Success during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) doesn't begin on October 15—it begins with the preparation you do months in advance.

In this episode, Natalie and David discuss the essential steps every Medicare agent should be taking right now to prepare for a successful 2027 AEP. From certifications and carrier appointments to client retention strategies and market disruptions, this conversation is packed with practical advice that can help agents avoid costly mistakes and maximize opportunities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why certifications alone don't mean you're Ready to Sell
• How to verify appointments, licenses, and carrier status before AEP
• The biggest market changes agents should anticipate in 2027
• How the Inflation Reduction Act continues to reshape Medicare Advantage and Part D plans
• Why provider network changes and plan terminations could create new opportunities
• Portfolio strategies that help agents stay competitive
• Proven retention techniques to protect your existing book of business
• What you can—and cannot—discuss with clients before October 1
• Practical ways to fill your AEP calendar before enrollment even begins

Whether you're a new Medicare agent or a seasoned professional, this episode will help you enter AEP with greater confidence, stronger preparation, and a clear action plan.

Preparation isn't just part of AEP—it is the competitive advantage that separates successful agents from everyone else.

In this episode, TLC Insurance Group Owner Craig Villwock and Dr. David Mullane share practical strategies to help Medicare agents grow through referral marketing and retirement-focused conversations.

Learn how to:• Generate more Medicare leads• Build partnerships with wealth advisors and tax professionals• Introduce IRA and 401(k) conversations compliantly• Protect and expand your book of business

If you’re a Medicare agent looking to increase referrals, revenue, and long-term client retention, this episode gives you clear, actionable steps to start today.

Subscribe for more insights on Medicare sales, insurance marketing, and agency growth.

In this episode, Dr. Dave strips away the buzzwords and hype to get back to the heart of what marketing truly is—and what it is not. Far beyond ads, algorithms, and lead funnels, marketing is about connection, service, trust, and long-term relationships.

Dr. Dave defines marketing through a practical and philosophical lens, sharing why great marketing starts with understanding people.

This episode will challenge how you think about marketing—and equip you with a more sustainable, purpose-driven approach.

Join Natalie and Dave for a recap and key takeaways from the 2025 Annual Enrollment Period including a discussion on the market at large and some of the intervening carrier changes we dealt with. The episode concludes with some useful expectations and strategies to prepare for a successful 2026 Medicare season.

Join TLC Owner, Craig Villwock, and Dr. David Mullane, Director of Strategic Partnership, for an introduction to TLC. Craig shares about TLC's history, philosophy, and some of the ways that TLC is different in the crowed field of FMO/NMAs. In this episode, we begin to answer the simple question: Why TLC?

Interested in learning more about partnering with TLC as an affiliate agent or agency?

Send us an email at [email protected] and a member of our team will schedule a time to have a conversation with you.