Ownership and Combinability with Kevin Ring, Shoptalk Episode #180

In a rapidly changing business landscape, the difference between thriving and merely surviving often boils down to one core attribute: curiosity. But curiosity alone isn’t enough. When paired with operational audits, strong leadership, and a growth mindset, it becomes a powerful tool for transformation—especially in the middle market. In this post, we explore how curious leadership and deep operational insights can revolutionize how insurance producers approach sales, consult with clients, and build long-term partnerships rooted in value.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to use Workers’ Comp as your entry point, how to dissect the experience mod, how to turn loss runs into strategy, and how to capitalize on the year-end season to build stronger client relationships and fill your pipeline with warm referrals.

The insurance industry is at a pivotal moment. As artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation (RPA), and API-driven tools continue to accelerate, the conversation has shifted from “should we adopt tech?” to “how can we implement the right tech without breaking our operations?”

Let’s set the record straight: most commercial insurance producers don’t fail because they can’t sell. They fail because they don’t plan. They lack process. They don’t follow up consistently—or when they do, it’s weak and generic.

In today’s competitive environment, trust is not built through hard closes. It’s built through consistency. Being present when the incumbent fails. Being available when the buyer is finally ready. Being prepared with insight when everyone else is just pushing a quote.

Email marketing is often treated as an afterthought in the insurance industry. Producers focus on cold calling, referrals, and in-person meetings—but overlook one of the most powerful tools already sitting in their hands: their email list.

If you’re an insurance producer or agency principal and you’re not actively leveraging email marketing to drive revenue, retain clients, and expand your footprint, you’re missing a golden opportunity. When executed properly, email marketing delivers unmatched ROI, enables targeted cross-selling, builds credibility, and enhances retention—all at a fraction of the cost of other lead-generation tactics.

The insurance industry is evolving at a rapid pace, and the lines between technology, relationships, and service delivery are blurring more every day. As InsurTech continues to capture the attention of carriers, agents, MGAs, and startups alike, the challenge has shifted from finding new tools to figuring out which ones are actually worth using. Too often, insurance professionals are overwhelmed by noise—buzzwords like “AI-driven,” “revolutionary,” or “disruptive” are plastered across every product demo and sales pitch. But for forward-thinking insurance professionals, the real focus isn’t just on adopting the newest thing—it’s on building ecosystems where people and technology thrive together.