Homeowners insurance is no longer “inflation + a little.” In many states it’s become volatile, uneven, and emotionally exhausting for consumers—and operationally painful for agents trying to retain clients through renewal shocks. In this episode, Michael sits down with Dylan DiMarchi, CEO of Eventual (the company behind Premium Lock), to unpack a simple but potentially disruptive idea: multi-year premium predictability. “Insurance pricing actually was more volatile than any other period in human history.” In this conversation, we cover: The real-world problem: why homeowners are burned out on surprise renewals How Premium Lock works (a supplementary product that reimburses amounts above a pre-set threshold) Why agents are using it not just for retention—but as point-of-sale differentiation Market insight: what Dylan’s data suggests about where premium growth could trend next If you’re an independent agent—or an agency leader thinking strategically about differentiation and retention—this one will give you new angles (and a product category to watch).

How do you turn a tiny, rural, PC-10 agency into a multi-niche growth machine that closes six-figure accounts without traditional producers? In this episode, Michael Jans sits down with Cheri Martinen, Managing Partner of Bancorp Insurance, to unpack how her family’s small Oregon agency has grown 6–7x while being surrounded by national forest on three sides. You’ll hear how Cheri’s parents: Started by cross-selling their existing book Stumbled into their first contractor niche Then built out a portfolio of highly profitable specialties—from wildland firefighters to special water districts and Medicare Today, Bancorp operates in 20+ states, runs a marketing-driven model, and closes big commercial accounts from inbound demand—no door-knocking producers. Cheri also breaks down her modern marketing stack: Consistent blogging and SEO YouTube shorts and multi-platform social Hulu ads and geo-targeting around senior centers Email + voicemail + direct mail campaigns Automated renewal and cross-sell workflows supported by in-house staff and VAs And we wrap with Cheri’s angle on AI and visibility: “At this point, we’re getting leads from ChatGPT. So if you’re not getting leads from ChatGPT, you don’t have enough content out there yet.” In this episode, you’ll learn: How a rural “middle of nowhere” agency made geography irrelevant with smart niche strategy The contractor campaign that turned a hard-market disruption into a growth surge How Bancorp built and scaled niches in wildland firefighters and water districts What a marketing-driven growth model looks like when you close six-figure accounts without a traditional producer force Real examples of integrated campaigns (email, voicemail, streaming, geo-targeting) that keep the pipeline full How Cheri thinks about AI, content, and why agencies must “test the waters before it’s too late” If you’re an independent agency owner wondering how to grow faster, niche deeper, and use modern marketing (and AI) to win big accounts, this conversation is a practical blueprint.

In this episode, Michael pulls back the curtain on what AI actually did in 2025—far away from the hype, and deep in the real numbers. While most of the insurance world is still “thinking about AI,” other industries are already cashing in: A global fintech using AI to replace the work of ~700 people in 35 languages A major carrier cutting claim cycle times by weeks and slashing complaints by 65% A wealth management giant adding tens of billions in new assets with AI-assisted advisors Streaming, retail, and coffee brands using AI to quietly reduce churn and boost revenue This isn’t a thought experiment. It’s an alarm clock. Then Michael brings it home: what this means for independent agencies, why the “wait and see” crowd is already behind, and how to start using AI intelligently—without turning it into an expensive hobby. You’ll hear: Concrete examples of AI driving profit and efficiency in 2025 The hidden risk of treating AI as a “future project” How to think about AI in the context of your growth, margins, and valuation A first look at Michael’s suite of 12 custom GPTs designed specifically for independent insurance agencies If you’re serious about growth—and serious about not getting left behind—this is your wake-up call. 👉 Want details on the AI tools Michael mentions in the episode? Email him at michael@michaeljans.com with “AI” in the subject line.

