Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast

Andy Neary
  • 4.8 (52)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales podcast! This is the podcast where you'll learn effective marketing and sales strategies from some of the most recognizable names in the insurance industry. You'll learn how to turn brand awareness into more appointments, sales, and revenue.

  1. 1d ago

    How to Become Your Prospect's First Call with Jeramie Holt

    In an industry fixated on "what’s in it for me," the fastest way to build an elite book of business is actually to give your time away for free. If you are joining non-profit boards or attending community events just to hunt for leads, your prospects will smell your commission breath from a mile away. My guest, Jeramie Holt, Senior Vice President at FNIC, joins me to share his masterclass on authentic community involvement. We discuss how his grassroots fundraising experience as a 10-year-old on rollerblades shaped his perspective on giving back, and how serving organizations like the Boys and Girls Club without expecting a dime ultimately built a deep, high-trust network of over 500 COIs. We also discuss why the era of "quote and pray" is dead, the danger of throwing buzzwords like "captives" and "level-funded" at uneducated buyers, and why doing the unscalable work - like running 29 in-person open enrollment meetings in a single week - is the ultimate separator for top advisors. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga Timestamped Outline (00:00) From New Jersey to Colorado: Jeramie’s Entrance into the Insurance Industry (04:36) The Old-School Grind: Making "Eight Calls Before Eight O’Clock" (07:34) Cultivating Trust: Why Authentic Community Involvement Builds Your Business (10:35) Rollerblades and the March of Dimes: Giving Back from a Young Age (14:06) The Danger of "What's In It For Me?": Why Selfish Networking Fails (17:06) The Suitcase Party: Raising $250,000 in One Night (21:21) The Death of "Quote and Pray": What Separates Elite Producers in 2026 (24:20) Stagnant Mindsets: Why Employers Tolerate 10 Years of Sub-Par Broker Service (26:36) Stop the Buzzwords: Execution Matters More Than the Strategy You Sell (32:00) FNIC’s Independence: Blending a Regional Approach with a National Feel (35:05) The "Unscalable" Differentiator: Running 29 Open Enrollment Meetings in One Week (40:03) Driving Results: How Education Kept $96,000 in a Client's Claims Bucket (42:01) Jeramie’s Lightning Round: 5:45 AM Wakeups, Bodybuilding Competitions, and Caddying for His Son CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    48 min

  2. Jun 16

    How Public Service Fuels Sales Success | with Marc Vital-Herne

    Making the leap from high-volume personal lines to complex commercial risk is one of the hardest transitions in the insurance industry. To survive the jump, you have to completely drop your ego, embrace the discomfort of not knowing the answers, and become utterly obsessed with learning the craft. My guest, Marc Vital-Herne, Risk Management Consultant at USI, joins me to share his incredible journey from fielding 25 calls a day and selling 2,000 policies a year at GEICO to advising C-Suite executives on commercial risk. We discuss what it really means to be a "Student of the Game," why representation matters in building a personal brand, and how to successfully pivot your technical knowledge using designations like the CLCS. Mark also opens up about his deeply personal connection to Blood Cancers United and why serving your community will build more trust and credibility than any sales pitch ever could. If you want to elevate your career from transactional order-taker to trusted subject matter expert, this episode is your masterclass. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga Timestamped Outline (00:00) Introduction: Meet Marc Vital-Herne (01:21) Stumbling into Insurance: From Oil & Gas to Risk Advising (02:09) The GEICO Grind: Handling the Chaos of 2,000 Policies a Year (05:38) Making the Jump: Transitioning from Personal to Commercial Lines at USI (07:09) The "Student of the Game" Mindset: Why Obsession Separates Elite Producers (08:59) Representation Matters: Being the Example You Wanted to See (11:12) Building a Personal Brand: Becoming a Subject Matter Expert (15:15) Advice for Young Producers: Embrace the Discomfort of the Unknown (18:02) The Three Weekly Priorities: Why You Must Get More People to Know You (19:37) The Technical Pivot: Using Designations to Bridge the Knowledge Gap (22:23) Service Over Sales: Why Giving Back Creates Fierce Client Advocates (26:12) Blood Cancers United: Turning Personal Tragedy into a Legacy of Impact (33:11) The 2026 Visionary of the Year Nomination: Character Above Quotas (35:36) Marc’s Lightning Round: Morning Reflections, The Last Dance, and Reading for Substance CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    44 min

