Blog + Magazine

  • Blog

    Fireworks: Fun or Foe?

    While fireworks can be thrilling, the safest and most responsible choice is to enjoy professional displays and explore alternative ways to celebrate, such as using glow sticks or noise makers.
  • Blog

    7 Proven Strategies for Independent Agency Success

    To establish and grow a successful independent insurance agency, it is crucial to embrace a growth mindset, develop a well-researched transition strategy, and build strong community relationships, while also offering a wide array of client-centric insurance solutions.
  • Blog

    E&S Lines are Vital in Today's Insurance Market

    In the competitive realm of insurance, survival and success are not solely determined by strength or intellect, but rather by the nimbleness to adapt to evolving risks and client demands, reflecting Darwin's principle of adaptability in nature.
  • Blog

    Insurance Deserts: Strategies for Agents in High-Risk Areas

    Insurance deserts, characterized by limited access to essential insurance coverage due to factors such as economic downturns, environmental hazards, and regulatory challenges, underscore the pressing need for agents to employ proactive strategies, such as advocating for policy changes and fostering collaborative relationships with insurers, to provide vital support to clients in high-risk areas and navigate the complex landscape of insurance accessibility and affordability.
  • Team Q&A

    The Heart of Insurance: A Conversation on Market Dynamics, Mentorship, and Opportunity with Carol Drake

    Carol Drake's journey in the insurance industry, from a chance job at Midland Life Insurance to a Senior VP role at Smart Choice, underscores the value of mentorship and diversification, highlighting how Smart Choice's non-exclusive contracts and consultative approach help independent agents navigate market challenges and maximize profitability by balancing personal and commercial lines.
  • Team Q&A

    Building Dreams in Insurance: A Q&A with Tony Davis

    Tony Davis's unexpected shift from actuarial science to the insurance industry underscores his belief in seizing opportunities, while his leadership philosophy of treating all agents equally and his emphasis on building strong relationships highlight the importance of hard work, dedication, and networking in achieving business success.
  • Blog

    It is a hard market. Is it a hard market?

    In navigating the complexity of the insurance market's perceived hardness, Mike Miller illuminates a crucial insight: while macro trends indicate challenge, the proactive pursuit of diversified commercial and specialty lines business can not only weather the storm but also foster agency growth and resilience.
  • Magazines

    2024 Issue II - Express Markets

    At Smart Choice we understand the importance of evolving in this dynamic insurance environment, which is why this issue focuses on Excess and Surplus (E&S), or as we call it here – the Express Markets program.
  • Blog

    Putting AI to Work for Your Agency

    As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly ingrained in commercial insurance, its integration revolutionizes risk assessment, underwriting processes, and claims management, promising heightened efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction, while also prompting a vigilant approach towards regulatory compliance and ethical considerations.