Agency Nation Radio

Agency Nation - Insurance Marketing and Technology Strategists
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Agency Nation Radio

Agency Nation is the leading digital publication helping insurance professionals dominate marketing, sales and technology in the modern marketplace.

  1. 12 FÉVR.

    Stepping Up and Standing Out With Megan Carroll

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Megan Carroll, president of Stein Insurance in Lindstrom, Minnesota. “I worked as a property & casualty reinsurance broker at Willis Re," explains Megan Carroll. “That was my first 'big kid' job." However, the absence of a succession plan at her family's fourth-generation independent insurance agency and a desire to keep it family-owned drew Carroll into the family business in 2017. “I took a substantial pay cut and started from the ground up at Stein Insurance," she says. “It felt like a huge risk at the time but, looking back now, it was definitely the right move." Since then, Carroll has become a part owner and president of the business, a process in which she has stepped up professionally and grown into a leadership position while learning the ropes of agency management and p&c insurance. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. -------------------- Megan Carroll https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-carroll-msc-cpcu-are-24329a32/

    24 min

  2. 29 JANV.

    From Polls to Policy: Understanding the Post-Election Legislative Agenda

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Molly Abboud, Big “I" director of political affairs, hosts a discussion with Charles Symington, Big “I” president & CEO, and Nathan Riedel, Big “I” senior vice president of federal government affairs to discuss the 2024 election results and how they will impact the Big “I” legislative agenda. They examine the key factors behind President Trump’s victory and discuss what to expect during his first 100 days in office. From campaign promises to policy priorities, they assess how Trump’s second term will compare to the first and how independent insurance agents and brokers may be impacted. "President Trump and his team have obviously been in the White House before,” said Symington. “They've been there. They've done that. So I think that they're going to get out of the gate a lot quicker, a lot stronger, a lot more productive, and a lot more effective.” Another topic they tackle is legal system abuse caused by third-party litigation funding and what can be done about it at the state and federal levels. “Our agents are keenly aware that abuse of the legal system adds considerable stress to the insurance industry,” said Riedel. “And it's definitely contributing to the hard market that we find ourselves in right now.” Other topics they discuss include the new Senate Republican leadership, how Congress may respond to wildfires, such as those currently active in Los Angeles, and other natural disasters. Listeners will learn how to get involved with grassroots advocacy for the independent insurance agency system by attending the 2025 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 30 to May 2. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

    37 min

  3. 17 JANV.

    Creating the Cyber Insurance ‘Easy Button’ with Jay Fribourg

    Insurance has been a part of Jay Fribourg’s life from the very beginning. His insurance career began when he interned at his family’s agency filing and scanning documents. After graduating from college, Fribourg joined the family agency but eventually broke off and started his own agency, Bentley Insurance, named after his 130-pound Great Dane. In 2012, Bentley Insurance was acquired by Pinnacle Insurance Group. However, his experience working in a cybersecurity distributor startup firm led Fribourg to partner with former coworkers and create BlueZone Cyber Solutions, combining expertise in both insurance and cybersecurity. At BlueZone, we have this goal to bring enterprise-level security down to the small business owner. That’s what we’ve been really focused on,” Fribourg says. “Nowadays, the targets are these small businesses that don’t have the protection in place and they could really use a good outsource team. “We put a package together for them and for their insurance agencies,” he adds. “It’s that easy button that they can push.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Fribourg was also featured in the January issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview in the link below or read the full issue online. https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2025/january/declaration-of-independents-jay-fribourg ------------ Jay Fribourg https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayfribourg/

    15 min

  4. 27/12/2024

    Best Practices and Goal Setting for 2025

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jennifer Becker, Big “I” Senior Director of Agent Development and Research and Education, is joined by Andy Siegel of Siegel Insurance and chair of the Big “I” council for Best Practices and Katy Stewart of Olis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors and a member of the council for Best Practices to discuss about benefits and data that can be gleaned from the study. The Big “I” Best Practices study is the annual report done in partnership with Reagan Consulting and analyzes the performance of the nation's leading agencies to uncover methods, strategies and procedures. Throughout the episode, the three chat about how these agencies may be using the data to help set goals and make decisions as we enter 2025. Towards the end of the episode, Siegel offers a tip for agencies who are considering or were nominated to become a Best Practices agenct. “The value of the data you get out is priceless. You spend a few hours of time putting all this together, but if you can position your agency to be more efficient, more profitable, it has more value. You might attract more producers, you might attract more carriers when you're running a good financial ship. Everything seems to rise with it. So, the rising tide lifts all boats. If you have a financially sound agency, it attracts better markets, better producers, better employees service team. So go for it.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. ------------------------------ Andy Siegel https://www.linkedin.com/in/andynsiegel Katy Stewart https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-stewart-0111b8188/

