Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

In this episode of The Power Producers Podcast, David Carothers and co-host Kyle Houck interview Abe Gibson, Partner & Cyber Practice Leader, and Ryan Dunn, Partner & Vice President of Cennairus Cyber. Abe and Ryan discuss the challenges faced by small and medium businesses in implementing cyber controls, the latest trends in cyber insurance underwriting, and the critical role of virtual CISOs in enhancing cybersecurity and insurance terms.

Episode Highlights:

  • Ryan discusses the need for agents to assist with underwriting cyber insurance and the role of a wholesaler in gathering and translating information to the carrier to improve insurability for clients. (13:53)
  • Abe mentions that the perception that open RDP ports are a significant risk factor for ransomware attacks is misguided, as proper security measures such as MFA, strong passwords, and VPN segmentation can effectively mitigate any potential threats. (20:53)
  • Ryan mentions that the biggest mistake in the cyber insurance industry is agents rushing to submit insurance applications without taking a proactive approach, which includes analyzing and implementing necessary controls to become more secure and insurable. (33:41)
  • Ryan mentions that partnering with virtual CISOs can not only help clients adhere to compliance frameworks but also improve their insurability rates. (43:50)
  • Ryan mentions that it is crucial to seize the current soft market as an opportunity to improve processes, educate clients, and become proactive in cybersecurity, to position oneself as a trusted resource for the future hard market. (49:43)

Tweetable Quotes:

  • “There’s a lot of moving pieces, but we’re about to have a solution that hopefully doesn’t cost any money that you can get the same outcome with.” – Abe Gibson
  • “This is the time to improve your process. Learn some of these damn cybersecurity acronyms. You know, start being proactive with your clients, educate them. And you’ll be winning.” – Ryan Dunn

Resources Mentioned:

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

Kyle Houck

Risk

From InsurTech to Relationship-Driven Risk Management: Lessons for Modern Insurance Producers – A Conversation with Brett Fulmer

In a constantly evolving insurance landscape, commercial producers are being forced to adapt—quickly. Between InsurTech advancements, shifting market conditions, and increasing client expectations, producers must learn how to balance innovation with deep relationship-building and technical risk expertise. On a recent episode of the Power Producers Podcast, industry veteran David Carothers sat down with Brett Fulmer, principal at Newport Beach Insurance Center, to talk about navigating these dynamics with authenticity and strategy. What followed was a roadmap for producers who want to succeed in today’s middle market.

Read More »
Insurance

How Successful Insurance Producers Can Stay Grounded, Build Respect, and Avoid the Arrogance Trap

In the commercial insurance industry, success can come fast—especially for driven producers who are focused on the middle market. The money starts coming in, the book grows, and you find yourself standing in rooms where you once only dreamed of being. But with that success comes a subtle trap—one that’s caught more than a few top producers off guard: arrogance.

It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes, it’s the silent erosion of empathy. Other times, it’s the misplaced belief that your way is the only way. In this post, I want to explore how insurance producers can stay grounded even as their careers take off, how they can build respect by honoring where they came from, and how to avoid becoming the very kind of producer people whisper about after conferences for all the wrong reasons.

Read More »
Killing Commercial Login