There's an elephant in the room (and apparently a sugarcane field). Becky and Laird discuss this week's news of Zywave's acquisition of ITC. Plus, GM's entrance into auto insurance (and Laird's real concern with UBI) and an announcement. Zywave Acquires Insurtech Frontrunner ITC, Becomes Only Provider to Offer Front-Office Solutions for Independent…

It's a rabbit hole of Laird's unexpected tweet shower this week. Everything from speeding tickets to shiny new technology syndrome to what keeps him up at night. Follow Laird on Twitter. If you really want some snark, follow Becky on Twitter.Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Home insurance customers – the most valuable group of customers to P&C carriers. How can agents attract them? Plus, Lemonade’s struggle to convert their renter customers into home customers and the fuel that powers this podcast. Home Insurance Customer Service and Reputation—Not Price—Drive Lifetime Customer Value, J.D. Power Finds Lemonade's insur…

What is the number one insurance brand in the world? Becky and Laird discuss that brand plus other top 100 global brands, including what makes them great and how the pandemic has affected some of the top brands. The number one insurance brand across the world is… (Insurance Business America) Zoom and Tesla Enter the Ranks of Interbrand’s 2020 Best …

“We don’t really know where this goes — and I’m not sure we really care.” ~ Bob Ross From random holidays to bad gifts. Sources of weird inspiration and secret societies. Plus, Happy Boss's Day! Insurance Agent AppPar Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Credit scores are not really an indicator of someone's driving behavior and risk. Yet a person's credit score is used to price their auto insurance. Not for one company. Plus, who is the smartest in the room? Drop credit scores from insurance rate pricing (Root Insurance) Recording of our AMA virtual happy hour…

Becky and Laird streamline the show to its essence. Car insurance start-up Root hires Goldman Sachs to lead IPO (Reuters) InsureTech Connect Global moves to October 19-21 You're not flying, you're driving.Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Two carriers; two different announcements. One is making an acquisition to diversify and better serve their market. One may be looking to sell off part of their book to better focus on what they do best. Plus, a rant from Laird (Shocking, I know) and Becky laments a loss caused by the pandemic. In a First, State Farm to Acquire Texas Nonstandard Au…

Amazon is selling auto insurance in India! So? Becky and Laird talk about why it's time to stop the hand wringing and start actually doing something. Plus, we have an announcement. Amazon's entry into auto insurance holds valuable lessons for agencies (Insurance Business America) AMA Virtual Happy Hour Panel on October 8 The funniest video we saw t…

Elon Musk is recruiting actuaries to be part of his "revolutionary" insurance company. Will Tesla actually revolutionize insurance? Plus, it was Becky's birthday this week and Laird gives a behind-the-scenes look at how his brain works. Biggest Insurance Disruptor: Lemonade or Tesla? (Strategy Meets Action) When the Machines Come for Your Insurance…

How are you doing in the midst of this pandemic? Becky and Laird share what they've been struggling with and what is helping them during this global crisis. [Webinar Recording] Growing Your Agency During a PandemicPar Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Is it the end of auto insurance as we know it? Becky and Laird discuss the findings in yet another report about the end of auto insurance. Plus, a follow up on Becky's appearance on You Don't Know Schmitt! and more lessons from Professor Rixford... this week's topic: economics. The End of Auto Insurance As We Know It (Majesco) This is the End, But …

It's happening! Walmart started an insurance agency. But. Is the sky really falling? Becky and Laird talk about Walmart's plans to sell Medicare insurance and the industry's fear of big companies like Walmart or Amazon entering the industry. Plus, more about Allstate and a history lesson in comparative rating from Professor Rixford. Walmart forms i…

Allstate is introducing a 7% discount on rates on policies bound online or over the phone instead of through an agent. Yeah. We were shocked too. Allstate is introducing channel of bind as a rating variable (Coverager)Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

J.D. Power released a study on auto insurance satisfaction that showed websites have surpassed agents in terms of customer satisfaction and loyalty Plus, Laird sounds off on virtual trade shows and #technicaldifficulties. It's happened – customers now like websites more than real insurance agents U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study…

