Acquiring a new customer is expensive. In 2014, Adam Klauber, an analyst from William Blair & Co., an investment bank and financial services company, determined that direct insurers …
Read MoreDemolishing Sales Roadblocks
Insurance sales professionals take pride in being good at what they do, and invest a lot of time and energy in staying on top of their professional game.
…
Read MoreAre You Listening to Your Clients?
How often do you take your clients’ feedback into account? You probably respond immediately to any requests they have about their policies. But are you as quick to …
Read MoreScripting Your Success
Insurance industry icon and consultant Garry Kinder, along with his brother, Jack, trained me back in the 1980s. Garry says, “Ad-libs are for amateurs…All pros practice.”
In our …
Read MoreWhy Agent Response Time is More Critical Than Ever
Two years ago, I wrote a column on “speed-to-value,” in which the time agents took to respond to and resolve inquiries/requests from policyholders and prospects had become an …
Read MoreThe New, New World
During the Age of Discovery, after Europeans made landfall in what would later be called the Americas, new trade routes brought new power, riches and wealth to the …
Read MoreThe Agency’s Seven Deadly Traps
The Agency’s Seven Deadly Traps are the obstacles that most often undermine an agency’s ability to realize it’s Best Version Possible (BVP). Now I doubt that many agencies …
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Meet the Team
Mike Rice, Principal
Mike received his Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University and his Law Degree from Vanderbilt University. Mike has spent his entire life and almost his entire career in the insurance industry. Mike grew up in the insurance business around an independent agency founded by his grandfather and then run by his father. After graduating from and spending time with the Taft, Stettinius & Hollister law firm, Mike spent 12 years with American Financial Group, Inc., and its insurance affiliates, Great American Insurance Group and Great American Financial Resources. He founded The Insurance Connection in 2005. Mike resides in Cincinnati, OH with his family.
Bill Caesar, CIC, CPCU, Agency Growth Coach | Commercial Lines
Bill grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He has been in the property & casualty insurance industry his entire career. Bill Lives in Centerville, Ohio with his wife Karen. They enjoy spending time with their three Newfoundland dogs, golfing and playing bridge.
Sara Rogers, Personal Lines | Access Plus Manager
Sara has been a Property & Casualty Agent for over 17 years, specializing in personal lines. She started in the insurance industry as a telemarketer where she obtained her property and casualty license as well as her life and health insurance license. Sara has prior experience closing sales for Fortune 500 companies and as the office manager and lead underwriter for American Heritage Insurance Group’s Springfield office. Sara joined The Insurance Connection in 2014 and is the personal lines point of contact for newly signed ISMs until they receive their direct appointments with carriers. Sara resides in Medway, OH with her husband and has three children.
Aaron Newman, Personal Lines | Access Plus
Aaron has been with The Insurance Connection since June. He has been in the insurance agency for 31 years. Aaron has his AINS &API and obtained them from The Insurance Institutes. Aaron currently resides in Mason and has three dogs.
Shelly West, Commercial Lines | Access Plus
Shelly began working at American Heritage and The Insurance Connection in August of 2021. She has over 10 years of insurance experience. She was born and raised on the West Side of Cincinnati and still lives there with her modern day Brady Bunch family. She is a mentor and PTA Member with the Oak Hills School District. Christmas is her favorite holiday because she loves spending time with the family and goes all out decorating.
Holly Schick, Accountant | Compliance
Holly received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting from Xavier University. Holly’s accounting experience spans over 26 years in general accounting for small to mid-sized businesses and not-for-profit’s. Holly has worked for The Insurance Connection since 2011. She resides in West Chester, OH with her son, Joey.
Abby Blair, Regional Vice President/Recruiter
Abby earned her Bachelors in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Morehead State University. She spent 14 years in Lexington, Kentucky specializing in high net worth Life Insurance sales, marketing and plan administration. She worked with trust administrators and investment management teams to provide a holistic experience for their clients. Abby moved back to the Cincinnati area and joined The Insurance Connection in 2022 as their recruiter.
Membership Benefits
Increase your Agency Income & Value
Size and Stability
Higher Commissions
Programs and Specialty Markets
Local Incentives and Profit
Marketing and Advertising
SIAA National Incentive
Training and Education
Access to Competitive Companies
Agency Development
The Agency Foundation to help you establish your new agency
Business Insurance Opportunities
Tools to GROW your agency
Premium Financing Service