The MVP Podcast

This episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Nick Aube, founder of Producer Systems. Nick shares his insights and experiences in the commercial insurance space. Discussing the importance of technology in improving client experiences, streamlining sales processes, and using broker-of-record (BOR) agreements effectively. Emphasizing the need for agencies to adopt modern technology and strategies to enhance efficiency and client satisfaction. Episode Highlights: Understanding the Broker of Record (BOR) and its impact on the insurance industry The role of technology in enhancing client experiences during the quoting process Importance of creating efficient sales processes through technological integration Challenges and solutions in adopting new technologies in the insurance sector Strategies for improving client satisfaction and engagement Future trends in technology adoption within the insurance industry The relationship between client needs and technology-driven solutions in insurance   Resources Mentioned: Nick Aube LinkedIn Producer Systems Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson Produced by: PodSquad.fm

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Nick Vitali, Co-Owner & Vice President at All About Insurance. Nick discusses how they overcame the challenges of manual, error-prone sales reporting by implementing Agency Zoom. This solution provided real-time reporting and sales tracking, perfectly aligning with the agency's culture of celebrating wins and achieving sales goals. Episode Highlights: Transition from captive to independent agency technology Challenges of integrating new technologies that don't mesh well The shift from Agency Matrix to AMS 360 and the initial loss of crucial KPIs and sales reporting Adoption of Agency Zoom for enhanced, real-time sales reporting and cultural engagement The importance of professional onboarding and training for new technology Agency Zoom's role in improving customer interactions and automating communication The broader impact of technology on enhancing business processes and staff involvement   Resources Mentioned: Nick Vitali LinkedIn All About Insurance Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson Produced by: PodSquad.fm

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast, Danny Lawrence sits down with Jerry Vollmer, CEO at Voldico. Jerry Vollmer unveils the hidden potential of a career in insurance, a field often overlooked by young people but ripe with opportunities for success and an exceptional lifestyle. Discover how the insurance industry can provide a unique and prosperous path to retirement unlike any other. Episode Highlights: The hidden potential of the insurance industry as a viable career for young professionals Benefits of joining a network for new agents in easing industry entry The crucial role of technology in modernizing and streamlining insurance operations Centralizing operations to improve efficiency and focus on client services The importance of building a sustainable business model for long-term success How industry networks aid in securing better carrier relationships and resources Creating a lucrative and rewarding career in insurance that extends into retirement   Resources Mentioned: Jerry Vollmer LinkedIn Voldico Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson Produced by: PodSquad.fm

This episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Chris Senkbile, Founder of Ferro. Chris discusses how Insureds, brokers, insurers, and insurtechs are all driving change in the insurance industry, leveraging advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Success with technology is found in big data initiatives by companies like Verisk, AXA/AWS, and Salesforce/Informatica, which are optimizing data analytics, improving decision-making, and streamlining operations. Episode Highlights: Chris's background and transition into insurance technology Experiences and challenges with technology adoption in insurance agencies Discussing big data's role and who it serves in the insurance industry The impact of technology on the insurance broker's role and client interaction The potential of Salesforce and other technologies to transform agency management systems How insurance companies and brokers are adapting to technological advances Perspectives on future technology integration and collaboration within the industry   Resources Mentioned: Chris Senkbile LinkedIn Ferro Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson Produced by: PodSquad.fm

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" on the MVP Podcast, Danny Lawrence sits down with Elliot Bassett, President of Ellerbrock-Norris, Co-Founder of LAUNCH, and Co-Host of Getting Past the Premium Podcast. Elliot talks about how to effectively identify client issues and provide impactful solutions. It is crucial to thoroughly understand their unique challenges and requirements. Finishing with how you differentiate from competitors and effectively communicating the urgency and benefits of your solutions involves clearly articulating your unique value propositions and success stories. Episode Highlights: Introduction to consultative risk advisory models The importance of having a structured sales process Transition from transactional to consultative selling Utilizing technology to enhance client engagement and problem-solving Building and licensing innovative sales software Strategies for uncovering and addressing client pain points The future of insurance technology and its impact on agency operations   Resources Mentioned: Elliot Bassett LinkedIn Ellerbrock-Norris LAUNCH Getting Past the Premium Podcast. Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson Produced by: PodSquad.fm

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" on the MVP Podcast guest Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Host, Mitch Gibson. They discuss Mitch's journey some more then lead into how you should manage your technology at the agency. Episode Highlights: The journey of becoming a CTO/CIO in an agency setting Evaluating and optimizing technology use within agencies The importance of vendor education and support Effective onboarding and training strategies for new technologies The role of leadership in tech integration and team management Strategies for efficient internal process management and technology utilization Future planning for technology implementation and agency growth   Connect with: Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Mitch Gibson LinkedIn Produced by PodSquad.fm

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" on the MVP Podcast guest Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Host, Mitch Gibson. Mitch discusses his new opportunity and what he has learned so far.... Maybe instead of adding more tech, take a look what you have now and learn all that it can do and then build internal processes for how/when to use the tool. Episode Highlights: The importance of technology in the insurance industry Insights from conversations with industry professionals The transition to a technology-focused approach in insurance The role of a Chief Technology Officer in an insurance agency Strategies for evaluating and streamlining agency technology The impact of technology on agency operations and employee efficiency Upcoming initiatives and events in insurance technology   Connect with: Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Mitch Gibson LinkedIn Visit: The Insurance Alliance Produced by Podsquad.fm

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast, Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Kiarra Walden. Kiarra Walden, the data guru, knows the real game-changers in business: data is not just about strategy, it's the blueprint for revenue. With her keen insights, she's turning raw information into dollars, proving that in today's world, data is not just a tool – it's the ultimate revenue engine. Key Topics: Kiarra discusses the significance of data and analytics in the insurance field and her journey into the industry The importance of understanding different types of data for strategic decision-making in insurance  Kiarra advises new agents to focus on niche industries and use data to understand client pain points How data can be used to forecast trends, set pricing models, and enhance employee satisfaction The impact of technology and InsurTech on the personal lines insurance market Kiarra stresses the necessity of maintaining clean, accurate data from the outset for effective decision-making   Resources Mentioned: Kiarra Walden LinkedIn Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast, Danny Lawrence sits down with Greg De Jesus, Director of Sales at Ennabl. Greg gives us a couple of examples of how to understand your agency's data to inform and empower strategic decision-making. Harness this knowledge to effectively master and optimize your actions for maximum impact. Episode Highlights: Greg mentions that the goal of Ennabl is to help organizations succeed by utilizing their data to provide insights on how to drive action and change for operational efficiencies and revenue growth in the insurance industry. (4:38) Greg discusses the importance of cleansing data to identify strengths and target potential customers to enhance business performance. (9:44) Greg shares their development of new tactics and strategies for reaching out to potential customers, including providing additional information and identifying key individuals for prospecting. (16:10) Greg discusses how the monoline report and cross-sell report generated from the AMS provide a simple and efficient way for insurance agencies to identify opportunities and target clients for growth. (25:24) Greg mentions that Los Run Pro and Loss Scan are two great options for brokers looking for easy solutions to streamline renewals and loss runs in the insurance industry. (31:02) Key Quotes: “I want you to just understand that what we do here, our organization we are success driven for our partners in our agencies that we work with, we're here to meet that make their jobs easier. We're here to help them drive action, drive strategy, using what they already have.” - Greg De Jesus Resources Mentioned: Greg De Jesus LinkedIn Ennabl Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, recorded live from IndieTech 2023, Mitch Gibson sits down with Steve Mohr, Founder of Insurance Industry Index. Steve discusses the future of the insurance industry, the significance of integrating technologies, the importance of perpetual learning, and the mantra of 'trusting the journey.  Resources Mentioned: Steven Mohr Insurance Industry Index Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of the MVP Podcast, we're "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence. Danny sits down with Jacob Bolton, Account Executive at AgencyZoom. A fresh young mind in the Indietech world discusses modernizing your Agency - 75% of the workplace will be millennial or gen-z by 2026. Customer/Employee expectations are higher than ever - how do you provide a better experience for both? Episode Highlights: Jacob mentions that adopting technology is crucial for businesses to scale, stay protected, and be successful in today's evolving world. (3:12) Jacob shares his unexpected journey into the industry and how it has become a passion. (5:27) Jacob discusses the importance of curiosity, asking questions to learn, and understanding that every agency is unique and their needs must be considered. (9:54) Jacob explains that it is essential to integrate a CRM into a tech stack and management system to save time and centralize all applications and solutions. (10:52) Jacob mentions that the rapid adoption of technology is driven by increasing customer and employee expectations, influenced by the convenience and ease of use provided by platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Amazon Prime. (13:20) Jacob discusses the benefits of using a CRM system to streamline data entry and avoid inaccuracies. (18:08)  Jacob explains the importance of adopting technology in agencies, highlighting the need for CRM, e-signatures, text messaging, VoIP systems, and integration to save time and improve efficiency. (19:48) Key Quotes:  “When you can adopt technology, you enable yourself to be successful and to scale out your business, because at the end of the day, you have to adapt with technology or else evolve or dissolve, you don't want to dissolve. So how do you adapt? That's where technology comes in.” - Jacob Bolton “The best agencies are leveraging technology. And when the best agencies are leveraging technology, there's more usage.” - Jacob Bolton Resources Mentioned: Jacob Bolton LinkedIn AgencyZoom Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast, Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Andre Wiafe, Senior Account Executive at Insurance Agent App in his first podcast appearance. Andre discusses how offering digital convenience, companies can foster customer loyalty and retention, ultimately leading to a stronger competitive advantage through an improved customer experience. Episode Highlights: Andre mentions that agents can gain a competitive edge by providing a better customer experience through loyalty schemes and digital convenience, which is increasingly essential in the post-COVID world. (2:39) Andre discusses how he was introduced to the world of independent insurance and the benefits of working with an independent insurance agent. (5:20) Andre explains the importance of customer experience and the role of digital convenience in providing a competitive edge for insurance agents. (12:35) Andre mentions that the Insurance Agent App allows custom branding, easy communication tools, streamlined service requests for certificates and changes, and the ability to refer the agency or individual team members. (16:12) Andre explains that the Insurance Agent App has access to carriers for bill pay and claims, as well as customizable add icons, which are valuable features in managing client relationships. (21:00) Andre believes that when an agency is efficient and uses automation to run its business, it can grow and focus on future opportunities instead of always having to deal with repetitive tasks. (24:35) Key Quotes: “With Insurance Agent App, what we really believe is putting the agency at the point where  they can get access 24/7, the customers can do business really easily from a mobile app, kind of moving forward into the future.” - Andre Wiafe “Another way of modernizing your agency is not necessarily taking shortcuts but when you can be efficient in different areas, it allows areas for you to grow your agency.” - Andre Wiafe Resources Mentioned: Andre Wiafe LinkedIn Insurance Agent App Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

This episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Caden Braly, VP of Business Development at AgentsTech.  Using Caden's expertise as an agent and insurtech specialist, he advocates for AgentsTech, by empowering agents to embrace insurtech solutions, revolutionizing both their front and back offices. This transformation is essential for their growth and success in the digital era. Episode Highlights: Caden explains that AgentsTech is a technology consulting firm that helps independent insurance brokers modernize their agencies by connecting them with the right InsurTech companies through personalized consultations. (2:11) Caden mentions that not every InsureTech or IndieTech company is a good fit for your agency and its goals, so it's important to be unbiased and consider the specific needs and market of your agency before jumping on the latest buzzword or trend. (4:57) Caden discusses his role as the VP of Business Development which includes being responsible for overseeing technology for inbound and outbound leads. (7:21) Caden explains that Agents Tech specializes in teaching, training, and integrating peripheral software like Wunderite, Loss Run Pro, Bold Penguin, and Tarmika to increase efficiency and revenue for insurance agencies. (15:48) Caden mentions that Wunderite and Bold Penguin are two companies making waves in the insurance market and the upcoming AMS CRM system called Iris is set to challenge legacy systems with its impressive integrations. (19:25) Caden believes that IndieTech is a game changer for independent P&C brokers, providing efficient tech solutions that will give them a competitive edge in quoting and accessing markets. (25:06) Key Quotes: “We really try to do a good job of determining what is these insurance agencies need and then we connect them with those IndieTech companies.So we make sure that we know who they are, and we don't put them with a company or a tech company, that's maybe not going to solve their problem.” - Caden Braly “IndieTech represents a shift in insurance brokers and you want to be on the good side of that shift before you get left in the dust, because other agents are going to be able to quote faster than you, they're going to be able to get accord forms and block markets faster than you. It's all about the efficiency.” - Caden Braly Resources Mentioned: Caden Braly LinkedIn  AgentsTech Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Nick Aube, Founder of Producer Systems, to talk about what it takes for a young agent to gain confidence early on in your career that brings you credibility and trust from your customers/prospects! Winning is what we all want to do, but guess what, IT TAKES HARD WORK! Episode Highlights: Nick believes that producers often come with a misconception that they need to quote and that by thinking for themselves and developing their own sales process, they can create their own path. (11:29) Nick mentions that young producers often need more credibility and knowledge about the insurance game, which can hinder their ability to negotiate the proper coverage. (20:43) Nick explains the importance of confidence, consistency, and a clear vision for success in the insurance industry. (30:28) Nick mentions that he helps producers find the path and system they want to run, and how to create an environment where they can write new business. (40:12) Nick discusses that transparency is crucial especially for young producers, as it builds trust and credibility. (49:47) Nick shares an experience that taught him the importance of understanding the BOR and adjusting their pricing strategy accordingly. (52:25) Nick encourages producers and agency owners to join Producer Systems every Wednesday at 12 EST for free a live call focused on collaborating on BOR, prospect positioning, and actionable steps for building sales processes. (56:24) Key Quotes: “Confidence, and then consistency, but also having the vision, the framework for how you want to operate, those three things, I think are super important.” - Nick Aube “I'm a big believer in the Broker of Record. To me, that's the way forward. However, we're talking about confidence earlier, you need to be confident in your process, and your system to actually go out and execute.” - Nick Aube Resources Mentioned: Nick Aube LinkedIn Producer Systems Reach out to Mitch Gibson

This episode of "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Aureus Analytics very own, Thomas Mann to discuss IndieTech and the career path that led him to the great team over at Aureus Analytics! Donna for Agents is one of the most impressive pieces of technology in the market place and is something your agency should take a look at! Episode Highlights: Thomas shares his decision to join Aureus Analytics and his passion for being a part of the change happening in the insurance industry. (12:43)  Thomas discusses the difference between IndieTech and InsurTech and why the IndieTech Showcase is important for the independent insurance industry to filter out the noise and focus on actionable technology for their day-to-day operations. (21:39) Thomas explains the features of Donna for Agents, a consultative interface that integrates data from an Agency Management System and provides coverage-based recommendations. (34:53) Thomas shares three concepts that are imperative for agencies looking to get the IndieTech advantage: having a CRM, harnessing the power of automation, and seeking subject matter experts to shorten the learning curve. (42:39) Key Quotes: "What really gets me going professionally, is just solving problems for the people I'm working for and with and so ultimately that's where it started." - Thomas Mann “I'm always down to talk about what's going on in our industry because it's always changing.” - Thomas Mann  Resources Mentioned: Thomas Mann LinkedIn Aureus Analytics IndieTech Showcase Experience 2023 Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of " Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with David Watson, CEO of Risk Advisor to discuss IndieTech and why more companies like Risk Advisor are becoming so crucial to long term agency success in this industry. Episode Highlights: David discusses his background and his path to becoming an insurance agent. He also shares his experience starting his own agency and eventually being acquired. (4:13) David shares what led him to start his own IndieTech company, Risk Advisor, to solve a problem for his agency and other agents. (12:05) David discusses the upcoming IndieTech Showcase event and why it's important for the insurance industry. (19:08) David gives a brief demonstration of Risk Advisor and emphasizes the importance of building relationships with clients. (22:54) David introduces Risk Advisor's agency proposals, which generate branded proposals based on the risk profile and carrier rating which include a premium summary and pre-filled claim scenarios. (31:42) David recommends Advisor Evolved and Slack for automation and team communication, and Calendly for scheduling. (35:09) David mentions that Risk Advisor offers special pricing for agents who are two years or newer in the industry. (38:16) Key Quotes: “What I'm excited about with the IndieTech Showcase is…it's all about tech for the independent agent. But then also, I love what he's doing with the kind of the walkthrough. You're going to be placed in the piece of the customer journey that your technology is focused on.” - David Watson “We are helping you take in all this information, and why not make it easy to on the back end, once you're done and know where you're going to be recommending, why not make it easy to generate branded proposals?” - David Watson Resources Mentioned: David Watson LinkedIn Risk Advisor IndieTech Showcase Experience 2023 Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

