AI, Authenticity and the Future of Elite Production with Craig Bender, Episode #405

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes back Craig Bender, founder of INSUREU2, INC. What started as a marketing venture has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem for insurance professionals, culminating in the launch of a new AI software designed to provide real-time guidance to producers. David and Craig discuss the noise in the industry regarding “coaches vs. doers,” the pitfalls of hiring Virtual Assistants (VAs) without proper systems, and the difference between static chatbots and dynamic AI learning models. David also drops a major announcement about his personal production goals for 2026, pledging to document his journey to writing $1 million in new business revenue to prove that his strategies work in the current market.

Key Topics Discussed:

Insure You 2 AI

Craig reveals his new software solution that sits on a producer’s desktop and provides guidance in 0.5 seconds during live calls. Whether it is objection handling, cross-selling opportunities, or immediate quoting eligibility, the AI acts as an expert whisperer (or a “digital David Carothers”) on the agent’s shoulder.

David’s 2026 “Show, Don’t Tell” Challenge

Tired of “keyboard warriors” and coaches who no longer produce, David announces his goal to write $1,000,000 in new business revenue in 2026. He plans to film and document every step of the process—from the cold calls to the closing meetings—celebrating every $100k milestone with a rare Cohiba Spectre cigar.

The Virtual Assistant Dilemma

The duo discusses why many agencies fail with VAs. Craig argues that VAs are often hired without the necessary guardrails or systems. He explains how his new AI solution pairs with VAs to monitor sentiment and compliance in real-time, ensuring they stay within authorized parameters.

Operational vs. Sales AI

David breaks down how he currently uses AI in his agency for operations (Refocus for renewals), content (Synthesia), and knowledge management (Delphi), while Craig contrasts this with his software’s focus on live, front-end sales execution and sentiment analysis.

Global Insurance Solutions

Craig discusses taking Insure You 2 international, with operations in London and Asia, aiming to build a tech stack that is universally applicable across the global insurance industry.

Connect with:

• David Carothers LinkedIn
• Craig Bender LinkedIn
• Kyle Houck LinkedIn

Visit Websites:

• Power Producer Base Camp
• INSUREU2, INC
• Killing Commercial
• Crushing Content
• Power Producers Podcast
• Policytee
• The Dirty 130
• The Extra 2 Minutes