In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Jeff Arnold, founder of RightSure, serial acquirer, author of 11 books, and one of the most experienced agency buyers in the industry. With more than 40 agency acquisitions, multiple exits, and decades of leadership experience, Jeff brings a grounded, honest perspective on growth, technology, and knowing when it’s time to let go. The conversation covers what most agency owners are thinking about right now: how to lead thro...
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In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Jeff Arnold, founder of RightSure, serial acquirer, author of 11 books, and one of the most experienced agency buyers in the industry. With more than 40 agency acquisitions, multiple exits, and decades of leadership experience, Jeff brings a grounded, honest perspective on growth, technology, and knowing when it’s time to let go. The conversation covers what most agency owners are thinking about right now: how to lead thro...
In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Jeff Arnold, founder of RightSure, serial acquirer, author of 11 books, and one of the most experienced agency buyers in the industry. With more than 40 agency acquisitions, multiple exits, and decades of leadership experience, Jeff brings a grounded, honest perspective on growth, technology, and knowing when it’s time to let go. The conversation covers what most agency owners are thinking about right now: how to lead thro...
In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Larry G. Linne, founder of InCite Performance Group, author of Make the Noise Go Away, and a lifelong student of business, leadership, and human behavior. Larry shares his unconventional path from a West Texas football player once told he “shouldn’t go to college” to becoming one of the most respected advisors in the insurance industry. Along the way, he explains why curiosity, critical thinking, and execution matter more ...
On Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Wessly J. Anderson to talk entrepreneurship, leadership, and the very real way AI is changing business right now. Wes is the founder of Agency VA and Agent CVA, and he’s built what most people only talk about: multiple businesses across different seasons of life, with a bias toward growth, speed, and learning through doing. Wes shares how he grew up inside his dad’s tech company (back when “CD-ROM” felt like the future), and why that expe...
On Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey talk with Matt Porter, former owner of a family-run oil and propane company in mid-coast Maine who started his business at the dining room table, grew it over 16+ years, and sold it in December 2022 through Tounge Associates. Today, Matt has come full circle and now serves as a Senior Advisor at Tounge Associates, helping other business owners navigate acquisitions and ownership transitions. Matt shares what led him to sell, including rapid COVID-era g...
In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey talk with Col. (Ret.) Robert “Cujo” Teschner, former F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot and author of Debrief to Win. Cujo shares how a childhood dream of flying fighters led to a 20-year Air Force career, what happened when a colorectal cancer diagnosis forced him out of the cockpit, and how he rebuilt his purpose as an entrepreneur and leadership coach. He walks through the accountability and debrief system used in elite fighter squadrons an...
On Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with serial entrepreneur Alan Ringvald, CEO of Relativity6, to talk about what today’s entrepreneurs and leaders can learn from the startup world. Alan shares the lessons he picked up building companies across industries, from launching tech products to navigating early-stage chaos to finding real product-market fit. He explains why entrepreneurs need to focus on the problem before the solution, how to test ideas in the real world, and why gre...
On Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Trace Meek, a third-generation agency owner and founder of Ask Fetch, to talk about one of the most persistent challenges in personal lines: the underwriting bottleneck. From appetite confusion to slow carrier responses to the loss of institutional knowledge, Trace explains why agencies get stuck and how tools like Ask Fetch are helping teams move faster and stay competitive. He shares the turning point that inspired him to build a soluti...
On this episode of Business Refocused, Carey and Lindsay Wallace sit down with Jay Mueller, an independent agency owner who lives on the Mediterranean coast of Spain while running a growing brick and mortar insurance agency in Cincinnati. He shares how he restructured a multigenerational family business, implemented EOS, and built a leadership team that allows him to be overseas without losing momentum, culture, or performance. They unpack what it really looks like to design freedom into your...
On Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey talk with Raghav Tanna, founder of Tarmika and cofounder of the nonprofit Little Sparks Project. Raghav shares the real story behind building Tarmika, selling to Applied Systems, and deciding when it is time to exit. He breaks down how to pick the right buyer, what it feels like to stay on after a sale, and why family and happiness should drive the decision. The conversation also spotlights the Little Sparks Gala in Boston, and how the foundation suppo...
On this episode of Insurance Refocused, Carey and Lindsay Wallace sit down with tax attorney David Foate to unpack the truth about year-end tax planning for insurance agencies. From entity structure decisions to vehicle deductions, R&D credits, and home office rules, they cover what really works and what might land you in trouble with the IRS. David shares real audit stories, explains why S Corps often make sense for agencies, and breaks down how to tell the difference between smart tax s...
