Vertafore Insurance Podcast

How did this agency go from 0-$60 million in just 11 years?

Grace Peabody, President of Peabody Insurance Agency, is an absolute insurance shark. She was recently named one of Flint County’s 40 under 40. After graduating with her MBA in 2013, she hit the business world running, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her agency, Peabody Insurance has also been named as a Best Practices agency. Join us as we chat with Grace and learn more about the best practices she has used to grow her agency and her career in such a short amount of time. 

Meet Grace and hear more about:

• How to cultivate a growth-based culture
• The tips and strategies she shares for qualifying and hiring great talent
• Peabody Insurance the Best Practices agency
• How to guide change as a new leader in your agency
• Why you need to know your numbers in order to be a successful agency in 2024 and beyond.

This is an episode you will want to bookmark. It is a good one.

The 2024 State of Tech in Insurance Study

Every year for the last 3 years, Catalyit has published an intriguing study analyzing agency digital transformation trends. (They must know agents love to see what other agents are doing.) We review the most surprising insights together. Download the whole study here.  
 
Meet Marit & Casey and hear more about: 

• How this study is produced 
• Which video platform agents love the most
•  How much technology do agents have today 
• Are agencies seeing ROI on their tech investments 
• Why Catalyit recently acquired StakWise 

 

Download this one its a good one to refer back to 

Commercial Submissions™ helped this agency hit $1,000,000.00

Shyla Lankford is a seasoned insurance professional with a career spanning over two decades, Since joining Lipscomb Insurance in 2010, she has become a cornerstone of their commercial insurance and risk management team. Most agents dismiss small business commercial because “It’s too cookie-cutter.” “They’re the price shoppers of the commercial space.” “It’s not profitable enough.” Shyla Langford, Chief Operating Officer of Lipscomb Insurance, heard every reason not to sell into this space...until she found Commercial Submissions…and the rest is history.

Meet Shyla and hear more about:

Why stewarding transitions is so important in a hard market
Using submissions data to drive efficiency
The secret to making small commercial business profitable
Reaching $1million with low-lift…and Commercial Submissions

Get your pen and paper ready this is one you're going to want to take notes on. 

OneCore: The Backend Magic of AgencyOne

When most people hear about the transformation Vertafore is going through – bringing all of our products together into one platform – they typically only think about the front-end changing. They think about new styling, new design, more connectivity, cross-product workflows being less clicks, easier navigation, improved search functionality, etc. But today, in this third installment of the AgencyOne podcasts, we’re diving into the back-end. Today we are going to take a deeper dive into the infrastructure of AgencyOne. Buckle up!

Meet Jace & August and hear more about:

• Exactly what OneCore stand for
• The three pillars of OneCore
• The smashing early success of our new data delivery service
• How we’re centralizing our API ecosystem
• How we’re unifying data and focused on centralizing reporting
• Why we partnered with Amazon Web Services

This is an episode you will want to bookmark. It is a good one.

The Death Of The Lifestyle Agency

Financial excellence is no longer a nice-to-have in your agency; it’s a need-to-have. These 4 leaders of new business management firm, AgencyPoint, explain why you need to dial your numbers in…and how to do it.  

 

Meet the crew and hear more about: 

• when to consider top-line vs bottom-line growth 
• why your numbers should tell a story…and how to find it 
• the numbers you don’t see on a P&L, but you should know 
• how your agency could operate vs how your agency does operate 
• where to re-allocate to show profitability or invest in growth 
• Email Header: …and the birth of financial excellence… 

Networking, Innovation, and the Evolution of the Insurance Industry

Brett Fulmer, known as “Broker Brett,” is a dynamic insurance and insurtech consultant who excels in policy placement, risk management, and community building. As the Managing Broker at Newport Beach Insurance Center LLC. He seamlessly blends traditional insurance expertise with innovative technology solutions. In this episode, Brett discussed the importance of networking and community-building through initiatives like "Broker Brews" and the insurance running club, highlighting the value of these events in fostering connections and sharing knowledge across the industry. The discussion also touched on how mid-sized insurance agencies can leverage their agility and responsiveness to compete with larger enterprise players, as well as the potential impact of AI and other emerging technologies on the industry. 