This episode is the start of a new monthly segment called, "Talkin' Tech" with Danny Lawrence on the MVP Podcast! Co-Host Danny Lawrence sits down with Matt LaRocca of AgencyZoom to talk about the importance of not only having a CRM inside of your agencies but also how important it is that we as insurance professionals need to continue adapting to technology if you want to win the long game! Episode Highlights: Matt discusses the distinction between Agency Management Systems and Customer Relationship Management tools and how Agency Zoom fits into those systems. (4:03) Matt explains the process of establishing an automated sequence for lead follow-up, a critical aspect for both novice agents and larger agencies. (6:54) Matt shares strategies for customizing pipelines in Agency Zoom, featuring modifications for lead sources, stages, and employee assignments. (9:04) Matt delves into the workings of automation within Agency Zoom, discussing automated emails, text messages, and task assignments with agents. (10:52) Matt mentions the continual adaptation of agencies to evolving insurance technology, with fresh companies and quoting systems emerging periodically which proves highly beneficial for agencies as it enhances their competitive edge and boosts task efficiency. (15:56) Key Quotes: “What we have done is to try to simplify that day to day process for the producer and the CSR, by let's just say, setting up a sequence, right? Automation to be sent out from emails, from a text message, to a call, reminders, whatever that may be, we can then add that into a list and say a customized sequence for your agency.” - Matt LaRocca “We can create different types of pipelines, we have pipelines that are already in place. But yeah, once you establish this, it's just more of a click and drag, and really, throughout each stage of our process, it's a very simple process to hear.” - Matt LaRocca “With Agency Zoom we're adapting every two weeks, we have updates that are going on or system every single day.” - Matt LaRocca Resources Mentioned: Matthew LaRocca LinkedIn AgencyZoom Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Jake Jines from The Insurance Alliance to bring you the sales tip of the week. Episode Highlights: Jake discusses how the use of Loss Run Pro has helped speed up the process of getting loss runs and forms put together, taking a two-week process down to a three-day process. (5:16) Jake discusses the importance of building relationships in commercial insurance and why sending a web form to fill out is not ideal. (8:17) Jake explains that it is important to find value on both ends of the equation, whether it's the high mod or the low mod. (12:16) Jake mentions that risk management helps businesses stay competitive by preventing bad accidents and saving money. (14:45) Jake believes that staying consistent is key to success as a producer. (17:01) Mitch discusses the Indietech Showcase Experience happening in Indianapolis, with a focus on the Indie Sales portion of the event for young agents. (17:27) Key Quotes: “If we're able to provide the value, become the experts on the mod and the work comp, where we can actually control it. It's putting us over the edge on so much, just by having those extra value points.” - Jake Jines I'm reminding myself of being in the stage of my career right now as a producer. It's just a constant reminder of the importance of staying consistent and doing what I have to do because there's a lot of a good month and then there's always some down months. I'm just trying to remind myself is… the importance of staying consistent.” - Jake Jines Resources Mentioned:  Jake Jines LinkedIn The Insurance Alliance Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Margeaux Giles, CEO of IRYS Insurtech, to talk about the struggles she went through while owning her own agency that lead her to create IRYS.  Episode Highlights: Margeaux answers the five rapid-fire questions, including her favorite color, favorite flavor of ice cream, and where she would like to go on vacation. (2:18) Margeaux shares her journey from being a CSR to becoming the CEO and Co-Founder of IRYS Insurtech, including her experience in the insurance industry and the struggles she faced while building a new product. (8:15) Margeaux discusses the emergence of insurance innovators moving into the tech space, bringing true knowledge and experience to the industry. (16:14) Margeaux mentions how enterprise agencies are losing good agents due to their lack of technology adoption and how they are now scrambling to catch up. (28:04) Margeaux discusses how the IRYS Insurtech focuses on representing complex relationships between people, policies, businesses, and charities to identify potential niche markets and future premium opportunities. (343:53) Margeaux mentions that agencies should focus on the core community and let the transactional business go. (43:30) Margeaux encourages agents to shift their focus from technology to ask questions about how to make technology better. (51:33) Key Quotes: “We failed a million times at a million things before we were able to kind of get our heads around what we thought was the best path forward. So yeah, it's quick to market, right? But it's many, many decades in the making.” - Margeaux Giles “If I was going to start a new agency right now, I would focus on that core community and I would let some of that transactional business go in my opinion.” - Margeaux Giles “If you're waking up every morning, and you're miserable because of where you work, or how you work, you can change that. And only when we all decide to change, does it actually happen.” - Margeaux Giles Resources Mentioned: Margeaux Giles LinkedIn IRYS Insurtech Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with the President of Inspire a Nation Business, Mentor, and Keynote Speaker, Dr. Billy Williams to discuss some of the best practices for Processes, Technology, and Efficiency that young agents should be following! If you don't take at least 3 pages of notes during this episode, then you have no drive to be better! Go out and take action! Episode Highlights: Dr. Billy Williams expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to share information, expertise, and wisdom with the insurance industry, which has done so much for him and his family. (1:59) Dr. Billy Williams gives his responses to Mitch's five rapid questions. (2:50) Dr. Billy Williams explains that the first thing a new agent must do when they first start out is experience the customer journey. (7:35) Dr. Billy Williams mentions the importance of video proposals as they allow for better, more accurate, and faster communication. (9:48) Dr. Billy Williams shares that most of their video proposals are opened numerous times between 10pm and midnight. (14:53) Dr. Billy Williams discusses the four types of staff in any agency: processes, technology, automation, and human staff. (18:17) According to Dr. Billy Williams, most people can edit success better than they can create it. (26:03) Dr. Billy Williams expresses his desire to work with an agent who takes the time to accomplish what has to be done, as opposed to everyone else who has been complacent and comfortable. (30:29) Dr. Billy Williams explains that when you don't provide a process, a verifiable written process, or an accurate process, the other person is left to create something on their own. (34:03) Dr. Billy Williams believes that the most common issues with new agents are time management and the ability to properly prioritize and that having a written process may help with both of these. (41:51) Dr. Billy Williams discusses the four types of discipline: self-discipline, accountability, automation and technology, and outsourcing and how these types of disciplines affect individuals. (50:13) Key Quotes: “With video, I can communicate better. I can communicate accurately and I can communicate faster a lot of times than me sitting there trying to do it, and the person receives that message a little bit better. So video proposals are huge.” - Dr. Billy Williams “It doesn't matter what you do when you're here. What matters is what you leave when you're gone. And those are the kind of legacy impact things that I want to leave.” - Dr. Billy Williams “Those are the two legs: discipline or regret. You're either going to do it, or you're going to feel bad that you didn't do it. So discipline or regret, which one do you want to wake up with every day?” - Dr. Billy Williams Resources Mentioned: Dr. Billy Williams LinkedIn Inspire a Nation Business Mentoring Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Certified Financial Planner, Erik Garcia to discuss how important it is to have a strong financial vision and plan in place. Erik also breaks down the repercussions you could face by not implementing a financial vision/plan. If you are young and new to the industry, don't wait to create your vision and plan. It will pay off for you in the long run Do you hate budgeting? Don't know how to budget? Stressed out financially? Don't have a vision in place? Erik has made it easy to get started with your financial vision and plan for the future. For MVP Podcast Listeners, you can sign up for Erik's "Budgeting Made Easy" Course by using Promo Code: "mvp23" to receive $25 off the course. Click here: https://www.plan-wisely.com/budget/ Use code: "mvp23" at checkout Price when using promo code: $55.00 Episode Highlights: Erik discusses the difference between a plan and a vision. (4:50)  Erik explains that it is important to have a clear vision of where you want to go financially. (9:48) Erik mentions some common financial mistakes that insurance agents make, one of which is living on borrowed money. (13:02) Erik believes that individuals should not borrow money for anything that does not have a justified return on investment. (17:23) Erik shares another common financial mistake of agency owners, which is spending too much money on their houses. (19:48) Erik mentions that you can't expect to accumulate in 3-5 years what took another agency owner 10-15 years to achieve. (21:37) Erik explains that another common mistake that agency owners make is failing to track their spending. (22:44) Erik believes that as people become conscious of where their money is going, they begin to make different buying decisions. (26:36) Erik announces that MVP Podcast listeners will get a discount on the Budgeting Made Easy Course by using coupon code “mvp23”. (30:09) Erik explains that the most common mistake that insurance agency owners or producers make is failing to save enough for retirement. (31:59) Erik discusses what an agent endgame is and how it may benefit certain agency owners. (36:56) Erik gives his responses to Mitch's five rapid questions. (43:03) Key Quotes: “You should be borrowing money on things that are going to generate revenue for you. Think of it as an investment. You're not going to invest in anything that doesn't have a return or a justified return on investment.” - Erik Garcia, CFP® “You just can't accumulate what it took somebody, another agency owner, ten to fifteen years to get to and you think you're gonna do it in three to five years?” - Erik Garcia, CFP® “Once you become aware of where your money's going, you start making different buying decisions” - Erik Garcia, CFP® Resources Mentioned: Erik Garcia, CFP® LinkedIn Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson and Danny Lawrence sit down to talk ALL THINGS Technology! Danny comes to us from Wunderite and is a big InsurTech guy. His perspective on where tech is going in this industry is something we all need to be aware of and if you aren't adapting to it inside of your agencies, you are going to get laps ran around you. Episode Highlights: Danny discusses how he got into the insurance industry and how he landed a position at Wunderite. (3:36) Danny believes that perseverance is the most important trait in a salesperson. (8:51) Danny discusses the importance of salespeople setting goals for the next 20-30 years to remind them why they wake up every day to pursue sales. (10:21) Mitch explains that one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle in the insurance industry is building relationships. (17:50) Danny believes the insurance industry is moving towards more collaboration across technology and industries to leverage data. (22:23) Danny explains that it is important for agents to realize that tech companies seek funds to develop technology that will make it easier for agents to perform their jobs and provide a better experience for their clients. (25:22) Danny mentions that each agency is unique, that each agency has a plan, and that each agency must decide what technology to use. (28:57) Danny believes that investment, whether in coaching or technology, is essential to getting the work done and making clients happy. (34:52) Danny gives his responses to Mitch's five rapid questions. (39:27) Key Quotes: “The goal shouldn't be like, ‘Hey, what do I want to be in three years?' What do you want to do in 20, or 30 years? And that should be your goal in mind because that will help you realize, ‘Why am I getting up to do this every single day?'.” - Danny Lawrence “I do believe that the more collaboration we can get across the board between certain sets of technologies or between different companies that bring us data and to be able to actually use that data, I think that is where this is going.” - Danny Lawrence “My point is, you need to invest in yourself at some point, whether it is coaching or whether it's technology, right? To get the job done and at the end of the day, for you guys, it's to make your client happier.” - Danny Lawrence Resources Mentioned: Danny Lawrence LinkedIn Wunderite Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this throwback episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Luis Leal from Leal Insurance Services. Luis joins the show to discuss the different types of marketing habits he has created, along with building a 1500 member Facebook "Dad's Group" that is a great lead generator for his business. Luis also discusses what his agency does the best at and they stick with being great at those tactics. Episode Highlights: Luis Leal shares how he first learned about the Independent Agents Owners Alliance (IAOA). (2:47) Luis explains what he does on his Facebook and in the community to let people know more about him. (7:01)  Luis shares the common personal things he posts on his Facebook group. (11:50)  Luis provides us with marketing and media strategies he uses to work well with his producers. (16:04)  Luis gives his current insights into implementing the use of the Glovebox app for his clients. (21:42) Luis shares the traits he thinks separate him from other competitors. (25:58) Luis states that his company gets a lot of new contractors and provides pros and cons of having them. (34:18) Luis talks more about subcontractors and how he works with them efficiently to win over competitors. (44:22)   Luis answers speedy questions like his favorite color, sports team, sports, place, a person that he wants to be with, and his favorite thing to do. (47:24) Luis shares his coaching experience with his son's school game. (48:47) Key Quotes: “We want to build an agency that's bridging the gap between the big insurance company and the client, and we'll do that in any way that works for the client.” - Luis Leal “One thing I heard recently was, technology when you need it, human when you want it. That's the idea of the agency we want to build.” - Luis Leal “We want to build a technology facing agency with the small town service field. That's why we have the tagline ‘big city insurance small town service.'” - Luis Leal Resources Mentioned: Luis Leal LinkedIn Leal Insurance Reach out to Mitch Gibson

