The Broker Link

It's been a very turbulent year in the insurance industry, are you ready for all the changes?  Do you have the tools necessary to thrive in AEP 2025?  The Brokerage Inc. is here to help guide you through. In this episode of The Broker Link, The Brokerage Inc.'s Executive Vice President, Josh Slattery and President Emeritus, Mike Smith break down all the information you will need to have a successf...

Have you ever considered selling travel insurance to your clients?  Travel insurance can be an essential part of your travel planning, especially for Medicare customers. In this episode of The Broker Link, we hear from Todd Taylor of GeoBlue, about the importance of travel insurance.  We also explore all of GeoBlue's travel insurance plans, why  your clients need it, and how it works, including pr...

How much do you keep up with Social Security?  Do you understand how it's calculated or even how it's even changed over the years? For the second year straight, The Brokerage Inc. hosted a special webinar with Social Security expert Jody Harris.  And today we are bringing all of that information to you. In this episode you will learn: Why you should coordinate your Social Security benefits with ot...

Insurance agents, have you ever thought you would like to build your own insurance agency? And if you just had the tools and knowledge you could do it.  Now you do! In this episode of The Broker Link, Regional Medicare Sales Director, David Ireland explains what it takes to start an agency, recruit agents, and grow it into a successful business.   How many years do you need as an agent?  Do you ne...

Are you thinking about expanding your insurance business?  Have you considered becoming a Registered Social Security Analyst or RSSA?  Insurance agents are overlooking this lead generation strategy.    In this episode of The Broker Link, we talk with Thomas Drapala, Registered Social Security Analyst's Director of Strategic Partnerships.  He dives into how agents can help their clients make the be...

Have you been thinking about getting into selling Medicare?  Or maybe you are a health and life insurance agent wanting to expand your portfolio.   This is a great time to get into Medicare sales and we want to help you get started. In this episode of The Broker Link Podcast, we go back to the basics of how to get started in Medicare sales.  One of The Brokerage Inc.'s Regional Sales Directors, Da...

It's that time of year again when people hit the roads to take to the skies for their annual vacation.  It's also a great time of year for agents to see if their clients need travel insurance.  Adding travel insurance to your portfolio is a great way to increase your cross-selling opportunities. In this replay of our travel insurance episode, Ronda Logan, the Director of Business Development with...

In the market for an FMO? Now is the time to start doing your research.   An FMO or Field Marketing Organization is an insurance marketing organization that is a third party between the agent and the insurance carrier.  The insurance carriers rely on these entities to support the agent at no charge to the independent broker.   In this episode of The Broker Link, Gillan breaks down the differences...

In business and life, you can learn a lot from the people who have experienced it before you.  At The Brokerage Inc., we have the honor and pleasure to have Cheryl Hopkin as our CEO.  Cheryl and her husband Ross started this company in the 1970s and over time it continues to be one of the premier FMOs (Field Marketing Organizations) in the country.   At a recent employee summit, Cheryl spoke with...

If you don't fully understand the new CMS Final Rule pertaining to FMOs you are not alone.  It's still a little unclear.  In this episode of The Broker Link, The Brokerage Inc. President Emeritus, Mike Smith talks with John Greene, Sr. Vice President of Government Affairs of NABIP (National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals). This discussion occurred at an event with insurance ag...

Agents, do you ever talk with your clients about Social Security?  If not you should start discussing their benefits and options when to take it.   In this episode of The Broker Link, Mike Smith, a newly appointed Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA) discusses what agents should know about Social Security.  He will also talk about the process of becoming an analyst. If you want to learn more...

Do you have any plans to help clients with Long Term Care?  It's a growing problem that could get even worse in the coming years. In this episode of The Broker Link, we sit down with Mike Smith, President Emeritus at The Brokerage Inc. to discuss this growing problem and how you can help with the solution. If you want to learn more about Long Term Care or any of the products at The Brokerage Inc.,...

As we continue our series on SEP Success, today we take a look at how to bundle some of your products. Health expert, Michelle McLaren explains the power of strategic bundling and how it can help you thrive in the off-season. Michelle tells us how to: Learn client-focused solutions Bundle packages Key practices for success in insurance sales  Explain a client's qualifications   Help clients dealin...

