Vertafore Insurance Podcast

Be prepared - not scared - this Halloween

We're shaking things up with a new format every-other week. Starting with today's episode, Rick will talk about a timely topic of his choosing on alternating weeks from regular shows featuring our incredible industry guests. Our inaugural InsuRant falls on Halloween, which also happens to be 60 days before the end of 2019. Rick takes the chance to remind you about the importance of year-end planning and setting yourself and your staff up for success (starting at 3:40). Then, since it is Halloween after all, Rick explores some spooky-but-real insurance coverages you might consider getting into, like Alien Abduction and Vampire/Werewolf just to name a few (around 10:20). Finally, you'll hear one of Rick's favorite personal stories about the convergence of Halloween, toddlers, and the need for sewer backup insurance (at 14:50). 

Agencies Assemble!

Agencies assemble! This week of the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), we're joined by Jeff Smith and Carey Wallace, the dynamic duo from Ohio Insurance Agents. This episode is all about data, and you won't want to miss a beat. Start at 1:50 to hear about why it's important to become a data-driven agency, and then jump in at 7:42 to discuss what agencies should be doing to make the data difference. 11:35 is all about what the tangible things you can be doing to create impact with data are, and finally, at 18:55, we talk about how you can get people on board with the data trend.

I'll Be a Salesman When I Grow Up

Have you ever met a kid who says, "I want to be in sales when I grow up"? Well, we have! This week on the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), Rick sits down with Mark Evans, the CEO and founder of Standard Sales Co. This episode is all about sales, sales, and more sales, so get out your pen and paper and follow along! At 4:30, listen to hear us talk about what the future will look like for millennials in insurance. Jump in at 9:10 to hear Mark discuss what agents should do to plan for success, at 16:00 to learn what "starting with a cadence" means, at 23:30, we talk about the Communication Languages of Sales, and at 29:50, sum up the episode with Rick and Mark as they talk about what your agency should be taking advantage of.

Nick Saban, Can You Hear Us?

This week on the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), our host, Rick Fox, sits down with Linda Dodson, Executive Director of NetVU, and talks about everything from her crush on Nick Saban to agency principles and development. Linda is an industry legend, so tune in at 3:30 to hear about agency management systems and why agencies need to be utilizing more than 20% of their AMS. Tune in at 8:10 to hear what the baby steps are to fully leveraging your AMS and what groups you can get involved with, at 12:30 to hear Linda's cross-selling advice, and at 20:30 to hear about company programs and how you should be getting involved. Oh, and don't tell Rick, but like Linda, we're bigger Cowboys fans than we are Rams fans. Happy listening!

Vertafore Insurance Podcast - Tony Canas

This week on the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), Rick sat down with Tony Canas. If that name doesn't sound familiar to you, maybe "Insurance Nerds" and "Superman t-shirt" will ring a bell? Tony brings a wealth of experience in the industry to the VIP, including his thought leadership on millennials in insurance. It's the joining of the generations in this episode, so jump in at 5:45 to get to know millennials, at 16:00  to hear about millennials and gen z's expectations in the workforce, and at 28:00 to learn how we're going to bridge the generational gap. 

Vertafore Insurance Podcast - Kitty Ambers

It's a great day for a new episode of the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), and this week our host, Rick Fox, sits down with industry rock star, Kitty Ambers, Chief Growth Officer at AVSYT and former CEO of NetVU. You won't want to miss Kitty talk about her big three thoughts to share with the industry, so jump in at 9:40 to hear her break them down for you. Her second piece of advice hits its stride at 20:00, and Rick wants to remind you to get out your pen and paper starting here. At 30:05, figure out what winning looks like and listen to Rick and Kitty talk about making a plan to evolve your agency. And finally, at 35:30, hear Kitty talk about AVYST and how they're helping agents begin their digital migration.

Vertafore Insurance Podcast - Bryan Bernier

This week on the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), Rick sits down with Bryan Bernier, CEO of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado. Bryan brings an amazing perspective on how agencies can go from bad to good, then from good to great. For 20 years, he was very involved in the industry as an agent, but now he lives in Colorado, bringing his expertise to agencies that are looking to better themselves in the future. 

Vertafore Insurance Podcast - James Hobson

We're back with another episode of the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), and this time our host, Rick Fox, sits down with James Hobson, CEO of Attune. James is here to get down to business (business insurance to be exact) and how it affects agencies at all levels. Jump in at 4:25 to hear about how an agency begins to understand the ROI on small-business insurance, 10:00  to listen to James and Rick's thoughts on managing consumer expectations, 14:30 to find out why "tech is the great equalizer," and at 29:50 to get "in tune with Attune!"

Vertafore Insurance Podcast - Clive O'Connell

It's another episode of the Vertafore Insurance Podcast, and this week, Rick Fox sits down with Clive O'Connell, Director and Head of Insurance and Reinsurance at McCarthy Denning in London. As if 30 minutes of a British accent wasn't already the best part of your day, you're going to love hearing Clive talk about the intersection between law and insurance and where InsurTech is going to take us over time. Jump in right away at 1:22 to listen to Clive tell you about his career, at 5:00 to hear about the industry looking into the future with technology, and begin at 9:30 to hear about how to adopt principles of InsurTech and why you need to get involved.

Vertafore Insurance Podcast - Angela Adams

This week on the Vertafore Insurance Podcast (VIP), Rick sits down with Angela Adams, President of Angela Adams Consulting. Angela is an industry legend with years of experience, making this episode of the VIP one of the most fun and informative yet. Jump in at 11:35 to hear Angela discuss how to update your communication channels to the way your customer is most comfortable. Beginning at 16:30, Rick and Angela break down the experience of women in the industry, where we've been, and how far we've come. As the only female agency owner in Augusta, Georgia in the 1990s, Angela knows what the experience of a successful woman in this industry has looked like over the years and what the future could look like. Finally, at 24:20, Angela talks about her involvement in the industry and finding groups that will give you a community.