2024 Build or Buy: A Different Conversation About Tech and AI Roberto Salinas, Business Development Lead from ACT Supporting Partner LULA and ACT's Executive Director Chris Cline explore an increasingly common question as agencies are faced with more technology options than ever before…to build or to buy. Hear relevant examples from inside and outside our industry, discussions of the benefits and risks associated with each option, tips that will help your business work through this complex decision, and some best practices for considering new tech. Recorded 10/22/24 Innovate to Attract: How Tech is Helping Solve the Talent Crisis Chris Cline, Executive Director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT) and Jennifer Carroll, CEO of ACT Supporting Partner Veruna discuss how attracting and retaining top talent is more challenging than ever.  As tenured staff retire, younger professionals are hesitant to join, and retaining new hires becomes increasingly difficult. In this webinar, we will explore how technology enables culture and creates an environment that attracts both younger and experienced talent. We’ll discuss how tech minimizes mundane, repeatable processes, provides better insights, and allows employees to add value to customers and the community. Recorded 10/9/24 HACKED! Get Caught Up on Cyber Before Getting Caught Understanding the potential threats facing small businesses is crucial for effective risk mitigation. However, despite thorough preparation, the reality is that cybercrime remains a persistent threat. Independent insurance agents face the dual challenge of managing their own risks while also safeguarding their clients. Watch an insightful webinar hosted by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT) in collaboration with ACT Supporting Partner, Coterie Insurance. We explored the latest industry data on cyber threats and dove into practical strategies for reducing vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Our expert panel includes Coterie’s Chief Insurance Officer, Bobbie Collies, and Chief InformationSecurity Officer, Emily Morgan, alongside ACT’s Executive Director, Chris Cline  Recorded 10/2/24 Boost Your Retention Strategy In a Challenging Insurance Market How can you use existing and emerging technology to create a solid retention strategy in today’s market? Watch Matthew Smith from ACT Supporting Partner ClientCircle and ACT's Executive Director, Chris Cline give practical tips on how to build a simple, data-driven and effective retention strategy for your  agency. Learn: · How to capture client sentiment regularly and effectively · What to do about unhappy clients and how to quickly retain at-risk accounts · Strategies for improving customer loyalty and satisfaction · Communications to send throughout the year to positively affect retention · Which tech solutions can help you automate your retention efforts.   Recorded 8/21/24 "Fundamentals Over Fads"... a modern approach to traditional marketing The team from ACT Supporting Partner, Neilson Marketing, shares their views on a modern approach to marketing staples. Topics such as optimizing your website, email marketing, and outbound sales calls are covered. Hear about the importance of the user experience, clean data, having a clear plan, and how AI is impacting all of these long-standing marketing capabilities. Learn tips and tools to rethink and modernize your agency’s marketing efforts. Copy of slide deck available here. Recorded 8/14/24 Choosing New Technology? Do This, Not That. When seeking a new technology partner, asking relevant and intuitive questions is crucial to ensure that the partnership aligns with your business goals, standards for innovation, security, and customer experience. Watch Chris Cline, Executive Director of Agents Council for Technology (ACT), and Reid Holzworth, CEO of ACT Supporting Partner Ivans as they provide insights into choosing the right technology and what we as an industry should be looking to solve. Recorded 8/7/24 The Machines Are Coming...well, not quite yet There is no doubt that AI is here and will significantly influence our industry and society for years to come. But where are we in the hype cycle? How is AI being used today in our industry? What should you be doing to prepare? Watch Synatic’s VP of Business Development and Alliances, Jamie Peers, and ACT’s Executive Director, Chris Cline for a practical conversation about AI in our industry. They discuss where we are in the AI journey, the need to remain focused on data and why, and real-world examples of how AI is helping independent agencies today.  Recorded 7/24/24 It All Started with an Email... Cybersecurity is not just about buying the latest software or hardware. It's about understanding the risks that your business faces and how to protect yourself from them. Rhodian Group’s Director of Cybersecurity Solutions, Aaron Wagner and ACT’s Executive Director, Chris Cline explore a real-world example of one of the most common and costly threats that insurance agencies face: Business Email Compromise (BEC). Learn how BEC works, how AI is being used by both attackers and defenders, and how to prevent and respond to BEC incidents.  