Insurtech startup Lemonade announced plans for an IPO worth as much as $100 million. But, they've yet to show profitability. So, will people buy Lemonade shares? Laird and Becky discuss this move along with the history of Lemonade. Lemonade IPO: A unicorn vomiting a rainbow (Insurance Insider) Lemonade files for IPO (Coverager) Lemonade Files Plann…

The pandemic happened. Things have been busy. We've missed Insurance Happy Hour. Becky and Laird are back and talking about COVID-19, insurance agency quoting activity during the pandemic, and the insurance carrier response.Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

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Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Building brand loyalty starts with brand-driven marketing, not price-driven marketing. It is not only the insurance industry that has seen consumers being price-focused as a result of advertising that focuses on price. Several retail brands have recently announced plans to shift back to this type of marketing to drive long-term success. Plus, does …

The connectivity between agents and insurers is critical to serving consumers. In this episode, Becky and Laird talk about IVANS' recent findings in their annual report on the agency-insurer connectivity. Plus, we talk about the end of the decade and whether the Better Business Bureau means as much as it used to. Agency-Insurer Connectivity: An IVA…

There is a lot of hype around businesses like Blue Apron, Lime, and Uber. But in reality, they're not making money. In this off-topic episode, Becky and Laird talk about the hype in these businesses. Plus, our favorite holiday drinks. In Business, Nothing Ever Changes Holiday drinks: Red Hot Honey - Serve REALLY chilled. Cranberry & Rosemary White …

After years of being overhyped, people are starting to declare blockchain is dead. Becky and Laird talk about why blockchain is not the answer so many people thought it was. Plus, the recent news that Aon is acquiring CoverWallet, and Becky gets onto Laird about something. Some Argue Blockchain Enthusiasm is Fading Quickly Aon Acquires CoverWallet,…

Social proof, like ratings and reviews, has more influence on a consumer's confidence in a carrier and the likelihood they would want to get a quote from them. Becky and Laird talk about these findings from a 2018 Clearsurance report. Plus, how the mistakes from the Disney Plus launch won't affect them in the long run and a follow up on a previous …

Forget who owns the customer. It's who owns the customer experience. Becky and Laird discuss this question and the challenges of the four-legged stool in the age of the empowered consumer. Plus, #FreethePink and Becky gets a new LinkedIn skill. The Great Insurance Debate: Who Owns the Customer—Agent or Carrier? For Lemonade, Pink in Germany Is (at …

Consumers are no longer as loyal to their auto insurance like they used to be. Laird and Becky discuss what has contributed to this downward trend. Plus, we talk about WeWork and our favorite Halloween treats. Auto Insurance Customer Loyalty is Declining. Here's Why. How Adam Neumann's Over-the-Top Style Built WeWork. 'This Is Not the Way Everybody…

Becky and Laird talk about how insuretech is trying to disrupt traditional homeowner insurance by making it easier to buy and receive policy service. Also discussed is how more agents and carriers need to be attending the Agent's Council for Technology and how much Laird's back hurts. When Laird does the show notes, you can tell. Insurtechs Poised …

What happened at InsureTech Connect? Why did we miss a week? We talk about the biggest show in insurance. Plus, more on data. Are agents being data muled? A Report From the Front Lines of Innovation Watch Out Insurtechs: Nationwide Readies Own Digital Auto Insurance Platform Spire Insurance InsureTech Connect 2019 and the state of insurance technol…

This week it's a classic rabbit hole conversation. Becky and Laird start off discussing how breweries and whiskey distillers are telling their stories, then pivot into the stories that insurance can tell and where/how those stories can be told. Plus, Laird has a new nickname. Can a Person Be a Brand? What is Your Why? Old (Insurance) Sales Road (Ol…

This industry has a data sharing problem. In this episode, Becky and Laird continue their discussion on data from a previous episode. Who owns the data and why it's so important to share data while also improving security. InsurTech Utopia Driven by Data Sharing Impeded by Data Ownership Uncertainty Data, Data Everywhere…