Still retyping the same client data into five different carrier portals? In this episode of The AI for IA Podcast, Michael talks with Carl, founder of Gaya, the browser-based tool built specifically for insurance agencies. Gaya sits on top of the systems you already use and turns painful, repetitive data entry into a few clicks. Instead of spending 10–15 minutes keying information into each carrier portal, agencies using Gaya often get it down to 4–5 minutes per carrier — without a single API integration. With Gaya, agencies can: Extract data from PDFs, images, AMS systems, and carrier portals Paste that data directly into carrier portals, browser-based AMS platforms, or new forms Handle remarketing surges and multi-carrier quoting with the same headcount Carl and Michael also unpack the bigger picture of AI in insurance distribution: Why so many agencies fall into “shiny object syndrome” with AI tools What separates novelty from real operational impact Why today’s AI is about capacity and leverage, not job replacement How “process eats technology for breakfast” — and what to streamline before adopting AI If you want your team quoting faster, remarketing more, and spending less time on repetitive data entry, this conversation shows what’s possible right now — using the systems you already have. 👉 Learn more about Gaya here: www.gaya.ai

Most P&C agencies want stronger retention, deeper client loyalty, and higher revenue per client — but overlook the one conversation that delivers all three. In this episode, Michael Jans talks with Trae White, multi-acquisition P&C agency principal whose agency was recognized as Top 10 nationally in life insurance performance, to break down the simple culture and system behind his success. Trae reveals how he built a life-insurance pipeline inside a P&C agency, why he believes discussing life coverage is a moral obligation, and how these deeper conversations create durable, long-term relationships that strengthen the entire book. You’ll learn the culture cues that get teams comfortable, the scripts his staff uses daily, and why the 1:15 benchmark is the perfect starting point for agencies that want measurable gains without changing their business model. In this episode: • How deeper protection conversations drive retention • The pipeline Trae built for new & existing clients • Why clients with life stay longer, engage more, and refer more • How small policies create big loyalty • The culture shift behind Trae’s national recognition A powerful message for P&C principals ready to unlock the retention and revenue lift hiding in their own book.

Featuring Dale Steinke, Director at Agent for the Future Advisors, Liberty Mutual Insurance AI isn’t coming to independent agencies—it’s already inside them. In this fast, high-signal conversation, Michael Jans sits down with longtime industry friend Dale Steinke of Liberty to break down what agency owners are really feeling about AI today: the excitement, the confusion, the overwhelm, and the massive opportunity hiding in plain sight. Dale shares what he sees across hundreds of agencies: why most principals underestimate how much AI their teams are already using, the tools that are quietly reshaping daily operations, and how top agencies are using AI to eliminate drudge work, sharpen renewal reviews, supercharge staff, and build client experiences that simply weren’t possible a few years ago. You’ll also hear: Why there’s never been a better time to start—or scale—an independent agency How a 7-person agency is using two developers and AI tools to build a next-level customer experience Why leaders must adopt AI themselves and create a clear AI governance policy What agencies should do first to prepare for the next wave of change Insightful, practical, and direct—this 10-minute “vitamin shot” delivers exactly what independent agencies need to know now.

In this rapid-fire 7-minute briefing, we break down the six industry trends reshaping the independent insurance agency landscape. You’ll discover why nearly 75% of Q3 insurtech funding went to AI-centric firms, what the softening market means for your organic growth strategy, and how smart agencies are using bolt-on technology to deepen client relationships. We also dig into an overlooked profit lever that recovers 1–3% of annual revenue, the surge in niche MGA/MGU valuations, and the surprising line of business slipping while everything else climbs. If you want to lead your agency through a shifting market — not react to it — this is your essential weekly intelligence hit.

In this episode, Michael Jans sits down with South Florida agency owner Matt Livings, who grew his agency from absolutely nothing to more than 5,700 households—in one of the toughest, most volatile markets in the country. Matt reveals the simple but powerful systems he’s used for two decades, including: His 24,000-postcards-a-month direct mail engine The niche strategy that built his affluent book (hint: boats) Why he stopped selling policies 15 years ago—and grew faster How hurricane claims turned him into a local hero The referral playbook that keeps the pipeline full Carrier contingency tactics that added an extra 10% to his income If you want to see how real, organic, sustainable agency growth is built—especially in hard markets—this is the episode.

