Agency Intelligence

Meet the next Weird and Amazing Person in this podcast series, Billy Van Jura, Partner at Birchyard Insurance Consultation in New York.  He’s a loyal podcast listener and is way ahead of the game.   This is a two-part podcast that will ruffle your feathers so stay tuned for next week’s Part 2 release. Listen in on this conversation between Billy Van Jura and Jason Cass as they two-step through their different -and similar stances on insurance, the industry, and the compensation model. His anti-marketing and pro-customer spending approach will make you rethink your strategy.  He also talks about '“insurance as a commodity” and why that’s a 100% great thing for agents who really listen.  Lastly, he shares his thoughts on "The" compensation model that works and retains great agents.  This podcast ends abruptly with Billy posing questions on Social Media which is to be continued in Part 2. (Don't miss out next week!)

In Part 1 of the Robb Zbierski interview, he gave some interesting tips on how the brain works. In this second part, Robb talks about why the brain works the way it does then offers some exercises that help enhance your brain power and establish positive patterns. Robb’s visual analogies about the way the brain works awakens your awareness which allows you to make more conscious decisions and actions.   Again for those of you missed the first part, Robb Zbierski is with Freedom Personal Development; they offer personal development programs, including memory training and other “train your brain” programs.      

When you meet someone new, you shake their hand and their name dissolves from your memory just as soon as they say it. If you’re one of these people, you need to know that memory affects every little thing from your relationships to your business to your own personal development, and you’re about to uncover how these tiny mysteries connect in this next podcast from The Summer of the Weird and Amazing Person series. Robb Zbiersk from Freedom Personal Development breaks it all down. He helps you understand how your brain works and how to train your brain for success.  Simply said, you become overall . . . more awesome.   This podcast is packed with pure tactical information so we had to break it up into two parts.  Be sure to check back in next week to see what other little daily changes you can make to maximize the power of your brain.

Welcome to the summer’s podcast series we’re calling the Summer of the Weird and Amazing Person.  Listen to this podcast to hear who and what’s in store, so you can start thinking and seeing outside-the-box.   For the first podcast in this series, we’re also starting it off with Jason’s rant where he challenges agents to find what the real value proposition is for your clients. If what you’re doing today is not working the same they were with new business sales, and if you’re wondering what why your retention is slipping and you’re blaming somebody else, you’ll want to listen to this podcast to see what you need to do to provide true value for your customers.  

Join us for the final podcast of "The Month of the Insurance Woman" series.   We all know that Washington state get a lot of rain....but the shower of love this agent gives her clients is no where comparable!   Claudia McClain the owner of McClain Insurance Services in Everett, WA joins the podcast this week to tell us how she does it.   She breaks down: Why working at Sears in the 70's taught her the value of cross selling and how it affects her agency still today. How and why she invest the vast majority of her advertising money into her clients. How and why she touches them 18-20 times a year   These are just a few of the puddles of fresh water you will find in this conversation.  

The “Month of the Insurance Woman” so far has been huge and it’s about to get bigger…   Jill Roth, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Ahart, Frinzi, and Smith was named National Young Agent of the Year on April 9th of 2014.  She has served at the highest level of the young agent network by being a member of the National Young Agents Committee.     She has a two location agency with one office in Alexandria, VA and the other in Phillipsburg, NJ. Her agency recently found a “rainmaker” and she gives some insight to how you might find one.  She states she has it easier than a man in the insurance business.  Yep, you heard it right…easier. She talks about how they look at compensating their the staff and the producers.  

In honor of Mother's Day this Sunday, we are celebrating the "Insurance Woman" for the month May! For this podcast, we've got out our very own Grow Blog contributor, and owner of Alan Galvez Insurance, Carrie Reynolds.  She talks about how she has developed her agency from a family-run business, and how she's built her branding to become the "Insurance Goddess."

For this podcast, Mr. Greg Batty, Vice President of Ken McEachran Agency, Ltd. talks about this rare niche, how he get involved, and why it's become 60% of his business. Listen to this podcast to see how he turned his passion into a business niche.

Today we are joined by Jim Schubert of Southern Sates Insurance. What a guy, what a blogger, and what a great business man.  Listen to what his agency has done and is doing to them 1-2 leads a day!   This month, we're talking about niche markets, so don't miss out.

See what's on tap for the month of February!  We are celebrating Agents Influence's first birthday in March, so we're ringing in the celebration by featuring the top-3 listened-to-podcasts-of-the-year this month . . . so stay tuned!  Also, Jason Cass offers a beautiful rant about social and digital business and why it is unquestionably the wave of the present and future for independent insurance agents.

Join the last podcast in the BigWig Series with Jason Cass and Tom Ealy, President of Encompass Insurance. See how he is positioning his company and learn what he says about "top line enablers" and "bottom line enablers." 

On this podcast Jason Cass speaks with Ron Berg, the new Executive Director of the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), who has recently taken over for the great Jeff Yates. Ron Berg talks about technology for the office and technology out of the office, technology for workflows and technology for sales as well as business intelligence! Get familiar with how ACT is making your life easier and helping you generate income using the tools of today.

Join Jason Cass for another interview in the "BigWig" series, with Tom Minkler, President of Clark-Mortenson Agency out of Keene, NH.  He is also the Chairman of the IIABA for the 2013-2014 term. Find out why this guy believes in the industry and why this is the best time to be an independent insurance agent.

Continuing from Part 1, Jason Cass interviews Chuck Blondino where he reveals some practical steps independent agents can follow to gain success.

In this podcast, see what Safeco Insurance Director of Marketing, Chuck Blondino is saying about independent agents and why he places a safe bet on small agents and their future in the industry.  Check out his wealth of industry knowledge.

Join us for another podcast in our "Big Wig" Series with Karen Bailo - Agency Sales & Distribution Business Leader of Progressive Insurance.  She shares a wealth of insight, including the specific tools Progressive uses to help young agents leverage their expertise.  

As part of the "Big Wig" podcast series, Jason interviews Bob Rusbuldt, CEO of Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, also know as the Big I.  He advocates on behalf of agents, in the front lines of legislation, and companies protecting and maintaining the competitiveness of independent agencies.  

Interview with Chip Bacciocco - Project CAP

On this interview Jason talks to Dick Lavey about what Hanover does to help agents become successful through a program called Agents Solutions which educates agents on a particular industry.  

Still need your help!  On this podcast we talk about the questions we will be asking and what we still need from you.