Welcome to the

Power Producers
Podcast

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?

Power Producers Podcast
Comp Classifications with Kevin Ring

Comp Classifications with Kevin Ring, Shoptalk Episode #181

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined by Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of Work Comp Professionals, for a deep dive into workers’ compensation classifications. The discussion focuses on the challenges of ensuring that businesses are properly classified, the importance of getting class codes right, and strategies to avoid common mistakes that could lead to costly audits. With firsthand experience from multiple NCCI audits, David shares his insights on how to navigate the complexities of workers’ comp class codes and protect clients from unnecessary errors.

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cost

The Most Hated Podcast Episode Ever with Benjamin Dennehy, Episode #373

In this episode of Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers is joined by Benjamin Dennehy famously known as the UK’s Most Hated Sales Trainer for a brutally honest and wildly entertaining conversation about what’s wrong with the modern sales game. From confronting imposter syndrome to challenging outdated sales scripts, Benjamin shares why most salespeople fail and what it actually takes to dominate. The duo explores the parallels between law and sales, the importance of detachment from outcomes, and why truly great sellers don’t wing it they operate with ruthless precision. Packed with hard truths, tactical tips, and some serious laughs, this is a must-listen for anyone in the sales world who’s tired of the fluff.

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Ownership and Combinability with Kevin Ring

Ownership and Combinability with Kevin Ring, Shoptalk Episode #180

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined again by Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of Work Comp Professionals. The two dive into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of workers’ compensation—understanding common majority ownership and how it affects the experience modification factor (mod). This discussion is vital for agents who deal with businesses that own multiple entities or engage in mergers and acquisitions. Kevin explains why agents need to be proactive in gathering ownership details and completing the ERM-14 form accurately to avoid costly errors and ensure proper coverage.

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Putting the Human Touch on Human Services with Dylan Jordan, Episode #372

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers sits down with Dylan Jordan from Amwins to discuss specialized niches within the insurance world, particularly focusing on the human services, healthcare, and life sciences markets. With only two months until Producers in Paradise 2025, the conversation covers a variety of challenges and opportunities in the current hard market, from navigating supplemental applications to understanding the unique risks of sectors like MediSpas and behavioral health.

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Why the Valuation Date is Important with Kevin Ring

Why the Valuation Date is Important with Kevin Ring, Shoptalk Episode #179

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined again by Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of Work Comp Professionals. In this Shop Talk session, they take a deep dive into the crucial topic of the valuation date and its significance in workers’ compensation policies. While last week’s discussion highlighted the importance of leading with workers’ compensation, this episode shifts gears to discuss why understanding the valuation date is vital for businesses.

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From Insurtech to Relatonships with Brett Fulmer

From Insurtech to Relationships with Brett Fulmer, Episode #371

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes Brett Fulmer, principal of Newport Beach Insurance Center, for a dynamic conversation packed with insights on insurance, career growth, and community building. Brett shares his unique journey in insurance, his passion for innovation, and how he balances multiple roles with energy and focus.

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Why Agents Should Lead With Comp with Kevin Ring

Why Agents Should Lead With Comp with Kevin Ring, Shoptalk Episode #178

In this episode of Power Producers Shoptalk, David Carothers welcomes back Kevin Ring, lead analyst at the Institute of WorkComp Professionals and one of the nation’s foremost experts on workers’ compensation. Kevin shares valuable insights into why leading with workers’ comp is a smart strategy for insurance agents, offering practical tips that agents can apply immediately to improve their game and better serve clients.

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Resilience Should Be the Foundation of Every Insurance Conversation with Aris Papadopoulos

Resilience Should Be the Foundation of Every Insurance Conversation with Aris Papadopoulos, Episode #370

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers sits down with Aris Papadopoulos, Chairman of the Resilience Action Fund and author of Resilientomics. Aris shares his unique perspective on resilience, from his experience as a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor to his passion for building stronger, more resilient homes and communities. Together, David and Aris explore how resilience is critical not just in construction, but in the insurance industry and beyond.

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Bridging the Insurance Talent Gap with Tony Canas

Bridging the Insurance Talent Gap with Tony Canas, Episode #369

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers sits down with Tony Canas, Chief Motivational Officer at Insurance Nerds. The conversation takes some unexpected and fun turns, including Tony’s unique background, passion for insurance, and his journey into magic. It’s a lively and engaging discussion that blends business, culture, and personal development in the insurance industry.

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Keys to Effective Communication

Keys to Effective Communication, Shoptalk Episode #176

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers returns for session five with the Insurance Futures team to tackle one of the most critical elements in managing a successful remote workforce: communication. Following four weeks of deep dives into building remote teams, this episode zeroes in on how effective communication can make or break your virtual agency’s culture and efficiency.

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David podcast with Jason Duby on Captive insurance

Unlocking the Power of Group Captives with Jason Duby, Episode #368

In this Power Producers Podcast episode, David Carothers is joined by Jason Duby, Captive Manager at Garnet Captive, to dive deep into the concept of captives and how they can provide valuable opportunities for businesses, particularly as the market continues to harden. Jason breaks down the intricacies of captive insurance, explaining how they work, who benefits, and what sets Garnet Captive apart from other options in the industry.

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Job Descriptions shoptalk with insurance future team

Job Descriptions – Headaches Now or Headaches Later, Shoptalk Episode #175

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers continues his series with the team from Insurance Futures, diving into the importance of job descriptions for building a strong culture in remote teams. As remote work becomes more common, having clear job descriptions helps set expectations, boost accountability, and ensure employees understand their roles.