Grab a notepad and pen because this episode is worth a whole notebook! In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch sits down with Andy Mathisen from Glovebox and Brett Young from Erb & Young to discuss their 4 Pillars for Success and why it is extremely important for young agents to build their own 4 Pillars. If you don't have a strong foundation, things can only last so long. But if you have a strong foundation, you can build an empire! Episode Highlights: To begin the episode, Andy Mathisen and Brett Young answer a series of rapid-fire questions. (3:26) Mitch discusses the importance of having a process in place to achieve your goals. (8:32) Brett mentions that one of the techniques he learned was to curate his social media feed every quarter. (10:37) Andy believes that you will be well positioned if your foundation includes the following four pillars: operations, education, marketing, and growth. (14:35) Brett discusses the four pillars of success at Erb & Young that he believes are foundational, not just to an insurance career but to success in general. (22:16) Brett believes that if you can consistently show up in the right way for a long period of time with a positive attitude, you will beat the majority of people that struggle with consistency and showing up. (24:22) Andy believes that your own journey will help you establish your own grounds and that creating your own pillars will set you up well. (32:57) Andy explains that Tim Grover wrote a book titled, Relentless, that sits on his bedside all the time to remind him to put the pedal to the gas and push himself every day, regardless of the objective. (42:53) Brett mentions that he doesn't care about production because it's all about how the activity that you're doing is progressing. (46:31) Brett mentions that the One City World Tour was one of the finest conferences he's ever attended. (54:41) Andy shares a quick rundown of the One City World Tour speaker lineup and what to expect from the conference. (57:01) Andy explains why young producers should drop everything and concentrate only on their referral network. (1:02:44) Key Quotes: “If your foundation has the ingredients on these four pillars, in my opinion, you're going to be set up pretty well. Those four pillars should be your operations, your education, your marketing, and your growth.” - Andy Mathisen “If you can show up the right way for a long enough period of time with a good attitude, you beat the majority of people because people just have a hard time with consistency and showing up.” - Brett Young “Your own journey is going to help establish your own grounds. And it's because everyone's got a different market, everyone's got a different style of agency, the way they operate. And so, if you bring in a little bit of everyone's expertise, build your own concepts and make it into your own secret sauce, I think you're really establishing your own pillars.” - Andy Mathisen Resources Mentioned: Andy Mathisen LinkedIn Brett Young Linkedin Glovebox Erb & Young Insurance One City World Tour Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with author, entrepreneur, and thought leader, Brandon Smith to discuss how the adversity he faced has pushed him down his pathway to success. It is important to know that we all face adversity, but the real question is, "Did that adversity make you stronger?" We also discuss some sales tips and tactics young agents should be engaging in on a day-to-day circumstance! Episode Highlights: Brandon shares some of the challenges that he had as a young baseball player. (4:38) Brandon shares how he determines his value and how that has motivated him in recent years to give back to the community. (6:56) Brandon believes that the majority of new agents quit the industry within 24 months because they don't have the right training and tools, and they perceive their job as a producer as an ordinary job, not a profession. (11:09) Brandon believes that the most successful producers are those that are willing to admit that they don't know everything and that they need to learn new skills. (14:44) Brandon explains that, even though he has the ability to educate, coach, speak, and invest, he is also a student who continues to read, learn, grow, and ask questions. (15:54) Brandon believes that we must prioritize people over programs, policies, procedures, premiums, and revenues. (24:36) Brandon explains that they have 14 touchpoints within the first 30 days of welcoming a new client. (28:32) Brandon shares that their Renewal Protection Plan is a series of emails that begin 90 days before renewal because they discovered that many no longer read their mail. (33:19) Brandon advises avoiding comparing your beginning to someone else's middle because the insurance industry's comparison game is unhealthy. (43:10) Brandon mentions that what motivates him is motivating, encouraging, and challenging others to be the best version of themselves. (43:53) Key Quotes: “My value isn't based on what I accomplish, or what I do. My value is based on my identity, and who I am. And so, that's really kind of driven me in the last couple of years of investing in giving back to the community because truly it isn't about massive community investing in our industry, into young agents, new producers. Because when the water rises, all the boats rise.” - Brandon Smith  “When you have a relationship with someone, their heart follows. And when you have their heart, the wallet follows, and then the retention and the referrals, and the loyalty. And it's so much easier to do business, conduct business, and have a business transaction with our friends, with the people we have a relationship with.” - Brandon Smith  “What motivates me is to motivate, encourage, and challenge other people to be the best version of themselves to be the individual they recruited to be. And that's because I've had people in my life motivate me, encouraged me, and challenged me to be the best version of myself.” - Brandon Smith  Resources Mentioned: Brandon Smith LinkedIn Glidewell Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Jake Jines from The Insurance Alliance to bring you the sales tip of the month.  This will be the start of monthly episodes with Jake as we dive into many different producer sales tips ranging from cold calling, to prospecting, to quoting, to building relationships and we even might show you how to create effective sales proposals. Episode Highlights: Jake shares that he always follows up on a cold call to get the appointment, and he sends a follow-up loom video so the client knows who they are speaking with. (3:14) Jake mentions that in cold calling, you have to be able to pick up on people's tone to be able to determine if it's a possible opportunity. (4:32) Jake explains that he makes a 30-second video with the information and offers assistance so that clients can see that he is genuine based on his facial expressions. (5:50) Jakes shares how his short video convinced a client who was hesitant with the initial quote to meet with him. (7:52) Jake explains why it is important to customize videos for each client and shares a few strategies for doing so. (9:14) Jake mentions that he is not a huge fan of the large dial game. If he realizes that the person is extremely busy but still has an interest, he will follow up. If the person does not show interest, he will follow up next year or in the next six months. (10:31) Jake shares that he is still learning how to react to taking losses because he finds it affects him when he loses an account. (12:34) Jake advises everyone to stay consistent and be able to bounce back after a loss, especially at the start, and to have the right mentality to stay consistent. (18:40) Key Quotes: "Cleansing is learning who the main decision maker is and finding out their details. And once I have them in that cleansing stage, I know I've got them. Doesn't mean I've got them this year, but I may have them next year because I know who I'm speaking with, and I have their information. So when I follow up, I send that loom video, and I put a face with a voice and I keep it real simple." - Jake Jines “Another thing I do if the person's name is Kathy, I take a piece of paper and I write Kathy…say, Hi Kathy, and I put it up there in the camera, me smiling. That way she knows it's a customized video, not just a video that I have that I send that to every single person.” - Jake Jines "I hate to lose. So, I think as I progress in the insurance industry, maybe my question or my answer will change. But currently, where I'm at, losing is the absolute worst." - Jake Jines Resources Mentioned: Jake Jines LinkedIn The Insurance Alliance Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Jeremy Powers, owner of Powers Insurance Experts, joins the show to share his story and the tips and tricks that have elevated his agency over the last 2 years.  This is an episode you do not want to miss if you are stuck in the middle of what you should be doing as a young producer. Jeremy has a passion that is unmatched, and the things he is doing for his community led to putting the business on the books. Be the Jeremy Powers of your community! The little things make a difference. Episode Highlights: Jeremy shares his background and how he got to where he is today in business. (4:16) Jeremy discusses the two things he does to encourage his team inside the agency as well as the producers and agents outside of his agency. (10:39) Jeremy shares that one way that he finds work-life balance is by being able to have his daughters interact in the fun stuff that they do for the company. (17:41) Jeremy shares that the biggest thing that helped him to get to where he is today is a book called Rejection Proof by Xiao Zhang. (22:36) Jeremy shares why it is beneficial to imitate people that are better than you and doing great things. (25:32) Jeremy discusses what has been going on in his agency, as well as their achievements in being an all-organic agency. (29:13) Jeremy advises everyone that if they want to be successful, they should find something that gets them in the field and chase it. (35:52) Jeremy explains how he is blessed to be a coach and has been coaching agents, and agencies. (41:49) Jeremy shares that he always tells his team that he is never going to try to bring people into this business that are going to demoralize them. (47:23) Jeremy recalls a story of when he was able to hire a tenured representative, who told him how excited she was to work for his company. (53:20) Jeremy advises everyone to stop being their own worst enemy, and let go of negative thinking. (1:00:02) Key Quotes:  "I tell myself all the time and I'm a strong believer that I don't want a penny more than God blessed me with because I don't want to be who he did not create me to be. I want to be exactly and authentically who I'm ready to be." - Jeremy Powers "I tell my team, I don't believe the customer's always right. I hired you, I'm going to fight for you. And I'm never going to try to bring people into this business that are going to demoralize you." - Jeremy Powers "Be the sun. Everyone wants to go towards the sun. Why not be the sun?" - Jeremy Powers Resources Mentioned: Jeremy Powers LinkedIn Powers Insurance Experts Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this throwback episode of the Agency Intelligence podcast, guest host Mitch Gibson interviews Brian Blakely, the director of property & casualty insurance at Stonebridge Insurance and Wealth Management and host of The Good Life Small Business Podcast. Brian talks about what he learned from Bradley Flowers and how he started a podcast. Episode Highlights: Brian shares the best things to do in Kearney, Nebraska. (2:40) What has attributed to Brian's career, skill or luck? (9:38) Brian shares his background. (13:32) Brian mentions what he's currently working on with his podcast. (24:08) Has Brian seen any success that's helped him grow as an agent and with his podcast? (31:19) Brian shares why podcasting is something that he's passionate about. (38:51) Brian mentions what he's trying to accomplish this year. (40:06) Brian shares a story about his first conversation with Bradley Flowers. (47:34)  Key Quotes: “I trust everybody in here and I don't need to look over my shoulder. We've all got the client's best interest at heart. So, another instance of where I got pretty lucky is the people that I get to work with every day and the culture that we have here is great.” - Brian Blakely “Sometimes it's good to hear from other people who may have the same story as you do or can use some support when you think you're all alone. What better time to come out with a small business podcast locally here in my community where people can not only get to know these small businesses better, they can learn about their story.” - Brian Blakely “You may be embarrassed about some of the content that you have out now. I mean, it gets better the more you do it but you just have to be consistent. Don't be scared, just do it. Have someone help you. There's plenty of people out there.” - Brian Blakely Resources Mentioned: Reach out to Mitch Gibson Brian Blakely LinkedIn Stonebridge Insurance and Wealth Management The Good Life Small Business Podcast

