Agency Freedom James Jenkins

In this episode, James talks with Wade Millward, CEO and Founder of Rikor.

To learn more about Rikor, visit https://www.protectmyfranchise.com/.

Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com

Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom

Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe.

Episode Highlights:

Wade shares about his past missionary work in the Philippines, how he met his wife, and what led him to the insurance industry. (3:33)


Wade explains that he is very interested in innovation and making new technology that gives clients more value. (10:36)


Wade discusses what inspired him to start Rikor, the franchise insurance compliance company. (16:48)


Wade shares an interesting story of how, with the support of his developer, he was able to build a tech team in China. (30:58)


Wade believes that in the last five years, with digital distribution and insurance, as well as most of the InsurTech 1.0 that has come out, many have lost sight of the fact that business is really about trust. (35:22) 


Wade explains that they provide a consultancy service to franchisors and assist them in establishing the right insurance needs for the whole brand to protect their brand from reputational damage and unintentional exposure. (36:22)


Wade mentions that Rikor provides free software insurance verification because they believe they can monetize it in a different manner. (37:33)


Wade shares that he changed all of his company's insurance language because he believes language has power and influence and he didn't want to be a traditional shop. (39:45)



Key Quotes:

“I was very interested in innovation and creating technology to be able to differentiate ourselves and to provide value to customers.” - Wade Millward

“Hard times make strong men and what that requires you to do is to adapt and to innovate.” - Wade Millward

“I've changed all the language. I don't use Account Executive, I don't use CSR. I believe language has power and influence. And so, I didn't want to be a traditional shop. I didn't want to be a traditional insurance agency. And so all the language is different.” - Wade Millward

In this episode, James talks with Dane Williams, Insurance Advisor at Shoemaker Insurance Solutions.

To learn more about Shoemaker Insurance Solutions, visit https://www.shoemakerins.com/.

Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com

Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom

Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe.

Episode Highlights:

Dane shares his background and how he got into the insurance profession. (2:32)


Dane mentions that Shoemaker Insurance has three divisions: commercial, personal lines, and group benefits which are part of the financial planning firm, which has been around for 35-40 years. (4:52)


Dane explains that their financial planning clients make up about 35% of their personal lines book. (6:55)


Dane shares what he learned when faced with managing a very large account. (15:35)


Dane talks about their growth path and how Shoemaker Insurance has continued to learn and adapt to new areas of opportunity. (20:08)


Dane explains the steps that are taken if Shoemaker Insurance has a producer that is not very competent. (23:37)


Dane discusses how his local podcast got started and what inspired him to launch Key Exchanges in the 901. (28:19)


Dane shares the process of having introspective moments while launching his podcast. (32:49)


Dane considers insurance as the vehicle via which he is able to interact with, be around, be involved with, and love people well. (45:14)



Key Quotes:

“It's been unique to see that that's been kind of our organization's path and how we've consistently found this is new problem, a new struggle for us to try to overcome. Let's see how we do it. And it's going well, I'm excited about the growth .” - Dane Williams

“I'm grateful to get to consume it all, let alone be a part and be friends with so many of you guys, because I know I am a drastically better insurance agent because of time spent with a lot of you guys even though you don't realize you were spending time with me.” - Dane Williams

“I love people and insurance is the vehicle that allows me to interact and be around and be involved and love people well.” - Dane Williams

In this episode, James talks with Meg McKeen, Founder of Adjunct Advisors.

To learn more about Adjunct Advisors, visit https://www.adjunctadvisors.com/.

Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com

Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom

Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe.

Episode Highlights:

Meg discusses the importance of personal development and self-exploration, which led her to build a successful consulting career and helped her to create opportunities for others. (4:21)


Meg shares how she struggled with being out of alignment in her traditional insurance job and how taking a year off to reevaluate and realign with her values led her to entrepreneurship. (8:05)


Meg mentions the importance of energy alignment and cultural fit in hiring and leveraging existing strengths to attract and retain employees. (17:21)


Meg discusses the changing nature of leadership in organizations, with a move towards more collaboration and buy-in from team members, driven by a younger generation of employees who grew up in a more collaborative environment. (22:14)


Meg explains the need to support and empower women in sales who are seeking more challenge, opportunity, and money, rather than assuming they are content in administrative service roles. (27:42)


Meg mentions that curiosity and humility are important in achieving progress toward a larger goal. (31:21)


Meg discusses her experience as an entrepreneur and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and adaptability in overcoming challenges. (35:40)



Key Quotes:

“One of the things I've learned along the way is that we spend a lot of time and energy trying to be what we're not. And when we really sit with and honor who we are, that's when the magic happens.” - Meg McKeen

“I believe one of the greatest missed opportunities in our business is the relationship that we have with ourselves, and really the deep understanding of who we are and what we stand for. And how we want to show up in this business is something that we are not taught as professionals.” - Meg McKeen

“There are women who are craving more, more challenge, more opportunity, more money, but aren't being presented with the opportunities to get there and I think that's where we really get hung up. There are definitely plenty of people that are happy with the role that they have and don't aspire for other things. But I think we need to focus on the ones who are on the move." - Meg McKeen

In this episode, James talks with J.C. Wogomon, Owner and Founder of Catalyst Insurance Group.

To learn more about Catalyst Insurance Group, visit https://www.catalystinsgrp.com/.

Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com

Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom

Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe.

