This end-of-year episode of Agency Nation Radio is brought to you by the editors of Independent Agent magazine. Will Jones, editor-in-chief, hosts the discussion and is joined by Olivia Overman, content editor, and AnneMarie McPherson Spears, news editor.

Together, they look back at 2025 and highlight the biggest stories that shaped the insurance industry and the independent agency channel. From market predictions and homeowners coverage challenges to cybersecurity breaches, tax reform and government shutdowns, they revisit the headlines that captured your attention and impacted your business. Plus, the editors share insights on what these trends mean for independent agents moving forward.

“We’ve talked a lot throughout the year about increased [artificial intelligence] usage and the benefits it brings,” Spears says. “But we’re also starting to see some concerns from agents and customers as more of the risks of AI begin to play out.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Kelley Carter, president of Choice Insurance Agency, Member of Choice Financial Group in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Carter kicked off her career by working for several years in agency marketing roles, helping her understand how marketing strategy is essential to accelerating agency growth. In October, she was appointed division president of Choice Insurance Agency, where she is focused on sustaining and expanding its position as one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the country.

“We’re growing so fast and we have so many new growth opportunities within Choice”, Carter says. “We’re building an amazing company and group of people all working towards a common goal.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Carter was also featured in the December issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online.

https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/12/01/declaration-of-independents-kelley-carter/

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, host Nathan Riedel, Big “I” senior vice president of federal government affairs, is joined by Jeff Beck, senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs at Selective Insurance, and John Barbour, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia.

Together, they dive into legal system abuse and its impact on insurers and policyholders. They also unpack the key reforms passed in Georgia earlier this year, how they came about and the insights they offer for other states and the federal government moving forward.

“Commercial lines, personal lines, every line is being impacted by the legal system abuse,” Beck says.

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Dallas Ross, agent at Timmco Insurance.

Like many others, Ross was born into the insurance industry and always knew the industry was where she belonged. Right out of college, she landed a job in insurance sales, but after two years, she discovered her true passion wasn’t selling—it was serving clients, supporting them, and fostering long-term relationships.

That realization led her to transition into an account manager role, where she continued to grow her expertise before joining Timmco Insurance in 2021.

Meanwhile, Ross’ involvement with Big I Oregon began when her father took her to Big “I” events. Years later, she was elected to the Big I Oregon board of directors in March 2018 and was elected president in January 2025. She also chaired the organization’s Next Gen group from 2018 to 2019.

Despite her busy schedule, she still manages to maintain a healthy work-life balance that suits her and her family.

“I schedule things that I look forward to, which can help me get through those busy periods—whether it’s a dinner with friends or maybe a vacation,” Ross says. “Making time for things I look forward to helps me avoid burnout.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Ross was also featured in the November issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online.

https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/11/01/declaration-of-independents-dallas-ross/

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the fourth and final episode in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup.

Host Colby Royal Tunick, founder and CEO of Refocus AI in San Diego, California, is joined by Patrick McBride, owner of The McBride Agency in Dixon, Illinois. Together, they dive into how AI is transforming everyday agency operations and how to optimize it effectively.

They explore the streamlining workflows and enhancing client experience to find the right balance between automation and the human touch.

Learn more about ACT.

https://www.independentagent.com/agency-management/technology/

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Recorded live from Applied Net 2025 in Las Vegas, this special edition of Agency Nation Radio features insights from the industry’s biggest event.

On this episode, Will Jones, editor-in-chief of Independent Agent magazine, talks with Carrie Poindexter, senior director of agency operations and Jonathan Somich, director of communications at GEICO, about attending Applied Net for the very first time.

Also, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk, talks with Richard Hartley, co-founder and CEO of Cytora, about Applied Systems’ acquisition of the company and how AI can help the industry reclaim time to reinvest in both work and life.

Then, Kasey Connors, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT), sits down with Brenna Johnson, vice president of product management at EZLynx, to discuss innovations that make life easier for users.

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Marianne Policastro-Wik, owner of Insurance Associates of Central CT in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Raised in Hartford, Connecticut—once known as the insurance capital of the world—Policastro-Wik found the industry to be a natural fit. But it was her passion for helping others that truly defined her path. With a foundation in social work and a trajectory into senior leadership, she has built a career grounded in relationships and strategic insight.

Today, she leads her agency—recognized as a 2025 Best Practices Agency—through a thoughtful modernization effort, embracing technology while preserving the personal connections that define their success.

“Technology should strengthen our relationships, not replace them,” she says. “That’s the balance.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Policastro-Wik was also featured in the October issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online.

https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/10/01/declaration-of-independents-marianne-policastro-wik/

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the third in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup. 

Host Kasey Connors, executive director of ACT, is joined by Jake Holehouse, owner of HH Insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Dale Steinke, director, Agent for the Future Advisors at Liberty Mutual.

The discussion dives into the realities of implementing AI tools in an agency—how to start small, gain team buy-in and integrate AI into existing workflows. Holehouse shares first-hand lessons from introducing AI across his agency, while Dale offers research-backed insights on adoption, policies and measuring impact.

Together, they highlight how agencies can overcome fear, avoid missteps and use AI to free up staff for higher-value client work.

Learn more about ACT.

https://www.independentagent.com/agency-management/technology/

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk is joined by Lee Gaudette, president of Gaudette Insurance, and his son, Peter Gaudette, commercial insurance advisor at Gaudette Insurance, and Keith Mangini, Vice President and Commercial Team Leader at InsurBanc.

They explore father-son work dynamics, succession planning in family agencies, and the aspirations that drive the next generation forward. The conversation also offers practical tips for family-owned agencies preparing to change ownership.

“Succession isn’t just about passing down a business,” Mangini says. “It’s setting up that next generation for success. As a lender, I can help build that financial bridge, but the real success comes from the family being aligned on the vision and how they're going to move forward in the future.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the second in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup.

Host Kevin Wheeler, Eastern advisory manager at Angela Adams Consulting, is joined by Michelle O’Connor, president of O’Connor Insurance Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kimberly Fox, commercial lines account executive at O’Connor Insurance Associates. Together, they unpack what agents should know when working with AI vendors.

They share real-world lessons from implementing an AI phone assistant, covering must-haves like transparency and customer support, red flags and how to measure return on investment (ROI). The conversation also explores the importance of involving your team, asking the right questions and ensuring new tech fits your agency’s workflows.

Listeners will walk away with practical tips to evaluate vendors and avoid costly missteps as they explore AI.

Learn more about ACT.

https://www.independentagent.com/agency-management/technology/

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.