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Chelsie Sweazy, who comes to us from MJ Insurance, located in Carmel, Indiana! Chelsie started her career on the carrier side with Travelers, then just over 2 years ago, Chelsie jumped headfirst into the agency side with MJ Insurance as a Risk Management Consultant/Producer. Before I got to know Chelsie about a year ago, she and I were competing for an account against each other for a prospect, and yes, she won the account. I LOVE to win, but Chelsie made me realize that I HATE losing way more. Episode Highlights: Chelsie shares why she posted the question, "would you rather have $30 trillion or 30 trillion friends?" and answers it herself. (4:16) Chelsie explains that coming into the sales role and getting into cold outreaches has been the biggest struggle for her. (7:28) Chelsie explains that her goal is to bring value to prospective clients and that she is not interested in taking someone's program and just recreating it with a different broker, or a different carrier. (16:34) Chelsie shares how she became interested in cyber policies. (22:38) Chelsie shares that her way of keeping up to date with constant learning is through webinars. (23:29) Chelsie shares that they have seen more claims in the last 12 months, particularly ransomware claims. (28:44) Chelsie explains why multifactor authentication is very important as the baseline of defense against cyber hackers. (30:17) Chelsie shares her time blocking techniques and how they have helped her be more successful in her book of business. (36:37) Chelsie talks about how to evaluate and adhere to your time block to be able to balance everything on your schedule. (41:24) Chelsie shares that yellow is her favorite color, and her favorite ice-cream flavor is peanut butter cookie dough. (45:17) Chelsie shares that Oprah Winfrey is the person she would like to talk to and hang out with, aside from Jesus. (46:44) Chelsie explains why she would choose to be in Aruba if given a chance to go to a place she wants. (47:24) Chelsie advises the listeners to always be learning and to stay true to themselves. (48:35) Key Quotes: "I am constantly trying to learn and so cyber just became the thing. I think it's a trend that's not going away. Cyber continues to evolve. I don't think that's going to change either." - Chelsie Sweazy "I think if you don't have a plan, I don't know how you're going to succeed. And like you said, I am very routine driven." - Chelsie Sweazy "Stay true to yourself. I think a lot of times that can get lost. And so for me, just stay true to yourself. Especially, you know, just being a female in the insurance space. Sometimes, it's just different. And so I would say stay true to yourself and be you." - Chelsie Sweazy Resources Mentioned: Are you a young insurance professional? Are you ready to be heard? Are you ready to grow? Click here to join our Young Insurance Professional Group which is loaded with FREE resources and opportunities to help you become the best agent you can be. Chelsie Sweazy LinkedIn MJ Insurance Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson is joined by 3 of his fellow protege contestants, Sean Kirby, Jonathan Lugo, and Ryan Smith, to discuss Challenges 5 and 6 of The Protege (an Insurance Reality TV Show Competition produced by David Carothers) and the feedback they received from David. The last 5 months have been filled with weekly challenges, discussions, accountability, and coaching that have truly changed the way we all look at selling insurance. Only 2 challenges are left before the top 6 contestants are selected to compete in the production stage to see who will be crowned THE NEXT Protege! Episode Highlights: Mitch introduces his guests, San Kirby, Jonathan Lugo, and Ryan Smith, his fellow contestants on The Protege, who have joined the podcast to discuss the most recent challenges. Ryan shares that the feedback he got from Challenge 5 on The Protege was that he was talking too much. (3:59) Jonathan explains that there are a lot of rules and formats that need to be followed when completing the challenges for The Protege. (7:31) Sean shares that The Protege was built in a very specific way, and that the whole setup is to built towards production. (12:13) Sean talks about his former teammate, Brian McCall, and how Brian is starting to jump into the list of top performers. (16:45) Jonathan and Sean explain that being on the show is very different from just watching it, and the contestants are getting better at what they do. (19:30) Ryan elaborates on his experience doing Challenge Six and how it went for him doing the elevator pitch. (22:34) Jonathan shares the things he focused on and what he did differently that made him the top performer for Challenge Six. (24:57) Sean shares that he did a short and sweet elevator script. (27:17) Ryan explains that for someone who hasn't tried cold calling, this challenge can be mentally challenging. (35:49) Sean recommends everyone be in a comfortable position when making cold calls. (39:30) Key Quotes: "When you're sitting down to actually do the calls, especially for some of this nature, it can be difficult." - Ryan Smith "If we're not in a comfortable position before we make our calls, physically, you're not going to be comfortable on the phone, so you want to get into a comfortable position." - Sean Kirby "My goal is to be at the top next week. And if I'm not focusing on being in the top six, I'm focusing on being top next week. If so, that gives me a good position to be in the top six." - Mitch Gibson Resources Mentioned: Sean Kirby LinkedIn Jonathan Lugo LinkedIn Ryan Smith LinkedIn Smith and Sons Insurance Agency The Performance Group Veritas Insurance And Risk Management Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson is joined by THE Fabulous GloveBox Gurus (Danielle Driscoll, Nicole Mirich, Chelsea Stewart, and Natasha Hansen) to talk about their stories and the paths they took that led them to our amazing friends at GloveBox! After meeting the Gurus in Denver in January, I knew I had to get them on the show and learn more about them. These ladies are so passionate about this industry and truly believe in making a difference in our industry. Episode Highlights: Danielle, Nicole, Chelsea, and Natasha introduce themselves. (2:18) Danielle, Nicole, Chelsea, and Natasha share why they chose the insurance industry and why they chose to work at Glovebox. (8:03) Natasha shares that social media has become a necessary piece of the marketing toolkit that is also easy to use. (20:28) Danielle explains that they are creating their content and that each of them is unique in different ways. (23:33) Chelsea shares that GloveBox is a CXP, a Customer Experience Platform, and it's a platform that creates something new for clients. (27:03) Natasha shares that when she started, she did not know much about the insurance industry, but people are always willing to help and educate. (34:53) Chelsea explains that one pain point that has always been an issue in the mortgage industry is connecting to third-party vendors. (38:16) Nicole talks about the release of their pre-verified accounts, which was done with the help of using AMS. (42:20) Danielle, Nicole, Chelsea, and Natasha talk about the founders of GloveBox. (46:12) Danielle, Nicole, Chelsea, and Natasha share their favorite colors, favorite flavor of ice cream, favorite places to visit, and who they would like to hang out with if given the chance. (49:04) Key Quotes:  "We got into this because we saw that it was cool, that was innovative. And that's what people want these days. They want something cool. They want something innovative." - Chelsea Stewart "So, the biggest value add is even if you're scared of growth, you can kind of think of Glovebox is your first hire, because we are hitting that front end sales process and that post bind service process all in one." - Nicole Mirich "Instead of looking at people to compare yourself or as competition, look at the things that they're doing and look at those things as opportunities." - Natasha Hansen "If there's something that you want, go for it. I like to encourage people to try anything that they are envisioning or anything that they're passionate about. You never know if you don't try." - Danielle Driscoll Resources Mentioned: Danielle Driscoll LinkedIn Nicole Mirich LinkedIn Chelsea Stewart LinkedIn Natasha Hansen LinkedIn Glovebox Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Co-Founder and CEO of Wunderwrite, Peter MacDonald to discuss the things he learned as a young agent 7 years ago which gave him the tools and ability to build an amazing product like Wunderwrite. Peter also talks about the importance of building relationships and why it should be a common denominator in everyone's success strategy. If you haven't had a chance to talk to Peter or Dillon over at Wunderwrite, then you need to book a call with them now and just have a conversation.  Episode Highlights: Peter discusses how they came up with the concept for Wunderwrite. (8:32) Peter believes that the reason the industry has so many independent agents is that they are more efficient than larger corporations. (16:18) Peter discusses his experiences as a young producer as well as the skills he has learned over time. (19:05) Peter discusses the four habits of referability, which include arriving on time, doing what you say you're going to do, completing what you start, and saying please and thank you. (19:53) Peter mentions that if he were a rookie agent today, the first thing he would do is create connections with people who can recommend him to new business. (26:31) Peter mentions that he and his colleague have earned their Six Sigma Green Belt. (35:37) Peter explains the API application program interface. (40:19) Peter compares Wunderite's program to some other application that was created several years ago. (40:56) Peter mentions that one of the challenges with an API is that it requires detailed documentation. (41:57) Peter discusses the importance of reviews, particularly in the digital market. (47:30) Peter answers Mitch Gibson's five rapid-fire questions are answered by Peter. (53:09) Key Quotes: “What I know now is that the industry is set up the way it is, for economic reasons. The reason there are so many independent agents, is, frankly, because you guys can do it more efficiently than some huge corporation can do it.” - Peter MacDonald “If I was a young agent today, the number one thing that I would do is I would build relationships with centers of influence, who can refer me business” - Peter MacDonald “We want to combine a streamlined, simple process with a lot of the things that we've come to appreciate and joy and other areas of our life. And we're still not where we want to be 100%, like we're always wanting to be improving, there's so much more than we could do. But this is kind of where the product is today.” - Peter MacDonald Resources Mentioned: Peter MacDonald LinkedIn Wunderwrite Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Vice President of Gordon Companies Insurance Services, Aaron Gordon joins the show to discuss the struggles some young agents experience in their first few years in the industry which can be very frustrating at times. Just getting started in the industry can be stressful, but with patience, hard work, passion, energy, and the willingness to learn, you can be pretty successful in this industry. Aaron discusses the importance of not just branding your agency, but, the importance of branding yourself and your process. Episode Highlights: Aaron discusses one of his favorite aspects of the insurance industry. (2:23) Aaron believes that the most important thing a young person can do, particularly in sales, is to show senior leadership that they are interested in learning. (5:23) Aaron explains that in the insurance industry, the larger the agency, the more successful it is. (11:41) Aaron mentions that one of the things that have astonished him the most is the real adoption of technology by those who he did not expect to adopt it. (15:32) Aaron discusses why insurance companies have typically had high retention rates. (20:29) Aaron believes that referral partners are very important and that they are the basis upon which the insurance industry was built. (22:49) Aaron mentions that the greatest thing about the insurance business, whether it's in your agency, a different agency, or a partner, is that people in this profession like supporting one another. (33:23) Aaron emphasizes the significance of determining what works best for you and pursuing it. (38:19) Aaron highlights the importance of adding value to whatever you do. (41:07) Aaron answers Mitch Gibson's five rapid-fire questions. (53:34) Key Quotes: “The most important thing that a young person can do, especially on the sales side, is show senior leadership that they're interested in learning.” - Aaron Gordon “The barrier to entry in insurance agencies is so low, and that's not knocking us. Like, you don't have to be a lawyer, you don't have to be an accountant, that when you come in, you got to show those senior people that you're in it to win it. Trusted Advisor style, not just sales and leave.” - Aaron Gordon “The best thing about this industry, whether it's in your agency, or a different agency, a partner is people in this industry love helping each other.” - Aaron Gordon Resources Mentioned: Aaron Gordon LinkedIn Gordon Companies Insurance Services Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with the "Flood Guru" himself, Chris Greene, to discuss why creating a consistent content strategy is so important for his business model. Recently, Chris launched a Flood Insurance Learning Center/Educational Video Library with thousands of different topics to choose from. We discuss the ROI of having a learning center like the one he started. You can check out his learning center by visiting the link below. Episode Highlights: Chris discusses the reasons why he started to get involved in digital marketing. (2:33) Chris shares some advice for young agents that are wanting to get into video creation. (8:24) Chris explains that the most important thing to consider in video creation is the consistency of your work. (10:15) Chris discusses the method called "Blog Blocking" and how it works to help you with your video creation schedule. (12:40) Chris shares that he always sleeps with his iPhone next to him so that when an idea comes to him at night, he will be able to save it. (16:46) Chris elaborates on how important title tags and descriptions are to your videos. (25:34) Chris discusses some pointers to think about, like being able to be so good that people can't ignore you. (30:42) Chris shares that some of his favorite podcasts are the ones from Jason Cass. (32:24) Chris explains that getting a cheap quote is never going to change the risk. (38:08) Chris talks about his favorite color, ice cream flavor, favorite place to visit, and the one person he would want to spend 24 hours with. (39:00) Chris gives out three useful tips in video editing and video creating for people that are just starting in the industry.  Key Quotes: "I said, people come to us for one reason, it's education. And they also come to us for three reasons. Either we can help them understand their flood insurance, we can help understand their flood risks, or we can actually help them lower that risk." - Chris Greene "At the end of the day, I don't care how great you are, how average you think you are, consistency is what's gonna win." - Chris Greene "Getting a cheap quote is never going to change the risk. And it's our job to help you understand the risk, change the risk and create long-term rates to build on your insurance because we did the first two things." - Chris Greene Resources Mentioned: Chris Greene LinkedIn The Flood Insurance Guru Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson is joined by 4th Generation Insurance Agent, Ryan Smith from Smith and Sons Insurance Agency. The Protege Season 2 Contestant took time to discuss his path from studying Risk Management in college to helping young agents in Oklahoma and why this industry is the best-hidden gem out there.  