The Insurance Dudes©

The Insurance Dudes: Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman
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The Insurance Dudes is a weekly podcast for independent and captive P&C insurance agency owners, hosted by Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman, covering lead generation, sales scripts, DISC-based hiring, producer training, recruiting, automation, and the KPI tracking that scales an agency past $10 million in premium. Craig and Jason ran their own agencies blind for years. No read on contact rates, quote rates, or close rates. Just grinding, and blaming the leads when production stalled. Then they started tracking the numbers that actually move revenue, and production jumped without adding a single hour to the week. That shift became this show: 800+ episodes on what actually runs an agency. Real-time vs aged lead economics, how many dials a day a producer should be making, scripts for the rate-increase objection, how to leave a captive carrier and go independent, how to run an agency on a 4-day week, and how to value and sell an agency when you're ready to exit. No theory, no motivational filler. Just the math and the systems that took two agencies to over $10 million in new annualized auto premium. If you're wearing every hat in your agency and ready to stop, this show is built for you. Website: theidudes.com Built from the show: TeleDudes for outsourced overseas dialers, TeamIQ for DISC-based hiring, LineShield for phone reputation, and Insurance Agency Trader for buying or selling an agency. New episodes every week. Subscribe, and let's sell some policies.

  1. 1d ago

    From Wild Claims to Agency Success: Michelle O'Connor's Journey

    Shoot Us A Message! Scale your P&C insurance agency by building repeatable operations, handling complex claims, and tightening your client acquisition process. In this episode, we sit down with agency owner Michelle O'Connor to break down the operational shifts required to build a sustainable book of business. We walk through navigating claims handling, transitioning into agency leadership, and setting up daily processes that protect retention while driving steady agency growth.  For frameworks on scaling systems and building long-term value, check out the Agent Elite community and the Million Dollar Agency book. Connect with Michelle O'Connor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellenagelioconnor/ Key Takeaways and Timestamps  00:00 Introduction to agency operations and claims handling  05:15 Lessons learned from early claims and operational challenges  14:30 Transitioning from individual producer to agency leader  26:45 Implementing daily operating systems for agency growth  38:20 Retention strategies and managing client relationships  49:10 Long term agency planning and building sustainable value  56:40 Final takeaways for P&C agency owners The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  2. Sep 2

    The 15-Minute Meeting That Changes Everything

    Shoot Us A Message! Meetings: the overlooked habit that keeps an agency from falling apart This episode breaks down why daily meetings are the “glue” that keeps an insurance agency running smoothly. We explain how inconsistent check-ins create hidden problems, while short, focused meetings surface roadblocks, accountability gaps, and team momentum before the numbers slip. We discuss why meetings are often avoided, why that avoidance makes problems harder to fix, and how AI tools can help track team sentiment and patterns over time. Key Takeaways and Timestamps 00:00 - The thing that disappears before agency numbers start dropping 02:36 - Why meetings are the uncomfortable habit owners avoid 06:03 - The simplest meeting agenda: targets, roadblocks, and fixes 09:06 - Set the meeting, forget the excuses 11:36 - Using AI note-taking to track daily team meetings 12:05 - Reading team sentiment and leading indicators with AI 15:40 - Why 15 focused minutes can replace scattered interruptions 16:44 - Surprises, accountability, and recognition in daily meetings The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Listen to the Audio Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-insurance-dudes/id1451888095 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2gVVPkZ2MWQ1orwdltdIAK Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  3. Aug 26

    $6 Million Non-Renewed - Then Everything Changed with Dan Kitajima

    Shoot Us A Message! Struggling to stay profitable when carriers change the rules on you overnight?  Dan Kitajima shares the brutal moment his captive agency lost $6 million of book in six months, right as he had just signed a $20,000-a-month office lease - and how that shock forced him to rethink everything. We pushed Dan into the numbers behind the move from captive to independent, from broker fees and comp plans to closing ratios, retention, and why hyper-specializing can beat trying to sell everything. You’ll hear how Dan retained most of the affected book, why charging $150 to $250 in broker fees can actually improve service, and how independence gave him more control over pricing, appetite, and client outcomes. If you’re a captive agent wondering whether the independent model is worth the leap, this conversation gives you the real-world pros, cons, and ramp-up lessons without the hype. Essential listening for agents who want more control, better margins, and a business built to survive the next market disruption. The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  4. Aug 19

