IA Forward
The Independent Insurance Agency Playbook: The insurance business is all about playing an infinite game. Shane and Tonya discuss how to play the long-term game of being a successful agent and creating a culture of freedom for yourself.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 25 minutes
- Episodes
- 282
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Do You Have Customers or Clients? And What Is The Difference?
Shane and Tonya discuss the difference between customers and clients, if the client experience should be customized, and how that affects the long-term success of your agency.
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Setting Goals and Looking Ahead to 2023
Shane and Tonya talk about looking ahead to 2023 and setting personal and professional goals to achieve success for your agency.
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Reflecting Back On Your Year In Business
Shane and Tonya discuss specific KPI's for an end of the year review of both your insurance agency and yourself as an agency owner.
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Getting Everything Done During The Holiday Season
From family commitments to eating too many Christmas goodies, planning for the new year to holiday events, this is the season for trying to cram too much stuff into our days. Shane and Tonya discuss …
Is The Customer Always Right?
In the insurance business, we know the customer is not always right. Shane and Tonya talk about how to handle the Karens and Kevins as agency owner, from retail customers to referral partners.
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People Are Insane And How This Affects The Insurance Industry
Shane and Tonya discuss auto insurance rate increases, listening to listen instead of automatically assuming it's a problem to fix, and overthinking how much people think about insurance.
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Using Holiday Gifts To Get Your Agency Noticed & Lessons Learned from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Shane and Tonya discuss unique holiday gift ideas that make your agency stand out, as well as employee Christmas bonuses and parties.
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Budgeting and Branding During the Holiday Season
The holiday months can cause a strain on your agency's budget due to lower sales and charitable donations. Shane and Tonya discuss how to turn those challenges into growth opportunities to set yours…
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday
It's Thanksgiving week, which means lots of holiday marketing opportunities. Shane and Tonya discuss ways for your agency to be involved with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and…
Let's Talk Commercial Lines with Bryan Modisette
Shane and Tonya discuss tips and tricks for selling commercial insurance with Commercial Lines Specialist, Bryan Modisette.
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Looking at Insurance Through A Military Lens with Jon Marc Whittington
Shane and Tonya talk with military veteran and new agent Jon Marc Whittington on what the insurance business looks like through his lens.
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Do Clothes Really Make the Man (or Woman)?
Shane and Tonya discuss dressing for success beyond clothes, and talk about the best ways to present your agency with texting, email, and business phone numbers. Are you Team Blue Jeans & Boots or Te…
Start With Why - Then Get to What
Shane and Tonya discuss going beyond "start with why" and getting to "what," long-term visualization, and outsourcing to-do items in both your professional and personal lives.
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Work Life Balance and the "Day in the Life of a Twitter Employee" Video
Shane and Tonya discuss work - life balance expectations for an independent agency owner, and how that compares with the "Day in the Life of a Twitter Employee" video. Spoiler alert: Shane is NOT i…
Why Small Business Commercial Lines Should Be The Next Step in Growing Your Agency
Shane and Tonya discuss the who, what, when, where, and especially the why of adding small business commercial lines to your agency.
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Accolades, Awards, Letters Behind Your Name, and the Forbes Business Council
Shane and Tonya discuss if accolades and memberships are important to growing your business and if educational letters behind your name are meaningful to your customers.
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Independent versus Captive / Exclusive - Who Wins?
Shane and Tonya discuss the pros and cons of joining the independent channel versus the exclusive / captive channel.
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Earning Professional Respect as a Risk Manager
Shane and Tonya discuss why independent insurance agents deserve the same respect as attorneys, physicians, and CPAs, and what we can do to develop that as risk managers.
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Your Agency Is Not a DIY Project
Do you really need an attorney, a CPA, a banker, and an insurance agent? Shane and Tonya discuss the professionals that you need for long-term success, why DIY is not a great idea, and that yes, you …
Adopting a Championship Mindset as an Agency Owner
Shane and Tonya discuss what it means to be a "winner" in your agency and why adopting a championship mindset is key to success.
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