Ryan also talks about why young agents need to have a " Board of Mentors'' rather than just having one "Mentor." Don't be afraid to ask others for help and always try to make a difference each day. Episode Highlights: Ryan shares about his life outside of the insurance agency. (2:22) Ryan discusses his journey studying Risk Management. (9:44) Ryan explains why he decided to join the Protege. (18:47) Ryan mentions that he is the current Vice-Chair for the Big I of Oklahoma's Young Agents. (29:53) Ryan mentions the Big I of Oklahoma's Invest program, which helps young people learn about insurance not just as a topic, but as a profession. (32:45) Ryan discusses the Big I of Oklahoma's FILO, Future Insurance Leaders of Oklahoma, program, which is for young people who are new to the industry. (34:29) Ryan mentions that there is a lot of opportunity for young people in the industry and that there are a lot of changes happening, which is why he's more focused on going after larger accounts. (39:34) Ryan explains why he signs his documents with the title "Business Insurance Broker" rather than "Risk Advisor." (42:41) Ryan mentions that he's working to shift away from messages about general topics and toward addressing a specific problem on LinkedIn. (48:44) Ryan shares that one of the key takeaways from Charles Specht's presentation was that there are three ways to use the information on LinkedIn: as a curator, a creator, or a communicator. (51:50) Ryan discusses what thrills him about The Protege process. (55:12) Key Quotes: “It blows my mind that people don't realize how much information and value can be gained from just listening to podcasts.” - Ryan Smith “I think that there is a there's way more opportunity for young people in the industry. That being said, there's a lot of changes going on. And that's kind of why I'm more focused on going after larger accounts, is because I think that's where the agent, independent agent in 10-15 years or more or less, that's where you're going to be valuable is being able to work with people on larger accounts.” - Ryan Smith “Where I'm at now is trying to transition less from the messages that are just general topics, you know, just stuff I feel good about, and focusing more on like, here's a problem I see for my prospect. Here's my idea on how that can be addressed. And so that's where I'm at now with LinkedIn.” - Ryan Smith Resources Mentioned: Ryan Smith LinkedIn Smith and Sons Insurance Agency Big I Oklahoma Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with nationally touring comedian, Executive Producer, CEO & Founder of My Breakup Registry, Podcast Host of The Future Role Model, and Glovebox Guru, Natasha Pearl Hansen to discuss why she decided to join the Glovebox team and why building partnerships is so important in everything we do in this industry. You can check Natasha out on all social media platforms or check out her new Amazon Comedy Special, " I Was Supposed To Get Married Today" on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. Episode Highlights: Natasha shares how COVID impacted her career and the comedy industry as a whole. (2:49) Natasha talks about her work as a stand up comedian. (8:37) Natasha shares why she decided to partner with Glovebox. (11:15)  Natasha discusses how she established her personal brand. (17:14)  Natasha provides her insights and anticipation to where GloveBox is headed in the future. (34:01) Natasha shares new benefits and features that are currently available with GloveBox as well as those that are lined up to be released in the 2nd Quarter of 2022. (42:55)  Natasha offers a few tips and tricks for people that are starting an insurance agency. (49:44) Natasha shares her favorite color and ice cream flavor and who she would want to spend 24 hours with if given a chance. (1:00:58) Natasha mentions her favorite comedian. (1:02:55) Natasha offers a final piece of advice to people that are starting up and trying to figure out their careers. (1:06:08)  Key Quotes: "Over time your brand finds you. I think if you force it, it's not your brand. It's your tagline. But if you let it organically happen, and you see a through-line and everything that you do, that becomes your brand" - Natasha Pearl Hansen "It's not about taking over human power, it's giving your human power a rocket ship backpack." - Natasha Pearl Hansen "If you do anything, to a level that doesn't reflect what you want to be living like, then that's going to reflect everywhere in your life." - Natasha Pearl Hansen Resources Mentioned: Natasha Pearl Hansen LinkedIn Glovebox  My Breakup Registry The Future Role Model Podcast Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson interviews Joe Kampert, Agency Owner of Redwood Insurance Group in Austin, Texas to discuss what being a young agency owner is all about. Joe has built an agency around his passion for helping others. Throughout the show, Joe drops A LOT of helpful tips that will help you establish your foundation in this great industry. Episode Highlights: Joe shares some takeaways that helped him prepare for what he is doing for his agency today. (3:59) Joe talks about the importance of creating your house of dreams. (11:51)  Joe shares that exercising patience and perseverance is key to pursuing success. (17:54)  Joe offers his insights on leaving an legacy and doing it by yourself. (20:30) Joe talks about his employees' routine schedule. (26:31) Joe shares some of the things people should be posting on community groups. (34:53) Joe explains that you don't have to impact the entire world, as long as you have impacted a person, it should be enough. (53:21) Joe tells us his favorite color and favorite ice cream flavor. (54:50) Joe shares that Kobe Bryant is the person he would like to meet if given a chance. (55:01) Joe shares his favorite place to visit and one place he would like to travel to. (55:41) Joe shares a piece of advice for listeners. (56:42) Key Quotes: “Don't solicit to them. Allow them to find value in you and what you're talking about, and they will reach out to you, I promise.” Joe Kampert  "Why would you go see somebody finding success and not try and do what they're doing, using what they're doing to find success?" - Joe Kampert "You don't have to impact the entire world with what you like, as long as you're impacting one person's life. That's what matters, right?" - Joe Kampert Resources Mentioned: Joe Kampert LinkedIn Redwood Insurance Group Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Ron Shroyer, Vice President of Sales at Aureus Analytics, to discuss the future of tech and why it is so important to find tech that works for you and your agency.  Measuring your customer's happiness is a huge component of your retention. With Aureus Analytics' new product, Donna for agents can measure and collect all of this data for you, which in return allows you to sell your customer what they NEED. Episode Highlights: Ron provides a quick background story about Aureus and what his company is all about. (5:19) Ron shares that they help clients learn more about their customers. (10:06) Ron tells us about the 100 customer experience scoring called Sentimeter. (12:17)  Ron explains why data is very important for future insurance agents. (17:49)  Ron explains what his company's technology looks like. (19:51)  Ron shares that his back-end technology caters to every agency because they know that agencies operate differently. (25:14)  Ron tells us about his company's competitors and how he approaches them. (33:28) Ron shares that it is important to look at succession planning to prepare for the future. (41:37)  Ron shares his vision of the Aureus in the future and how they are scaling up to it. (46:46)   Ron shares his favorite color and ice cream flavor. (50:41) Ron tells us one place he would go if he would be traveling. (51:50)  Ron gives us his piece of advice to young agents out there listening. (52:42) Key Quotes: "Aggregating data like that is to be able to provide a better product and service, it's going to help serve you a lot more efficiently and effectively." - Ron Shroyer "Everyone has their kind of hopes and dreams as far as how they want people to utilize the product. But we know that we still have to be as flexible as possible because every agency operates a little bit differently." - Ron Shroyer “You need to surround yourself with individuals that are going to put you in a better position than where you are today.” - Ron Shroyer  Resources Mentioned: Ron Shroyer LinkedIn Aureus Analytics Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Tamron Manning, Founder and Owner of Integrity Insurance Group in Lexington, Kentucky to discuss the highs and lows that he has experienced as a start-up agency owner in the last 3 months. Tamron opened up the doors at Integrity Insurance in October of 2021 and has hit the ground running. This guy is going places! Episode Highlights: Tamron shares some of the most difficult challenges he faced when he started his business at 27. (2:26) Tamron shares some of the things he would have changed when he was just starting the agency. (4:47) Tamron recalls a moment when he was just starting and felt like he was in a captive situation. (7:56) Tamron shares some of the software he uses for his video proposals. (14:51) Tamron tells us that he has not yet integrated with any of the Tech companies but is currently in the process, to provide more customer satisfaction. (23:19) Tamron shares what he thinks are the best referral partners for the business. (28:57) Tamron tells us the common struggles that he is currently facing as an agency owner. (34:07) Tamron shares what his mental mindset was to proceed in building and starting his career. (40:31) Tamron gives us the reason why he loves the insurance industry. (45:40) Tamron shares his favorite color and his favorite flavor of ice cream. (49:35) Tamron shares that his favorite place to go that he has never been would be Australia. (51:16) Key Quotes: "You need to learn from these people, and listen to them and then practice roleplay. Some people roleplay. You need to do that kind of stuff to be good for the game." - Tamron Manning "If you spend your whole time planning and waiting for that perfect time or waiting for your savings account to hit this amount. You'll never do it, man." - Tamron Manning "Figure it out as you go, fail as many times as you can. And you'll find, I promise you'll figure it out. If you keep failing enough. And you learn from that and you do it again." - Tamron Manning Resources Mentioned: Tamron Manning LinkedIn Integrity Insurance Group Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with the Season 1 winner of The Protege, Derek Hayden. Derek joins the show to discuss his experience on the reality TV show and the things he has learned along the way that have led to Mr. Hayden's success. Yes, his favorite color is camo! Episode Highlights: Derek shares what led him to be in the insurance agency as a producer. (3:53) Derek tells us about his education and how he was able to focus on his studies while playing baseball. (6:08) Derek mentions that his early beginnings as an agent were a rough start. (8:22)  Derek mentions that his education has helped him learn how to build his process and explain benefits to potential clients. (15:01) Derek shares his great experience with The Protégé, the first reality TV show for insurance. (20:47) Derek explains how he got interested in joining the podcast industry. (28:16) Derek gives out tips on how to make the perfect video for prospecting. (42:23) Derek tells us that his favorite color is camo. (47:58) Derek tells us that his favorite place is with his family at their family farm. (49:01) Derek shares his advice to all young agents that are getting started in the industry. (51:11) Key Quotes: “You do have control over solving a problem. So, if you know what your target market's problem is, lead with the solution to that problem 100% of the time.”- Derek Hayden “For me being able to get laser-focused on what I know I do really well. And what I know, I have tools and resources to build my book around. That's when I started to, you know, stack them up here and there to build my personal book of business.” Derek Hayden "I know in my niches, what their problems are before I even step in the door. So that's one thing about, niching down. I know a group of 50 employees is having this problem, because there's no one that's been able to solve it. So I'll create my questions and ask my questions around that problem." - Derek Hayden Resources Mentioned: Derek Hayden LinkedIn The Protege - Season 1 Winner Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Luis Leal from Leal Insurance Services. Luis joins the show to discuss the different types of marketing habits he has created, along with building a 1500 member Facebook "Dad's Group" that is a great lead generator for his business. Luis also discusses what his agency does the best at and they stick with being great at those tactics. Episode Highlights: Luis Leal shares how he first learned about the Independent Agents Owners Alliance (IAOA). (2:47) Luis explains what he does on his Facebook and in the community to let people know more about him. (7:01)  Luis shares the common personal things he posts on his Facebook group. (11:50)  Luis provides us with marketing and media strategies he uses to work well with his producers. (16:04)  Luis gives his current insights into implementing the use of the Glovebox app for his clients. (21:42) Luis shares the traits he thinks separate him from other competitors. (25:58) Luis states that his company gets a lot of new contractors and provides pros and cons of having them. (34:18) Luis talks more about subcontractors and how he works with them efficiently to win over competitors. (44:22)   Luis answers speedy questions like his favorite color, sports team, sports, place, a person that he wants to be with, and his favorite thing to do. (47:24) Luis shares his coaching experience with his son's school game. (48:47) Key Quotes: “We want to build an agency that's bridging the gap between the big insurance company and the client, and we'll do that in any way that works for the client.” - Luis Leal “One thing I heard recently was, technology when you need it, human when you want it. That's the idea of the agency we want to build.” - Luis Leal “We want to build a technology facing agency with the small town service field. That's why we have the tagline ‘big city insurance small town service.'” - Luis Leal Resources Mentioned: Luis Leal LinkedIn Leal Insurance Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Sean Kirby to discuss some of the top things they learned at their first-ever AI BrainShare. Episode Highlights: Sean explains that the BrainShare conference was different from any other conference he has been to. (4:55) Sean talks about the things he learned from Marcus Sheridan at AI BrainShare 2021. (7:03) Sean shares that he likes how Marcus gives tips on how your prospects can value you. (10:14)  Mitch shares that he learned how to set the table for your customers and prospects even before talking to them. (11:52)  Sean and Mitch explain that they have taken down notes about why rates go up, and what drives them to go up. (15:02) Sean admits that he is planning to go back to recording videos very soon. (16:51) Mitch shares how important it is to learn how to prioritize tasks, and how it would benefit you as an individual.  Mitch explains that he wants to interview someone from BrainShare and ask them about their perspective about the things they have learned. (22:30)  Sean shares about the Dad's group that he started after getting the idea from Luis Leal. (25:23) Key Quotes: “So I will say that BrainShare is a very intimate thing. I've been to conferences in the past, and they are very broad, and you're trying to figure out, you know, there's 1000 people, there are 500 people, this was 125 people. So, when you're in a session, everyone has a voice. You get to meet every single person there.” - Sean Kirby “It goes from trying to sell the product to finding the solution. Because at the end of the day, you're not trying to sell cyber insurance solutions. You're saying, hey if we fix this on your website, or we fix this on your back end...you know that I'm not talking about insurance.” - Sean Kirby “I want to see myself as a community connector...that's who I am.” - Sean Kirby Resources Mentioned: AI BrainShare Sean Kirby LinkedIn Performance Group Indiana Marcus Sheridan Linkedin The Visual Sale Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson goes solo to discuss why building your network is so important in this industry, along with discovering what processes work best for you as a producer. Not everyone has the same process, but we can all learn from what each other are doing. Episode Highlights: Mitch mentions why he loves using the analogies of baseball and insurance. (1:48) Mitch shares why building your network is the most significant factor in learning the products that you're selling. (5:49) Mitch shares why a lot of people want to work for an independent company, rather than a captive company. (8:58) Mitch mentions the two best relationships he has on the mortgage and real estate side. (10:44) Mitch shares how the Agency Intelligence Mastermind group has been beneficial for him. (13:05) Mitch explains how he changed the way he put the customers in his agency management system. (16:33) Mitch mentions what differentiates them from the other insurance agencies. (24:23) Mitch shares why he's glad that he got beat by the huge account that was given to him. (34:36) Key Quotes: “Just because you get beat doesn't mean it's one of those things that you have to sulk over and get angry and get mad.. You've got to learn from it.” - Mitch Gibson “I think that's what makes losing so hard, is when you put your full fledged effort into something and you have a positive thought about it, and you feel like you're gonna make a difference... and, then you just get beat.” - Mitch Gibson “Understand your network is your net worth. So, continue to build those relationships, find those people to connect with, and surround yourself around people that want to do business with good people.” - Mitch Gibson Resources Mentioned: Reach out to Mitch Gibson

