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When people set out to change the game, and we happen to know them very well, we always have to have a chat. This one is no exception. In this episode of the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent Podcast, we spoke with Raghav Tanna, the founder of Tarmika. You guys know we are all about time management, but this company is changing the game. They have created a commercial lines rating platform that brings the quoting process down from HOURS to MINUTES. That is no joke and this is no gimmick. Tarmika is the real deal and gives your agency back hours you didn’t even know it had. How? Well, you’ll just have to listen along and find out.

Inflation is everywhere. No one is immune, not even independent insurance agents. So, when customers call in mad because their rates went up, we have to be ready to have that conversation. In this episode of the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent Podcast, Kelly walks us through a step-by-step guide on exactly how to have that conversation. When you listen to this one, share it with your team because if you haven’t gotten a call about this yet, you will soon.

Let’s go over every time management tip from Week 3 (tip 9-12) of unleashing all of our best pointers for agents out there. If you’ve missed our previous ones, go check those out.   #9. Client Tiers We are actually asking you to choose clients that are more valuable/important and place them at a higher priority (and give them the best service).   #10. Time Blocking Everyone feels like they don’t have enough time and if that’s you, choose an amount of time to take down some tasks and then tell everyone to leave you alone in that time to do them.   #11. Self-Care You have to put your mask on before you can ever really help anyone else.    #12. Using Management Systems It feels silly to say, but just in case you weren’t aware, writing down notes and tasks on paper is aggressively trying to replace your management system with something less organized/useful.    In this mash-up, we cover: Client Tiers Time Blocking Self-Care Using Management Systems   Try out these time management tips and let us know what you think!

Let’s cover week TWO of our time management tips!   #1. The Word Busy We hate this word. Busy does not equal productivity and it’s all about mindset. If you think you have no room for anything else, you will make that true.   #2. Notepads You might not think you need to, but you do indeed need to break up with notepads.    #3. Payments You think that 10 minutes is nothing, but if you have a percentage of your book coming into pay with cash, you are losing a lot of time.    #4. Remarketing You have to get over your fear of talking about rates. Use annual reviews to remarket, but don’t jump back into that to avoid a conversation about rates.    In this video, we cover: Word Busy Notepads Payment Remarketing   You have to give these a shot before you cast them out completely. Check out our posts next week for even more time management tips.

Here are our first four time management tips:   #1. Eat the Frog.  Get past the hard thing first and ride that momentum wave for the rest of your day.   #2. The 2 Minute Rule If it takes less than two minutes, document it, and then simply get it over with. If it takes MORE than two minutes, document it, make a task of it, and do it later.    #3. Lottery At Lunch You have to go and we get it, but what do you leave behind? Can you walk away from your desk while the customer experience remains the same? You have to document EVERYTHING.   #4. Break Up With Duplicate Work If you use a notepad or even quote sheets, you have to write it again in the system and you ARE wasting time.    Try out some of these time management tips and let us know what you think.   In this video, we cover: Eat the Frog 2 Minute Rule Win the Lottery at Lunch Break Up with the Duplicate Work

Let's wrap this week up and talk about how you can embrace role-playing in your insurance agency.   Start by understanding the why. Why are you doing this? It's not to torture you but to refine you and your tools while in the trenches with customers.   Come into the exercise prepared. Know your process and your product. Don't wing it and make a joke out of it.   And don't judge it. If you have not given role-playing a real shot, you don't know. And no, it's not like the real thing, it's actually harder. You have to set your ego aside and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.   And you have to learn how to listen to feedback objectively.   You'll see your business transform when you embrace role-playing in your insurance agency.   In this video, we cover: Understand the Why Come Prepared Don’t Judge Listen Objectively To Feedback

Whether you work in this industry or you own your own insurance agency, this conversation has something for you.    Our financial situations are very personal to us, but one thing we can all probably agree on is that we’d like to make more money. And insurance can be very lucrative, that is… when done right.    That’s why we needed to talk to Ro and Don Polczynski from Agency CFO. They have developed this INCREDIBLE service that offers independent agencies a VIRTUAL CFO.   And providing that service means that they have seen a lot of agencies inner working and they have some thoughts.   So, today, they share with us the 5 most common mistakes agencies make today and how you can fix them TODAY.   Get that notepad out. You’re gonna need it.

