Michael’s Handpicked Top 3 Podcasts
I’ve interviewed over 220 of the top leaders, and learned a ton of new things from each. So much so, that it’s hard to pick ‘the three best,’ but these three offer a great breadth and depth of insight and success.
Special Podcast Guest: Bob Rusbuldt
Who could possibly have a better ‘bird’s eye’ view on the insurance industry than Bob Rusbuldt, President & CEO of the IIABA – the world’s largest agent trade association?
This Agency Grew From $1.5M-$100M
“I bought a small, $1.5 million premium book. We had an 85% retention rate. Now, we’re pushing $100 million in premium with a 93% retention.” Mike Mathisen shares key insights to Organic Growth.
The Independent Agent’s Future
Some thought leaders predict the future. Very few shape it. As CEO of one of the largest technology firms in insurance, Amy Zupon's work affects the business of countless independent insurance agents.
🎙 Latest Podcast Episodes
Transform Your Agency's Email into a Goldmine with Marketing’s Top Email Guru
Is Your Agency's Email Marketing Striking Gold, or Striking Out?
Unlock the secrets of high-ROI email strategies in this electrifying podcast episode with Jay Schwedelson, the wizard of email marketing.
As an independent insurance agency, it's time to stop blending in and start standing out. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) reveals a staggering $43 return for every dollar invested in email marketing - but the real magic lies in mastering the craft.
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Texas Agency Uses Simple Step-by-Step System for 20% Annual Growth
Mike Alexander started his agency in a crisis. The ‘Great Texas Mold Crisis’ was sending agencies all over the state into a death spiral. He just purchased a small book with 400 clients.
One of his early - and critical - insights was that it wasn’t going to be enough to do a good job at insurance. He’d have to do a good job at marketing. Fast forward to today. 4000 customers. 20% annual growth.
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From $1.5 to 110 Million: The Ultimate Agency Success Story
Arguably, the fastest growing family owned agency in America. Now, revealing the juicy secrets that have become insurance industry legend.
Meet Mike Mathisen. He bought a teeny agency with a few hundred customers, stepped on the gas and never hit the brakes. 30% growth for over a decade. Reliable, profitable - and, if you love growth yourself, deserving of your close attention.
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From NFL Dreams to Insurance Giant with Michael DeLaGrange
Just as his college career ended, Michael DeLaGrange tragically lost his father. And gained an insurance agency. A small, one-man shop that mostly sold financial products. Fast forward to today. That small agency now has 50 employees. Five stores. And $20 million for expansion. In this episode, Michael shares:
1️⃣His “opposite” approach to a common industry trend—and why he went full boar on an unusual approach to a bricks ‘n mortar agency
2️⃣The reverse thinking he applied to the customer experience and how he made customers love buying insurance
3️⃣The unusual “look and feel” of how he delivers insurance (and what people hold in their hands when they leave his stores)
If organic growth gets your juices flowing, this story is so full of lessons you’ll want to have your pen and paper handy. Find out how he doubled his agency in one year when you listen to this podcast!
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Revolutionize Your Commercial Lines Growth: Unleash the Power of Marketing and Sales Working Together!
A different kind of podcast. This time, our host - and ‘marketing guru’ - Michael Jans joins in on the conversation. Michael is joined by commercial insurance sales expert and trainer, Randy Schwantz.
This unique blend of expertise will reshape your insurance business. Get ready for talent acquisition secrets, revenue-boosting strategies, and content marketing mastery.
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Jeff Teschke, Leading Agency Tech Developer Speaks to Agents About Achieving Success
Jeff Teschke was the founder & CEO of Forge3, the top website developer for independent agents - until it’s recent sale to Agency Revolution. In this podcast, Jeff reviews key lessons for agents, learned over his 18+ years serving the industry. He shares his insight on:
The value of ‘niching down’ for agencies
How the industry has changed (and what agents should do to keep up with that change)
The importance of ‘social proof’ to earn trust in the marketplace
Why agents should be careful not to ‘hide’ behind tech and lose their humanity in the marketplace
His insights on the ideal ‘marketing tech stack’ for today’s growth-oriented agency
Growth oriented agents will make this episode a high priority this week.
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How to Create Maximum Valuation for Your Agency Regardless of When You Want to Sell or How Old You Are
Your insurance agency generates income now and later when you sell it. The decisions you make today determine the value you'll receive in the future. Michael Mensch, CEO of Agency Brokerage Consultants, shares his expertise on maximizing the value of insurance agencies.
He discusses important factors for determining value, ideal customers and lines of business, carrier decisions, and more. Whether you plan to sell in the near or distant future, this podcast is crucial for your agency's short and long-term strategy.
