Falcon Forward

Peter Brecht
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

Falcon Forward follows a modern property and casualty insurance brokerage as they grow, with a passion for rugby, cars, and tech. Hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe in San Diego, California.

  1. Oct 21

    Why You Need to Audit Your Own Insurance Policies ASAP

    Why is it so easy to review policies for everyone else while ignoring your own? In this episode of Falcon Forward, host Peter Brecht opens up about auditing his own home, auto, umbrella, and cyber insurance policies—and the major eye-opening gaps he discovered along the way. Joined by Falcon West President Mike Tanghe, they break down real-world personal risk scenarios, from navigating cancelled home insurance to strategically adjusting deductibles and protecting your family against hidden liabilities. Peter shares his personal experience moving from direct-writer home coverage to rental policies, the surprise umbrella rejection from online-only insurance apps like Lemonade, and his internal debate on raising auto deductibles to $5,000 to combat skyrocketing rates. Mike weighs in with crucial advice on auto accident decision trees, statute of limitations risks, and why proper claims documentation is essential. Together, they explore why personal umbrella policies and modern cyber insurance (like NetGuard) are non-negotiable shields for high-earning professionals and modern families. 00:00 Welcome to Falcon Forward & Episode Overview01:23 Why Brokers Need to Audit Their Own Policies02:34 Getting Canceled: Home Insurance & California Fair Plan Reality05:39 The Lemonade App Trap: Fast Policy vs. Umbrella Acceptability08:17 Earthquake Coverage & Loss of Use Misconceptions12:09 Skyrocketing Auto Rates & The $5,000 Deductible Strategy16:03 What to Do After an Auto Accident (Statute of Limitations & Documentation)20:04 Why 95% of People Misunderstand Umbrella Insurance23:31 Protecting Future Earnings & High-Limit Personal Liability27:20 AI, Kids & Modern Personal Cyber Threats (NetGuard Overview)33:49 Key Takeaways & Final ThoughtsAbout the Show: Falcon Forward is a podcast focused on commercial and personal insurance, career growth, small business strategies, and navigating the modern insurance industry. Hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, the show offers practical insights for producers, business owners, and risk management professionals. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #umbrellainsurance #cyberinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #insurancebrokers #prospecting #insuranceproducers #salesstrategy #riskmanagement

  2. Oct 8

    Should Brokers Sell Insurance to Friends and Family?

    Should insurance brokers pitch policy coverage to friends and family, or does working with personal networks do more harm than good? In this episode of Falcon Forward, hosts Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe debate the potential pitfalls and major advantages of prospecting within your inner circle as a broker. Peter shares his perspective from the commercial mid-market space, explaining why relying on friends and family can stunt a new broker's ability to learn real cold-prospecting skills. He discusses the aggressive lead-generation models used in financial planning, the value of keeping personal relationships strictly for moral support, and why establishing independence early in your career pays off long-term. Mike offers a contrasting view, arguing that while cold prospecting remains essential, reviewing coverage for friends and family gives brokers direct access to decision-makers without gatekeepers. He breaks down how auditing policies and identifying hidden coverage gaps allows producers to provide genuine value, and illustrates his point with a real-world story of a multi-million-dollar property loss claim that turned into a massive source of client referrals. 00:00 - San Diego heat wave and episode introduction 00:43 - Should brokers sell insurance to friends and family? 01:35 - Why the answer starts with "it depends" 02:21 - Commercial prospecting vs. personal phone book leads 03:26 - Learning how to hunt vs. relying on built-in networks 04:13 - Lessons from financial planning and sales data collection 05:21 - Proving your value before taking on family accounts 06:31 - Accessing decision-makers and bypassing gatekeepers 08:24 - Selling coverage vs. reviewing existing policies 09:15 - Navigating tough markets like California homeowners insurance 10:15 - Partnering with senior brokers on warm referrals 11:18 - Specializing early: Personal lines vs. commercial lines 13:27 - Maintaining professional boundaries with family clients 14:51 - Case study: A multi-million-dollar smoke damage claim 17:35 - How proper claims handling creates lifetime referral sources 19:35 - Final takeaways and preview of next week's episode Links & Resources: Falcon West Website: https://falconwest.com/ Falcon West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ About the Show: Falcon Forward is a podcast focused on commercial and personal insurance, career growth, small business strategies, and navigating the modern insurance industry. Hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, the show offers practical insights for producers, business owners, and risk management professionals. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #insurancebrokers #prospecting #insuranceproducers #salesstrategy #riskmanagement