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Mastering the Buyer's Journey with Jacob Hicks

Mastering the Buyer’s Journey with Jacob Hicks, Episode #367

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers welcomes Jacob Hicks, a sales coach with an eclectic background in various industries, including retail, real estate, and optical sales. Jacob shares his insights on the evolution of sales and the importance of systems, follow-up, and understanding of your ideal client profile.

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Killing It with KPI's - insurance future

Killing It with KPI’s, Shoptalk Episode #174

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers keeps the remote workforce series going with a deep dive into KPIs—why they’re crucial and how they should be tied to core values. David and his team from Insurance Futures discuss how measuring the right activities can lead to success and help remote agencies stay on track.

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The Importance of Culture & Connection

The Importance of Culture & Connection, Shoptalk Episode #173

In this Power Producers Shoptalk episode, David Carothers continues the discussion on building and managing remote teams in the insurance industry, with a specific focus on culture and connection. In this second installment with the team from Insurance Futures, David dives into the importance of team-building activities in a virtual environment.

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How Insurance Agencies Leverage Alternative Risk with Eric Stein

How Insurance Agencies Leverage Alternative Risk with Eric Stein, Episode #366

In this episode of Power Producers, David Carothers is joined by Eric Stein, the president of Insured Solutions and author of the newly published book The Blueprint. Eric brings a wealth of experience in the insurance industry, especially in alternative workers’ compensation and risk management. Throughout the episode, he shares insights into the complexities of captives and alternative risk transfer, breaking down the steps agencies should take to prepare for these advanced insurance structures.

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Everything Ties Back to Core Values

Everything Ties Back to Core Values, Shoptalk Episode #172

In this Power Producers Shop Talk episode, David Carothers kicks off a six-week series focused on the growing trend of remote workforces in the insurance industry. Rather than just relying on virtual assistants, David and his team are diving into the process of building and managing remote teams within the United States, specifically focused on highly skilled professionals.

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The Power Producers Podcast where we are refining and redefining the sales game.

Kyle Houck

wholesale

Mastering Wholesale Partnerships: Submission Strategies, Underwriter Relationships, and Technology Tools for Middle-Market Success

In today’s competitive insurance marketplace, middle-market agencies must leverage every available advantage to win and retain business. One of the most underutilized yet powerful resources at an agent’s disposal is the wholesale market. By establishing strong partnerships with wholesalers, agents can access capacity, expertise, and proprietary programs that are often unavailable through direct channels. However, success in the wholesale arena requires more than simply submitting risks and hoping for the best.

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Client

How AI-Powered Workflows Are Transforming Sales, Marketing, and Client Communication

In the fast-paced world of commercial insurance, where every hour counts and every interaction matters, producers and agency owners are turning to artificial intelligence not as a replacement for human connection—but as a force multiplier. AI tools like ChatGPT are no longer just novelties or futuristic concepts. They are strategic business assets, helping commercial producers streamline workflows, scale personalization, and reclaim valuable time.

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Sales

How to Reverse Engineer Your Insurance Sales Goals with a Business Plan That Actually Works

Most commercial insurance producers fail not because they lack talent, but because they lack a plan. They enter the year with vague production targets—usually handed down from management—and hope that pure effort or luck will lead to success. But in the middle market, hope is not a strategy.

If you want to build a book of business that produces consistent results and long-term revenue, you need to think like a business owner. That means developing a business plan that is personal, measurable, and rooted in data. In this post, we’re going to show you how to reverse engineer your sales goals, simplify your sales pipeline, and build a weekly rhythm that supports growth without burnout.

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Captive

Overcoming Mental Roadblocks to Selling Captive Insurance: Strategies for Retaining High-Value Clients

When it comes to retaining large, high-value clients in the middle market, captive insurance should be one of the first solutions every producer considers. Yet many agents avoid the topic entirely—often for reasons that have less to do with the client’s needs and more to do with the producer’s own hesitations.

The truth? Failing to offer captives could cost you a $300,000 revenue client overnight. And in today’s competitive market, someone else will step in and take that account if you don’t.

In this post, we’ll break down the three biggest mental roadblocks holding agents back from selling captives, show you how to address them, and explain how to position yourself as the quarterback of the client relationship—while increasing your value and your compensation.

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Professional

Unlocking Professional Lines Growth: Cyber, D&O & EPL Strategies for Middle Market Producers

Middle market insurance producers face a “sleeping giant” opportunity in professional lines—namely cyber insurance, management liability (Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Liability), and broader professional liability coverages. Too often, these critical products are treated as afterthoughts, tacked onto a renewal packet rather than leveraged as strategic revenue drivers and client-retention tools. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why professional lines deserve your full attention, how to overcome common obstacles, and which actionable strategies will unlock growth across your book of business.

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AI

Harnessing AI in Insurance: Automation, Workflow Efficiency, and Document Intelligence

The landscape of commercial insurance is evolving at an unprecedented pace. As agencies strive to serve middle-market clients more effectively, many find themselves asking: how can we harness the power of AI in insurance to streamline operations, reduce errors, and free up producers for high-value tasks?

In this deep dive, we’ll explore the two fundamental pillars of AI—generative and analytical—outline practical steps for embedding automation into repeatable workflows, examine real-world case studies, and offer guidance on security, vendor selection, and change management. Whether you’re a curious producer or an operations leader, this post will give you actionable insights to start small and build momentum toward a more efficient, technology-enabled future.

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Killing Commercial Login