There's an elephant in the room (and apparently a sugarcane field). Becky and Laird discuss this week's news of Zywave's acquisition of ITC. Plus, GM's entrance into auto insurance (and Laird's real concern with UBI) and an announcement.Zywave

A Sudden Shower of Tweets

Nov 13th, 2020 39m 36s

It's a rabbit hole of Laird's unexpected tweet shower this week. Everything from speeding tickets to shiny new technology syndrome to what keeps him up at night.Follow Laird on Twitter. (https://twitter.com/lrixford)If you really want some sn

Runs on Whiskey and Fritos

Nov 6th, 2020 43m 5s

Home insurance customers – the most valuable group of customers to P&C carriers. How can agents attract them? Plus, Lemonade’s struggle to convert their renter customers into home customers and the fuel that powers this podcast.Home Insurance

50% Content + 25% Random Thoughts + 25% Sarcastic Quips = 100% Insurance Happy Hour

Oct 23rd, 2020 35m 49s

What is the number one insurance brand in the world? Becky and Laird discuss that brand plus other top 100 global brands, including what makes them great and how the pandemic has affected some of the top brands.The number one insurance brand a

Happy Accidents

Oct 16th, 2020 32m 10s

“We don’t really know where this goes — and I’m not sure we really care.” ~ Bob RossFrom random holidays to bad gifts. Sources of weird inspiration and secret societies. Plus, Happy Boss's Day! Insurance Agent App (https://insuranceagentapp.c

Let's Give Root Some Credit

Oct 9th, 2020 41m 49s

Credit scores are not really an indicator of someone's driving behavior and risk. Yet a person's credit score is used to price their auto insurance. Not for one company. Plus, who is the smartest in the room?Drop credit scores from insurance r

How do you make Insurance Happy Hour better? Less of it.

Oct 2nd, 2020 40m 20s

Becky and Laird streamline the show to its essence. Car insurance start-up Root hires Goldman Sachs to lead IPO (Reuters) (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-root-insurance-ipo/car-insurance-start-up-root-hires-goldman-sachs-to-lead-ipo-source

Die Offizielle Couch zum Oktoberfest Podcast

Sep 25th, 2020 35m 35s

Two carriers; two different announcements. One is making an acquisition to diversify and better serve their market. One may be looking to sell off part of their book to better focus on what they do best. Plus, a rant from Laird (Shocking, I kno

Shopping for a Better Podcast Experience? Try Amazon

Sep 18th, 2020 40m 14s

Amazon is selling auto insurance in India! So? Becky and Laird talk about why it's time to stop the hand wringing and start actually doing something. Plus, we have an announcement.Amazon's entry into auto insurance holds valuable lessons for a

Like Everything Else in Life, Becky's is Better Than Laird's

Jul 31st, 2020 46m 40s

Elon Musk is recruiting actuaries to be part of his "revolutionary" insurance company. Will Tesla actually revolutionize insurance? Plus, it was Becky's birthday this week and Laird gives a behind-the-scenes look at how his brain works.Bigges

Chitty Chat

Jul 24th, 2020 45m 10s

How are you doing in the midst of this pandemic? Becky and Laird share what they've been struggling with and what is helping them during this global crisis. [Webinar Recording] Growing Your Agency During a Pandemic (https://register.gotowebina

It Starts With an Earthquake

Jul 17th, 2020 39m 56s

Is it the end of auto insurance as we know it? Becky and Laird discuss the findings in yet another report about the end of auto insurance. Plus, a follow up on Becky's appearance on You Don't Know Schmitt! and more lessons from Professor Rixfor

Getting What You Pay For w/ This Episode

Jul 10th, 2020 44m 1s

It's happening! Walmart started an insurance agency. But. Is the sky really falling? Becky and Laird talk about Walmart's plans to sell Medicare insurance and the industry's fear of big companies like Walmart or Amazon entering the industry. Pl

Agents: Time to Bring Your Own Mayhem

Jun 26th, 2020 39m 49s

Allstate is introducing a 7% discount on rates on policies bound online or over the phone instead of through an agent. Yeah. We were shocked too. Allstate is introducing channel of bind as a rating variable (Coverager) (https://coverager.com/a

Are You Virtually Satisfied With Your Buying Experience?

Jun 19th, 2020 35m 27s

J.D. Power released a study on auto insurance satisfaction that showed websites have surpassed agents in terms of customer satisfaction and loyalty Plus, Laird sounds off on virtual trade shows and #technicaldifficulties.It's happened – custo

The Unicorn Formerly Known as Lemonade

Jun 12th, 2020 38m 35s

Insurtech startup Lemonade announced plans for an IPO worth as much as $100 million. But, they've yet to show profitability. So, will people buy Lemonade shares? Laird and Becky discuss this move along with the history of Lemonade. Lemonade IP

Everybody's Looking for #InsuranceHappyHour

Jun 5th, 2020 35m 23s

The pandemic happened. Things have been busy. We've missed Insurance Happy Hour. Becky and Laird are back and talking about COVID-19, insurance agency quoting activity during the pandemic, and the insurance carrier response.

Is it time to ACT? (Or is it just Ron Berg?)

Feb 21st, 2020 43m 46s

One of the drums we regularly beat on this podcast is about becoming better and using the resources and tools available in the industry to help with that goal. One such resource is Agents Council for Technology, which is FREE. So, why aren't ag

Friday Grab Bag

Feb 7th, 2020 25m 35s

What are we talking about in this episode? You have to listen to find out.

The Insurance Diet

Jan 31st, 2020 39m 33s

Is buying insurance like dieting? Becky and Laird discuss this comparison and how the industry can help make the process not as painful. Plus, Laird held a snake!Why Buying Insurance is Like Dieting (https://www.insurancethoughtleadership.com/

Insurance: Your Next Big Travel Destination

Jan 24th, 2020 32m 20s

Insurance agents are going the way of the travel agent. That's a story heard frequently in the industry. Becky and Laird talk about the comparison between insurance agents and travel agents. Plus, we got a new toy for the show.The travel agent

When the Machines Come For Your Insurance

Jan 3rd, 2020 41m 23s

Can artificial intelligence (AI) take the groupings used to price risk and further segment them, thereby eliminating any bias that exists? Becky and Laird discuss this potential use case of AI, what AI actually is, and ethics in technology. Plu

The Captivated Independent Insurance Agent

Dec 27th, 2019 39m 1s

A conversation is happening in the industry around agency management systems and whether they're useful or as needed as everyone assumes they are. Becky, Laird, and special guest Justin Costa weigh in on this conversation.Tweet: Why do you nee

Potato, Potahto

Dec 13th, 2019 30m 32s

Building brand loyalty starts with brand-driven marketing, not price-driven marketing. It is not only the insurance industry that has seen consumers being price-focused as a result of advertising that focuses on price. Several retail brands hav

MEOW

Dec 6th, 2019 33m 13s

The connectivity between agents and insurers is critical to serving consumers. In this episode, Becky and Laird talk about IVANS' recent findings in their annual report on the agency-insurer connectivity. Plus, we talk about the end of the deca