In 2026, the insurance industry is noisier than ever, AI is changing the landscape, and buyers are deeply entrenched in a "trust recession." The traditional sales cycle of hammering suspects with activity and throwing spreadsheet quotes at the wall is officially dead.

In this solo episode, I break down exactly how the insurance sales cycle has evolved and what you must do to adapt. We discuss why you have to build awareness long before you ask for an appointment, the psychology of making your proposal a mere "afterthought," and why gatekeeping your expertise is costing you deals. I also share a real-world case study of an elite producer who won a $15,000 revenue account purely because of a single, authentic LinkedIn post. If you want to leave the transactional world behind and step into the era of the Industry Expert, this episode is your blueprint.

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Timestamped Outline

(00:00) Welcome Back: Evolving Your Sales Strategy for the Modern Market

(01:28) The Four Headwinds of 2026: More Producers, Longer Cycles, AI, and the "Trust Recession"

(04:36) The Traditional Sales Cycle: Why the "Hammer and Quote" Playbook is Broken

(06:54) The Modern Sales Cycle: Why You Must Build Awareness Before You Pitch

(08:44) The Power of the "Slow Burn": Using Content and Speaking to Open Massive Doors

(10:32) Why Your Final Proposal Should Just Be an Afterthought

(13:35) The Danger of Gatekeeping: Why You Must Give Your Best Stuff Away for Free

(14:36) The $15,000 LinkedIn Post: A Case Study in Winning the Absent Decision-Maker

(19:11) Stop Buying from Logos: Why Buyers Only Buy from People

(20:51) Transitioning from Transactional Broker to True Industry Expert

(21:49) Building Your Brand: How Our Half-Day Workshops and Expert Program Scale Growth

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

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Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

Most independent agency owners look at a private equity acquisition as the ultimate finish line. They assume that getting bought by a massive national broker will instantly solve their back-office problems, open up new markets, and fund their ride into the sunset. But here is the harsh reality of the M&A space today: if you don’t read the fine print, your dream deal can quickly turn into an absolute nightmare.

My guest, John Lipton, a 30-year veteran property and casualty advisor, joins me to share one of the most unique agency trajectories you will ever hear. John built a scratch agency by hand, sold 50% of it under an accumulation structure that no longer exists today, bought the entire entity back, and turned around to sell it again 24 hours later. We break down the absolute madness of his early career trading currencies on a French bank floor during structural market collapses, why P&C is fundamentally a need-based consultative process rather than a transactional hard sale, and why agency owners must watch their peripheral vision to protect their commissions from post-acquisition contract changes. John also shares his experience as an expert witness in broker defense and how seeing egregious gaps in coverage shapes how he teaches his own team.

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Timestamped Outline

(00:00) From the Trading Floor to the Finish Line: Introducing John Lipton

(01:26) Forex Trading in the 90s: Fast Markets, Big Losses, and Structural Stress

(04:05) Sitting in the Seat When the French Franc Collapsed

(05:01) Job Security Over Burnout: How the Advent of the Euro Shifted the Market

(06:02) The Family Gateway: Moving from Wholesale to a Retail Scratch Agency

(08:42) Legacy Over Leverage: The Fortitude Required to Build a Firm from Nothing

(10:21) Selling a Need: Why P&C Brokers Have an Advantage Over Life Insurance

(13:47) Complex Products for Unexperienced Clients: Becoming an Educator

(16:39) The Low Barrier to Entry: When Theory Fails Reality in Broker Training

(18:15) Access to Markets: Why Back-Office Support Makes Acquisitions Attractive

(21:03) The 50/50 Deal: How John Protected His Agency Expenses from Board Overreach

(23:24) Cleaning up Shop: The Low-Price Buyback That Epic and Capacity Didn't See Coming

(25:50) The 24-Hour Flip: Buying Your Business Back and Selling It the Next Day

(27:51) Don't Start with the Finish Line: Why Building for an Earn-out Fails

(31:47) Tadpoles in the Ocean: The Risk of Small Agencies Merging Into Mega Firms

(35:52) Expert Witness Work: Leveraging Broker Defense to Identify Coverage Gaps

(38:52) John’s Lightning Round: Panera Coffee Sip Club, Over-40 Lacrosse, and the Ironman 70.3

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

Most sales managers will tell you that the only way to write seven figures in new business is to follow a rigid, uncompromising metrics plan—100 dials a week, three meetings a day, come hell or high water. But what if the secret to elite production isn't a strict script, but rather what we call "opportunistic chaos"?

