Microsoft's Godfather of insurance services shares valuable insight about why independent agents aren't going anywhere

Bill Hartnett was an Agency Princiapl and PIA Rhode Island board member, but while on the Board of Directors at ACORD in 1994 he met with some people from Microsoft that wanted to understand the insurance industry better. He told them "If you ever get serious about this, why don't you give me a call? Maybe I'll come help you." They took him up on that offer and for 18 years Bill Hartnett was 'Mr. Insurance' at Microsoft before returning to ACORD as the Head of Innovation. Now Bill is the President of Hartnett Advisors, where he provides strategic advice on the transformational power of technology in business. Bill and Michael have an absolutely fascinating discussion covering everything from what it was like working with Bill Gates to why he believes the independent insurance channel isn't going anywhere, and the role technology can play in helping independent agents & brokers thrive in a world of direct insurance sales.

What are other agents & brokers doing to thrive? What are the biggest trends affecting the retail insurance agent & broker? What are the most important strategies and tactics you need to grow faster?  Find out here in the Connected Insurance Podcast, where Michael Jans discusses the biggest issues affecting the independent insurance agent and broker with the industries leading figures.