Hear practical tips on how to improve your cybersecurity posture right away. Learn from the experts and secure your business from cyber threats! Recorded 7/17/24 "I NEED AI!....or so I thought!" Dyad’s Chief Product Officer, Jeff Wargin, and The Big "I"'s Agents Council for Technology (ACT) Executive Director, Chris Cline reframe the question and dive into the current state of agency automation. They kick off this session with a real example of an agency meeting Dyad's team recently had and discuss how we can use it to appreciate how technology can impact effectiveness and efficiency, your team and customers, and the overall health of an agency. Recorded 6/27/24 Securing Your Data in a BYOD World -  Best Practices for Mobile Device (MDM) and Application Management (MAM) In a world where personal devices are integral to our work, securing your agency’s data has never been more essential. Watch a webinar that cuts through the complexity of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies and offers clear strategies for protecting your data no matter where it lives. Jason Gobbel from Kite Technology Group and Chris Cline from Agents Council for Technology will guide you through industry regulations and corporate device policies, providing you with the tools to safeguard sensitive information, wherever your work takes you.  Recorded 6/12/24   *BONUS! Click here for an infographic: What Insurance Agencies Need to Know About BYOD BYOD **EXTRA BONUS! Watch Part II as Jason Gobbel goes even deeper into key considerations of BYOD plans Proactive Engagement Delivers Lifelong Relationships Ilya Filipov, General Manager of Insurance at Total Expert and Chris Cline, Executive Director of the Big 'I' Agents Council for Technology (ACT) present an insightful webinar tailored for insurance leaders seeking to drive growth and retention in today's competitive market. Learn from real-world examples and gain practical insights that you can immediately apply within your organization. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your sales and marketing efforts to the next level. Recorded 5/1/24 Reframe the Question: "What AI do I need?" You see the buzz about AI all around, but the critical question isn't just "What AI do I need?" You should be asking yourself "What problem am I trying to solve?" This webinar, cohosted by IRYS Insurtech and ACT, delves into the foundational elements essential for leveraging AI in the insurance sector, emphasizing the pivotal role of data. Watch Chris Cline, Executive Director of ACT, and Margeaux Giles, CEO of IRYS Insurtech for a discussion on reframing the way we think about AI.  Recorded 4/24/24 Effective Year-Round Communication Tactics for Agents Unlock the full potential of your agency with communication strategies designed for client retention and business growth. Watch Matthew Smith from ACT Supporting Partner ClientCircle and ACT's Executive Director Chris Cline as they dive into the art and the science of maintaining effective communication with insurance clients throughout the year. Recorded 4/17/24  Spring Into Action with Data-Driven Decisions The Big "I"'s Agents Council for Technology (ACT) Executive Director, Chris Cline and Paul Bessire, Chief Technology Officer at ACT Supporting Partner Coterie Insurance present an insightful session on ways you can use your data to grow your agency. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, data plays a crucial role in shaping strategic decisions. Whether you're an insurance professional, agent, or industry enthusiast, this webinar is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to leverage data effectively.  Recorded 3/27/24   Data-Driven Marketing 2: Agents Aren't Marketing Experts (and shouldn't have to be!) You’re an insurance agent, not a marketer. But you’re tasked with marketing activities every day. You know that you need to do some marketing to keep your business growing, but how do you make the most of what you’re doing? Watch Stefanie Altman, VP of Marketing at Agency Revolution, and Chris Cline, Executive Director at the Agents Council for Technology as they discuss ways insurance agents can use data in their marketing activities practically and effectively. Recorded 3/13/24 Demystifying AI in Insurance Utilizing AI in your business can seem daunting at first, however this webinar seeks to eliminate those myths and explain why AI is so important for agencies. Use cases extend across the customer lifecycle, from supporting initial sales calls to servicing existing customers. Join LULA Co-Founder Michael Vega-Sanz and ACT's Executive Director, Chris Cline as they not only educate you on AI, but also provide actionable steps to get your agency adopting tools to increase revenue!  Recorded 1/25/24 Microsoft Teams: More Than Meets the Eye If you wish you knew more about Microsoft Teams and its capabilities, join the Microsoft MVP and Chief Technology Officer from Kite Technology Group, Adam Atwell and ACT's Executive Director, Chris Cline for a discussion of key Microsoft Teams features. Among the topics they discuss are:  - Best practices for setting up channels   - Streamlining communication with chat  - Cultivating a stronger company culture with Teams  - Driving adoption of Teams and other technology in your agency  Recorded 1/17/24 2023 Establishing a Data-Driven Marketing Strategy for Your Agency

