UNBIND with Bindable

In this episode, we dive into how a modern MGA is using technology and agent-driven distribution models to reshape the insurance industry. Our guest, Bobby Touran, CEO & Founder of Rainbow, discusses how his company is driving smarter, more effective risk management in the food service and beauty and wellness sectors. He shares his experience integrating software development into insurance decision-making, with a particular focus on continuous underwriting that uses real-time data to dynamically assess and adjust risks.Packed with valuable insights on leveraging technology, enhancing agent partnerships, and navigating market shifts, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of insurance and innovative underwriting approaches.

Amid one of the toughest operating environments in recent years, alternative distribution strategies offer a creative way for insurers to attract customers and create value beyond traditional business practices while also remaining operationally efficient. But while the significance of alternative distribution is quite apparent, how does an organization begin to leverage these opportunities?

In this episode, we’ll review some of the alternative distribution strategies Bindable’s own clients and other product providers in the industry are using to meet customers where, when, and how they want to shop for coverage.

Insurance as we know it is changing from a stand-alone,

Today we’re joined by Principal Analyst, Insurance eBusiness and Channel Strategies at Forrester, Ellen Carney, whose research focuses on the technology decisions that financial services firms are investing in, including the integration of emerging technologies with legacy systems to drive better digital experiences and improved operational efficiency.

Our discussion will focus on the shifting expectations people have for insurance and how insurers, to keep up with the competition, must: reimagine processes, redesign business models, and recruit the next generation of talent to better leverage available and forthcoming technology and to meet evolving customer needs.

Insurance is an industry built on data – we need data points to

As the speed of business continues to pick up, it's time we shift our perspective on data from an ill-defined byproduct of doing business to recognizing it for what it truly is: a critical source of information that has the power to fuel innovation, foster differentiation, and propel growth.

Today, we're joined by Chad Lovell, SVP of Agency Optimization at Assurance IQ. A seasoned expert in data-driven optimization, Chad will be sharing his experiences in harnessing data for competitive advantages and improved customer experiences. Additionally, we'll delve into how Assurance's data-centric culture is positively influencing their business and its pivotal role in their success. The audience will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of data and how to leverage it as a strategic asset to remain competitive as our industry continues to rapidly evolve.

It’s no secret that embedding insurance offerings into an existing customer experience provides a great opportunity for generating new revenue and expanding customer relationships.

However, it’s not always easy to get started with an embedded insurance strategy, especially if you don’t have an insurance background. If you truly want to embark on a successful insurance program, you’ll have to approach it with the right mindset.

Today we’re joined by Zach Shefska, Founder, CEO, President of CarEdge. Founded in 2020, CarEdge makes buying, owning, and selling a car more efficient and fair for everyone involved. Zach himself is a self-made executive with a passion for advocacy, fairness, and empowerment in the auto industry. 

We’re excited to hear about what Zach and his team are working on at CarEdge, and how they’re innovatively thinking about insurance distribution as a means to complement their current offerings and to further empower their customers throughout the vehicle purchase and ownership experience.

Bindable's chief product officer, Risa Pecoraro, sat down with Charlie Sidoti, the executive director of InnSure, an industry-funded nonprofit focused on fostering innovation in insurance and risk management to learn how he and his team are leaning into the issue of climate change and aiming to solve it from an insurance perspective.

The competition for talent across all industries continues to heat up - and insurance is no exception. As insurance talent begins to “age out” of the workforce, organizations need to reconceptualize how they find talent. They need to find novel ways to appeal to newer generations who may not be proactively seeking careers in our space.

However, with the right mindset and dedication to nurturing young talent, insurance is well-poised to attract, develop and retain the right employees.

We are joined for this episode of UNBIND by Tim Roberts, VP of Workers Compensation Claims at Everest Insurance, where he is responsible for all aspects of workers compensation claims. Tim has more than 30 years of multi-line claim experience and 20 years of management experience.

Recently, Tim was nominated as a RISE Mentor of the Year at the 2022 Rising Insurance Star Executives (or RISE) Leadership Summit and Award Gala in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and shared invaluable experience with a room filled with young leaders and mentors who are paving the way for the next generation of insurance professionals.

Evolving customer expectations are accelerating the pace of change in insurance; old-school thinking won’t cut it in the digital age. It’s clear that the insurance organizations who have continued to invest in innovation to improve products, service, and delivery have an enormous competitive advantage in our hardening market.

One such innovative organization is GradGuard, who has been on the forefront of embedded insurance experiences for more than a decade…which is honestly probably longer than most of us have even been familiar with the term, “embedded insurance”!  

In this episode of UNBIND, host Jocelyn Getson is joined by John Fees, co-founder and managing director of GradGuard, which helps students and their families protect their college investments through tuition and renters insurance programs via embedded offers within the college enrollment process. Today, they are partnered with 500 universities nationwide and help serve nearly one million students and their families. Listen to hear John share his experience within the embedded space.

Digital transformation. Innovation. Elevated customer experiences. We’ve all heard it before - insurance can no longer prioritize the old way of doing things ahead of providing exceptional client experiences. But while everyone is talking about the “why,” it’s the “how” that often feels vague and aspirational versus. clear and actionable.

In his role as Managing Principal of Core Innovation at CSAA Insurance Group, Brian Gaab has led the implementation of new technologies and innovative risk transfer solutions for new and existing insurance products. Considering that CSAA Insurance Group has been serving AAA members for over 100 years, he is the perfect person to speak about innovating within a legacy carrier, one that not only remains relevant but is known for cutting edge products that leverage new technologies.

The push to innovate both insurance distribution and the consumer products themselves is really a global effort. And while in some cases, there is a regionality consideration where certain products are needed based on the exposure of that area or consumer preferences, ultimately there is so much to be learned by looking beyond the country you operate in and see how the rest of the world is tackling insurance innovation.

On this episode of UNBIND, we were joined by Dr. Robin Kiera, the founder of Digitalscouting, a global consulting company focused on supporting insurance professionals by scouting technology, products, and marketing trends around the world. Based in Germany, Dr. Kiera has had a bird’s eye view on the evolution of insurance and InsurTech across the globe for years. In fact, he is known for predicting very early the impact of Lemonade on the industry.

Dr. Kiera shares his insights into global insurance trends, focusing on the insurance customer experience, and sheds new light on opportunities for insurers to best reap the benefits of the InsurTech movement and ease the pain of customer acquisition.