The Insurance Guys podcast is dedicated to agents by agents. Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers discuss all aspects of becoming an insurance agent and give real life examples of their experiences in all aspects of hiring, sales and the day-to-day reality of running your own successful insurance agency.
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In this insightful episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers sit down with Kasey D’Amato to explore how emotional intelligence (EQ) is becoming a game-changing leadership skill in the insurance industry. Rather than focusing solely on traditional sales tactics, this conversation dives deep into building scalable businesses, leading with emotional intelligence, navigating difficult conversations, and creating high-performing, trust-based team cultures. Whether you’re...
Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Ty Robben, a seasoned casualty insurance expert with roots at Great American and Palomar Specialty, for a warm and insightful conversation that mixes engaging personal stories with forward thinking industry analysis. Ty shares his memorable White House internship blunder of spilling toner across the East Wing carpet and his love for Pepperdine's stunning Pacific overlook campus before the group explores the current state of the casualty market, including ...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys podcast, host Scott Howell is joined by Kabir Syed and Bradley Flowers to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the insurance industry. They discuss AI's impact on agency management systems, workflow automation, and evolving employee roles. Through real-world examples, the guests highlight efficiency gains while cautioning against blind reliance on automation. They advise agencies to embrace AI tools proactively, maintain data ownership, and foste...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Anshu Jain and Vishal Sankhla, co-founders of Outmarket AI . Drawing on their experience at Meta, Uber, and IBM, the duo built an AI platform helping insurance agents analyze policies, compare quotes, and appeal claim denials. Scott and Bradley share real-world success stories from using the tool in their agencies. The founders also announce a $17 million Series A funding round. The episode highlights h...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers dive into the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in the insurance industry, joined by recurring guest CJ Hutsenpiller. The trio discuss how AI, specifically tools like Claude and ChatGPT, are transforming agency operations, from streamlining workflows to integrating with agency management systems. They highlight tangible use cases such as automating prospecting, remarketing analysis, and calculating true cost...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys podcast, host Scott Howell and co-host Bradley Flowers sit down with Kevin Panter, a 37-year insurance industry veteran and president of Kevin Panter Insurance. Kevin shares insights on transitioning from captive to independent agencies, emphasizing ethics and proper preparation. He discusses building community involvement as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, growing his agency network SNA, and mentoring his children entering the business. Kevin offers advice...
In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Max from Novella to discuss trends and challenges in the insurance industry. The conversation covers wholesaler processes, the evolving role of brokers, and the impact of technology and surplus lines on the market. Max shares insights from his time at Lemonade and his journey founding Novella. The episode features industry anecdotes, including a humorous story about Bradley dropping his visitor badge in...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, host Scott Howell is joined by Kelly and Bradley Flowers for a lively discussion on the shifting insurance market and effective account manager compensation. The group explores strategies for navigating a soft market, emphasizes the importance of client retention, and shares insights on agency leadership, training, and culture.. The episode blends practical advice with humor and candid reflections on the realities of running a successful insurance a...
In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, host Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers interview Hunter Nelson, who started his own insurance agency at just 18. He shares his unconventional journey, from door-knocking for leads in high school to specializing in trucking insurance. The discussion covers challenges of being a young agent, fraud prevention, strategic hiring, and the importance of grit and continual learning. Bradley and Scott swap stories about client service, underwriting, and manag...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers sit down with Mick Hunt, visionary business leader and host of the Mick Unplugged podcast, to discuss how insurance agencies can leverage technology and AI to modernize, streamline operations, and stay competitive. The conversation dives deep into building custom tools, rethinking traditional agency management systems, and why usage-based pricing is changing the insurtech landscape. Mick shares insights from high-pro...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Chris Huebner, 2025 Agent of the Year, to discuss innovative strategies for building referral partnerships in insurance. They share insights on moving beyond traditional marketing, leveraging social media, hosting educational events, and creating personalized client experiences. The conversation highlights the power of thoughtful, individualized gestures over generic gifts, and offers practical tips for agent...
Scott Howell, Bradley Flowers, and Michael Weaver delve into the transformative power of Agency Coach AI for insurance agents. They discuss how AI-powered sales coaching provides instant feedback, realistic role-play simulations, and in-depth call analysis, moving beyond traditional, often awkward, training methods. The conversation highlights AI's ability to identify common sales deficiencies, optimize agent performance, and streamline agency management, all while emphasizing a user-centric, contract-free business model.
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers are joined by marketing expert Chris Langille to discuss the realities of AI, ChatGPT, and digital marketing for insurance agents. Blending humor with practical advice, they debunk common myths about AI-driven search, highlight the continued importance of Google and social media, and share actionable strategies for building an effective online presence. The conversation also covers generational shifts in search...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, host Scott Howell and guest Corey Fischer, General Manager for Agency Distribution at Progressive Insurance, discuss Progressive’s approach to balancing direct and agency channels, insurance pricing, and leveraging technology like telematics and AI. Joined by Bradley Flowers and another contributor, they explore market trends, agency partnerships, and Progressive’s efforts to innovate in auto and property insurance. The conversation highlights the i...
In this episode, hosts Bradley Flowers and Scott Howell interview Stacy Korsgaden, candidate for California Insurance Commissioner. The discussion explores the challenges facing California’s insurance market, including overregulation, limited carrier options, and the strained FAIR Plan. Stacy shares her industry experience and outlines her plans to attract new insurers, embrace innovation, and improve consumer education and disaster response. The conversation highlights the importance of informe...