Episode Highlights:

James shares how he and J.C. Wogomon met in Phoenix in April 2021. (2:03)


J.C. explains that when he originally considered creating Catalyst Insurance Group, he had approximately a six-month runway, so the first thing he did was jump on as many podcasts as he could find. (3:00)


J.C. discusses his beginnings and how he got into the insurance industry. (5:00)


J.C. believes that the first two years of his insurance job were a learning process, but he is now confident in his ability to deliver. (14:56)


J.C. discusses the most important lessons he learned as a captive agent. (21:39)


James believes that there is a significant difference between being a professional salesman and being a hustler and higher-value prospects can detect when you are operating at a different level than your colleagues. (27:19)


J.C. explains that the word Catalyst is derived from the idea of a condition, event, or person that has resulted in a significant change. (29:40)


J.C. mentions that when he launched his agency, he had no perspective and that he would go into things without any preconceived ideas of how things should be other than what he learned on a podcast. (36:55)


J.C. explains that their website is more than simply a digital brochure that visitors may peruse, it's truly an asset and tool in their agency that they utilize every day. (47:13)



Key Quotes:

“When I opened my agency, I had no perspective. And that was a blessing and a curse, right? I would go into things with no preconceived ideas of how it should be. Other than what I listened to on the podcast, that's how I've been able to build my agency the way that I built it, is learning from others.” - J.C. Wogomon

“I would think in the way insurance is delivered to the customer has been probably the most dynamic eight-year gap in the history of our industry as far as the evolution of technology.” - J.C. Wogomon

“I use our website, it's not just a digital brochure that people can go look at, it's literally an asset and tool in our agency that we use on a daily basis. We have so many internal forms hosted on our website that are internal facing for us to use so that we can input the information so that it'll digitally zap over to the other platforms that we're using.” - J.C. Wogomon

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, James talks with Aaron Farmer, Principal of Top Dog Pet Health Insurance, and President of California Flood Insurance.

To learn more about California Flood Insurance, visit https://californiafloodinsurance.com/.

Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com

Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom

Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe.

Episode Highlights:

Aaron discusses how his agency initially planned to get homeowners insurance and how they ended up with a private flood program. (4:09)


Aaron explains what a syndicate is and how Lloyds works. (10:45)


James mentions that one of these days he'll find someone high up at Lloyds willing to go on a podcast episode. (13:07)


Aaron explains that the broker's duty is to constantly run around to all the syndicates and have individuals lined up ready to drop their line down to add aggregate. (18:29)


Aaron explains how he came up with the concept for Top Dog Pet Insurance and how he got Bradley Flower’s attention. (26:26)


Aaron mentions that, for the agents, Top Dog Pet Insurance is simple, timely, the commission is good and they are not connected to any other carrier. (28:57)


Aaron shares that Top Dog Pet Insurance provides clients with a unique URL that they can place on their website, in a marketing campaign, and in a welcome package, and the customer can quote and bind themselves while the agent is still paid a commission. (30:22)


Aaron explains that the service on the pet insurance is fantastic because there is a vet chat available 24/7 or they can phone in. (31:29)


Aaron shares that in the first two weeks, they had well over 100 individuals sign up. (33:27)


Aaron mentions that he is looking for someone who writes a large policy out of pet insurance. (36:48)


Aaron expresses his willingness to assist anyone in the business, young or old, who may need advice. (39:16)



Key Quotes:

“The service on this pet thing is tremendous. So, agents can feel very confident that if their customer calls in and needs help, their customer is going to be, ‘Wow, this was fantastic’. Because there's a 24/7 vet chat, or they can call in. And the agent doesn't have to do any service.” - Aaron Farmer

“I got a lot of help through the last 24 years of being an agent…there's people always willing, that gave to me, that didn't have to, and I want to feel that I can give. This isn't about you know, selling anything. If I can give any advice, please just reach out. I'd be you know, I'd be honored to help anyone… young or old in the business.” - Aaron Farmer

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, James talks with Aaron Farmer, Principal of Top Dog Pet Health Insurance, and President of California Flood Insurance.

To learn more about California Flood Insurance, visit https://californiafloodinsurance.com/.

Visit our website to join our email list, get the scoop on our LIVE coaching calls and never miss an episode: https://www.agencyfreedom.com

Connect with Agency Freedom Podcast on Facebook at the Agency Freedom Podcast group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/agencyfreedom

Email us at podcast@agencyfreedom.com with ideas, questions, complaints or your favorite grilling recipe.

Episode Highlights:

Aaron discusses how he got his start in the insurance industry and shares that he has a soft spot in his heart for farmers. (5:10)


James discusses the benefits of an independent agency vs a captive agency. (8:08)

Aaron shares that he had a bit of an advantage that most people don't have, and that is that he had gotten into the private flood game and used private flood to write homeowners. (13:56)


Aaron believes that most agents nowadays are unconcerned about losses or the failure of a company. (21:18)


Aaron explains why it is important for any agent, particularly younger agents, to consider becoming a business owner after they have chosen to stop working as an insurance agent. (25:12)


Aaron mentions that one advantage of his farmer's contract was that he could put business outside of farmers if it didn't fit. (32:16)


Aaron shares that he just re-entered the contracting market with a live company that does some very fascinating InsurTech-type things with life. (38:16)


Aaron explains that life insurance has many challenging issues, but there are many resources and you can bring in experts, if needed. (42:54)


Aaron discusses several technologically advanced and inventive projects he's working with. (43:42)



Key Quotes:

 “I believe you can be successful. It doesn't matter, independent, captive, there are successful people everywhere.” - Aaron Farmer

 “I feel like it's our duty as agents, we should be talking to people about life insurance, it's important.” - Aaron Farmer

“There are a lot of complex issues that could be solved with life insurance, but someone just needs to tell them. And someone needs to hold their hand. And there are a lot of resources. So you don't even have to be 100% expert, you can just bring the experts in, right?” - Aaron Farmer