Check out this episode and hear more about: 

The importance of networking and community-building through initiatives like "Broker Brews."
The evolution of openness and connectivity in the insurance industry
The challenges and opportunities around APIs, data scraping, and technology integration
The pros and cons of closed versus open technology ecosystems
The potential impact of AI and other emerging technologies on the industry.

This is an episode you will want to bookmark. It is a good one. 

How does the Orange Partner Program work?

Doug Mohr is an esteemed colleague, serving as the Vice President of Industry Relations and Partnerships here at Vertafore. His visionary leadership and innovative spirit have been instrumental in shaping the future of insurance software solutions. With a keen eye for transformative technology and a deep understanding of the industry’s intricacies, Doug has been pivotal in forging strategic partnerships that drive progress and efficiency. His unique ability to navigate the complex waters of industry relations has made him a respected figure within the industry.

Listen in as we dive deeper into:
Doug Mohr's career and his love for big orange
The history of Vertafore, as Doug takes us to school
The Orange Partner program and what it means to us here at Vertafore
The Importance of partnership, open API's, and the value that it brings to our industry.
You may want to bookmark this one, there is a lot of information in this episode.

Leadership in the Insurance Industry

Kelly Gonyo is a highly experienced and dedicated insurance professional with over two decades in the industry. As the founder and President of Blue Line Insurance Agency, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to client service. Her expertise spans various insurance roles, and she specializes in commercial insurance.  Kelly is deeply committed to community service, actively participating in local economic development and supporting small businesses. Her insights on building strong client relationships and advocating for independent agents are truly inspiring.

Listen in as Kelly talks to us about:

• Her philosophy on leadership, emphasizing the importance of caring for your team and fostering a positive work environment
• Strategies for staying ahead of industry trends and successfully implementing new technologies
• The challenges she overcame and the mentors who influenced her success
• Her vision for the future of the insurance industry, highlighting key areas of growth and opportunity
• Practical tips for professionals looking to thrive in an evolving insurance landscape.

You may want to bookmark this one. There is a lot of good advice in this episode.

The data tells the story

Denis Mrkva has significantly contributed to the field of data and analytics at Keystone Agency Partners, where he serves as the Vice President of Data & Analytics. His work focuses on implementing data-driven strategies that enhance the operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities of insurance agents. In this week's episode, Denis dives into the significance of data-driven strategies and the crucial role analytics play at Keystone Agency Partners. We also discuss the integral part Vertafore plays in their process. Listen in as Dennis explains: The data-driven strategies used to boost operational efficiency and decision-making How Keystone leverages advanced analytics for better insurance portfolio management How working with Vertafore integrating cutting-edge technology continues to drive growth and innovation Practical examples of data application in agency growth. You may want to bookmark this one, there is a lot of information in this episode.

 

AgencyOne : The story behind One Experience

Kelly Byrom and Daniella Ivey, are the leaders and the strategic mastermind behind this groundbreaking solution. We are calling AgencyOne. You heard about it a few weeks ago on the podcast. Today we will be having an in-depth discussion into the seamless interface, innovative look and feel, and enhanced customer experience that will set AgencyOne apart.  Kelly and Daniella share how they've done extensive research with their largest customers to create a solution that focusses on the idea of "one experience."  An all-in-one experience that clients are clamoring for. With high energy and the excitement, this episode captures the essence of what makes Agency One a game-changer in the industry.

Listen in as we :

Discover the strategies Agency One used to become a frontrunner in the industry
Hear more about customer-centric research: Learn how thorough research with top clients has shaped their services
Understand the demand for these Integrated Solutions

Gain practical tips and strategies to implement in your agency immediately

Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your agency's performance. Tune in now and learn more about AgencyOne.