In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with Sean Kirby, CPIA, Insurance Agent at The Performance Group. Sean talks about his approach in the insurance industry and how The Performance Group Podcast became the connector of their community. Episode Highlights: What activities does Sean like to do outside of insurance? (3:55) Sean mentions what he learned about communication. (5:20) Sean explains his role at The Performance Group. (6:56) What's the most difficult thing for Sean, being in the business? (8:53) Sean shares how The Performance Group Podcast turned into relationships and business. (10:49) Why does Sean think podcasts are an asset? (13:58) Sean explains some of the processes they have at The Performance Group. (17:42) Sean shares some of the struggles he's had in the insurance industry. (22:50) Sean gives a piece of advice to the listeners. (27:00) Key Quotes: “I've learned a lot more from screwing that up, than I have by doing it the right way, and not making those same mistakes twice. So, it's all about time management, and open flow of communication.” - Sean Kirby “Trial by fire made me who I am today and it's actually helped me so much in understanding my staff, and the pressure put on them in situations.... For them to learn from mistakes, and let them screw up.” - Sean Kirby “Media has morphed into this other thing, where we are in the position to put other people on and give them a platform. At the same point, you're reaping the benefit of whether it's their insurance, their network, recognizing you, or just being the connector of your community.” - Sean Kirby Resources Mentioned: Sean Kirby, CPIA LinkedIn The Performance Group The Performance Group Podcast Reach out to Mitch Gibson