In this live episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers engage with the Young Agents of IIAG. They discuss pressing challenges such as legislative changes, tort reform, and market dynamics, with insights from guest John Barbour. The conversation covers the impact of litigation, coalition-building for political influence, and recent legal reforms in Georgia. The hosts blend humor, personal stories, and expert advice, encouraging agents to stay informed, proactiv...
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Sam Louwrens, a young and refreshingly candid commercial insurance producer, for a lively discussion on the future of insurance, especially how to make it more appealing to Gen Z. Bradley Flowers kicks things off with a passionate rant about common misconceptions and bad advice that frustrate agency owners in online forums. The trio then explores why insurance is often misunderstood and underappreciated, tack...
In this episode, Bradley and Scott sit down with Will Hall from Game Point Capital, an agency that is playing a unique role in college sports during the NIL era.
In this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers sit down with legendary agent Von Mueller, who shares his expertise on selling life insurance, annuities, and health policies at a remarkable volume, all while working just eight months a year. Von Mueller dives deep into the power of asking thoughtful, engaging questions as a tool to generate appointments and build genuine client relationships, stressing that listening and genuine interest are far more effecti...
Scott and Bradley host Matthew Vega-Sanz, CEO of Gail, to discuss the evolution of AI in insurance. Matthew shares his journey from a car-sharing app to building Lula, an insurtech company, and now Gail, an AI platform designed for insurance and financial services. The discussion highlights why purpose-built AI like Gail is crucial for agencies, contrasting its accuracy and data privacy features with generic AI tools. They cover practical applications such as voice-powered AI agents handling calls and the "Gail GPT" for secure, industry-specific knowledge, demonstrating how these tools enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and offer superior customer support, emphasizing the importance of adopting technology securely.
On this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome the always insightful and entertaining David Carothers. The trio dives into practical strategies for insurance agents, focusing on personal and agency branding, leveraging technology for efficiency, and the importance of sticking to your lane within specialized markets. David Carothers shares the story behind his new sales book, co-authored with his son, offering daily sales wisdom and a forthcoming podcast e...
This episode features Becca Rubenfeld of Anchor Watch, who explains various crypto theft methods, from physical hardware wallet attacks to sophisticated phishing and SIM swapping. She details how Anchor Watch provides secure custody and insurance, including new Kidnap & Ransom policies for crypto owners. The discussion also explores the challenges of recovering stolen Bitcoin and the impact of institutional money on its market dynamics, offering crucial insights for insurance agents.
On this episode, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Shelby Tirado and Chris Huebener from Brightway Insurance in Jacksonville, FL. The crew explores the agency’s impressive operations, including a high-volume new business model that writes about $1 million in new premium each month and has a network of over 600 referral partners. Shelby Tirado and Chris Huebener share insights from their restaurant industry backgrounds that translate into insurance success, such as multitasking, energy, an...
This episode features David Watson, founder of Risk Advisor, discussing how his AI-powered platform standardizes and streamlines personal lines quoting for independent agents. The conversation covers Risk Advisor's Underwriting AI, its cost-effectiveness, and future sales AI capabilities, alongside candid insights into industry challenges like data vendors and tech development misconceptions. Listeners will gain actionable advice on boosting profitability and modernizing their agencies.
On this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers sit down with Jeff Wingate, President at Rate Insurance, for a deep dive into the realities of building a top 100 insurance agency through organic growth—not mergers and acquisitions. Jeff Wingate shares Rate’s journey from relying almost entirely on mortgage-generated leads to creating a scalable, tech-driven, virtual organization sourcing business nationwide. The conversation uncovers the advantages and chall...
On this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome master storyteller and branding expert Neal Foard. Drawing from decades of shaping global brands like Toyota and Budweiser, Neil Ford shares practical insights on how storytelling can transform an insurance business, elevate client relationships, and create long-lasting impressions. The conversation covers why human connection and authenticity matter more than ever in today’s AI- and automation-driven world, ...
Scott Howell and Jason Cass engage in a lively discussion on technology, compliance, and agency growth within the insurance industry. They explore practical tech solutions, novel automation strategies, and the importance of routing tasks effectively, with Jason sharing details about his "logic routing engine" manual and the upcoming IndieTech conference. The hosts also candidly debate the use and risks of AI, compliance concerns, and even conduct a surprise live tasting of homemade wine. This episode offers actionable tech advice, compliance insights, and genuine camaraderie for insurance professionals.
In this insightful episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome financial expert Carey Wallace to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of insurance agency M&A, valuations, and agency growth strategy. The hosts share some laughs and personal stories before diving into critical topics for agency owners, why understanding your agency’s financials and EBITDA is essential, whether or not you’re planning to sell. Carey Wallace explains how agency valuations are mu...
On this episode, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers dive into the realities of agency growth, retention, and sales strategies amid shifting market conditions. The conversation covers personal anecdotes from industry events, the challenges of lead management, and the impact of agency expenses versus revenue. They candidly discuss solutions for “stuck in neutral” growth, including refining win-back processes, maximizing outbound lead potential, and the importance of focusing on sales activities. Lis...