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Here’s an Insurance Agency That Doesn’t Look Like Any Other with Matheus Riolfi
What does a modern insurance agency look like? It might not be what you’d think. Today’s podcast guest, Matheus Riolfi, is Co-Founder and CEO of Tint—one of these “modern agencies.” Like other agencies, Tint sits between consumers and carriers. Where things get interesting, though, is how Matheus’ company embeds insurance into its tech platform.
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Agency Marketer Reflects on Past Successes with John Jackson
Every agency is seeking growth, and many are turning to professional marketers to help. This jam-packed episode turns to a seasoned agency marketer for insight. John Jackson, formerly the marketer at Alliance Insurance Services in North Carolina is now a copywriter and content creator for Agency Revolution clients. John looks back at his success at Alliance and shares what worked.
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How Agency Tech Increases Growth & Margins with Kabir Syed
When Kabir Syed was a Managing Director at Marsh, he was given a little data project that generated millions of dollars and opened his eyes to just how much money agencies leave on the table.
This seasoned insurance professional and entrepreneur said, “I’m not really that good at technology, but I LOVE data.” That’s why he built a team of engineers to handle the technology for him while he showed them where to mine and how to polish the wealth of data hidden within every single agency today.
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J.D. Powers Reveals Trends Agents Must Monitor and Understand with Martin Ellingsworth
Over his many years of observing and working in the insurance industry, Martin Ellingsworth has created innovation at almost every link in the P&C value chain. Now Marty holds a birds-eye view of the entire industry in his position as Executive Managing Director of P&C Insurance Intelligence at J.D. Power.
In this important podcast, Marty directs his attention toward the independent agency channel and the trends that are changing their very business.
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Three Secrets About the Self-Scaling Insurance Agency with Michael Jans
Our host, Michael Jans, takes the mic to answer the question “Can an insurance agency grow by itself?” The Co-Founder and former CEO of Agency Revolution serves as a growth advisor to many of the largest and fastest growing insurance agencies and insurtechs in North America.
In this podcast, Michael pulls back the curtain on how his own fast-growth client agencies grow 25-40% or more per year.
If you’re serious about making growth easier and faster in the modern age, make this episode a priority!
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What 80,000 Insurance Consumers Told Bain & Company About Our Industry with Darci Darnell
You know insurance is changing. So do consumers—and it shouldn’t surprise you that they want it to change. They don’t want it to be slow, frustrating, or confusing.
Few people know the insurance consumer better than our guest, Darci Darnell, Partner and Global Head of Customer Practice at Bain & Company. Bain’s insight on the relationship between the industry and the modern consumer is legendary.
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Head of IBM Insurance Shares Important Research with Mark McLaughlin
Market forces continue to shift and agents who want to thrive in the future must be ready for change as the market demands it. Our guest, Mark McLaughlin, IBM’s General Manager of Insurance, reveals the direction their research shows the wind is blowing—and the response agency principals must have today.
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ParagraphNational PIA Survey Reveals Major Agency Trends with Mike Becker
“Agents aren’t going away. In fact, they’re stronger than ever, but...” But WHAT?! That’s the crux of this podcast interview. The industry is changing fast. Savvy agents will take a few key steps now in order to thrive then.
James Benham, Co-FounderCEO and Co-Founder of leading insurtech, JBKnowledge freely shares his insight - and surprises - from over 20 years of creating and dishing out technology that’s used thousands of times a day throughout the industry.
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Cyber Expert Predicts Emerging Threats and Opportunities with Jack Kudale
If you’re reading this, you can’t ‘unsee’ the looming threat to your small and medium business clients. Jack Kudale, Founder & CEO of Cowbell - arguably the leader in cyber insurance for SMBs - has the bird’s-eye view on the critical trends in cyber risks.
His company monitors 23 million US based businesses for cyber threats. (That means they likely monitor three out of every four of your commercial lines customers.) And he doesn’t like what he sees.
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How Agents Can Sell More Virtually with Steve Brossman
For the insurance producer, COVID claimed a reliable marketing tool—in-person meetings. Agents were forced to communicate online; some figured it out, some hated it, and many were in-between. Now, a series of best practices can make online selling a high-leverage (and easy-to-use) avenue that saves time and boosts conversion rates. In this workshop-style episode, Amazon best-selling author, international sales trainer, and Founder and CEO of The Authority Factor, Steve Brossman, shares his method for the mastery of online selling.
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Making Insurance Better for the Customer with Jeff Harris
Years ago, this tech entrepreneur groaned at the sight of the insurance application process. So he decided to do something about it. 250,000 users later, Jeff Harris, Co-Founder, and CEO of Appulate can claim some progress. Founded 17 years ago, Appulate is one of the industry’s earliest insurtechs and one of the most widely distributed today.
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