How can you maximize sales of ACA health insurance plans during Special Enrollment Periods?  In this episode of the Broker Link, we listen to a webinar hosted by Michelle McLaren, a Sales Specialist with The Brokerage Inc.     Michelle teaches us about qualifying life events, plan options, and affordability programs to boost your sales. She offers valuable tips and strategies for selling ACA plans...

The Brokerage Inc. ACA Health team is growing and expanding, gearing up for our best year yet!  In this episode of The Broker Link, you will meet our new Health National Sales Director, Mike Papuc who talks with John Ross Hopkin, our Director of Strategic Partnerships about all the exciting things going on in the ACA department. You will learn about: Our growth in other states Sales Techniques Cro...

NABIP held its annual Capitol Conference 2024 last week in Washington, DC to discuss topics and legislation affecting health insurance professionals.  The Brokerage Inc. has always supported NABIP and the Capitol Conference.  Mike Smith, our President Emeritus, and Josh Slattery, our Vice President, attended the conference to see what to expect in the upcoming year. NABIP is an organization that w...

Protecting your business from cyber threats is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your success.  Cybercriminals won't hesitate to infiltrate your online presence and do damage in the process.   If you are an insurance agent or agency, you should take a look at what CyberFin can do for you. In this episode of The Broker Link, Chris and Daniel from CyberFin run down all the poten...

Are you looking to give your Medicare Clients financial advice?  There are times when we want to help our clients beyond their insurance needs.  Now there is a partner you can share with your clients.  They are Retirable, a service providing your clients financial wellness benefits while growing your client relationships, retention and revenue. In this episode of The Broker Link, Gillan speaks wit...

Looking for something new and different to give this Valentine's Day?  What about protecting your family and loved ones with an insurance policy? February is Insure Your Love month and the perfect time for talking to your clients about protecting the ones they love.   In this episode of The Broker Link, Chris Newberry discusses all the way you can protect your family and how you can secure a polic...

Welcome back to The Broker Link podcast!  As we kick off our 4th season, we give you a look at what you can expect in this new season of the podcast. Our host and Director of Marketing and Communications, Gillan Boyer takes a deep dive into how we will break down our new season.  We have a lot of incredible podcast topics to share with you in the new season and you can expect all NEW content. We h...

If you are an insurance agent and live in the South, you have probably heard of Miguel Delgado of Elite Partners.  He is the founder and CEO of this very successful insurance agency.  But his insurance journey wasn't clear-cut nor an easy one.   In this episode of The Broker Link, we conclude our series on successful Agency Partners of The Brokerage Inc.  Miguel didn't start his career in insuranc...

If you are interested in growing your agency or starting one? Our Agency Owner Spotlight series is for you.  In this third installment of our agency spotlights, we meet Tom Mays and Travis Branch from Local Insurance Advisors. Very much like our previous owner episodes, Tom and Travis have a very unique story.  LIA is based in Oklahoma but has agents all across the country.  Their journey to succe...

The Brokerage Inc. could not do what we do without our agents and agency partners.  They are not only the lifeblood of The Brokerage Inc., but they are also our partners and friends.  We enjoy seeing our partners thrive and grow successful businesses.  In this episode of The Broker Link, we continue showcasing some of our partners.   In this Agency Owner Spotlight, we talk with Raul Gonzalez, the...

The agents and agency partners are the lifeblood of The Brokerage Inc.   Their successes are our successes and we love seeing our partners thrive and grow successful businesses.  As we wrap up another amazing podcast season, we are showcasing some of our partners and how they grew their businesses. In this Agency Owner Spotlight, we talk with Martha Camarillo, the Principal at MLC Insurance Group...

If you are looking for a little bit more motivation for AEP or OEP, this episode of The Broker Link will get you there.  During our 2024 Kickoff events across Texas, The Brokerage Inc. was honored and fortunate to have Dan Clark as our keynote speaker.  Dan is one of the top ten motivational speakers in the world. He is also a NYT Best Selling author, Award-winning songwriter, Mentor to high-profi...