    The Hiring Mistake That Costs Visionary CEOs Their Best People with Mandy Keene

    Shoot Us A Message! Hiring for insurance agencies requires a specific strategy to avoid turnover and protect your company culture. This episode covers the common hiring mistakes that lead visionary CEOs to lose their best talent and how to implement better agency systems for long term retention. Mandy Keene, a specialist in helping business owners align their team with their vision, joins us to discuss role fit and leadership. Learn how to identify the right candidates for your P&C agency and keep them engaged. If you are struggling with hiring or culture, check out TeamIQ to find the right role fit for your next producer. Connect with Mandy Keene: mandykeene.com/transformative-coaching Key Takeaways and Timestamps 00:00 - Why self-awareness is now a business necessity 01:59 - Mandy Keene’s path from bullied student to coach 04:14 - 25 years of coaching and using assessments 05:16 - What separates grounded high achievers from destructive ones 09:45 - Why misalignment creates struggle and suffering 11:29 - The penguin in the desert metaphor 14:14 - Jason’s turning point from proving to performing 18:14 - How calm and relaxed became the new standard 21:53 - What understand.me is and why Russell Brunson created it 25:20 - Why assessments reduce hiring risk 27:26 - Hiring by personality fit instead of hiring “more of you” 30:27 - Why sales hiring often goes wrong 32:08 - How assessments reduce interview and hiring BS 35:22 - Enneagram, DISC, and different entrepreneurial styles 40:30 - Why the “integrator” is often really two or three roles 44:43 - Visionaries need a manager so they can stay in the cave and create 47:57 - Why EOS is useful but oversimplified for many founders 50:04 - The rock star analogy for leadership and energy management 53:21 - The Beatles example: staying in the creative lane 56:34 - What to look for in sales and service roles 60:13 - How to keep top performers by meeting their top values 62:55 - Where to find understand.me The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  5. Aug 12

    How $500 Became a 50-Employee Insurance Empire

    Shoot Us A Message!  Struggling to grow when your best move feels too risky to make? We discuss how to scale a P&C agency from scratch. The episode focuses on the transition from a small startup to a 50 employee operation by implementing specific outbound dialing processes and hiring the right producers. Guest Dan Garzella, owner of The Garzella Group, explains his journey of building an agency empire starting with only 500 dollars. If you are looking to scale your outbound efforts and improve lead generation, check out TeleDudes / Telefunnel. Connect with Dan Garzella: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-garzella-87944510 Key Takeaways and Timestamps 0:00 Introduction to scaling a P&C agency 2:45 Starting an agency with 500 dollars 7:12 The reality of outbound dialing for growth 12:35 Hiring producers and building a 50 employee team 18:50 Systems for consistent lead generation 25:10 Managing agency valuation and long term scaling The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast  Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  6. Aug 5

    Why Your Agency Hiring Process Is Failing

    Shoot Us A Message! Hiring Producers for P&C Agencies. In this episode, we discuss effective recruitment techniques for finding high performing talent in a competitive market. We break down the mechanics of role fit and how to screen for candidates who actually want to work. If you are looking to improve your hiring process, hiring producers, and team culture, check out TeamIQ. Key Takeaways and Timestamps 0:00 Introduction to hiring challenges 4:15 Why role fit is more important than experience 8:30 Screening for work ethic in the first interview 12:45 Creating a culture that attracts producers 18:20 Using assessments to find the right team members 24:10 Closing thoughts on recruitment strategy The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  7. Jul 29