Your agency has a wealth of data. Are you taking advantage of it? Having a data-driven approach to marketing is essential, but all too often, agencies shy away from it. If that sounds familiar, you don’t want to miss this session. Watch Vice President of Agency Revolution Stefanie Altman and Chris Cline, Executive Director at the Agents Council for Technology, have a lively, in-depth conversation about marketing with data.

Communication, Collaboration and the Role of AI

Unique challenges and technological transformations are reshaping the insurance industry. How should agencies position themselves to benefit from these changes? Join host Joe Welu as he engages in a dynamic discussion with industry experts Chris Cline and Ilya Filipov from ACT Supporting Partner, Total Expert. The conversation focuses on the lack of proactive communication from agents and the delicate balance between over-communicating and avoiding notice of rising costs. It emphasizes the importance of education, engagement, and offering advice to customers, along with leveraging technology to provide valuable insights and better serve clients. 

Applied Client Network - Coffee Talk with Chris Cline

Chris Cline joins Brian Langerman and the Applied Client Network to talk about the current state of AI and it's impact on our industry. Then, they pivot and conclude with a compelling conversation about culture and onboarding new employees with the best chance for success.

What's Next in Insurance Technology?

Chris Cline, Executive Director - ACT, and Torey Maerz, co-founder and CEO, ClientCircle talk about the latest in insurtech: trends to watch, tools to invest in and fads to avoid.

Strategize & Deploy: Tech-based Solutions for Today's Insurance Agents

Coterie Insurance hosted this LinkedIn Live event along with Vertafore and ACT - Agents Council for Technology.  Becky Monfre, VP of Digital Distribution at Coterie;  Sydney Roe, Director of Agency Marketing at Vertafore and ACT's Executive Director Chris Cline discuss technologies available to and being used by independent agencies to foster growth and efficiency.

 
Challenge What You Do!

What's the one experience your clients have with their insurance every year? Getting an invoice and paying! The payment experience is often overlooked as an important client interaction. Watch this conversation with Malcolm MacDonald from ACT Supporting member, Red Planet Software and ACT's Executive Director, Chris Cline and learn that challenging how you look at payments in your agency can set you apart. 

Making Data-Driven Decisions

Chris Cline, ACT's Executive Director and Cameron Nordholm, Head of Strategy for ACT Supporting Partner AgentSync get together to discuss how making decisions with data can elevate your way of doing business. You will learn how using data can drive intelligence and efficiency to make informed decisions, ensure accurate and continuous compliance management and secure market share with competitive intelligence. 

The AI Revolution in Insurance

These days its impossible not to notice the impact artificial intelligence (AI) is making in our world. This roundtable webinar features top tech and AI experts in the insurance industry. Watch this webinar to gain valuable insights into the AI-driven future of insurance and learn how to leverage these advancements to propel your agency forward. 

Emerging Technology Trends Update - 2023 and Beyond

ACT and ACT Supporting Partner NetVU bring you this session as an update on Emerging Trends you may have heard at Accelerate 2023, powered by NetVU. This recap covers ideas the carriers, agents and tech firms in attendance helped ACT gather as insights into this topic. Chris Cline, ACT Executive Director and Joyce Sigler, NetVU Chairman of the Board give us a better understanding of how all of this will impact our industry three and more years in the future.

 

Catalyit & ACT Collaboration 

 

MFA and Cybersecurity Townhall

Join panelists, Jim Rogers from The Hartford, Ryan Smith from Adar IT/Rigid Bits, Alvito Vaz from ID Federation and moderator Chris Cline from the Agents Council for Technology at IIABA for this informative session. These industry and cybersecurity experts discuss the current state of cyber risk and regulation, why companies are taking action, how that is impacting independent agencies, and how agencies can lean into the topic.

Chris Cline and Peter McDonald from Wunderite are back together with a deep dive into the audience live-polling from the panel discussion at the October 2022 ACT Tech Summit. They explore questions ranging from what an API is, how they are being used, what industry readiness looks like, what is impacting pace of adoption, and what the future holds. 

Slow Down to Speed Up 

Agents today face more options, challenges, and opportunities than ever before. It can be daunting! In this discussion, we explore thought-provoking ideas about why slowing down may be the best way to make effective decisions and, ultimately, speed up. 

People, Process and Technology - An ACORD Connect 2022 Session

ACT's Executive Director Chris Cline talks with Matt Simon from CoverLink Insurance and Dale Steinke from Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance about how although technology is prevalent front and center in our industry, there also needs to be an equitable focus on the processes and perhaps most importantly the people to effectively implement and use those technologies. Use This Passcode with the Link Below: Connect2022

Why You Need a Data Warehouse for Better Insurance Reporting

Enjoy the recording of a compelling webinar featuring speakers, Jamie Peers of ACT Supporting Member Synatic and Chris Cline, the executive director of the Agents Council for Technology, as they discuss the need and impacts of using a data warehouse for better insurance reporting and business growth.

The State of Insurance Agency Technology: Priorities and Challenges

View this webcast for a discussion with Chris Cline, the executive director of the Big Is Agents Council for Technology. The discussion will help insurance professionals feel empowered to select the right tech tools or adjust their current tech stack to exceed the expectations of todays insurance consumers.