The independent agency channel is changing fast—and the firms that see the shifts early will take the lead. In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down six critical developments reshaping growth, profitability, risk, client expectations, and agency valuation in the next 6–18 months. You’ll hear what the data actually says about AI adoption, why cyber insurance growth is both a financial and ethical imperative, how top agencies are driving organic growth even in tough markets, and the new frontier of AI-driven claims fraud. If you’re an agency principal, marketing leader, or someone responsible for strategic planning—this is your briefing.

There’s a trillion-dollar wave of capital chasing AI in insurance. The question is — will your agency ride it or get rolled by it? In this episode, Michael Jans lays out the 5-Step AI Playbook for Insurance Agencies: Know – What’s real and what’s noise Grow – Where AI actually drives revenue Integrate – How to blend humans + automation Buy – Smart investment decisions in tech Scale – Building a system that compounds Straight talk. No hype. Just a clear path from overwhelm to opportunity. Subscribe, listen, and get your agency ready for the AI age.

AI is accelerating faster than any technology in history — doubling in power every four to seven months. What does that mean for the independent insurance agency system? Michael Jans sits down with Marc Lanzkowsky, founder of Lanzko AI and 30-year veteran of the insurance world — attorney, carrier exec, and IT innovator — to explore how AI is reshaping compliance, claims, and operations. You’ll hear: The biggest AI compliance traps agencies are walking into right now Why “free” AI tools might expose your client data to model training What smart agencies are doing to integrate AI safely and intelligently Why AI won’t replace the human element — but will multiply your impact How custom GPTs and prompt libraries are becoming an agency’s secret weapon A fast, thought-provoking conversation — one that might just reshape how you lead your agency through the next 36 months of transformation. 🎙️ Hosted by Michael Jans Follow for new episodes of AI for the IA — where independent agencies learn how to think, act, and grow with intelligence.

When you’ve spent decades inside the independent agency system, you know the pain of underwriting chaos — juggling dozens of carriers, appetites, and rules that never seem to match up. That frustration drove Trace Meek, a third-generation agency owner, to build something extraordinary: Ask Fetch — an AI-powered underwriting and quoting platform that cuts hours of manual work down to under 90 seconds. In this episode, Trace shares: How he turned a daily headache into a nationwide insurtech. The “21x MIT Rule” that proves speed wins every time. Why 400,000 industry veterans leaving the business will make AI essential for survival. What the next 36 months look like for independent agencies who adopt (or ignore) AI. Listen in — this one’s not theory. It’s the future unfolding, one frustrated agent at a time. 🎙️ Hosted by Michael Jans, Founder of The Society of Insura-Preneurs.

Once a week, Michael Jans — founder of the Society of Insura-Preneurs and one of the most trusted voices in insurance marketing — drops into your world for seven focused minutes of high-impact insight. Each episode packs six real-time bulletins on the forces shaping our industry: carrier performance, underwriting trends, tech disruption, and what it all means for your agency’s growth. From profit margins to AI breakthroughs, you’ll get the data, context, and strategic edge to stay informed, stay sharp, and stay ahead. 🎙️ Subscribe now and make seven minutes the most profitable part of your week.

The buyer’s journey isn’t a funnel anymore — it’s chaos. Google calls it the Messy Middle… and they’ve got the data to prove it. In this episode, Michael Jans breaks down Google’s landmark behavioral-science study Decoding Decisions — and shows independent insurance agencies how to use the six psychological biases that actually drive buying behavior: ✅ Social Proof ✅ Authority ✅ Scarcity ✅ Power of Now ✅ Power of Free ✅ Category Heuristics You’ll learn how to stack these triggers, eliminate friction, and meet buyers where they loop — on LinkedIn, email, podcasts, and beyond. Plus, Michael connects the dots between the Messy Middle and the coming AI revolution that will reshape how agencies attract, convert, and retain clients. 🎯 Funnels are linear. The customer journey isn’t. 🎧 Listen now and get the science behind your next big growth leap.

