We’re thrilled to have you with us as we embark on this journey of sharing our experiences, insights, and resources to help insurance agencies thrive in the digital age by using Remote Insurance Professionals. Today, we want to introduce you to the founders of our company and share the story of how we transitioned to a fully remote insurance agency.
Meet The Founders
Our story begins with three insurance agency owners from different parts of the United States: Michael, Jeromy, and Caleb. Each of us ran our own successful insurance agencies before deciding to merge our businesses with the purpose of creating something truly unique.
Michael: Based in Arizona, Michael built a strong agency known for its customer-centric approach and innovative marketing solutions. He saw the potential of remote work early on and started experimenting with it before the merger (in part due to Covid). Michael excelled in marketing and engaging with the community but was lacking in business skills needed to quickly scale and grow an insurance agency.
Jeromy: With operations in both Arizona and Washington, Jeromy was known for his strategic acumen and ability to navigate complex insurance landscapes. He also had vast experience in buying and selling agencies and books of business. His experience in having remote employees in his agency played a crucial role in our current setup. He has the distinct ability to think like a CEO but was lacking the leadership around him to help him build and scale an insurance agency.
Caleb: Based in Missouri, Caleb brought a wealth of knowledge in insurance and customer-centric processes. His forward-thinking mindset and dedication to improving operational efficiency have been instrumental in our remote journey. Caleb’s mindset allows him to analyze systems and processes to create better efficiencies. Caleb was also looking to build an agency on a larger scale but didn’t necessarily have the resources nor did he want to manage that many employees.
And Introducing David: Although not originally part of the Heritage Insurance merger, David is a key founder of Insurance Futures. Based in Tampa, Florida, he leads Florida Risk Partners, a cutting-edge insurance and risk management firm he built from the ground up. With over 15 years of experience, David excels in using technology and analytics to achieve outstanding results. He’s also the founder of Killing Commercial Insurance Sales Training, where he coaches and mentors insurance professionals nationwide. David’s expertise and leadership are crucial as we continue to grow and expand Insurance Futures.
The Decision To Merge Our Agencies & Go Fully Remote
Two years ago, we decided to combine our expertise and merged our three agencies to establish a virtual agency. This decision was driven by several key factors:
Decision to Merge
Collaboration: As a business owner, it’s easy to feel isolated. Collaborating with like-minded individuals can make a significant difference. Partnering with people who inspire and challenge you, and whose strengths complement your weaknesses, can transform your business experience and drive greater success.
Specialization: As agency owners, we each have different strengths and passions, often requiring us to wear many hats. However, it is inefficient to spend time on tasks we are neither skilled at nor enjoy. By merging our agencies, we can focus on our individual strengths and passions, enhancing overall productivity and job satisfaction.
Accelerated Success: In today’s market, there is power in numbers. Larger premium volumes provide greater leverage with carriers. By merging our agencies, we expedited our path to success. Combining our books of business not only enhanced our security but also strengthened our position to navigate the current unprecedented insurance market effectively.
Decision to go remote
Efficiency: By eliminating physical office space, we significantly reduced overhead costs, reclaimed valuable time, and invested more in our personnel and technology.
Flexibility: Remote work enabled us to access a broader talent pool, allowing us to hire the best and brightest regardless of location. We now have employees in Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Missouri, Michigan, and Utah, with no geographical hiring boundaries.
Transformation: Our goal was to establish a highly versatile agency that operates more effectively remotely as it would in person.
Why We’re Sharing Our Story
Merging our agencies and transitioning to a fully remote model presented numerous challenges, including establishing effective communication systems, remote training, and ensuring employee engagement. However, through persistence and continuous improvement, we built a thriving remote agency. Our aim is to help other insurance agencies embrace remote work and its benefits. This journey was not easy; it involved effort, mistakes, and learning—and we still have more to do. We see both past challenges and future opportunities. By sharing our experiences and lessons learned, we hope to fast-track your success.