the efficiency that he was seeking. and enhanced the processes he was implementing....
Meet Casey and hear:
How he began his career in the Insurance industry. How to use the tech you have right now in your agency to improve efficiency.What he calls the "trinity of your technology" StackWhat he thinks is crucial to your client's Experience at your agency.How to get staff buy in and early adoption of new technology. Casey define the difference in a CRM and AMS - Visa fler