When the pandemic set in, everyone had to make some changes–including us.   We took our two-year program from your office to the internet and it was a big change for us, but it seems to have paid off.    Laven Insurance Agency is a well-established agency that’s always done pretty well, but Brian and Linda Bernth wanted to do better.   The issue was they were burnt out on going to conventions and conferences and nothing lasting past the hype. Everything seemed great, but nothing was sustainable. So, they tried something else and it seems to have paid off for them, too.   Find out just how good things have gotten for their team, their agency, and for the owners themselves.    Imagine this: you can leave on vacation and not get one phone call. That’s right—not ONE! Get your virtual notepads and listen along. 

When bringing someone, anyone, into your agency it’s really important that you know how to interview potential hires for your insurance agency.   Start with a 15-30 minutes phone interview. Are they good on the phone? If Zoom is something your agency uses a lot, do that.    Then, have an in person interview. Make sure they are who they say they are. Try to establish what kind of team member they might be. Will they fit into your culture?   Finally, have the final interview. Be sure they are a sure thing. Get into the technical side of the position. A bad hire and the cost of one should motivate you to have this meeting no matter what.    On top of all of that, if you are bringing on producers or new leadership, you need to have a dinner meeting. Get to know their personality because that is extremely important in these positions. Is this someone you can trust with a chunk of your agency?   In this mash-up, we cover: Phone Interview In-Person Interview Final Interview Dinner Meeting   If you don’t want to be moving from one bad hire to another, you better know how to interview.

This week, we have been going on about how you create the ideal insurance job posting.    So, what’s the verdict? How do you do it?   Start by recognizing what you are creating and how similar it is to a dating ad. You want to leave people wanting more. Let them know what is possible with you, but don’t bog them down with the baggage.   Avoid common insurance job ad mistakes. Don’t make it a novel, but don’t skimp out on words. Don’t leave out details about what is expected of them in that position.    Generally, a great posting has 5 parts.  1) Solid Title  2) What you are looking for  3) Responsibilities  4) Your agency’s story  5) How to Apply   And finally, it needs a salary. Always and forever. You need to let people know what they can expect from YOU if they take this position.    In this video, we cover: Job Postings & Dating Ads Common Insurance Job Ad Mistakes Outline of A Great Job Posting Should You Add Salary to Your Job Posting?   This is how we think you can make the absolute best insurance job posting.

This week, we are looking at ways to get top talent on your insurance team. Hiring is hard, but it’s still possible to get your dream team.    You need to be forever recruiting. Don’t let your agency be caught off guard by a team member leaving.    Don’t be afraid to create new roles. You might not need another AM or producer. Maybe you need a marketing assistant or a social media specialist.    Also, don’t let underperformers take up space on the payroll that could be better used elsewhere. Give them a chance to correct their course, but if they cannot meet you where YOU stand, let them go.   Finally, create an intentional culture. It’s 2022. Culture is a very important aspect in getting top talent in your insurance agency. Don’t let that be the reason you can’t get your dream team.   In this video, we cover: Forever recruiting Create new roles Get rid of underperformers Create intentional culture   If you want top talent, our all new course How To Hire And Keep Top Talent In Your Agency is perfect for you. We're doing a launch special from 1.15 to 1.31 where you can buy the course for 50% OFF. Get it on 1.15 for $495 only!

Welcome to the FIRST podcast episode of 2022!   In this episode of the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent Podcast, we talk to the incredible Rick Morgan of WAHVE about this very sticky issue of hiring and keeping talent in this industry.   WAHVE (Work At Home Vintage Experts) recognized that this was an issue years ago. As baby boomers started to transition out of full-time work, the founders saw years and years of specialized experience simply leaving the insurance industry and the gap that would follow.    Now, they are like a dating service for agencies in need of solid, seasoned talent.    Listen along as Rick takes us through top hiring practices, ways to align remote work with what you need in person, and how to get the right remote talent for your business.

This week, we are looking at ways to get top talent on your insurance agency. Hiring is hard, but it’s still possible to get your dream team.    You need to be forever recruiting. Don’t let your agency be taken off guard by someone leaving.    Don’t be afraid to create new roles. You might not need another Am or producer. Maybe you need a marketing assistant or a social media specialist.    Also, don’t let underperformers take up space in payroll that could be better used elsewhere. Give them a chance to correct their course, but if they cannot meet you where YOU stand, let them go.   Finally, create an intentional culture. It’s basically 2022. Culture is a very important aspect in getting top talent in your insurance agency. Don’t let that be the reason you can’t get your dream team.

