In this episode the Mayor, interviews his new friend Caleb Burkey, and experiences a light bulb moment!  We really hope you do as well. This one is a game changer on so many levels. If you want to actually understand Parametric Insurance AND get to eaves drop on a great conversation, press play now. This one is a good one.

Sponsors:

Smart Choice Insurance 
Canopy Connect
Olde School Marketing

Replay Episode !!

This week In Insurance Town the Mayor sits down with his good friend Becky Monfre, VP of Digital Accounts at Coterie Insurance. Becky Monfre, joins us in Insurance via the Vertafore Insurance Podcast. to talk about how Coterie is making small commercial Insurance easier. She has been in the industry her entire career and understands the value of speed and efficiency for commercial insurance.  As the head of digital distribution, she loves helping agents to embed small commercial insurance capabilities on their website. Becky and the Mayor talk about everything from Raising Kids to Growing small commercial insurance and even get into some Hot takes along the way... 

Sponsors:
Smart Choice
Canopy Connect 
Olde School Marketing 

In this weeks episode, the mayor sits down with his good friend Tinsley English to discuss her latest book titled Grit, Growth & Gumption. But this episode is way beyond that we discuss being a leader in this service industry. We discuss the challenges, the customer service, reps face, the challenges that managers face.

We also discuss accepting God’s calling in your life no matter how difficult that might be, or scary that might be. This episode is a really really good one. 

I couldn’t do this show without my amazing sponsors 

Smart Choice – the fastest growing agency network hands-down. With over 10,000 agencies across the country, trusting them and over 11 billion written premium

Canopy connect – you’re one click solution to getting the deck pages you need to quote your prospects

Olde school marketing -the new school approach to an old-school way of marketing

In this episode of The Insurance Town Podcast, host Heath Shearon sits down with Teresa Kitchens, a dynamic agency owner and podcaster, to explore her remarkable journey of resilience, leadership, and transformation both personally and professionally.

Key Highlights:

• Facing and Overcoming Adversity: Teresa shares deeply personal experiences, including her children's mental health struggles and navigating divorce, while balancing business challenges. These life-altering events shaped her leadership philosophy and the structure of her agency.
• Virtual Agency Model: As a pioneer of virtual operations, Teresa discusses the motivations behind creating a remote-friendly business and the positive impact it’s had on her team and culture.
• Leadership and Team Development: Insights into fostering a collaborative and accountable team culture, where members are supported through challenges and empowered to lead.
• Personal Growth and Mindset Shifts: How self-reflection, books like John Acuff's Start, and introspection allowed Teresa to transform her fears into stepping stones for growth.
• Blended Family Dynamics: A candid look into the ups and downs of second marriages and blended families, with lessons on communication, compromise, and perseverance.
• Building Strong Client Relationships: Teresa emphasizes the importance of humanizing client interactions, understanding their struggles, and aligning business operations with empathy.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Our fears were creating everything we didn’t want, but acknowledging them allowed us to grow beyond them.”
• “As a leader, you must give your team space to heal and grow. Honor their journey—it strengthens the entire organization.”

I love interiewing other podcasters its so fun, Listen to her podcast, Power Women in Insurance, where she uplifts voices and stories of women in the insurance industry.

Sponsors: A big thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

• Smart Choice: Looking for a great partner to help grow your agency? Check out Smart Choice for all your agency needs.
• Canopy Connect: Want to simplify the way you collect client information? Visit UseCanopy.com/heath to see how Canopy Connect can help streamline your agency’s processes.
• Olde School Marketing: For all your marketing and promotional needs, Olde School Marketing has you covered. Reach out today to level up your marketing game!

In this episode of The Insurance Town Podcast, host Heath Shearon welcomes back a beloved guest, Tolga Tezel, CEO of Canopy Connect. Together, they dive deep into how Canopy Connect is transforming the insurance industry with its innovative "one-stop intake platform." From simplifying customer interactions to delivering enriched data, Canopy Connect is helping agents and agencies save time, improve client engagement, and ultimately win more business.

Tolga shares the journey of Canopy Connect, highlighting significant updates over the past year, including their expansion into customizable forms, third-party data integration, and advanced tracking for leads. He also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, storytelling, and client feedback in building a successful company. With practical insights for both startups and seasoned agencies, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their insurance game.