Independent agencies survived the internet. They adapted to websites, email marketing, and social media. But AI is different. It changes the structure of work, speed of response, and expectations of clients—and it’s moving exponentially faster than any prior wave of technology. In this episode, agency owner & industry thought leader, Chris Paradiso explains: Why AI is a fundamentally different kind of disruption How agencies can leverage AI to move faster than carriers Real examples of AI in daily agency operations: sentiment scoring, policy gap analysis, coverage review, client communication, and multilingual training Why some roles will shift—and why relationships still matter The emerging divide between agencies that adapt and those that fall behind Chris shares how his agency has implemented AI from frontline workflows to training systems—and what agency owners must do now to remain competitive. Key Message: Do not sit on the sidelines. The agencies that act now will lead the market. The others will be forced out of it.

In this fast, insight-packed 7-minute briefing, Michael Jans breaks down six forces reshaping the independent insurance agency world right now — from AI acceleration to PE consolidation, social inflation, compliance pressure, ENS growth, and the widening growth gap between digital agencies and everyone else. In this episode you’ll discover: ✅ Why InsurTech funding surged in October and what it means for Main Street agencies ✅ How private equity now controls 72% of all M&A — and what that means for valuation ✅ The new wave of social inflation driving casualty costs through the roof ✅ Why 21 states now have comprehensive data privacy laws (and the NAIC Model 668 push for 2026) ✅ How ENS/surplus lines hit $130B and why the trend isn’t slowing ✅ The stat every agency owner should memorize: 👉 Agencies adopting advanced digital tools are growing 70% faster than their peers If you’ve ever wished you had a “7-minute dashboard” for the industry… this is it. Want to explore how the fastest-growing agencies are using AI to scale? Grab a 15-minute call with Michael [Click here].

Artificial Intelligence isn’t another wave—it’s a tsunami. In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down how AI will separate the winners from the walking dead in the independent agency world. From the Niche Master who dominates their vertical… to the Complexity Specialist who thrives on sophisticated risks… to the Platform Powerhouse scaling like Geico on steroids—Michael reveals the six types of agencies that will define the next decade. You’ll learn: ✅ Why strategy means “thriving in the world as it is” ✅ What separates the green zone agencies from the red zone wreckage ✅ Why 2030 isn’t the starting gun—it’s game over ✅ How to engineer growth and efficiency through AI Subscribe, listen, and get your agency ready for the AI age.

🎙️ How AI Agents Are Revolutionizing Insurance with Terry Walby of Open Dialog In this episode, Michael sits down with Terry Walby, co-founder and CEO of Open Dialog, to explore how AI agents are transforming the insurance industry—far beyond the limitations of chatbots. Terry breaks down the real-world impact of AI agents on improving quote conversions, reducing friction in online policy applications, and even predicting buyer behavior. With Open Dialog’s footprint now extending from the UK to the U.S. (and soon, Canada), this conversation is a must-listen for insurance leaders looking to stay ahead. 💡 Learn: What makes an AI agent actually different from a chatbot How behavioral psychology and real-time interaction boost conversions The compliance edge AI agents offer in regulated environments 🔗 Dive deeper at www.opendialog.ai

The independent agency channel is changing fast—and the firms that see the shifts early will take the lead. In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down six critical developments reshaping growth, profitability, risk, client expectations, and agency valuation in the next 6–18 months. You’ll hear what the data actually says about AI adoption, why cyber insurance growth is both a financial and ethical imperative, how top agencies are driving organic growth even in tough markets, and the new frontier of AI-driven claims fraud. If you’re an agency principal, marketing leader, or someone responsible for strategic planning—this is your briefing.

There’s a trillion-dollar wave of capital chasing AI in insurance. The question is — will your agency ride it or get rolled by it? In this episode, Michael Jans lays out the 5-Step AI Playbook for Insurance Agencies: Know – What’s real and what’s noise Grow – Where AI actually drives revenue Integrate – How to blend humans + automation Buy – Smart investment decisions in tech Scale – Building a system that compounds Straight talk. No hype. Just a clear path from overwhelm to opportunity. Subscribe, listen, and get your agency ready for the AI age.

