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This is The Power Producers Podcast where we are refining and redefining the sales game. A place where sales professionals can come to learn from other sales professionals and thought leaders who have mastered their craft. As well as their peers who are still striving for perfection to achieve their “why”. Real sales professionals. Real stories. Real results. Are you ready to feel the power?
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Kaleigha Cramer of 212 Insurance Group. Kaleigha shares her journey to becoming an independent agent and discusses the importance of rest, learning, and finding joy and purpose in your work.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Abe Gibson interview Chris Walker, CEO of Refine Labs. Chris discusses how Refine Labs helps companies to execute marketing strategies to start generating revenue, and the importance of digital marketing in today’s business landscape.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews James Jenkins, Founder & CEO at RiskWell & Host of the Agency Freedom Podcast. James shares his personal experience leaving a captive agency and the lack of resources available to him at the time, which inspired him to write the book “Leaving Captivity” as a guide for others.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Kevin Mlynarek, Co-Owner of Ideal Traits. Kevin discusses the importance of taking a logical approach to find the right fit for your team, the value of using personality assessments to determine if a candidate is suited for the role, and how Ideal Traits can help insurance agency owners make better hiring decisions.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers shares his expertise on how to structure fee agreements and recoup costs when auditing accounts and discusses the importance of being transparent about compensation with clients.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Paul Hawkins and Sean Hawkins from HawkSoft. Paul and Sean discuss the value of understanding a customer’s needs before offering solutions and the importance of building a workplace culture of empathy and collaboration.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview David Neagle, Founder of Life Is Now, and host of The Successful Mind Podcast. David Neagle discusses the importance of having a positive mindset, and the significance of believing in oneself, charging the correct value for services, and being disciplined in sticking to one’s business plan.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck discuss ways to address policy errors before they become a problem and the importance of getting to know your client’s needs before trying to sell them anything.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers interviews Paul Epstein, bestselling author, and keynote speaker. Paul discusses the importance of adaptability, resilience, and a positive mindset and the importance of understanding yourself and your purpose.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Liz Benz, Marketing Director at New Buffalo Insurance Agency. Listen to this inspiring conversation filled with insights on resilience, teamwork, and the pursuit of growth in both personal and professional life.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Trace Meek, Founder of Fetch. Trace explains how Fetch helps insurance agents find policy-specific carriers and discusses the launch of a new product called Ask Fetch, which utilizes machine learning to teach AI about insurance underwriting.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Donald Shampine, President of Michigan Insurance Group. They discuss the importance of knowledge and education in the sales process, the challenges of starting and running an agency, and the benefits of being involved in industry associations.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Peter Dunn, Sr. Vice President, Commercial Division at DHI Commercial Roofing. Peter Dunn discusses DHI Commercial Roofing’s proactive approach to roof inspections and maintenance recommendations, as well as its use of technology to monitor weather events, and the importance of understanding insurance policies when it comes to roof damage.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Jacob Simon, Founder & CEO at Adapt API. They discuss the benefits of using Adapt API to streamline processes and automate repetitive tasks and the challenges of automating the exchange of information between carriers and agencies.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Josh Gurley discuss various topics related to the insurance industry, including the challenges of the hard market and the importance of branding and building strong relationships.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and guest co-host Josh Gurley discuss the challenges of navigating the hard market in the insurance industry, the importance of understanding reinsurance, and providing accurate information to underwriters.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Josh Braun, a Sales Guru, and host of the Inside Selling Podcast. Josh discusses his approach to sales and how mindfulness training can help you lower the zone of resistance people often have with salespeople.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers reveals that his single biggest affliction also serves as his most powerful superpower, and discusses the importance of self care and how the pressure to emulate “perfect” role models can set newer producers up for disappointment.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Anurag Sha, CEO & Co-Founder of Aureus Analytics. Anurag discusses the use of AI and machine learning in the insurance industry. They talk about Donna for Agents and discuss the future of AI and machine learning in the insurance industry.
In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Bharath Bangalore, Founder of Blue Ocean Strategic Partners. Bharath discusses process efficiency, automation, and the impact of technology on the insurance industry.
The commercial insurance industry is in the middle of a quiet evolution.
While most conversations still revolve around premiums, deductibles, limits, and carrier appetite, a different category of risk transfer has been gaining traction beneath the surface—parametric insurance. It is not new, but it is finally becoming accessible, relevant, and actionable for middle market producers who are willing to think differently about risk.
In a recent episode of the Power Producers Podcast, I sat down with Brian Thompson from Descartes Underwriting to unpack what parametric insurance actually is, what it is not, and why producers who ignore it may be leaving their clients—and themselves—exposed.
This article breaks that conversation down into practical, producer-friendly language and shows how parametric insurance fits into modern middle market risk management.
The last several years have reshaped the landscape of property insurance across the country. While most national carriers have retreated from coastal states, wildfire zones, and other catastrophe-exposed regions, a handful of disciplined players have taken the opposite path—leaning into difficult markets with a strategic, data-driven approach.
For most entrepreneurs, the decision to start a business is rooted in the promise of freedom. Freedom from a boss, freedom to control income, and freedom to build something meaningful. Yet for many business owners, particularly in service-based industries and middle-market companies, that freedom slowly erodes. What begins as ownership eventually turns into obligation, where the business demands constant attention and the owner becomes the single point of failure.
The insurance industry is full of shortcuts. Some producers look for ways to streamline the quoting process, others avoid hard conversations with clients, and many rely on endorsements or extensions because they are “easier” than diving into the details. Nowhere is this more dangerous than in the world of cyber insurance.
Too many agents assume that a cyber endorsement on a BOP or commercial package policy is “good enough.” It isn’t. In fact, treating a BOP cyber extension as a replacement for a standalone cyber policy leaves clients dangerously exposed, puts producers at risk of losing accounts, and opens the door to costly errors and omissions (E&O) claims.
Cyber threats evolve faster than any other area of risk, and endorsements simply can’t keep up. If producers want to protect their clients and themselves, it’s time to understand why standalone cyber insurance is non-negotiable.
In the middle market, producers don’t lose because the competition has better pricing.
They lose because the competition understands people better—their motivations, their fears, their priorities, and what makes them say yes.
The cyber insurance market has softened in recent years. Requirements that were once rigid — like mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools — have been relaxed by many carriers. But here’s the danger: just because carriers aren’t demanding these safeguards today doesn’t mean businesses can afford to ignore them.
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