Insurance Shoptalk

Eric Stein

5.0 (7)
BUSINESS

Join your host, Eric Stein, on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. "Insurance Shoptalk" is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more.

JAN 8

Grow Your Book with a New Workers' Comp Program in Ohio

In this episode of Insurance Shop Talk, host Eric Stein introduces a game-changing workers' compensation opportunity for P&C agents in Ohio and surrounding states. With Ohio's monopolistic system long limiting agent participation, a newly approved Alternate Employer Organization (AEO) program now allows agents to earn ongoing commission while delivering meaningful cost savings and improved claims management for their clients. Eric breaks down how the program works, who it's best suited for, and—most importantly—the practical sales strategy agents can use to position it with existing clients and prospects. From pay-as-you-go billing and simplified claims handling to real-world savings examples, this webinar offers a clear roadmap for agents looking to unlock new revenue and strengthen client retention in a competitive market. #WorkersComp #InsuranceAgents #OhioInsurance #PNCAgents

39 min
JAN 7

Recruiting Is Broken in Insurance Here's the New Playbook

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein sits down with Walter Sabrin of Venture Employer Services for a wide-ranging conversation on the realities of hiring, recruiting, and retaining talent in today's insurance agency environment. Drawing on decades of experience, Walter breaks down why agencies should always be recruiting, how internal referral programs and small-scale job fairs can deliver outsized results, and why traditional job boards often fail to reach the best candidates. The discussion also explores proactive headhunting, building a recruiting pipeline for future needs, leveraging nearshore and remote talent to reduce costs while increasing productivity, and the importance of communication, training, and career progression in improving retention. Together, Eric and Walter share practical, real-world insights that agency owners can use to strengthen their teams, adapt to a changing workforce, and build a sustainable hiring strategy for the future. #InsuranceRecruiting #AgencyGrowth #HiringTalent #InsuranceCareers #AgencyOwners #InsurTech #WorkforceStrategy

47 min
11/18/2025

AI-powered Training & Client Outreach for Personal Lines Agents

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein sits down with Vlada Lotkina, CEO and co-founder of SUPERAGENT, to explore how AI is changing the way P&C agencies train and scale their sales teams. Vlada breaks down how SUPERAGENT's AI personas create realistic roleplay for new producers, how the real-time sales co-pilot improves conversion rates for experienced reps, and how their outbound AI agent can qualify leads, gather data, and follow workflows with almost no integration. She also discusses how agencies are using the platform to gain visibility into performance, deliver personalized coaching, and turn months of training into days of meaningful progress. If you want a clear, practical look at how AI is actually improving insurance sales—not just adding hype—this episode delivers a firsthand view of what's possible. About Insurance Shoptalk Join host Eric Stein on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. Insurance Shoptalk is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more. To learn more about Insurance Shoptalk, please visit https://insuranceshoptalk.com/ If you enjoyed this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, please like and subscribe, and be sure to click the notification bell to catch the next episode. #InsurTech #AIPoweredSales #InsuranceTraining #PCInsurance #AgencyGrowth #InsuranceAgents #SalesTechnology

32 min
11/11/2025

Turning Cat Risk into Commission: How Agents Are Winning in Hard Property Markets

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein sits down with Terry McLean, CEO of SageSure, to discuss how the company has built one of the largest independent property insurance platforms serving catastrophe-exposed markets. Terry shares insights into navigating the hardest property market in decades, managing risk in wildfire and coastal regions, and balancing technology with hands-on underwriting and claims operations. From Florida's ENS market to California's wildfire challenges, this conversation reveals how disciplined underwriting, data-driven modeling, and long-term relationships with agents help SageSure thrive where others retreat. Tune in for a candid look at the future of homeowners insurance, reinsurance cycles, and what agents can do to succeed in high-risk markets. About Insurance Shoptalk Join host Eric Stein on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. Insurance Shoptalk is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more. To learn more about Insurance Shoptalk, please visit https://insuranceshoptalk.com/ If you enjoyed this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, please like and subscribe, and be sure to click the notification bell to catch the next episode. #PropertyInsurance #InsuranceIndustry #RiskManagement #CatastropheInsurance #Reinsurance #ENSMarket #HomeownersInsurance