  3. Sep 30

    What 30 Years of Industry Relationships Taught Me

    In this episode of Falcon Forward, Mike Tanghe takes a step back from standard insurance topics to share a reflective gratitude episode focused on long-term relationships, team history, and career growth. Mike reflects on a recent trip to Minnesota where he reconnected with long-time colleagues, account managers, and new team members. The conversation explores the value of building decades-long friendships in business, lessons learned from early career mentors, and the rewarding experience of supporting small business owners as they achieve the American Dream. Peter and Mike also discuss the natural evolution of careers in the insurance industry, the power of mentorship, and why taking time to appreciate the people around you is vital to long-term professional fulfillment. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview 00:26 - A Gratitude Podcast: Reflecting on a Busy Week 01:53 - Reconnecting with the Minnesota Team and 10-Year Milestones 03:02 - Working Alongside Friends of 30 Years 03:36 - Welcoming New Talent and Seeing the Next Generation 05:31 - Early Career Days at Federated Insurance 07:12 - Lessons Learned from Early Mentors and Sales Experiences 10:51 - Supporting Small Businesses and the American Dream 12:51 - Seasonal Shifts, Looking Ahead, and Final Thoughts Links & Resources: Falcon Forward Website: https://falconwest.com/Falcon West LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ About the Show: Falcon Forward is hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, focusing on commercial and personal insurance, small business growth, and insights into the insurance industry. The show breaks down complex coverage topics and highlights the people and relationships that drive business success. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #businessrelationships #gratitude #entrepreneurship #leadership

  4. Sep 25

    The Hidden Risks of Personal Cyber Threat Coverage

    In this episode of Falcon Forward, Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe discuss the launching of Falcon West's new personal cyber insurance program and examine why standard home policy endorsements fail to cover modern cyber threats. They analyze real-world wire fraud scenarios, email compromise scams, and practical steps families and business owners can take to safeguard their assets. Many homeowners assume the cyber endorsement attached to their homeowners policy offers adequate financial protection against online threats. However, most standard policies offer outdated identity theft coverage with low limits, leaving individuals vulnerable to sophisticated attacks like wire transfer fraud, escrow scams, and targeted social engineering schemes. As cybercriminals leverage automated tools and AI to intercept communications, personal exposures continue to escalate significantly. Peter and Mike walk through actual claims involving intercepted wire instructions, fraudulent invoicing, and targeted email compromise during high-stakes transactions such as home purchases. They break down the operational criteria required to deliver a comprehensive personal cyber insurance product, while providing actionable advice on implementing multi-factor authentication, educating family members, and maintaining healthy skepticism around unexpected financial requests. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Weekly Recap 01:05 - Identifying Gaps in Standard Personal Cyber Insurance 02:45 - Limitations of Standard Homeowners Cyber Coverage 05:27 - Operational Efficiency and Launching the New Cyber Program 07:28 - Wire Transfer Fraud and AI-Driven Email Compromise 09:01 - Case Study: Contractor Invoice and Email Impersonation 14:08 - Statistics on Internet Crime and Financial Losses 16:47 - Prevention Tips, Multi-Factor Authentication, and Scam Awareness Show website:https://falconwest.com/ Falcon West LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ Falcon Forward provides insights and practical discussion on commercial and personal insurance, risk management, and building a successful business. Hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe of Falcon West Insurance, the show delivers strategies to help businesses and individuals navigate complex coverage landscapes. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #cyberinsurance #cybersecurity #wirefraud #identitytheft #riskmanagement