My guest, Thomas Cox, Vice President at Lockton, joins me to share how he broke records by generating $1.7 million in new business in a single year using an unconventional approach to prospecting. Thomas walks us through his background - from playing college basketball when he wasn't cut out for it, to enduring Navy SEAL boot camp, to making the high-stakes jump from carrier rep to broker. We discuss how to drop your ego to learn a new industry, why your physical and mental health dictates your "commission breath," and how to master the art of being "always around, but never in the way." If you are feeling completely drained by your current sales routine, this episode is a breath of fresh air.

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) Intro

(01:26) The Accidental Walk-On: Riding the Bench as a 6'4" Center in LA

(03:17) 29 Days in Boot Camp: The Navy SEAL Dream and an Earth-Shattering Injury

(04:40) The Airport Encounter: How a MetLife Executive Launched Thomas into Insurance

(08:12) Shifting Territories: Climbing the Corporate Ladder at MetLife, Aetna, and Guardian

(10:08) Burn the Ships: Making the Unconventional Leap from Carrier Rep to Broker

(12:21) The Reality Check: Why Your Golf Buddies Shouldn't Be Your First Prospects

(14:56) Dropping the Ego: Sitting Next to Account Teams to Learn the Watch is Made

(18:19) Breaking Records: Writing $1.7 Million in New Business In One Year

(20:30) Reversing the Drain: Moving from Hated Cadences to Relationship Networking

(23:52) The Health Journey: How Physical Wellness Eliminates Your "Commission Breath"

(26:42) Outcomes vs. Tactics: Managing a Calendar Without a Rigid Activity Plan

(28:36) Opportunistic Chaos: Blocking Time to Go Ballistic on Messaging

(31:37) What Separates Mentally Tough Producers from the Rest of the Field

(35:58) Thomas’s Lightning Round: Whoop Data, Tonal Lifting, and Singing the National Anthem at a Royals Game

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

Most insurance producers spend their entire careers trying to fit in. They use the same scripts, wear the same suits, and pitch the same spreadsheets. But here is the hard truth: if you look like everybody else, you will be overlooked. In a crowded market, people pay a premium for scarcity.

In this solo episode, I share my personal journey from being a "fat kid" in Size Husky jeans to a pro baseball player and, ultimately, a founder. I break down the mental trap of how the fear of judgment, comparison, and failure kills more insurance books than the competition ever could. We discuss the 20-60-20 Rule of prospect psychology, the four pillars of the Brand Authority Blueprint, and why elite producers measure themselves against the best version of themselves rather than their peers. 

If you’re ready to leave the masses behind and recreate the future of your career, this episode is your wake-up call.

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) Growing Up as the "Chunky Kid" in the 80s

(01:14) The Enemy: The Annual Presidential Fitness Test and the Fear of Judgment

(02:20) Standing Out: How Baseball Turned Me into a One-of-One Athlete

(03:08) The Mental Trap: How the "Fat Kid" Came Back During Pro Ball

(03:47) The Clear Message: If You Look Like Everyone Else, You Will Be Overlooked

(04:22) Scarcity Wins: Why People Pay a Premium for the Unique Advisor

(05:49) Why We Are Afraid: Overcoming the Fear of Standing Out

(06:16) The 20-60-20 Rule: Winning the Undecided 60% of Your Market

(08:01) Stop People-Pleasing the 20%: Why You Shouldn't Fear Sharing Your "Good Stuff"

(09:34) The Brand Authority Blueprint: Four Pillars to Becoming a One-of-One

(11:09) Traits of the Elite: Why One-of-Ones Invest in Themselves and Crave Feedback

(12:34) Lions Don’t Compare Themselves To Donkeys

(13:27) The Usain Bolt Standard: Chasing Personal Records, Not World Records

(14:35) Recreating the Future: Following the Footsteps of Gates, Jobs, and Huang

(15:50) The Challenge: Four Questions to Rewrite Your Professional Future

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

In the insurance industry, we often celebrate the "Hero”, the lone-wolf producer who closes the big deal and saves the day. But if you want to build a truly scalable agency, you have to stop being the hero and start being the Hero Maker.

My guest, Dan Wellik, Vice President at TRICOR, joins me to discuss his journey from pitching on the mound and coaching in the Cape Cod League to leading sales teams in the insurance world. Dan shares a unique perspective on the industry, having navigated the trajectory from a boutique independent agency to global powerhouses like AssuredPartners and Gallagher, before choosing to return to a large regional independent. We discuss why preparation is the only cure for sales anxiety, how to recruit producers with a "scout’s eye" for talent, and why helping new producers find a niche immediately is the fastest way to 10X their growth. Whether you are a "washed-up pitcher" or a sales leader looking to scale, this episode is packed with leadership gold.