Key Takeaways:

• Evolution of Canopy Connect: From a tool for retrieving deck pages to a comprehensive insurance intake platform that integrates directly into agency workflows.
• Customizable Solutions: Agencies can now create tailored forms for specific niches, making the client onboarding process seamless and efficient.
• Integration with Third-Party Data: Access to drivers’ licenses, property data, and more, eliminating the need for tedious manual entry.
• Tracking Wins and Losses: New tools allow agencies to analyze their lead conversions and follow up effectively.
• Focus on Fundamentals: Tolga’s key lesson from the past five years is to stay customer-focused, iterate quickly, and keep processes simple.

Quotable Moments:

• “Never fall in love with your solution; fall in love with the problem.” – Tolga Tezel
• “This platform meets consumers on their terms, whether it’s uploading documents, connecting accounts, or filling out forms.” – Tolga Tezel
• “Canopy Connect saves agents hours by turning 30 to 45 minutes of data entry into just seconds.” – Heath Shearon

Sponsor Shoutouts:

A big thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

• Smart Choice: Looking for a great partner to help grow your agency? Check out Smart Choice for all your agency needs.
• Canopy Connect: Want to simplify the way you collect client information? Visit UseCanopy.com/heath to see how Canopy Connect can help streamline your agency’s processes.
• Olde School Marketing: For all your marketing and promotional needs, Olde School Marketing has you covered. Reach out today to level up your marketing game!

Episode Title: Unlocking Hidden Value in Life Insurance Policies with Rob Haynie

In this episode of the Insurance Town Podcast, host Heath Shearon sits down with Rob Haynie, Managing Director and co-owner of Life Insurance Settlements, Inc. Rob shares his fascinating journey into the life settlements industry, starting in the early 1990s, and offers insights into how life insurance policies can provide unexpected financial benefits.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Origin of Life Settlements: Rob recounts how viatical settlements began as a way to help terminally ill patients use their policies for medical expenses and evolved into the life settlements market we know today.
• The Power of Education: With billions of dollars in death benefits lapsing each year, Rob emphasizes the importance of educating policyholders about alternatives like life settlements.
• The Mechanics of Life Settlements: Learn how life settlements work, who the buyers are, and how these transactions provide policyholders with cash that can significantly exceed surrender values.
• Creative Uses for Settlement Proceeds: Rob shares heartwarming stories of clients using settlements to create lasting memories or fund retirement and healthcare needs.
• The Role of Advisors: The episode discusses how insurance agents, financial planners, and estate attorneys can help clients explore life settlement options, ensuring they make informed decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Life settlements can provide seniors with financial freedom, enabling them to fund long-term care, pay off debt, or support family members.
• Rob’s mantra, “Putting life back into life insurance,” highlights the potential to use life insurance for more than just a death benefit.
• Whether you’re a policyholder or an advisor, asking questions and exploring options is critical to making the best financial decisions.

About Rob Haynie:
Rob is a veteran in the life settlements industry and has served on the board of the Life Insurance Settlement Association for over 20 years. He recently received a prestigious leadership award for his contributions to the field.

Sponsors:
A big thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

• Smart Choice: Looking for a great partner to help grow your agency? Check out Smart Choice for all your agency needs.
• Canopy Connect: Want to simplify the way you collect client information? Visit UseCanopy.com/heath to see how Canopy Connect can help streamline your agency’s processes.
• Olde School Marketing: For all your marketing and promotional needs, Olde School Marketing has you covered. Reach out today to level up your marketing game!

In this weeks episode the Mayor sits down with his good friend, David Vercillo. David Vercillo works as an agent at The Fedeli Group, a large family owned insurance agency in Cleveland Ohio.  The Fedeli Group specializes in providing quality insurance products and high-level risk management services. As a former sales coach with the Pacesetter program.  Heath and David break down what made the Pacesetters program so successful and what it takes to become a successful producer in todays market.
Sponsors:
A big shoutout to our amazing sponsors for making this episode possible:

• Smart Choice: Your go-to partner for independent insurance agents.
• Canopy Connect: The easiest way to gather insurance data directly from clients.
• Olde School Marketing: Helping agencies stand out with custom branding and marketing solutions.

In this weeks episode of Insurance Town I had the honor and privilege of interviewing my good friend and Brother from another mother Brian Thompson of Descartes Underwriters. We talk about all things Parametric Insurance. I have to admit I've been in this industry a long time and I've also had the privilege of interviewing a lot of insurance professionals, but I had not one clue about parametric insurance, Until now!!

Brian is so good at breaking this down for me, and for you the audience, I am so thankful he stopped by and hung out with me for a little bit. We laughed and learned alot today!