  3. Jun 9

    Organic Growth: The Ultimate Driver of Agency Value with James Graham (Marsh Berry)

    Many agency owners proudly hold the pitchfork of independence, but if your firm isn't growing, you are literally losing wealth every single year. The days of treating an agency like a personal lifestyle business while expecting a massive private equity payout are coming to an end. My guest, James Graham, Managing Director at Marsh Berry, joins me to give a "State of the Union" on the M&A landscape in the insurance industry. We break down why the M&A market has shifted from an era of "free money" to highly disciplined buying, why acquirers are intensely scrutinizing Quality of Growth (QofG) and EBITDA margins, and why the drop in public broker organic growth is a massive wake-up call for independent shops. We also discuss the biggest deal-killers in the 11th hour and why the most successful founders have mastered the art of delayed gratification. If you are an agency principal trying to decide whether to scale, partner, or sell, this episode provides the exact roadmap buyers are looking for in 2026. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga Timestamped Outline (00:00) Introducing James Graham (03:17) Why Do Agencies Sell? The Three Macro Buckets of M&A (05:02) The Wealth Trap: Why Holding a Stagnant Agency is Losing You Money (07:34) The Hard Truth: Selling Insurance vs. Operating an Agency (09:54) The 2026 M&A Landscape: High Multiples and the "Quality Spread" (12:30) Why Deals Fall Apart: Mismatched Expectations and Murky Ownership (15:00) The Scrutiny Shift: Why "Quality of Growth" is the New Buyer Metric (17:41) The Drop in Organic Growth: "The Water is Out and You're Naked" (21:45) 11th Hour Deal Killers: What Happens When Top Producers Walk Away (27:24) Start Now: Why You Must Run Your Agency Like It's For Sale Today (29:17) Delayed Gratification: The #1 Characteristic of Scalable Founders (32:49) The Power of Peer Exchange: Inside MarshBerry's Executive Network (36:55) James’s Final Advice: Why Organic Growth is Your Greatest M&A Leverage CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    39 min

  4. Jun 2

    Why Producers Are Struggling to Book Meetings in 2026

    In 2026, the insurance industry is noisier than ever, AI is changing the landscape, and buyers are deeply entrenched in a "trust recession." The traditional sales cycle of hammering suspects with activity and throwing spreadsheet quotes at the wall is officially dead. In this solo episode, I break down exactly how the insurance sales cycle has evolved and what you must do to adapt. We discuss why you have to build awareness long before you ask for an appointment, the psychology of making your proposal a mere "afterthought," and why gatekeeping your expertise is costing you deals. I also share a real-world case study of an elite producer who won a $15,000 revenue account purely because of a single, authentic LinkedIn post. If you want to leave the transactional world behind and step into the era of the Industry Expert, this episode is your blueprint. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga Timestamped Outline (00:00) Welcome Back: Evolving Your Sales Strategy for the Modern Market (01:28) The Four Headwinds of 2026: More Producers, Longer Cycles, AI, and the "Trust Recession" (04:36) The Traditional Sales Cycle: Why the "Hammer and Quote" Playbook is Broken (06:54) The Modern Sales Cycle: Why You Must Build Awareness Before You Pitch (08:44) The Power of the "Slow Burn": Using Content and Speaking to Open Massive Doors (10:32) Why Your Final Proposal Should Just Be an Afterthought (13:35) The Danger of Gatekeeping: Why You Must Give Your Best Stuff Away for Free (14:36) The $15,000 LinkedIn Post: A Case Study in Winning the Absent Decision-Maker (19:11) Stop Buying from Logos: Why Buyers Only Buy from People (20:51) Transitioning from Transactional Broker to True Industry Expert (21:49) Building Your Brand: How Our Half-Day Workshops and Expert Program Scale Growth CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    24 min