  5. Sep 10

    Retaining Insurance Clients During Major C Suite Changes

    When a long-term client hires a new CFO, CEO, or key point of contact, commercial insurance brokers face a critical transition period. In this episode of Falcon Forward, hosts Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe discuss actionable strategies brokers must implement to secure account retention and build immediate credibility with incoming executive leadership. Mike and Peter walk through the practical steps needed to turn potential account disruption into a long-term advantage. Learn how to monitor client leadership changes, request seamless internal introductions, structure introductory 15-minute review meetings, and present clear coverage summaries and claims histories. Discover how leveraging institutional knowledge and understanding an executive's risk appetite positions your agency as an indispensable partner. 00:00 - Introduction and warm weather check-in 01:07 - Handling new client points of contact and C-suite changes 01:38 - The mindset of a newly hired CFO vs. the existing broker 02:55 - Tracking client updates and setting up automated alerts 04:05 - Requesting internal email introductions to new executives 05:00 - Scheduling and preparing for the initial 15-minute meeting 07:28 - Utilizing the summary of coverage and claims history 10:15 - Highlighting institutional knowledge and program evolution 12:11 - Assessing executive risk appetite and setting strategy 14:22 - Building trust through execution and using scripts for prospecting Links & Resources: Falcon West Website: https://falconwest.com/ Falcon West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ About the Show: Falcon Forward is hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, bringing practical insights and strategic advice to professionals across commercial and personal insurance, small business, and leadership. Grounded in real-world agency experience, the show explores how brokers can build lasting client relationships, navigate industry shifts, and scale successful businesses. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #accountretention #brokeragegrowth #insurancebroker #clientmanagement #commerciallines

  6. Sep 4

    How to Build a Successful Insurance Agency Onboarding System

    In this episode of Falcon Forward, hosts Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe discuss the multi-decade evolution of onboarding and training insurance producers at Falcon West. They unpack how agency models have shifted away from sink-or-swim sales tactics toward structured mentorship, account support, and targeted niche training. Mike shares his personal journey in the insurance industry, detailing his early experiences starting out at a cluster agency in 2003 and later acquiring a book of business at Falcon West. The conversation covers the iteration of five distinct producer training frameworks, highlighting how providing direct account manager support, financial guarantees, and warm account transfers significantly speeds up success for new brokers. The hosts also break down the creation and mission of the Falcon West Academy—a 12-week internship designed to transition high-caliber professional athletes into the commercial insurance space. Finally, they discuss the importance of setting operational standards, creating actionable playbooks, and managing organizational change while scaling an agency. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and family updates 01:10 - The early days of Falcon West and Mike Tanghe's backstory 04:27 - Version 1.0 (2003): The original cluster agency model and sink-or-swim setup 09:32 - Version 2.0: Introducing direct producer mentorship and administrative support 13:29 - Version 3.0: Transitioning existing warm accounts to jumpstart producer income 16:40 - Version 4.0: The birth of Falcon West Academy and targeting niche industries 23:10 - Version 5.0: The modern playbook method, compensation guarantees, and mastery 27:10 - How to manage organizational growth, change, and agency service standards 31:23 - Final thoughts and episode wrap-up Links & Resources: Falcon West Website: https://falconwest.com/ Falcon West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ About Falcon Forward: Falcon Forward is hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, exploring topics in commercial and personal insurance, career building, and small business growth. The show shares practical strategies, operational lessons, and insights from inside the insurance industry. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #producerdevelopment #salesonboarding #agencygrowth #businessscaling #insurancebrokers

