Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition

How much money do you really need to start an independent insurance agency? In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, we break down the key financial considerations—licensing, technology, and insurance. With many agencies now operating remotely, startup expenses are lower than ever, but having enough capital to cover at least three to six months without income is critical. We explor...

In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, hosts Bill and Travis discuss who should start their own independent insurance agency. Whether you’re already in the property & casualty industry, in real estate, or a small business owner looking to partner with a producer to start an agency, there are several ways to get started. Tune in as our hosts dive into this recurring topic. 

In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, hosts Bill and Travis discuss the transition from personal lines to commercial lines, offering practical advice for agents looking to grow their expertise. They emphasize starting small with simpler accounts, building strong relationships with carriers, and leveraging training resources to develop the skills needed for success. 

In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, Travis and Bill dive into a common question for insurance professionals: should agents focus on personal lines or commercial lines? They discuss the importance of leveraging strengths, highlighting how personal lines often offer faster sales cycles and cash flow advantages, while commercial lines can bring complexity and long-term opportunit...

In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, Bill Mills is joined by Brandon Mills from SIA Group’s Employee Benefits team. Together, they discuss practical insurance solutions for agency owners, including group medical considerations under the Affordable Care Act, voluntary benefits like life and disability insurance, and innovative strategies like defined contribution plans. Brandon...

In this episode of the Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition podcast, Bill and Travis dive into the  dynamics of the insurance industry, focusing on the impact of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on independent agents. They discuss how industry disruptions create opportunities for talent recruitment, agency perpetuation, and client acquisition. Highlighting actionable insights, they encourage ind...

In this holiday-themed episode of the Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition podcast, Travis and Bill discuss a timely topic for independent insurance agencies: budgeting- with or without contingencies and profit sharing in mind. They explore considerations such as historical data, guarantees, and loss ratios, and offer practical advice while emphasizing the importance of planning ahead for growth....

In this episode, the focus shifts to the spirit of giving back during the holiday season by discussing the vital role insurance agencies play in supporting their communities. The conversation highlights how agencies can contribute not just financially but also by volunteering their time or setting up community drives. The discussion emphasizes the importance of aligning your contribution with your...

In this episode, we discuss the essential process of agency planning for the upcoming year, building on the concept of carrier planning from a recent episode. We emphasize the importance of setting realistic goals to ensure the owner sets their year up to be as successful as possible. The conversation covers balancing new business growth with retention efforts, as well as the need for specific and...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Matt Littlejohn, a seasoned insurance professional with over 20 years of experience. In this episode, we dive into the process of carrier appointments, including how agencies can stand out to carriers and guidance for succeeding in the insurance industry. Matt shares valuable advice for agents looking to grow, build meaningful carrier relationships, and...

As the insurance landscape shifts, planning with carriers becomes more critical than ever.  In this episode, Bill and Travis discuss how agents and agencies can align with carrier strategies to thrive in 2025. From adapting to understanding what the carriers are looking for when planning with insurance agencies, we unpack the tools and tactics needed to stay ahead. Tune in to gain practical insigh...

In this episode, Whitney Oliver discusses the importance of building strong relationships with insurance carriers to help new network members secure carrier access and appointments, a key value for members. Whitney emphasizes the need for understanding carrier appetites and adapting to market conditions, highlighting the weekly Carrier Corner sessions and annual meetings as vital networking opport...

In this episode, the hosts highlight the unique role of AccessPlus, which is designed to help agents grow and move towards direct carrier contracts. AccessPlus enables members to build strong relationships and demonstrate their value to carriers, giving agents access to competitive carrier options and helping them establish a compelling value proposition. Particularly valuable in hard markets, Acc...

In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, we welcome back Stefani Butschle to address a common question for agency owners: how do I classify internal staff correctly? Stefani and Bill break down the distinctions between salaried and hourly employees, diving into why the choice between these two can impact an agency’s operations and financial responsibilities. They also clarify the d...

In this episode, Bill and Travis tackle a common question in the insurance world: How do I get direct codes from carriers? They discuss basic approaches for agents, like contacting carriers directly, and the benefits of the Access Plus program, which helps streamline the process. The hosts emphasize the importance of focusing on the right carrier partnerships, cautioning against taking on too many...

In this episode, Bill and Travis tackle one of the most common questions they receive: Do I own my book of business? Take a listen as they dive deep into the nuances of ownership in the insurance industry. The conversation covers the motivations behind why agents and producers ask this question, the challenges they face, and what it truly means to own a book of business. They also touch on the gro...

We’re excited to introduce Whitney Oliver, our Agency Partner Growth Coach,  who will guide us through the essentials of starting and running your own agency. In this episode, we tackle key questions like: How do I get started? What do I need to run my agency effectively? Whitney shares her 17 years of experience and explains our Agency Foundation Program, which supports new members in setting up...

 In this episode, we explore why agency owners, captive agents, producers, and entrepreneurs are turning to agency partnerships. Market challenges and industry shifts are pushing professionals to seek growth, ownership, and diversification. We discuss how captive agents are looking for more options and ownership, and how producers are navigating changes in compensation and equity. Entrepreneurs ar...

In this episode, Bill and Travis tackle one of the most frequently asked questions: "If it’s so great, why doesn’t everyone do it?" They break down the barriers, from costs to ROI, offering clear and valid reasons behind their approach. Tune in as they explore the challenges and give insight into why their strategy hasn’t gained widespread traction—yet. Thinking about starting your own i...

In this episode, Bill and Stefani Butschle discuss what it means to be a 1099 employee and a W-2 employee, and the differences between the two. Listen as they talk through and "decode" the IRS expectations for employers regarding each type of employee, as well as what penalties are involved if employees are misclassified. Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not su...

In this episode, Bill and Travis discuss the major differences between independent and captive agencies. Take a listen as they talk about location, technology and commission differences! Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as...

In this episode, Bill and Travis discuss what contingency is, who can get it, and the significant impact it can make regarding your agency's success. Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tri...

Short, sweet and to the point as the saying goes! In this episode, Travis and Bill discuss the top three questions a potential agency partner should ask before signing on the dotted line of any agreement. Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy...

Meet Andy Neary! In this episode, Andy and Travis talk about the upcoming 2024 Annual Owners' Meeting, and what Andy has in store for those in attendance. Listen as Andy discusses how he went from pitching baseballs for the Milwaukee Brewers to helping others pitch their business successfully to clientele!  Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? T...

In this episode, Bill and Travis talk about our upcoming 2024 Annual Owners' Meeting in Durham, NC, and why the Annual Meeting is important. Take a listen as they discuss past meetings, as well as who the special keynote speaker is for the Annual Meeting this September. Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This the podcast for you! Have your own...