  5. May 26

    The Truth About Selling Your Insurance Agency | with Jon Lipton

    Most independent agency owners look at a private equity acquisition as the ultimate finish line. They assume that getting bought by a massive national broker will instantly solve their back-office problems, open up new markets, and fund their ride into the sunset. But here is the harsh reality of the M&A space today: if you don’t read the fine print, your dream deal can quickly turn into an absolute nightmare. My guest, John Lipton, a 30-year veteran property and casualty advisor, joins me to share one of the most unique agency trajectories you will ever hear. John built a scratch agency by hand, sold 50% of it under an accumulation structure that no longer exists today, bought the entire entity back, and turned around to sell it again 24 hours later. We break down the absolute madness of his early career trading currencies on a French bank floor during structural market collapses, why P&C is fundamentally a need-based consultative process rather than a transactional hard sale, and why agency owners must watch their peripheral vision to protect their commissions from post-acquisition contract changes. John also shares his experience as an expert witness in broker defense and how seeing egregious gaps in coverage shapes how he teaches his own team. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga Timestamped Outline (00:00) From the Trading Floor to the Finish Line: Introducing John Lipton (01:26) Forex Trading in the 90s: Fast Markets, Big Losses, and Structural Stress (04:05) Sitting in the Seat When the French Franc Collapsed (05:01) Job Security Over Burnout: How the Advent of the Euro Shifted the Market (06:02) The Family Gateway: Moving from Wholesale to a Retail Scratch Agency (08:42) Legacy Over Leverage: The Fortitude Required to Build a Firm from Nothing (10:21) Selling a Need: Why P&C Brokers Have an Advantage Over Life Insurance (13:47) Complex Products for Unexperienced Clients: Becoming an Educator (16:39) The Low Barrier to Entry: When Theory Fails Reality in Broker Training (18:15) Access to Markets: Why Back-Office Support Makes Acquisitions Attractive (21:03) The 50/50 Deal: How John Protected His Agency Expenses from Board Overreach (23:24) Cleaning up Shop: The Low-Price Buyback That Epic and Capacity Didn't See Coming (25:50) The 24-Hour Flip: Buying Your Business Back and Selling It the Next Day (27:51) Don't Start with the Finish Line: Why Building for an Earn-out Fails (31:47) Tadpoles in the Ocean: The Risk of Small Agencies Merging Into Mega Firms (35:52) Expert Witness Work: Leveraging Broker Defense to Identify Coverage Gaps (38:52) John’s Lightning Round: Panera Coffee Sip Club, Over-40 Lacrosse, and the Ironman 70.3 CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    45 min

  6. May 19

    The Habits of a Seven-Figure Producer with Thomas Cox

    Most sales managers will tell you that the only way to write seven figures in new business is to follow a rigid, uncompromising metrics plan—100 dials a week, three meetings a day, come hell or high water. But what if the secret to elite production isn't a strict script, but rather what we call "opportunistic chaos"? My guest, Thomas Cox, Vice President at Lockton, joins me to share how he broke records by generating $1.7 million in new business in a single year using an unconventional approach to prospecting. Thomas walks us through his background - from playing college basketball when he wasn't cut out for it, to enduring Navy SEAL boot camp, to making the high-stakes jump from carrier rep to broker. We discuss how to drop your ego to learn a new industry, why your physical and mental health dictates your "commission breath," and how to master the art of being "always around, but never in the way." If you are feeling completely drained by your current sales routine, this episode is a breath of fresh air. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga KEY MOMENTS (00:00) Intro (01:26) The Accidental Walk-On: Riding the Bench as a 6'4" Center in LA (03:17) 29 Days in Boot Camp: The Navy SEAL Dream and an Earth-Shattering Injury (04:40) The Airport Encounter: How a MetLife Executive Launched Thomas into Insurance (08:12) Shifting Territories: Climbing the Corporate Ladder at MetLife, Aetna, and Guardian (10:08) Burn the Ships: Making the Unconventional Leap from Carrier Rep to Broker (12:21) The Reality Check: Why Your Golf Buddies Shouldn't Be Your First Prospects (14:56) Dropping the Ego: Sitting Next to Account Teams to Learn the Watch is Made (18:19) Breaking Records: Writing $1.7 Million in New Business In One Year (20:30) Reversing the Drain: Moving from Hated Cadences to Relationship Networking (23:52) The Health Journey: How Physical Wellness Eliminates Your "Commission Breath" (26:42) Outcomes vs. Tactics: Managing a Calendar Without a Rigid Activity Plan (28:36) Opportunistic Chaos: Blocking Time to Go Ballistic on Messaging (31:37) What Separates Mentally Tough Producers from the Rest of the Field (35:58) Thomas’s Lightning Round: Whoop Data, Tonal Lifting, and Singing the National Anthem at a Royals Game CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    41 min