AI is accelerating faster than any technology in history — doubling in power every four to seven months. What does that mean for the independent insurance agency system? Michael Jans sits down with Marc Lanzkowsky, founder of Lanzko AI and 30-year veteran of the insurance world — attorney, carrier exec, and IT innovator — to explore how AI is reshaping compliance, claims, and operations. You’ll hear: The biggest AI compliance traps agencies are walking into right now Why “free” AI tools might expose your client data to model training What smart agencies are doing to integrate AI safely and intelligently Why AI won’t replace the human element — but will multiply your impact How custom GPTs and prompt libraries are becoming an agency’s secret weapon A fast, thought-provoking conversation — one that might just reshape how you lead your agency through the next 36 months of transformation. 🎙️ Hosted by Michael Jans Follow for new episodes of AI for the IA — where independent agencies learn how to think, act, and grow with intelligence.

When you’ve spent decades inside the independent agency system, you know the pain of underwriting chaos — juggling dozens of carriers, appetites, and rules that never seem to match up. That frustration drove Trace Meek, a third-generation agency owner, to build something extraordinary: Ask Fetch — an AI-powered underwriting and quoting platform that cuts hours of manual work down to under 90 seconds. In this episode, Trace shares: How he turned a daily headache into a nationwide insurtech. The “21x MIT Rule” that proves speed wins every time. Why 400,000 industry veterans leaving the business will make AI essential for survival. What the next 36 months look like for independent agencies who adopt (or ignore) AI. Listen in — this one’s not theory. It’s the future unfolding, one frustrated agent at a time. 🎙️ Hosted by Michael Jans, Founder of The Society of Insura-Preneurs.

Once a week, Michael Jans — founder of the Society of Insura-Preneurs and one of the most trusted voices in insurance marketing — drops into your world for seven focused minutes of high-impact insight. Each episode packs six real-time bulletins on the forces shaping our industry: carrier performance, underwriting trends, tech disruption, and what it all means for your agency’s growth. From profit margins to AI breakthroughs, you’ll get the data, context, and strategic edge to stay informed, stay sharp, and stay ahead. 🎙️ Subscribe now and make seven minutes the most profitable part of your week.

The buyer’s journey isn’t a funnel anymore — it’s chaos. Google calls it the Messy Middle… and they’ve got the data to prove it. In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down Google’s landmark behavioral-science study Decoding Decisions — and shows independent insurance agencies how to use the six psychological biases that actually drive buying behavior: ✅ Social Proof ✅ Authority ✅ Scarcity ✅ Power of Now ✅ Power of Free ✅ Category Heuristics You’ll learn how to stack these triggers, eliminate friction, and meet buyers where they loop — on LinkedIn, email, podcasts, and beyond. Plus, Michael connects the dots between the Messy Middle and the coming AI revolution that will reshape how agencies attract, convert, and retain clients. 🎯 Funnels are linear. The customer journey isn’t. 🎧 Listen now and get the science behind your next big growth leap.

In this 10-minute episode, Michael Jans sits down with tech pioneer Frank Sentner, who’s been building technology for the insurance industry since 1976 — long before most agents knew what a modem was. Together they trace the path from the first digital ACORD forms to modern-day AI. You’ll hear: Why “Bad Data. Bad AI.” is the new truth every agency must face Real-world examples of AI that augment people — not replace them The single smartest question to ask before buying any AI tool If you’ve ever wondered how to separate the gold from the garbage in today’s AI hype, this is your short course in sanity. 🎧 Listen now — it might save you from your next bad software decision.

Insurance agency owners don’t have time for fluff — so here’s your seven-minute intelligence briefing from the trenches. This week, Michael Jans fires off six rapid-fire insights you need to know: 🚗 Tesla gets busted (and proves agents are still the smart money 😉) 📉 Commercial lines soften — but not all markets 🤝 Networks gain power — and access is everything 🤖 57% of InsurTech deals now flow to AI-first firms 💰 Carrier investments quietly become the new margin shield ⚡ AI doubles every 4–7 months — and you cannot afford to sit this one out When tech moves this fast, the winners are the ones who act fast and think smart. 🎁 Want the free AI Buyer’s Guide (v2) before it drops publicly? Email Michael at michael@michaeljans.com and say “Send me the Guide.”