45 min
11/04/2025

The Ohio Comp Opportunity: Basic Training for Agents Who Want In

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein of Insured Solutions speaks with Bob Butts of Alternative Comp Solutions (ACS) about Ohio's newly approved Alternative Employer Organization (AEO) program—an innovative alternative to the state's traditional Bureau of Workers' Compensation system. They discuss how this new model allows agents to finally earn commissions on workers' comp, helps employers save 20–30% on premiums, introduces a convenient pay-as-you-go billing structure, and simplifies claims management. The conversation also explores how AEOs differ from PEOs, what agents need to know about the AC3 form and quoting process, and why this change opens major opportunities for agencies across Ohio. About Insurance Shoptalk Join host Eric Stein on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. Insurance Shoptalk is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more. To learn more about Insurance Shoptalk, please visit https://insuranceshoptalk.com/ If you enjoyed this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, please like and subscribe, and be sure to click the notification bell to catch the next episode. #InsuranceShoptalk #WorkersCompOhio #InsuredSolutions #AlternativeEmployerOrganization #AEOProgram #InsuranceAgents #WorkersCompensation #CommercialInsurance #OhioInsurance #PEOvsAEO

45 min
10/30/2025

Create a Payroll Service Inside Your Agency-No Staff Required

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, guest Jamie Fortier from isolved joins host Eric Stein to discuss how insurance agents can expand into payroll services through flexible referral and white-label models. Jamie explains how isolved supports agents with full back-office operations—from payroll processing to tax management—allowing them to grow revenue without adding staff. The conversation dives into isolved's focus on enhancing employee experience, the advantages of consolidating services under one provider, and strategies for protecting core insurance business while building new income streams. Tune in to learn how payroll partnerships can help agencies strengthen client relationships and scale their service offerings. About Insurance Shoptalk Join host Eric Stein on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. Insurance Shoptalk is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more. To learn more about Insurance Shoptalk, please visit https://insuranceshoptalk.com/ If you enjoyed this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, please like and subscribe, and be sure to click the notification bell to catch the next episode. #PayrollServices #InsuranceAgents #BusinessGrowth #EmployeeExperience #PayrollSolutionsForAgents

47 min
10/14/2025

Offer UI Insurance Programs to Non-Profits

In this episode of Insurance Shop Talk, host Eric Stein sits down with Ron Lucki, Vice President of Business Development at Ohio Indemnity Company, to discuss a powerful yet often-overlooked opportunity for P&C agents — helping nonprofits manage and insure their unemployment risk through the UC Assure program. Ron breaks down how the UC Assure model works, how nonprofits can legally opt out of state unemployment tax systems, and why this creates both huge cost savings for nonprofit organizations and a new revenue stream for agents. He also walks through: ✅ How nonprofits can cut unemployment costs by 40% or more ✅ Which organizations qualify ✅ Why this program is safer and more predictable than self-funding or staying in the state pool ✅ How agents can earn recurring commissions with minimal effort — no new product training required ✅ The referral process, qualification tips, and key state deadlines Whether you already serve nonprofit clients or are looking to expand your agency's book, this episode provides practical insights into an untapped niche that blends insurance, compliance, and steady revenue. Join host Eric Stein on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. Insurance Shoptalk is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more. To learn more about Insurance Shoptalk, please visit https://insuranceshoptalk.com/ If you enjoyed this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, please like and subscribe, and be sure to click the notification bell to catch the next episode. #InsurancePodcast #PNCAgents #NonprofitInsurance #UnemploymentInsurance #UCAssure #InsuranceMarketing #AgencyGrowth

38 min
09/08/2025

The New Ohio Workers' Comp Option- and it's Commissionable

Ohio Workers' Comp Just Changed – Here's What Agents Need to Know In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein talks with Bob Butts, Chief Risk Officer at Alternative Comp Solutions (ACS), about a major change in Ohio's workers' compensation market. For the first time, agents can now sell workers' comp in Ohio and earn commission, thanks to Senate Bill 2011 and approval by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Bob explains how ACS is leading the way with an Alternative Employer Organization (AEO) model that saves employers 10–30% on premiums, simplifies claims handling, and eliminates the need to switch payroll systems. The discussion covers the differences between AEOs and PEOs, how the pay-as-you-go approach helps employers with cash flow, and why this new model is such a big opportunity for insurance agents. About Insurance Shoptalk Join host Eric Stein on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. Insurance Shoptalk is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more. To learn more about Insurance Shoptalk, please visit https://insuranceshoptalk.com/ If you enjoyed this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, please like and subscribe, and be sure to click the notification bell to catch the next episode.

53 min

5

out of 5

7 Ratings

Join your host, Eric Stein, on a journey through the dynamic world of commercial property and casualty insurance. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to every episode. "Insurance Shoptalk" is your premier destination for in-depth discussions on the latest industry trends, technology impacts, interviews with leading experts, and much more.

Creator

Eric Stein
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

36
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2024
Show Website

Insurance Shoptalk