  7. May 12

    How to Become a "1-of-1" In Your Sales Career

    Most insurance producers spend their entire careers trying to fit in. They use the same scripts, wear the same suits, and pitch the same spreadsheets. But here is the hard truth: if you look like everybody else, you will be overlooked. In a crowded market, people pay a premium for scarcity. In this solo episode, I share my personal journey from being a "fat kid" in Size Husky jeans to a pro baseball player and, ultimately, a founder. I break down the mental trap of how the fear of judgment, comparison, and failure kills more insurance books than the competition ever could. We discuss the 20-60-20 Rule of prospect psychology, the four pillars of the Brand Authority Blueprint, and why elite producers measure themselves against the best version of themselves rather than their peers.  If you’re ready to leave the masses behind and recreate the future of your career, this episode is your wake-up call. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga KEY MOMENTS (00:00) Growing Up as the "Chunky Kid" in the 80s (01:14) The Enemy: The Annual Presidential Fitness Test and the Fear of Judgment (02:20) Standing Out: How Baseball Turned Me into a One-of-One Athlete (03:08) The Mental Trap: How the "Fat Kid" Came Back During Pro Ball (03:47) The Clear Message: If You Look Like Everyone Else, You Will Be Overlooked (04:22) Scarcity Wins: Why People Pay a Premium for the Unique Advisor (05:49) Why We Are Afraid: Overcoming the Fear of Standing Out (06:16) The 20-60-20 Rule: Winning the Undecided 60% of Your Market (08:01) Stop People-Pleasing the 20%: Why You Shouldn't Fear Sharing Your "Good Stuff" (09:34) The Brand Authority Blueprint: Four Pillars to Becoming a One-of-One (11:09) Traits of the Elite: Why One-of-Ones Invest in Themselves and Crave Feedback (12:34) Lions Don’t Compare Themselves To Donkeys (13:27) The Usain Bolt Standard: Chasing Personal Records, Not World Records (14:35) Recreating the Future: Following the Footsteps of Gates, Jobs, and Huang (15:50) The Challenge: Four Questions to Rewrite Your Professional Future CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    18 min

  8. May 6

    How to Scout and Recruit Winning Insurance Producers with Dan Wellik

    In the insurance industry, we often celebrate the "Hero”, the lone-wolf producer who closes the big deal and saves the day. But if you want to build a truly scalable agency, you have to stop being the hero and start being the Hero Maker. My guest, Dan Wellik, Vice President at TRICOR, joins me to discuss his journey from pitching on the mound and coaching in the Cape Cod League to leading sales teams in the insurance world. Dan shares a unique perspective on the industry, having navigated the trajectory from a boutique independent agency to global powerhouses like AssuredPartners and Gallagher, before choosing to return to a large regional independent. We discuss why preparation is the only cure for sales anxiety, how to recruit producers with a "scout’s eye" for talent, and why helping new producers find a niche immediately is the fastest way to 10X their growth. Whether you are a "washed-up pitcher" or a sales leader looking to scale, this episode is packed with leadership gold. ▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call completegameu.com/aga KEY MOMENTS (00:00) Two Washed-Up Pitchers: Baseball, Control, and the Mound (03:45) JUCO Ball and Adversity: How Junior College Shapes Work Ethic (08:12) Pitching vs. Sales: Why Preparation is the Only Way to Handle Pressure (11:30) Coaching at the Cape Cod League: Managing Elite Talent and Imposter Syndrome (16:50) The Pivot to Insurance: Transitioning from Selling a Program to Selling Risk (21:15) Boutique to Global to Regional: Navigating the Phases of Agency Acquisition (25:30) Impact and Autonomy: Why Dan Chose the TRICOR Leadership Model (29:45) Scouting Producers: What a Sales Leader Looks for in New Talent (32:20) Starter to Reliever: Adjusting Your Skill Set When Moving into Leadership (35:10) Heroes vs. Hero Makers: The Mindset Shift of Great Sales Leaders (38:50) Recruiting Advice: Transparency, Creativity, and Direct Involvement (42:15) Dan’s Lightning Round: 3 Kids, Strength Training, and Predictable Success CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY 📲 Schedule a free discovery call: completegameu.com/aga Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg 💬 Join the Complete Game text community: Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462 Connect with Andy Neary on social media:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

    40 min
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4.8
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales podcast! This is the podcast where you'll learn effective marketing and sales strategies from some of the most recognizable names in the insurance industry. You'll learn how to turn brand awareness into more appointments, sales, and revenue.

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