  7. Aug 28

    Payroll Providers vs Insurance Brokers for Workers' Comp

    In this episode of Falcon Forward, Mike walks through the key differences between traditional insurance brokers, payroll providers, and Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). While pay-as-you-go work comp via a payroll provider promises to eliminate year-end audit headaches, it frequently operates like a call center without personalized service. When multi-location businesses share common ownership, payroll companies often fail to properly combine entities, leaving owners exposed to unnecessary policy surcharges, lost experience rating benefits, and unmanaged employee claims. Whether you run a single-site operation or are scaling multiple business entities, understanding how workers' comp policies should be structured is critical for protecting both your bottom line and your employees. Learn how independent brokers identify these hidden pitfalls, consolidate policies to reduce administrative fees, and step in as active advocates when critical claims occur. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and upcoming client renewals 01:25 - The trend of buying workers' comp through payroll providers 04:02 - Broker service vs call center support in work comp claims 06:41 - Explaining the differences between PEOs and payroll providers 08:59 - How difficult is it to break away from a PEO or payroll provider? 10:03 - Case study: Multi-entity senior living franchise mistakes 12:12 - Common ownership, experience ratings, and policy fee errors 15:44 - How small business claims impact experience mod ratings 18:22 - The importance of active broker advocacy during severe claims 21:54 - Wrap-up and upcoming company updates Links & Resources: Show Website: https://falconwest.com/ Falcon West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ About the Show: Falcon Forward is hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, focusing on commercial and personal insurance, small business insights, and the broader insurance industry. Each episode dives into practical risk management strategies, business operations, and insurance solutions designed to help business owners protect and grow their operations. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #workerscomp #payrollservice #peo #riskmanagement #businessinsurance #claimsmanagement

  8. Aug 14

    How Private Equity Is Reshaping Commercial Insurance Brokers

    As private equity money flooded commercial insurance brokerages over the past decade, rapid consolidation reshaped the industry landscape. In this episode of Falcon Forward, Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe break down how shifting interest rates, a softening market, and heavy debt loads are forcing PE-backed agencies to fundamentally alter their operations. The conversation explores how macro economic forces directly impact insurance producers, account managers, and business clients. Mike and Peter detail why short-term PE strategies often sacrifice high-touch client relationships for balance sheet optimization, and how independent brokerages leverage this shift to deliver superior service. Additionally, they discuss the pragmatic integration of artificial intelligence in insurance. Rather than replacing human talent or forcing clunky tech onto clients, successful agencies use modern AI tools as an efficiency multiplier—freeing up teams to focus on meaningful risk management advising. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Lake Tahoe updates 01:12 - Why private equity flooded the insurance brokerage industry 03:00 - How the 2008 recession and COVID proved insurance resilience 05:00 - Hard market rate hikes driving massive PE agency growth 06:30 - The shift to a soft market and declining agency revenues 07:30 - Refinancing cheap debt at higher interest rates 08:20 - How PE pressure alters producer contracts and compensation 10:40 - The impact of PE management on client relationships and retention 13:30 - Insurtech trends, AI adoption, and replacing manual work 18:19 - Advice for account managers navigating PE-backed brokerages 21:00 - Hallucinated AI answers vs human account management expertise 22:12 - The independent agency advantage in an era of PE consolidation Falcon West Insurance: https://falconwest.com/ Falcon West LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/falconwest Connect with Mike Tanghe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-tanghe/ Connect with Peter Brecht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterbrecht/ About the Show: Falcon Forward is hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe, focusing on commercial and personal insurance, small business strategies, and broader developments across the insurance industry. The show breaks down complex risk management trends to help business owners and insurance professionals make informed decisions. #insurance #falconwest #commercialinsurance #personalinsurance #homeinsurance #autoinsurance #oilandgasinsurance #energyinsurance #smallbusinessinsurance #privateequity #insurtech #riskmanagement #insurancebrokers

See All (23)

About

Falcon Forward follows a modern property and casualty insurance brokerage as they grow, with a passion for rugby, cars, and tech. Hosted by Peter Brecht and Mike Tanghe in San Diego, California.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Brecht
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Peter Brecht