    Mastering the Insurance Sale: Six Stages to Success

    Shoot Us A Message! How to close more P&C deals in 6 steps. In this episode, we break down the six stages of every successful insurance sale. We explain how to move prospects through the funnel using consistent outbound dialing and proven lead generation strategies. Mastering these stages is essential for agency growth and maximizing your overall agency valuation. Improve your results with our outbound lead gen and dialing tools at Teledudes. Key Takeaways and Timestamps 0:00 The first stage of the insurance sales cycle 4:15 Why lead generation is the foundation of growth 8:30 Mastering the outbound dialing process 12:45 Strategies for moving prospects to the next stage 17:00 How to handle common sales objections 22:15 Final steps to closing the deal and improving retention The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Listen to the Audio Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-insurance-dudes/id1451888095 Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

  8. Jul 22

    Mastering Lead Generation: Six Steps to Insurance Agency Success with iDudes Mailbag

    Shoot Us A Message! Are your marketing efforts leaking money without delivering the growth you need?  This episode dives into the real, behind-the-scenes challenges of running successful lead campaigns and how to fix the leaky buckets draining your budget.  You’ll learn the six crucial stages to optimize, from sourcing reliable leads and managing cold calls to navigating carrier flags and discover how to fix broken systems that keep your agency stuck. We share their proven strategies to cut through the noise, avoid common pitfalls like inconsistent lead flow, and control your marketing like a well-oiled machine. Whether you're struggling with contact rates, dialing issues, or just want more for less, this episode reveals how to turn your marketing investment into predictable, scalable growth. Perfect for agents looking to upgrade their game and finally see measurable results from their efforts because with the right setup, you can make your marketing work for you, not against you.   The Insurance Dudes Resources Join the Agent Elite: https://www.skool.com/agentelite Best Seller: https://MillionDollarAgencyBook.com Insurance Dudes Files: https://blog.theidudes.com TeamIQ: https://teamiq.theidudes.com Telefunnel Lead Callers: https://theidudes.com ILB: https://insuranceleadbrokers.com Insurance Agency Trader: https://trader.theidudes.com If this helps, subscribe and hit the bell so you can catch every episode. Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsurancedudes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-insurance-dudes-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insurancedudespodcast Support the show Hey there! Thank you for listening! We'd be SUPER GRATEFUL for a subscribe! And a review over on the Apple Podcasts would be incredible! Check out our newsletter, webinar, and some great Internet Lead tactics at The Insurance Dudes Homepage. We appreciate you! Craig Pretzinger & Jason Feltman The Insurance Dudes

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4.9
out of 5
166 Ratings

About

The Insurance Dudes is a weekly podcast for independent and captive P&C insurance agency owners, hosted by Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman, covering lead generation, sales scripts, DISC-based hiring, producer training, recruiting, automation, and the KPI tracking that scales an agency past $10 million in premium. Craig and Jason ran their own agencies blind for years. No read on contact rates, quote rates, or close rates. Just grinding, and blaming the leads when production stalled. Then they started tracking the numbers that actually move revenue, and production jumped without adding a single hour to the week. That shift became this show: 800+ episodes on what actually runs an agency. Real-time vs aged lead economics, how many dials a day a producer should be making, scripts for the rate-increase objection, how to leave a captive carrier and go independent, how to run an agency on a 4-day week, and how to value and sell an agency when you're ready to exit. No theory, no motivational filler. Just the math and the systems that took two agencies to over $10 million in new annualized auto premium. If you're wearing every hat in your agency and ready to stop, this show is built for you. Website: theidudes.com Built from the show: TeleDudes for outsourced overseas dialers, TeamIQ for DISC-based hiring, LineShield for phone reputation, and Insurance Agency Trader for buying or selling an agency. New episodes every week. Subscribe, and let's sell some policies.

Information

  • Creator
    The Insurance Dudes: Craig Pretzinger and Jason Feltman
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    812
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 iDudes, LLC, The Insurance Dudes, Teledudes, Telefunnel™Agency Growth System, TeamIQ, Agency Trader, and Lineshield
  • Show Website
    The Insurance Dudes©

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