Podcasts

  • ‘Uncomfortable Change’ Paves Road to Perpetuation

    Too often agency principals find themselves facing a forced sale as a result of not having a proper perpetuation plan. In this podcast, MarshBerry president John Wepler discusses the many difficult and “uncomfortable” decisions required of an owner seeking to properly–and profitably–perpetuate the firm. Listen to this frank conversation as John offers some good news: [...]

  • No Quick Fix

    In this Podcast Doug Pullman, a member of the Parker, Smith & Feek marketing team, describes the planning and process this top 100 broker went through to prepare for their launch into the world of Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and blogging. Doug discusses the very deliberate and measured approach the brokerage took, the importance of getting [...]

  • Wild Wind and Rain: The Texas Coastal Insurance Challenge

    Hurricane Ike on Sept. 13, 2008, stormed into Texas near Galveston, leaving behind billions of dollars in property damage in its wake. One insurance company that took the hardest of hits in terms of claims from that storm is the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which was pummeled with $1.8 billion in claims.
    Previous to the 2008 [...]

  • Social Networking is not a Silver Bullet

    Listen to agency owner Claudia McClain explain why even in today’s social media world success involves more than just putting up a Facebook Fan Page. Claudia explains how her agency has continued to grow and prosper even in this difficult economic time. Her secret – an agency culture built around strong customer service and a [...]

  • The Wisdom of Small Accounts

    Go small or go home: That’s one way of surmising the business strategy of Earl O’Garro Jr., who is something of an anomaly in the wholesale insurance business. The 27-year-old CEO recently launched Hybrid Insurance Group, a new E&S brokerage in Connecticut with the goal of specializing in smaller accounts. His thought? It’s sounder and [...]

  • Why Florida Insurers Need Rate Hikes

    Joseph Petrelli, president of the actuarial services firm Demotech, which rates many of Florida’s insurers, analyzes the Florida property/casualty insurance marketplace, discusses his own company’s experiences rating carriers, and explains why Florida insurers need to be able to raise premiums now.

  • Ex Direct Writer Focuses on Marketing and Finds Success As Independent Agent

    “On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
    Texas agent David Berry has used the marketing lessons he learned from his experiences in the captive agency system to find success as an independent agent. Listen as Berry [...]

  • Chemistry Crucial When Mentoring Agents

    Career advice from a mentor can propel an agent’s career. Yet mentorships don’t always need to be formalized educational programs, according to Roy Little, president and CEO of the Insurance Educational Association. Whether guidance comes from a natural or unconscious relationship; a deliberate relationship; or formal mentorship program, all types of coaching can be beneficial. [...]

  • Consultant Gives a Tentative ‘Thumbs Up’ to Proposed Regulation Overhaul

    The UK’s new Chancellor (Finance Minister) George Osborne has announced plans to fundamentally reform the way financial services, including insurance, are to be regulated.
    Essentially, Osborne’s government plans to dismantle the current tripartite regulatory system, eventually abolish the Financial Services Authority [FSA], and place all financial regulation under the control of the Bank of England.
    These are [...]

  • A Renewed Energy

    “On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
    Peter and Rick discuss the renewed energy and engagement they are seeing across the industry. For example, at the recent ACORD conference they noticed many new vendors and lots [...]

  • Latin Agents Group Launched in New York

    The country’s Hispanic population is growing fast, and that’s created a need for insurance agents who understand the intricacies of serving Latin customers. It’s a need that has prompted a group of agents in New York to launch a new trade group, The Latin Agents and Brokers Association, aimed educating agents on the nuances of [...]

  • The Definition of Retirement Has Changed

    “On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
    Sharon Emek, President and CEO of WAHVE.
    Listen to Sharon as she shares her vision for this new company with Rick and Peter.
    The definition of retirement has changed. Consider two [...]

  • Legal Woes When Employees Leave

    The insurance industry is a competitive market, even when it comes to its workforce. It’s no secret, there’s a shortage of highly-qualified insurance professionals at all levels of the industry. And recent news about 100-plus employees leaving CRC Insurance to possibly work for a competitor highlights the employee shortfall even more. In this interview, we [...]

  • It’s No Longer An Experiment

    “On Point, with Peter van Aartrijk and Rick Morgan” is an audio conversation with insurance industry leaders who champion change and challenge all of us to think.
    Ryan Hanley, is an Independent Agent with the Gilderland Agency in Albany, NY.
    Just two short years ago Ryan started his insurance career and at the same time started [...]

  • CAA Producer Development Program: A Partnership Experience

    The Texas-based agency network, Combined Insurance Agents of America, or CAA, began experimenting five years ago with a program to assist and train producers exclusively for the agency partners within CAA.
    In a recent conference call with Insurance Journal’s Stephanie K. Jones, CAA members discussed the evolution of what eventually became known as its producer [...]

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