Sponsors:
A big shoutout to our amazing sponsors for making this episode possible:

• Smart Choice: Your go-to partner for independent insurance agents.
• Canopy Connect: The easiest way to gather insurance data directly from clients.
• Olde School Marketing: Helping agencies stand out with custom branding and marketing solutions.

Join the Mayor of Insurance Town, Heath Shearon, as he sits down with Jacob Bolton to dive deep into his fascinating journey from aspiring professional athlete to a prominent figure in the insure-tech world. Jacob shares his experiences, insights, and lessons learned from his time in collegiate baseball, how he transitioned into the insurance industry, and his passion for technology's role in modernizing agencies.

Key Highlights:

• Jacob’s Backstory: From his time at Eastern Michigan University as a baseball player to navigating career shifts after injuries derailed his pro-sports aspirations.
• Parallels Between Sports and Insurance: How lessons like overcoming adversity, staying organized, and dealing with failure shaped Jacob’s approach to work in the insurance industry.
• Tech Talk: Jacob’s perspective on the transformative power of insure-tech tools like CRMs, automation, and AI in helping agencies thrive.
• Debunking Myths About Technology: Why tech isn’t replacing agents—it’s enhancing their capabilities.
• Sales Wisdom: Jacob shares his “detachment from the outcome” sales philosophy, inspired by Josh Braun, and how it helps build trust and lasting relationships with clients.
• Emerging Trends in AI: Jacob’s take on tools like Lavender, ChatGPT, and the future role of AI in streamlining processes, from client communication to task automation.

Quotable Moments:
🗨️ "You don’t find yourself getting into insurance, but once you’re in, you fall in love with the process of growth and overcoming challenges." – Jacob Bolton
🗨️ "The key to thriving in sales is staying curious and detaching from the need to close every deal." – Jacob Bolton

Sponsors:
A big shoutout to our amazing sponsors for making this episode possible:

• Smart Choice: Your go-to partner for independent insurance agents.
• Canopy Connect: The easiest way to gather insurance data directly from clients.
• Olde School Marketing: Helping agencies stand out with custom branding and marketing solutions.

Resources Mentioned:

• AgencyZoom: A CRM tool empowering agencies with customizable automation.
• Lavender: An AI tool enhancing email communication by simplifying language and boosting response rates.
• Josh Braun's Sales Strategies: Sales insights and tactics for modern professionals.

In this episode of the Insurance Town Podcast, Mayor Heath Shearon sits down with Mike Mathweg, and they discuss how he "lucked" into becoming a Multi-millionaire through hard work and mergers and acquisitions. Whether you’re considering selling your agency, growing through acquisition, or simply curious about the dynamics of agency sales, this episode delivers the goods.

Episode Highlights:

Mike kicks off by sharing his early career journey, from an internship at Northwestern Mutual to stints in banking and back to the insurance industry. His story showcases the twists and turns that can lead to discovering your true professional passion. Mike talks about the sell of his agency,  offering a behind-the-scenes look at how these deals are structured. He breaks down the key factors agency owners should consider before making the leap, including valuation, timing, and buyer compatibility. Heath and Mike discuss the importance of building strong relationships during the M&A process. Mike emphasizes how trust and transparency between buyers and sellers can make or break a deal.
Preparing for Sale: Mike shares actionable advice for agency owners to maximize their agency’s value, including cleaning up financials, developing strong processes, and showcasing growth potential. The conversation takes a big-picture turn as Mike discusses trends in the insurance market and how M&A activity is shaping the future landscape.
Key Takeaways:

Plan Ahead: Mike outlines why a well-prepared agency is more attractive to buyers and how owners can start planning years in advance for a successful sale.
Understand Your Value: He explains what factors most influence an agency’s valuation and how to position your business for top-dollar offers.
Know Your Buyer: Not all buyers are created equal—Mike highlights the importance of finding the right fit, whether it’s a private equity firm, aggregator, or local competitor.
Train your kids up right: he talks about the lessons he is teaching his kids and the next generation about building your own generational wealth.

Episode Quote:
"Selling an agency isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about finding a partner who aligns with your values and vision for the future." – Mike Mathweg

Sponsors:
A big thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible!

• Smart Choice: Looking for a great partner to help grow your agency? Check out Smart Choice for all your agency needs.
• Canopy Connect: Want to simplify the way you collect client information? Visit UseCanopy.com/heath to see how Canopy Connect can help streamline your agency’s processes.
• Olde School Marketing: For all your marketing and promotional needs, Olde School Marketing has you covered. Reach out today to level up your marketing game!