We're excited to announce that the first episode of The MVP Podcast, hosted by Mitch Gibson, on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network is live!  In this episode of The MVP Podcast, Mitch Gibson sits down with agency owner of Portal Insurance and co-host of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Bradley Flowers, to talk a little more about his path and the things he's learned along the way from being a young agent, to growing a rapid growing start-up agency in Mobile, Alabama. Episode Highlights: Bradley shares his favorite hobby. (3:01) What are Bradley's biggest motivators? (5:40) Bradley shares the characteristics he looks for in new agents. (9:43) Bradley explains the agency's core values. (9:59) Bradley shares how their hiring process works. (13:03) Bradley mentions his YouTube series called, Making The Donuts. (16:01) Bradley shares the significance of having a personal brand. (24:53) If Bradley could spend 24 hours with anybody in the world, dead or alive, who would it be, and why? (31:51) Key Quotes: “If you have a good culture fit, everything else probably is going to work itself out. Because, if they're not a good fit at what we're hiring for, if they're a good culture fit, we'll find a position for them.” - Bradley Flowers “If you're applying for a job, how do I show them that I'm going to add more value to this job, and to this organization than what they're paying me. Or, if you're working for a company, how do I add more value than what I'm doing now?” - Bradley Flowers “Being different and being better, and being extraordinary... it's supposed to be difficult, and it's supposed to be hard. You're going to deal with problems that you didn't expect, that you shouldn't have to deal with. But, because you're doing something amazing, that's a good thing. You need to embrace that. You need to be ready for it.” - Bradley Flowers Resources Mentioned: Bradley Flowers LinkedIn Portal Insurance Insurance Guys Podcast Reach out to Mitch Gibson