Agency Success Podcast Presented by Better Agency

Welcome to the Agency Success Podcast. In today's episode, I had a great conversation with Billy Wagner about his path to success in the insurance industry.

Moving on, we got into the meat of our discussion - insurance. Billy started his own scratch agency in 2006 after leaving the restaurant business. He eventually built up ten locations before scaling back to one. For Billy, success has meant achieving autonomy, giving back to the community through charitable functions, and helping his team win at life.

We also talked about the importance of building a team and helping everyone succeed. Both of us emphasized the value of community involvement and nonprofit focus, as well as the need for processes and documentation in small businesses. For us, training new employees thoroughly was essential to ensuring their success within the company.

One of the things that stood out in our discussion was the importance of investing time and effort into community involvement and charitable functions. Billy created a donor-advised fund called the Wagner Family Foundation to support local nonprofits.

As we look to the future of the insurance industry, Billy emphasized the importance of focusing on customer experience and staying in one's niche. He suggested recording calls to better understand customers' language and needs, simplifying processes, and paying attention to details such as office landscaping and greeting clients warmly.

Lastly, we talked about the benefits of having a secret shopping service for insurance agencies. We understand the challenges of finding people to do it, but we both agreed that it can improve team performance and accountability.

Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of the Agency Success Podcast. If you're interested in connecting with Billy, feel free to reach out. And stay tuned for more interviews with professionals in the insurance industry.

Connect with Billy:

Website

LinkedIn

Amazon

Instagram

Twitter

















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Welcome back to the Agency Success Podcast, where we discuss all things related to the insurance industry. In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kyle Brouse, who shared his insights on the insurance industry, and his interesting career journey.

Kyle started out coaching youth soccer before making his way into the insurance industry through life insurance sales. He later moved to independent P&C insurance and now measures his success by his energy levels and quality time spent with his family.

We dove deeper into the topic of success and how people measure it differently. For Kyle, it's all about creating his own schedule while still providing for his family. He also shared how he protects his mental space and avoids burnout after experiencing it during his coaching days.

We then discussed the future of independent insurance agencies and how technology can be used to improve service without sacrificing personal touch. Kyle's agency prioritizes using technology to become more efficient in prospecting and producing, while maintaining the personal touch that keeps clients loyal.

Kyle stressed the importance of setting up proven processes and using documentation tools like Tango to prepare for future hires and ensure long-term success. We also touched on the importance of hiring individuals with coaching or teaching experience, as they are skilled at handling difficult clients and creating positive experiences.

Throughout the conversation, Kyle emphasized that insurance is not just about policies but also being there for clients during tough times like claims processing. And in the spirit of community and learning from others, Kyle offered to connect with other insurance professionals on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Lastly, we talked about referrals, competitors, and how agents can help each other out. And with that, we wrapped up another enlightening episode of the Agency Success Podcast.

Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to connect with Kyle and other agents in the industry. Stay tuned for more inspiring discussions on the insurance industry, only on the Agency Success Podcast.



Connect with Kyle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyle_brouse

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylebrouse/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylebrouse/




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Welcome to this week’s episode of the Agency Success Podcast. In this episode, I got to connect with Pat West who shared some valuable insights.

We also talked about how technology can be used to gamify the insurance space and can also distract agents from achieving important goals. The hobby of technology can lead to mistaking activity for achievement, so it's important to focus on achieving goals rather than just being busy.

We also talked about how as no-code and AI tools come out, it may feel like people can do everything themselves, but it's important to use specialists to avoid costs. Being good at selling and servicing insurance can put you at the top of the food chain in the industry.

We also touched on the importance of being okay with vetting and going to experts in areas where you lack experience or skills. 

Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of the Agency Success Podcast.

Connect with Pat on




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In this week's episode of the Agency Success Podcast, I sit down with Tony Cañas

As we dive into the conversation, Tony discusses the various roles he has held in the insurance industry and how it led him to start Insurance Nerds, a platform aimed at engaging millennials in the industry. With over 400 episodes, he also produces a successful InsureTech podcast. Tony alludes to his current venture, running Top Hat Recruiting LLC through Goodwin Recruiting.