    21 min

  5. 12/12/2024

    Going All In on Agency Ownership With Stephanie Dew

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Stephanie Dew, President, Agency Owner of WinStar Insurance Group in Cedar Park, Texas. In 2022, Dew, then 20% owner of WinStar, learned that the other two owners would be retiring. She didn’t want to see the agency absorbed by the large buyers circling overhead and decided she would buy it herself—even if it meant mortgaging her house. “It devastated me to think that these employees who have worked so hard to build up the agency would have to watch it get gobbled up by another agency that I didn’t think would value our clients the way we do,” Dew says. “I went to my family first to make sure my husband and kids were on board. And they knew this was my dream. We had our house pretty much paid off, and I took a loan on it and did everything I needed to make it happen.” WinStar’s defined niches propel its growth, from wineries and water entities to emergency services. The agency has been a Best Practices agency since 2019. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

    14 min

  6. 26/11/2024

    Generation Technology: Collaboration for the Future

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we explore technology and its real-world impact on independent agencies. Join host Bobbie Collies, chief insurance officer at Coterie Insurance, as she unpacks how technology is not just about tools and software—it’s about people. Collies is joined by two industry leaders: Chris Cline, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT), and Todd Jackson, Big “I” Chairman and owner and partner at McGowan Insurance Group. Together, they discuss the challenges, opportunities and future of technology in the independent agency system. Cline discusses the evolution of ACT, including an overview of the “Letter to the Industry,” which highlights the pillars critical to technology success: data, connectivity, AI and people. As an agency owner, Jackson brings perspective to listeners who may want to see their agency use more technology, but aren’t sure the best path for leadership buy-in. “Understand that you may be working in an agency that’s owned by someone like me, and you may find resistance, you may find challenges and this may frustrate you at times,” says Jackson, “And this hopefully will be a perspective for you to see how to talk to these folks, who are intimidated and don’t understand what’s available to them and give them avenues and insights on ways to embrace that.” Whether you’re a tech-savvy agent or just starting to explore what technology can do for your agency, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you thrive in today’s digital landscape. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

    57 min

  7. 13/11/2024

    Driving Change and InsurTech Innovation With Andrew Ryan

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Andrew Ryan, vice president of Hertvik Insurance Group in Medina, Ohio. Despite being unimpressed by the software on offer when he first joined the independent agency channel, Ryan has relished the opportunity to constantly innovate and improve agency technology and processes. Currently, Ryan is embarking on a new project—Engineered Insurance Services (EIS)—which is a joint venture between Hertvik Insurance and Engineered Tax Services, a premier specialty tax firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and a product of decades of commitment to driving change. “In our new agency, just as with picking technology, we’re assembling a team with diverse skills and focusing on our strengths,” Ryan says. “This fresh start is thrilling and gives us the opportunity to create something innovative and efficient.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. ------------ Andrew Ryan https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewryanins/

    24 min

  8. 23/10/2024

    Key Findings from the 2024 Agency Universe Study

    On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, AnneMarie McPherson Spears, news editor, Independent Agent magazine, interviews Kristina Witzling, executive vice president and property & casualty practice lead at Zeldis about the findings from the 2024 Agency Universe Study. The Agency Universe Study by Future One, a collaboration of the Big “I" and leading independent agency companies, is hailed as the most comprehensive look at the independent agency system. First conducted in 1983 and completed biennially since 2002, the study is facilitated by Zeldis Research and surveys property & casualty independent agents and brokers. The 2024 study was released at the end of September and sheds light on the state of the independent agency channel as it moves past the coronavirus pandemic and through the hard market. Witzling discusses a range of findings from the latest study, including the total number of independent insurance agencies, how mergers & acquisitions are impacting the distribution channel, the biggest factors behind agency success in the hard market and more. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

    13 min
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À propos

Agency Nation is the leading digital publication helping insurance professionals dominate marketing, sales and technology in the modern marketplace.

Informations

  • Création
    Agency Nation - Insurance Marketing and Technology Strategists
  • Années d’activité
    2015 - 2025
  • Épisodes
    676
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © Agency Nation
  • Site web de l’émission
    Agency Nation Radio

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