In this 10-minute episode, Michael Jans sits down with tech pioneer Frank Sentner, who’s been building technology for the insurance industry since 1976 — long before most agents knew what a modem was. Together they trace the path from the first digital ACORD forms to modern-day AI. You’ll hear: Why “Bad Data. Bad AI.” is the new truth every agency must face Real-world examples of AI that augment people — not replace them The single smartest question to ask before buying any AI tool If you’ve ever wondered how to separate the gold from the garbage in today’s AI hype, this is your short course in sanity. 🎧 Listen now — it might save you from your next bad software decision.

Insurance agency owners don’t have time for fluff — so here’s your seven-minute intelligence briefing from the trenches. This week, Michael Jans fires off six rapid-fire insights you need to know: 🚗 Tesla gets busted (and proves agents are still the smart money 😉) 📉 Commercial lines soften — but not all markets 🤝 Networks gain power — and access is everything 🤖 57% of InsurTech deals now flow to AI-first firms 💰 Carrier investments quietly become the new margin shield ⚡ AI doubles every 4–7 months — and you cannot afford to sit this one out When tech moves this fast, the winners are the ones who act fast and think smart. 🎁 Want the free AI Buyer’s Guide (v2) before it drops publicly? Email Michael at michael@michaeljans.com and say “Send me the Guide.”

Every week, a new AI company shows up promising to revolutionize your agency. Most will vanish before your next renewal cycle. The problem isn’t too few tools — it’s that most agency owners don’t have a system for buying them. In this episode, Michael Jans lays out his 8-Point AI Buyer’s Filter — the same framework he uses to separate the brilliant from the bogus. You’ll learn how to evaluate: Real business fit (not hype) Whether the tech uses the right kind of AI The team’s domain knowledge and credibility Data security and financial stability Onboarding, support, and roadmap transparency If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI noise or pressured by slick sales decks, this episode is your BS detector. 🎧 Listen in — and learn to buy AI like a strategist.

In just seven minutes, Michael Jans cuts through the noise and delivers six powerful bullets every insurance agency owner needs to know right now: slowing premium growth, looming soft market conditions, new AI tools (and red flags), carrier adoption pitfalls, and the single biggest missed play in the industry. If you’ve been wondering how to separate hype from opportunity, this briefing is your shortcut. Get the signal without the noise—then decide how you’ll lead your agency into growth while others stumble.

Most agencies underestimate the single biggest lever for growth: revenue per customer. In this episode, Michael Jans reveals why just a $200 bump in average revenue per client compounds into millions of dollars in income, higher retention, richer EBITDA, and premium valuation. You’ll discover: The 5 strategies every agency must execute to raise revenue per client. How multi-policy households can quadruple retention rates. Why “Defensive AI” only saves pennies… while “Offensive AI” creates exponential growth. Plus, Michael shares free resources — including the Client Optimizer Tool and the AI Divide Report — to help you move from wondering and waiting to leading and winning. 👉 Listen now and make sure you’re on the right side of the AI Divide.

Every week, Michael Jans cuts through the noise to deliver six signals that matter for independent agency owners. In this 7-minute briefing: Why slowing premium hikes point to an impending soft market 📉 M&A trends: fewer deals, bigger valuations 💰 California’s wildfire model shift — and what it could mean for the nation 🌲🔥 AI’s overlooked growth power (hint: it’s not cost-cutting) 🤖 Cyber coverage: new capacity, low penetration, big opportunity 🔐 Record profitability… but is it real? 📊 Plus: who got bought this week, and why niches always win. 👉 Subscribe for your weekly dose of growth intelligence — fast, focused, and built for Insura-Preneurs.

In this episode, Michael Jans unpacks Robert Cialdini’s timeless Influence and reveals how the 7 principles of persuasion shape every decision your prospects make. From reciprocity to scarcity (and the surprising “eighth” principle of unity), you’ll hear research, stories, and field-tested applications you can put to work immediately in your agency. Discover why some agencies grow in leaps while others drop money on the way to the bank — and how to stop leaving half your growth behind. Plus: a behind-the-scenes look at Michael’s own career breakthroughs and the simple tactics you can steal today.

Insurance News Brief with Michael Jans In less than 7 minutes, Michael Jans delivers the week’s must-know news for serious Insura-Preneurs. Underwriting profit triples in 2025. UnitedHealthcare slashes Medicare agent commissions. Global cat losses surge to $80B. AI governance shifts from optional to mandated (24 states onboard). Liability costs continue their relentless climb. M&A activity heats up with World, Duffy, and Everpeak on the move. Short. Timely. Actionable. Stay future-proof in a fast-changing industry.