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) Two Washed-Up Pitchers: Baseball, Control, and the Mound

(03:45) JUCO Ball and Adversity: How Junior College Shapes Work Ethic

(08:12) Pitching vs. Sales: Why Preparation is the Only Way to Handle Pressure

(11:30) Coaching at the Cape Cod League: Managing Elite Talent and Imposter Syndrome

(16:50) The Pivot to Insurance: Transitioning from Selling a Program to Selling Risk

(21:15) Boutique to Global to Regional: Navigating the Phases of Agency Acquisition

(25:30) Impact and Autonomy: Why Dan Chose the TRICOR Leadership Model

(29:45) Scouting Producers: What a Sales Leader Looks for in New Talent

(32:20) Starter to Reliever: Adjusting Your Skill Set When Moving into Leadership

(35:10) Heroes vs. Hero Makers: The Mindset Shift of Great Sales Leaders

(38:50) Recruiting Advice: Transparency, Creativity, and Direct Involvement

(42:15) Dan’s Lightning Round: 3 Kids, Strength Training, and Predictable Success

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

In the insurance industry, we have spent decades teaching employers to be passive buyers of their own risk. We hand them a spreadsheet, they pick the "best" number, and we all wonder why costs continue to spiral out of control. If you want to actually move the needle for your clients, you have to transform them from passive observers into active participants in their healthcare financing.

My guest, Phil Holowka, CEO of Complete Captive Management Services, joins me to discuss why the current "garden variety" group captive model is starting to grow stagnant. Drawing on his unique background as a paramedic, Phil explains how he diagnoses the "broken heart" of the stop-loss market. We break down the launch of his new venture, Synergix Re - a "captive for captives" designed to wrestle control back from admitted carriers. We also discuss why insolvent captives are a looming tidal wave for the industry and why your "North Star" should always be execution over revenue.

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) Generational Talent in Pittsburgh: Pirates, Pitching, and Insurance

(02:10) Emergency Medicine to Health Insurance: A Paramedic’s Perspective

(04:50) Diagnosing a Cardiac Episode vs. a Broken Health Plan

(06:40) 2005: When the 401(k) Conversation Turned to Healthcare Slaughter

(08:30) Transformational Financing: Moving from Passive to Active Buying

(12:15) The Predatory Side of Captive Solicitation: Selling a Solution, Not a Strategy

(14:50) Protecting the Integrity of the Domicile: Why Picky Captives Survive

(17:30) Enter Synergix Re: Solving the "Captive for Captives" Problem

(21:10) The Layer Cake: Understanding Retentions and Fronting Carriers

(24:45) Keeping the Money: How Underwriting Profits Return to the Policyholders

(28:20) Aligning Interests: Why Management Fees Should Come Down as You Grow

(32:40) Phil’s Lightning Round: Shower Zen, Running, and Avoiding the Noise

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

In a commoditized industry, most insurance producers rely on their technical knowledge to win deals. But knowledge is no longer the differentiator - energy, conviction, and a hyper-specialized niche are. If you are still trying to be a generalist "lone wolf," you are capping your growth and leaving your clients at risk.

My guests, Stephen Gingrich and Brandon Ernstes of Houchens Insurance Group, join me to discuss how their team-selling model has allowed them to write 10 times the business they did as individuals. We break down the "Starting Five" philosophy of agency growth, why young producers should never rely on relationships to win, and how niching down into the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) market transformed them from "just another broker" into sought-after industry experts. We also discuss the power of building a brand on LinkedIn and why Brandon, a former skeptic, is now an inbound lead believer.

▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) Sharing a Mic: Live from a Conference in Milwaukee

(01:15) From Life Insurance to Benefits: Stephen’s Design for Impact

(03:10) The Science Experiment: Brandon’s Path from Coal Mines to Insurance

(05:12) The "Starting Five": Why You Need Different Skill Sets to Team Sell

(08:15) Dropping the Ego: Taking a Short-Term Pay Cut for Long-Term Scale

(11:00) Value Over Age: How Young Producers Win in the C-Suite

(14:20) Energy is 80% of the Sale: Why Technical Knowledge Isn't Enough

(17:35) The ESOP Niche: Why Ownership-Minded Companies are the Ideal Clients

(21:45) Verticalization: Getting Young Producers Up to Speed 100% Faster

(25:10) The Skeptic’s Journey: From Content Doubt to Inbound Success

(29:30) Why You Must Act Like a News Channel for Your Prospects

(33:45) Major and Minor: The Blueprint for Scaling New Producers

(37:20) Rapid Fire: 4:30 AM Routines, F45 Workouts, and 10X is Easier than 2X

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

Most insurance producers walk into a meeting and immediately start talking about policies, endorsements, and premiums. But if you want to win a multi-million dollar account, you have to stop selling insurance and start managing risk.