We talk about our personal lives and Tony discussing his love for travel. We then delve into what success looks like in the insurance industry, with Tony emphasizing the importance of remote work. He believes that remote work can benefit agencies by attracting and retaining top talent. We both agree that productivity can still be monitored while working from home.

Tony highlights the benefits that remote work can provide, such as increased productivity due to less commuting time. Still, he also discusses how management practices need to be adapted to ensure the best possible results. We touch on the changing demographics in the insurance industry and the importance of providing a clear career path for account managers to retain top talent. We suggest using virtual employees as a way to outsource tasks and allowing account managers to focus on high-value work while working remotely.

We look at the benefits of virtual VA services, AI tools, and automation in podcast production. Additionally, we share our predictions for the future of the independent insurance space, which includes more consolidation, remote work, and an increased use of RPA and AI tools. Nonetheless, we note that skilled agents still provide value-added risk management services to customers.

If you'd like to connect with Tony his links are below.

Trust us; you won't want to miss this episode. So tune in to the Agency Success Podcast today!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycanas/

Website: https://chatwithtony.com


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On this episode of the Agency Success Podcast, we're joined by a true titan of the insurance industry, Scott Howell. This man doesn't just run one agency—he's running 5 of them! So buckle up, because if anyone's got insights to share, it's Scott.

We kicked off our chat with a bit of nostalgia, tracing Scott's journey into the heart of insurance. You'll want to stick around for this one—our chat veers from future industry predictions to a colleague who once threatened Scott's life. It's nothing if not a varied career!

From there, we dove into an intriguing tale of checks forgery, complete with an upcoming grand jury indictment. Trust me, it's not as off-topic as it sounds—success comes with its fair share of curveballs.

We then shifted gears to explore what success really means. Is it the freedom to make your own choices? Is it the resilience to bounce back from layoffs? And how does one manage a growing team amidst all this? We grappled with these questions and more, all while navigating the current rough seas of rising insurance rates.

Up next, we had a heart-to-heart on insurance rates and customer retention. We couldn't just leave it at that, of course—Scott and I also tackled the diverse communication preferences of different customers and the importance of building strong client relationships.

Excitingly, we talk about Scott's plan to spread the gospel of independent insurance agents through commercials. We also discussed the importance of branding and a sales and training program for new producers. It’s a challenging feat, thanks to the complexities of underwriting homes and autos.

To wrap up, we’ve got some key takeaways from the episode, one of which is Scott's intention to put together a sales and training course for new producers, complete with a script for the sales process. Consistency, as we've discovered, is the name of the game, whether in podcasting or newsletters.



Podcast: TheInsuranceGuysPodcast.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iprotectinsurance/

Email: scott@iprotectinsurance.com


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In this episode of the Agency Success Podcast, we delve into the world of insurance and technology. Our guest speaker is Brian Blakely, who got his start as a sales producer at a State Farm agency, who now runs his own agency. Brian shares his insights on the industry, including how to succeed as a business owner and the latest technology trends.

When it comes to success, Brian aims to train his team better so that he can have more time for marketing and exploring niches within the industry. He also values having the freedom and flexibility to spend time with family and pursue hobbies outside of work. Speaking of hobbies, Brian and our host discuss their mutual love of golf and how it can be a great way to bond with family.

The conversation touches on the value of small business ownership and podcasting as a way to connect with others in business. While there may be competition between captive agents and independent agents, technology can help make the local agent experience better than online options like the 1-800 numbers.

The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology in the insurance industry, with independent agents adopting new tools and software, to how you should be learning about new tools like Chat GPT and preparing for autonomous vehicles. Working from home is also becoming more common, leading to changes in home design with dedicated office spaces. The speakers stress the importance of being adaptable and open to change in order to succeed in the rapidly evolving industry.

Overall, this episode is filled with valuable insights for those in the insurance industry or those interested in the intersection of technology and business. And if you want to connect with Brian, he's given several different ways to connect with him.



Website:  https://stonebridgeiwm.com/property-casualty/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/stonebridgeiwm/

Podcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/goodlifesmallbiz/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/stonebridgeins/

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakelybrian/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqAKYRiokwuOb-ZywGpaPTA

Podcast YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmrTR6PVkpkcL5V1C0hfq0Q




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