Vertafore Insurance Podcast

Ask Rick: Sales, MGAs, and hiring young talent

We’re back with an Ask Rick session! Today I’m talking about the importance of good listening, MGA/MGU market trends, and attracting young talent. 

I think you’ll get a lot out of today’s episode from years of Rick’s industry knowledge. Remember that you can submit your own questions to podcast@vertafore.com. 

Plus, it's time for Accelerate, powered by NetVU! Find out about this multi-month conference and register today. 

Dreaming up the future, with SIAA CEO Matt Masiello

In this episode, we welcome special guest Matt Masiello. Matt is the author of Insurance Agency 4.0 and is the current CEO of SIAA. As he puts it, “The future for the independent agency is bright.”  

Matt has looked at what the future holds for the independent agency from all angles: commercial lines vs. personal lines, generational changes, upcoming threats, opportunities, and yes, of course, technology. Matt and Rick agree that no two agencies are the same, and therefore the future looks different for everyone. So, rather than giving specifics on what to “do,” Matt focuses on a path to follow.  

This episode is packed with Matt’s knowledge and wisdom, and there’s a lot for listeners to take with them.

It's time for Accelerate, powered by NetVU! Find out about this multi-month conference and register today.

InsuRant: Getting all the way engaged

In this episode, Rick is talking about getting engaged in the insurance industry—and not just a little bit engaged, but full, all-in engagement with networks, peers, and user groups. All-in engagement is a great way to improve professionally and personally, and it’s a sure way to take your career to the next level. 

Rick spells out the three pillars of engagement and the top three engagement hacks for industry professionals across the ecosystem. This episode is great for all our listeners, from the carrier space to the agency space at all levels of the organization.  

Talking generational change, with Crystal Ware

This week we welcome guest Crystal Ware, Chief Risk Strategist at Empower Benefits & Insurance Group. Crystal is passionate about solving a huge problem in insurance: the talent gap that has emerged as more insurance professionals retire without enough younger people to replace them.  

Rick and Crystal discuss how to attract the best and brightest talent via office environment, culture shift, and technology. Plus, Crystal shares the questions she thinks are missing in most interviews that would help make better hiring matches from both sides of the table.  

We think this is a great episode to listen to, as all of us in insurance are quickly approaching a huge shift in industry demographics.  

Getting political, with Wyatt Stewart and Big “I”

In this episode the Vertafore Insurance Podcast welcomes Wyatt Stewart with the Big “I”. Rick and Wyatt discuss the 2021 Big “I” Legislative Conference plus the importance of being politically active in the insurance industry. Wyatt gives listeners a glimpse of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to advocate for the independent agent on Capitol Hill. 

No matter what side of the political aisle you’re on, this episode details legislative matters up for consideration in the near future that will affect the insurance industry at large. While the conference itself ends on April 16, the matters at hand will continue and it’s crucial that insurance professionals understand how politics affect the success of their business. 

The independent agent’s continued success, with Michael Freilich

This week on the podcast we have Michael Freilich, CTO of Renaissance Alliance. Michael started in the industry twenty years ago and explains that even when he started there was a narrative that “the independent agent is going away.” Like many of us, he recognized this wasn’t true—but what he saw was true is that the independent agency is always evolving.  

Throughout his career, he’s facilitated that evolution and studied ways to ease the process. Rick and Michael chat about his four big pillars for the independent agent: scale, skill, scope, and access to capital. Michael explains how he sees the independent agent being a data company in the future and how the leaders of an agency create the culture around change.  

March Madness 2021

This month we hit the one-year anniversary of our world turning upside down, and basketball is back. Rather than the normal industry news and knowledge we typically cover in this podcast, this week we are pausing and reflecting.  

From last March to this March, we’ve adapted and changed. We’ve learned to be our own tech support, take a zoom meeting in the only quiet corner in the house, and collaborate remotely. Despite all the hardships and challenges we faced, we’ve come a long way as an industry and as people. Listen in as Rick discusses some of the silver linings of the past year and what he is most excited for right now: basketball and a slow return to something close to normal. 

The ROI of insurance digitization, with Bill Pieroni

We’ve got a VIP on the VIP podcast for this episode! Listen in as I talk with Bill Pieroni, CEO of ACORD. He has spent his entire career in the insurance industry and is interested in the value of industry digitization (and how sometimes we get it wrong).  

Bill and I break down his research on digitization ROI. Bill has created five digitization categories, and he defines what each can expect going forward. We discuss if digitization is worth it and how to gauge technology investment ROI from several angles.  

I learned a ton from chatting with Bill about his research, and I know it will prove valuable for gaining a better understanding of InsurTech investment.  

Want to see the research for yourself?  

ACORD Distribution and Digitization  

ACORD Whitepapers 

Ask Rick: Drowning in tech options

This week we dive into questions submitted by you, the listeners. Rick shares expertise on technology, client relationships, and managing employees. 

All of the questions on today’s show were based on the subject of the evolving agency and what "keeping up” looks like. Rick discusses how to find technology that works for you (hint, trust your network!), how to encourage employees while adapting to modern practices, and how to continue personal relationships with your clients and use technology.  

Got a question that you would like answered on the show? Get in touch – podcast@vertafore.com 

80% service 20% sales, with Bradley Flowers

This week, we welcome Bradley Flowers of the Insurance Guys podcast and founder of Portal Insurance, and we’re talking about sales versus service.  

Bradley shares with us his philosophy on service, and how that has made all the difference when it comes to his agency’s success. Sales are important, but service should take the spotlight when it comes to growth and retention.  

Rick and Bradley discuss the steps agencies can take to make service center-stage and better compete with direct-to-consumer companies. And Bradley gives his take on what agencies can learn from big box companies even when they don’t see eye-to-eye.