On this episode of Insurance Refocused, Carey and Lindsay Wallace explore one of the most impactful growth tools for independent insurance agencies — mastermind groups. They discuss how these peer groups function like a “board of directors” for agency owners, providing accountability, fresh perspective, and real-world solutions that drive measurable growth. Drawing from their own experience facilitating masterminds across the country, Carey and Lindsay explain how sharing data and context cre...
On Insurance Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Aaron Stocks, CEO of AgencyPoint (PFS Global), to compare accounting firm acquisitions with independent insurance agency M&A. Aaron breaks down why client transferability, systems standardization, and regulatory disclosures make accounting roll-ups very different from buying an insurance agency. He also shares hard-won lessons on cultural fit, pricing discipline, and what to review before you trust a spreadsheet. What you’ll learn Wh...
In this episode of Insurance Refocused, Carey and Lindsay Wallace break down a powerful agency transformation that doubled in value in just four years. Starting with $3.5 million in revenue and 27–28% profitability, this agency faced key challenges—an aging owner, outdated systems, and compensation structures that limited growth. Carey and Lindsay walk through the strategic changes that fueled its success, including right-sizing producer compensation, modernizing technology, empowering new le...
In this special re-release, we’re sharing an episode originally featured on HawkSoft’s Insurance Perspectives podcast. Carey joins Kenny Hendricks to break down what it really takes to buy an agency—from assessing your readiness and evaluating cultural fit to spotting red flags before you sign. They dive into the key performance indicators every buyer should understand and why communication across your team is one of the most important parts of a successful acquisition. Originally featured on...
Your agency might have strong revenue, solid margins, and loyal clients, but does the business truly stand on its own? The answer comes down to transferability. In this episode, Lindsay and Carey Wallace talk with Monica Adwani of Breezy Seguros about what it really takes to build an agency that is valuable beyond the owner. Monica shares her journey from joining a startup as the fourth employee, to helping grow and sell that agency, and now to running her own consulting firm and serving a ne...
In this episode, Lindsay and Carey Wallace sit down with Charley Todd from Charley Insurance to explore his pivotal decision to transition from a captive agency to the independent side of the insurance industry. They delve into the motivations behind this bold move, the surprising challenges of starting anew, and the exciting opportunities it presents. Charley shares his philosophy on embracing entrepreneurship, the critical importance of customer experience, and his ambitious vision to speci...
In this episode, Lindsay and Carey Wallace sit down with Rob Bowen from Patriotic Insurance Group to reflect on his first-year post-acquisition. They explore the challenges and lessons learned during the transition from a paper-based system to a digital one, the importance of communication with carriers, and the human element in maintaining business relationships. Rob shares valuable insights on pacing change management, the significance of mentorship, and the necessity of accurate data manag...
In this episode, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Dawnyel Smink, President of the Western region at Keystone Insurers Group, about her initiatives to empower women in the insurance industry. They discuss the importance of collaboration between men and women, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and the need for open conversations about leadership and wellness. Dawnyel shares insights on her WISE Talks program, which aims to cultivate confidence and support women in leadership roles. The discus...
In this episode, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Elizabeth Moore, co-founder of Amelia Risk, to discuss on building a specialized insurance agency in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space. Elizabeth shares how her career path shifted from advertising dreams in New York to a fulfilling journey in insurance, and why choosing a niche has been key to her agency’s growth. She explains how important for agencies to use technology to streamline operations while keeping client relationships persona...
In this episode, Lindsay and Carey Wallace sit down with Lee Gaudette from Gaudette Insurance Agency. They discuss the evolution of the insurance industry, the importance of generational perspectives, and the role of community engagement. Lee shares his family's rich history in the insurance business, the significance of outside experience for family members joining the agency, and his experiences hosting a radio show focused on insurance. The discussion also touches on the future of the indu...
In this episode of Business Refocused, Lindsay and Carey sit down with Jeff Arnold, founder of RightSure, serial acquirer, author of 11 books, and one of the most experienced agency buyers in the industry. With more than 40 agency acquisitions, multiple exits, and decades of leadership experience, Jeff brings a grounded, honest perspective on growth, technology, and knowing when it’s time to let go. The conversation covers what most agency owners are thinking about right now: how to lead thro...