My guest, Corey Hillery, known to many as "The Work Comp Guy", joins me to discuss how he uses workers' compensation as a powerful "wedge" to win entire books of business. We break down why introverts often gain more credibility faster than extroverts, how Corey built his career on the "dying art" of cold calling, and why workers' comp is actually a financial management tool rather than an insurance product. Corey also gets vulnerable about his personal journey, discussing how extreme challenges like personal loss and depression have shaped him into a more empathetic and human advisor. If you want to elevate your sales game by being authentically yourself, this is the episode for you.

▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call

completegameu.com/aga

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

Most insurance producers are terrified of splitting their commissions, fearing it will cut their income in half. But what if teaming up with a partner, one who fills your gaps and shares your vision, actually allowed you to double or triple your book of business?

My guests, Chris Bowling and Chris Bayer (famously known as CB Squared), now with Gallagher, join me to share their blueprint for success. Since merging their books four years ago, they have generated over $3.5 million in new revenue. We discuss the high-stakes decision to take a short-term pay cut for long-term scale, how to differentiate yourself through a personal brand when your agency logo keeps changing through acquisitions, and why relentless follow-up is the only thing that turns LinkedIn awareness into signed AORs. If you want to stop being a "lone wolf" and start building an elite practice, this episode is a must-watch.

▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) CB Squared: $3.5 Million in New Revenue Through Team Selling 

(02:08) Why Team Sell? Overcoming Egos and Mentor Transitions 

(04:49) The "Step Back to Leap Forward": Confidence in the Merger 

(07:43) Managing 90+ Clients: The Capacity Limit of the Lone Wolf 

(10:27) Surviving Acquisition: Maintaining a Brand from Molyneaux to Gallagher 

(13:36) Why Buyers Hire the Advisor, Not the Agency Logo 

(16:21) The Relentless Follow-Up: Content Builds Awareness, Follow-Up Builds Revenue 

(21:24) Planning the Year: How to Script 52 Weeks of Relevant Content 

(24:06) "Bottom Line Thursday": Turning Industry Updates into Thought Leadership 

(28:08) Repositioning Your Network: Moving from Industry Peers to Ideal Buyers 

(32:31) Outsourcing Your Weakness: The Role of Support Teams in Content Consistency 

(35:55) Rapid Fire Round: Cold Plunges vs. Bird Watching

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/

The medical stop-loss market is in trouble. With industry-wide loss ratios running dangerously high, several major reinsurance carriers have recently decided to exit the market entirely. If you are an advisor putting small, 25-life groups into self-funded plans, you need to understand the extreme volatility you are exposing them to.

My guest, Mehb Khoja, the newly appointed COO of BCS, joins me to discuss the current state of the stop-loss and reinsurance markets. We break down why the stop-loss model is breaking under current loss ratios, why self-funding isn't always the right answer for smaller employers, and how BCS is strategically using ancillary and voluntary benefits as a form of medical cost containment. We also discuss his journey from pension actuary to C-Suite executive and why introverts can make some of the best salespeople in the industry.

▶▶ Sign Up For Your Free Discovery Call

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KEY MOMENTS

(00:00) From Pension Actuary to Insurance COO

(01:54) Why Introverts Make Excellent Salespeople and Advisors 

(04:54) The Destiny Health Story: Selling Early Wellness Programs in the Mid-2000s 

(09:07) Who is BCS? The Hidden Carrier Behind the Blue Cross Blue Shield Networks 

(12:00) The Stop-Loss Crisis: Why Major Carriers Like Swiss Re Are Exiting the Market 

(15:02) The Danger of Small Group Self-Funding: Why 25 Lives Might Be Too Volatile 

(19:15) Integrating Ancillary Benefits as a Medical Cost Containment Strategy 

(23:25) Transition from Chief Growth Officer to Chief Operating Officer 

(25:47) Lightning Round: 5 AM Workouts, Cold Plunges, and Peter Thiel

CONNECT WITH ANDY NEARY

📲 Schedule a free discovery call:

completegameu.com/aga

Subscribe and listen to the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales Podcast 🎙 here:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andy-neary7 🎯 

Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube 🎥:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqBg5tL_1G1tf7Wo98tMgg

💬 Join the Complete Game text community:

Text the word BROKER to 414-622-1462

Connect with Andy Neary on social media: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyneary/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_neary/