Insurance Agents Talk Shop
Lively discussions with insurance agents and other insurance professionals regarding issues of the day, challenges experienced, successes enjoyed, innovations explored, and more. Join us to gain insights – unless you already have “all the answers”. Hosted by Doug Coombs, Chief Marketing Officer for SIAA – the largest network of independent insurance agencies in the United States.
Episodes
29 episodes
How's Your Website Really Doing?
You know your website speaks to your credibility as a business and insurance agency, so how frequently are you reviewing it to make sure it fits well in your strategy for lead generation and client service?Our guest for this episode, Jam...
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Episode 29
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33:08
Leveraging Tech to Elevate Agency Sales and Service
How familiar are you with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and Net Promoter Scores (NPS)?We're joined by Torey Maerz, Co-founder and CEO of ClientCircle by Rocket Referrals, who sheds some light on how important these syste...
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Episode 28
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35:00
Agency Interaction with Prospective Clients
With so much emphasis on technology these days, it’s easy to lose sight of our own personal interactions with prospective clients in the sales process.We're joined by Kelly Donahue-Piro, President at Agency Performance Partners (APP), wh...
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Episode 27
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35:08
Agency Management Systems – A Critical Component of Agency Operations
In today’s environment, the agency management system (AMS) has indeed become a critical component of agency operations. It’s time to get rid of, or at least reduce your reliance on, that paper filing cabinet. These days, an AMS can really help ...
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Episode 26
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31:30
Integrating Technology Into Agency Operations
Technology keeps advancing and improving, making it difficult to know when and what to choose for systems that will help insurance agency operations become more efficient. In this episode of IATS, we consider the systems most needed by, and ord...
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Episode 25
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30:53
Taking Stock
2023 was a challenging year for the insurance industry and insurance agents, to say the least. In this episode of IATS, Doug Coombs invites listeners to take stock of their current situation and discusses items to consider as we head into the n...
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Episode 24
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21:18
Improving Retention With Cross-Selling
In today's business landscape, keeping existing clients is crucial. Cross-selling, or offering your current clientele complementary products and services, is an important strategy that can significantly boost client retention. Dive with us into...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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32:19
Preparing to Sell Commercial Lines
Are you ready to master the art of selling commercial lines insurance? Join us as we dive into this complex sphere with guest, Jerry Thacker, Agency Growth Coach at AHA Insurance Network. In this episode, you will learn how agents c...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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35:08
Insights and Inspiration from IA Evolve 2023
Join us as we explore the insights and ideas that came to life at IAEvolve! In this episode, our guests, Brendan Mulcahy, Vice President of Technology and Innovation Partnerships at SIAA, Jillian Wolley, Marketing Manager, Partnerships at SIAA,...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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38:28
Maintaining Strong Carrier Connections: A Conversation with Jeff Bair
Get ready for a riveting journey into the world of insurance! We're ecstatic to have with us Jeff Bair, head of IA Marketing and National Accounts at Foremost Insurance, who shines a spotlight on the delicate dance between insurance agents and ...
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Episode 20
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33:35
Laying the Groundwork for a Powerful Digital Strategy
In the latest episode of Insurance Agents Talk Shop, host Doug Coombs and Cara Nagy Schoettes from Code & Color talk about why a solid online game plan is key today. They touch on must-haves like a good website, being social media savvy, an...
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Episode 19
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33:46
Paving the Way for Agency Transformation at IA Evolve
In this episode of Insurance Agents Talk Shop, host Doug Coombs is joined by Lisa Grover, Vice President of Marketing at SIAA, to discuss the upcoming IA Evolve 2023 conference. IA Evolve is a must-attend event for independent agents interested...
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Episode 18
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34:35
A Deep Dive Into Aggregators Clusters and Networks
In this episode of Insurance Agents Talk Shop, listeners are taken on a deep dive into the world of insurance aggregators, clusters, and networks. Don't miss this insightful conversation with Jack Calabrese, SIAA’s Senior Vice President of Nati...
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Episode 17
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30:56
What’s In A Brand - Part 2
In this episode, "What's in a Brand? Part 2," we delve into SIAA’s own rebranding journey. Our guest, Matt Masiello, the Chief Executive Officer of SIAA, shares valuable insights on why SIAA decided to embark on this rebranding process and what...
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Episode 16
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30:29
What’s In A Brand – Part 1
Join host Doug Coombs, Chief Marketing Officer at SIAA, in this episode of Insurance Agents Talk Shop as he and Josh Kelly, Managing Partner and Chief Strategist at FINE, A Brand Agency, discuss branding for independent insurance agencies. Lear...
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Episode 15
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33:46
The Future of SIAA – What it means for members, prospects and the insurance industry
SIAA entered into a definitive agreement with private equity firm Odyssey Investment Partners on March 26 for a majority stake in the company. Listen to our internally focused discussion with Matt Masiello, CEO of SIAA, to learn what comes next...
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Episode 14
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31:52
Applied Systems has Acquired EZLynx – What are the Implications?
Applied Systems and EZLynx entered into a definitive agreement on January 14, 2021. What does this deal mean in the long run? Hear what Taylor Rhodes, CEO of Applied Systems and Nag Rao, Founder and CEO of EZLynx have to say about the mer...
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Episode 13
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38:12
Bundling an Agency with Other Lines of Business
Grouping an insurance agency with related lines of business under one roof makes some sense in terms of rounding out relationships. Hear how this approach is working for Performance Group in Pendleton, IN. Agent Sean Kirby also gives us some in...
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Episode 12
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29:25
A Singular Focus – Success with Commercial Lines
Some agents shy away from commercial lines for a number of reasons – not John Roark and Michael Sutton of Roark | Sutton in Springfield, MO. These agency owners have succeeded by making commercial lines “what they do”. Their success is somethin...
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Episode 11
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42:59
Owning & Managing a Successful Independent Agency
Gain some insights from Miles Merwin of Greenville, South Carolina - a successful agency owner who started with very little, and built “nothing” into a successful $2MM agency in 8 years. What does it take to make that happen, and how does one s...
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Episode 10
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43:10
One Agency’s Path to Independence.
Join us as we check-in with the four co-owners of Firehouse Insurance in Mariemont, Ohio. Following-up on our last episode, these agents were previously captive agents and came together to form their own independent agency. Less than a year int...
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Episode 9
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40:36
Successfully Navigating from Captive Agency to Independent Agency.
Join us for a discussion with two independent agents who were previously captive agents. Why did they make the move and what did it take? At two different stages of independence (in terms of duration), did they take the same approach? Are their...
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Episode 8
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42:53
A Mobile App Makes Sense Now More Than Ever.
A mobile app isn’t necessary just because of the current pandemic. It’s a technology and branding tool that insurance agents should be implementing as a means for serving clients better in general. Join us as Tanner West, Application Developer ...
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Episode 7
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35:51
Agency Perspective on the Current Marketplace.
Two insurance agency owners, one in the east, one out west – experiencing success despite the events of 2020. Join us as Kelly Gonyo of Blue Line Insurance and Katie Auberlin of Suburban Family Insurance discuss the factors contributing to thei...
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Episode 6
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37:07
The Role of the Wholesale/Brokerage Firm in Insurance Agencies.
A discussion with Joel Cavaness, President of Risk Placement Services (RPS), demonstrates how a wholesaler or brokerage firm has a definite place in the operations of an insurance agency. Not all premium can or should be placed with conventiona...
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Episode 5
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32:33