AI is the fastest-adopted technology in history—and it’s splitting the insurance industry in two. Some agencies are systematizing AI to drive growth, while others are dabbling and drifting into danger. In this episode, Michael Jans sounds the alarm on 10 red flags that put your agency at risk—from the “expensive hobby” trap to the compliance catastrophe—and shows how to avoid them. You’ll discover: Why AI can’t just be a side project The 5 elements of an AI governance framework How AI impacts EBITDA, growth, and valuation The difference between efficiency gains and exponential growth If you want to stay safe, grow faster, and protect your agency’s valuation, this episode is your wake-up call.

Insurance News Brief with Michael Jans A fast, 7-minute roundup of the biggest stories shaping the insurance industry — delivered straight to independent agency leaders who want to stay sharp without wasting time. In this week’s brief: 📈 Health benefit costs set to climb 6–7% by 2026 💰 Valuations holding nearly 20% above the 10-year average 🤖 1 in 3 agencies already using AI — with principals leading adoption 🧭 Why AI may soon decide product “winners and losers” 🚗 Personal auto shows recovery, but claim severity still bites 📰 This week’s agency acquisitions… Stay informed. Stay competitive. Each Thursday, get the industry brief that helps you move faster, grow smarter, and stay ahead.

Every agency owner says they want growth. Few actually ritualize it. In this episode, Michael Jans pulls back the curtain on the simple but powerful “Growth Ritual” that keeps agencies on track month after month. You’ll discover: Why your P&L is a lagging indicator—and what you should track instead. The Rule of 50 (and why it’s the ticket into premium valuation lanes). How to use the Four Tributaries of Income (referrals, retention, revenue per customer, and new customers). The ACOR framework—Attract, Convert, Optimize, Retain—and how to use it as a monthly diagnostic. The cultural ritual Michael used as CEO to hardwire growth into his team. Plus: insider announcements, free strategic tools, and the launch of Michael’s new short-form podcast: The Insura-Preneur News Brief. 👉 If you’re serious about growth and valuation, you’ll want this in your calendar.

When you peel back the layers of most “successful” agencies, you find mediocrity hiding behind luck and inertia. Not here. In this episode, Michael Jans sits down with longtime Mastermind member Frank Karkowsky to reveal the real drivers of a Rule of 50 agency—where growth, margins, and valuation stack up in the top tier of the industry. Here’s what you’ll discover: The deliberate decision to move up-market—and why Pasadena Insurance rejected the “small account ceiling.” How adding benefits and high-value personal lines created handcuffs that lock in retention. The “agency-within-an-agency” approach that turns every department into a self-sustaining growth engine. Why investing in culture, producer systems, and client experience isn’t fluff—it’s strategy that drives EBITDA and valuation. Whether you're chasing growth, improving EBITDA, or engineering a higher valuation, this episode is packed with strategies you can apply today. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Michael Jans reveals the most overlooked growth lever for independent insurance agencies — and why agencies that master this one move consistently grow faster, make more per client, and sell for 15–30% higher multiples. You’ll discover: Why niching down accelerates revenue, retention, and profitability The math behind a 60%+ income difference between two markets Michael’s Bullseye Market Selector — a 10-factor framework for choosing your ideal client profile How your market choice impacts valuation (with real numbers!) Where AI and niche authority intersect to create lasting competitive advantage 📥 Want the Bullseye Market Selector Tool free? Email michael@michaeljans.com and I’ll send it to you.

Most agencies are leaving money on the table—and they don’t even know it. In this episode, Michael Jans reveals the 10 science-backed optimization levers that can take your email results from “meh” to 27X better. You’ll discover: The core campaigns every agency must run to attract, convert, optimize, and retain clients Why “event triggered campaigns” beats manual campaigns by 260% How AI-powered GPTs make “done-for-you marketing” possible The “Social Proof Bomb” that accelerates conversion rates instantly If you’ve ever wondered why some agencies dominate while others stall… this is the episode that answers it. 🎧 Listen now and unlock the science behind high-performing campaigns.