In this episode of the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent podcast, we speak to Carey Wallace about this exact issue. We find out how to know when to get evaluated. What do you need to ask when buying a book? Episode Highlights: Carey tells us about her interesting backstory. (2:13) Carey mentions that every agency should understand its worth and that every agency should have a plan. (4:10) Carey explains the essential set of questions you should ask as an agency owner when buying or selling a business. (15:22) Carey believes that the people at an agency are its heart and soul, and communicating at the right time is critical. (20:25) Carey believes that when there is good communication and respect in an agency, you can tell. Your clients can, too. (28:26) Carey explains that an agency's worth is determined by its profitability, expansion, and the certainty that it will continue to operate in perpetuity. (32:29) Carey explains that when interest rates and taxes rise, it will be something that agencies will be thinking about. (40:22) Carey mentions that a bad deal is far worse than no deal. So make sure you give yourself enough time to think about what is important to you. (44:23) Key Quotes: “One of the biggest mistakes is waiting until you are ready to transition, I think the best thing you can do is know your value all throughout the life of owning your agency.” - Carey Wallace “I entered this space to value agencies because there was a whole group of agencies that were underserved.” - Carey Wallace “A bad deal is far worse than no deal. So make sure you give yourself time to consider exactly what is important to you.”  - Carey Wallace Resources Mentioned:   Carey Wallace LinkedIn Agency Focus Kelly Donahue-Piro LinkedIn Agency Performance Partners

This week on the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent podcast, Kelly Donahue-Piro, and Heath Shearon have been talking right to insurance agency producers about mindset. You need to stop looking at the glass WITH water in it and saying it’s half empty. You’ll miss a lot of opportunities if you are convincing yourself that it’s not even out there. With that attitude, you don’t even have to look. Episode Highlights: Kelly explains the abundance mindset. (1:36) Kelly shares that one aspect of being a salesperson is that you must ride the tide but you can always bank on yourself. (2:01) Kelly differentiates between an abundant mindset and a scarcity mindset. (3:05) Kelly wants everyone to start thinking about mentality. (3:56) Kelly explains that a zero excuse environment means that no matter what happens, even if the tide changes, we will complete the task. (4:42) Excuses do not sell, according to Heath, and there will always be a reason for you not to do something. (6:31) Kelly talks about the most important questions to ask your producers. (9:50) Heath believes that the top producers he's seen put in the effort and time to succeed. (14:12) Kelly reveals that a new course on how to hire will be launched soon. (17:05) Key Quotes: “The first thing that I learned in sales was really about a mindset. And I know some people think mindsets kind of woo woo. But in all reality, it's a huge opportunity. And in my line of work, I see the abundance versus scarcity mindset all the time.” - Kelly Donahue-Piro “Sometimes it takes asking for help and being mentally strong, mentally tough, and not making those excuses that are so easy to make. I think we've got to stay focused, and have the right mindset so that we can get through our day” - Heath Shearon “Don't use time as an excuse and try to be as productive as possible. Work smarter, not harder.” - Heath Shearon Resources Mentioned:   Kelly Donahue-Piro LinkedIn Heath Shearon LinkedIn Agency Performance Partners

Reporting is a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent podcast, host Kelly Donahue-Piro talks to Todd Dailey with Premium Logic about how you can finally get the metrics you deserve!  Episode Highlights: Todd introduces himself and shares a bit of his background in insurance. (2:07) Todd explains the importance of using data to understand where you are and where you want to go. (6:34) Todd shares some of the usual data challenges a company encounters and what Premium Logic does to help them. (8:52) Todd explains that there is an abundance of data in today’s world. (11:18) Todd shares that Premium Logic works hard to ensure that clients can easily visualise their data. (18:46) Todd thinks that some agency management systems are attempting to make strides with data. (22:14) Todd tells us which agencies he thinks should be getting this type of service. (34:27) Todd agrees that some agencies are not data experts and that’s normal. (38:39) Todd tells us more about what Premium Logic does. (41:04) Key Quotes: "We don't have any shortage of data in today's world. It's just the opposite. Like, there's too much to make sense of, and that problem is only getting worse." - Todd Dailey "I like to say that if you can get the data out of your system into a spreadsheet, there's a good chance that we can help you out" - Todd Dailey "I grew up with a passion around small businesses and even small to medium sized businesses…that's really our mission is to be able to help them compete in this data driven world with a lot of those large multinational entities, or, or nationwide groups and brokers that are getting bigger and bigger.” Todd Dailey Resources Mentioned:   Todd Dailey LinkedIn Premium Logic Kelly Donahue-Piro LinkedIn Agency Performance Partners