The insuretechs that are going direct to consumer with their products are playing a pricing game. Becky and Laird talk about this strategy and the recent performance of a few notable insuretechs. Plus, a little self-promotion and Laird's favorite airplane. Root and Lemonade: Real Unicorns or Ponies in Halloween Costumes? Next Generation of Online C…

Who owns the data in a comparative rater or agency management system? Hint: it's not the vendor. Becky and Laird talk about data ownership in the industry and how we need to get better as a whole. Plus, we talk about a couple news items from this week. And, Laird geeks out over his favorite band. B Atomic video "Why agents should own their data" Te…

What happens when a carrier helps drive leads for their agents? Becky and Laird talk about Windhaven's recent announcement about their challenge to their agents to quickly respond to leads. Also, we catch up on what we've been doing over the summer break. Windhaven® Insurance Challenges Local Agents to Compete for Free Auto Insurance Leads 3 Female…

Get ready for season three of Insurance Happy Hour, the first episode starts next week! Only if we can get our act together in time.Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

In the season 2 finale, Laird and Becky talk with repeat guest Justin Costa and new Insurance Happy Hour guest Paul Harrison. Topics include promotional items, insuretech, an actual insurance customer experience, and our favorite episodes from season 2. Special Guests: Justin Costa and Paul Harrison.…

In part 2 of Cake & Arrow/Coverager's report on Millennials and modern insurance, Becky and Laird discuss the report's ideas of how the industry could change to appeal more to millennials and whether that's a good idea. Plus, Laird shares a story about encountering a Insurance Happy Hour listener. Millennials & Modern Insurance: Changing the Way Mi…

We live in a convenience economy led mostly by the convenience generation, Millennials. Though convenience in our daily lives is valued by more than just Millennials. Becky and Laird revisit this topic inspired by Laird's recent travels and a new report by Cake & Arrow. Plus, our MLB nicknames. Our previous Millennial episodes ICYMI: Millennials & …

Becky and Laird talk about Tesla's newest foray into the realm of auto insurance through the use of quite arguably the largest single dataset of usage based metrics out there. We also get the munchies thanks to a listener. Tesla and insurance: Elon Musk, the backseat insurer Tesla plans to launch an insurance product ‘in about a month’ Applied Syst…

GEICO spent $1.5 billion on advertising in 2018 (a more than 400% increase from their 2004 spend). Yet, their number of new policies sold has stayed about the same. Becky and Laird talk about the cost of acquiring new customers and how convenience is an important part of that. Plus, a new drinking game. McModern | Coverager…

Laird and Becky discuss a new millennial-focused insurance brand. Plus, a ranking of the Frito-Lays variety chip pack. Toggle(SM) Launch Marks Arrive of a Reimagined Insurance Brand Built for Digitally-Powered Consumers Toggle Renters Insurance A video ranking Fritos, Doritos, Cheetos, and Lay's chips is dividing the internet…

AM Best announced that they are going to include a formal innovation assessment in their rating procedure for insurance companies. Becky and Laird discuss this news and how innovation is important from all corners of the industry, not just carriers. Plus, what is the answer to the ultimate question? AM Best Requests Comments on Draft Criteria: Scor…

In our second episode from #Elevate19, Matt Aaron from Insurance Agent Mobile App joins Laird and Becky to talk about his history, his product, and his views on interconnectivity in the industry. Plus, Becky gets called out for a comment made in a previous episode. Insurance Agent App Follow Insurance Agent on Twitter Special Guest: Matt Aaron.…

Inspired by #Elevate19, Becky and Laird talk about the state of conventions and trade shows in the industry and what makes a good convention. Plus, a story from Bourbon Street. Elevate ConferencePar Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Becky and Laird discuss some listener feedback.Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

Becky and Laird dig into the content bin to discuss Lemonade's latest transparency report, news jacking and the best time to record a podcast. There also might be a duet.Par Becky Schroeder & Laird Rixford

It's the end of cars as we know it! Or, is it? Becky and Laird talk about the decline of car manufacturing and ownership. Plus, reading the fine print of an insurance policy paid off. Carpocalypse now: Lyft's founders are right - we're in the endgame for cars Woman reads fine print on insurance policy, wins $10,000 in hidden contest Captain Disillu…