Starting Your Own Insurance Agency featuring Craig Ritter and Dave Dietz

What does it really take to create your own insurance agency? We sat down with Craig Ritter, President and Owner of Ritter Insurance Marketing, and Dave Dietz, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Ritter to pick their brains on the subject. These are just some of the questions they answer: When do I create an LLC? What qualities do I look for in downline agents? Should I follow the 80/20 rule? Listen now for the answers to these questions and more!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Developing an Agency: Your Guide to Getting Started

FMO vs. IMO vs. NMO vs. MGA vs. GA: What’s the Difference?

How to Recruit Insurance Agents to Your Downline

Interviewing Tips to Bring in Stellar Agents

Should You Incorporate Your Business?

Your Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Started in Insurance Sales

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4 Perks of Partnering with an FMO

What exactly is a field marketing organization? Why partner with an FMO? If you've been debating joining an FMO, you don't want to miss this episode!

4 Reasons Why Ritter Should Be Your FMO Insurance Agency

Looking for an FMO? Not sure what a field marketing organization like Ritter Insurance Marketing can do for your insurance business? Learn everything you need to know in this can’t-miss episode of the ASG Podcast!

How to Recruit Insurance Agents to Your Downline

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Ready to Join an FMO? 10 Things to Consider

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What an FMO Can Do For Your Business

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Why Taking It Slow is Good for Business

Building your insurance business isn't easy. Learn why taking it slow is a great strategy!

The latest from Agent Survival Guide:

Pros and Cons of Having an Office Space Outside of Your Home

Having a designated space to work and be productive is essential for independent insurance agents. There are going to be advantages and disadvantages with deciding whether or not to acquire an office...(read more)

What is E&O Insurance and Do You Need It?

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Should You Sell D-SNPs?

Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans are a great product to add to your portfolio, especially since 12 million Americans (20 percent of the Medicare population) have dual-eligible status. While we think selling...(read more)

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Value-Based Care for Medicare Enrollees Is the Future | ASG195

What is Medicare's Value-Based Care Model? Our team takes a deep dive into this topic, defining the care model that CMS adopted in 2011. Learn the types of value-based care programs CMS offers, how they can help you sell insurance plans, what this kind of care looks like for your clients, and carriers' value-based care initiatives. We even talk about what your clients can expect in the future!

Read the text version.

CMS Value-Based Care Programs:

End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (ESRD QIP)

Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program

Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP)

Hospital Acquired Conditions (HAC) Reduction Program

Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Program (SNFVBP)

Home Health Value Based Program (HHVBP)

Mentioned in this episode:

Americans ‘fed up’ with high healthcare costs, surprise billing, Verma says

Be Prepared to Discuss Medicare Telehealth Coverage This AEP

CMS Unveils New Value-Based Care Models for Primary Care Providers

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES)

Medicare Advantage And The Future Of Value-Based Care

Medicare Advantage Costs Drop, Benefits Grow for 2019

Payers, Providers Create New Medicare Advantage Partnerships

Silver&Fit®

SilverSneakers®

The Advent of Retail Healthcare & What It Means for Medicare Beneficiaries

The Future of Value-Based Care: 2019 Survey Results

Top Insurers Move to Bring PBM Partners In-House

Carrier Value-Based Care Initiatives:

Aetna

Anthem

Cigna

Humana

UnitedHealthcare

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5 Major Things to Expect in the Medicare Advantage Market for 2020

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December 13, 2019 | The Friday Five

Some schools legally able to bill Medicaid for health care services - Medicare Plan Finder glitches - the Supreme Court hears arguments on ACA risk corridors repayments - Congress, the LHCC Act, and an end to surprise medical bills - Next-level, wearable health care tech and other cool stuff from Pediatrics 2040

Stay Busy Outside of AEP with Special Enrollment Periods

Drive insurance sales year-round with Special Enrollment Periods. Learn how to find clients and what special kinds of plans should be in your portfolio. 

Top 5 Photo Editing Apps | Agent Apps

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7 Strategies to Prevent Rapid Disenrollments from Medicare Plans

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Just the (LTCi) Facts, Please

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Should You Hire an Assistant for Your Insurance Business?

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What Agents Forget to Do When Preparing for Appointments

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5 Major Things to Expect in the Medicare Advantage Market for 2020 | ASG192

What's new in the Medicare Advantage Market for 2020? The ASG Podcast has the scoop on what you can expect in the coming year, including new MA carriers!

Read the text version.

Meet our Team of Experts

Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing

Join Our Facebook Group – Ritter’s Round Table http://bit.ly/2DLeNcl

Mentioned in this episode:

Be Prepared to Discuss Medicare Telehealth Coverage This AEP

Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs)

Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs)

Medicare Advantage 2020 Spotlight: First Look (Data Note)

Medicare Advantage 2020 Spotlight: First Look (Executive Summary)

Medicare Advantage Costs Drop, Benefits Grow for 2019

New Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) in 2020

SNPs: The Secret to Surviving Lock-In

The Advent of Retail Healthcare & What It Means for Medicare Beneficiaries

The Beginner’s Guide to DSNPs

Value-Based Care for Medicare Enrollees Is the Future

Why You Need to Make Time for Medicare Training (& Where to Find Great Resources!)

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Medicare for Snowbirds, Sunbirds, and Travel Enthusiasts

Master the art of providing Medicare coverage for clients who travel. The ASG team has solutions for snowbirds, sunbirds, and every traveler in between.

November 26, 2019 | Tuesday Ten (Top 10 Holiday Toys for 2019)

Let us help you survive the holidays! We’ve done all the research (we 💖 research), and we’ve compiled our official list of the top ten holiday toys for 2019. You don’t want to miss this one!

Top 5 Photo Editing Apps | Agent Apps

Not sure which photo editing app is right for you, or your insurance business? In this episode, we've got our top 5 photo editing apps, plus 5 simple tips for taking better photos.

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7 Strategies to Prevent Rapid Disenrollments from Medicare Plans

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What Agents Forget to Do When Preparing for Appointments

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November 26, 2019 | The Tuesday Ten

Let us help you survive the holidays! We’ve done all the research (we 💖 research) and we’ve compiled our official list of the top ten holiday toys for 2019. You don’t want to miss this one!

Mentioned in this episode:

(In alphabetical order)

Baby Shark Fingerlings– Amazon | Target | Walmart

Baby Shark Hand Puppet – Amazon | Walmart

Barbie Dream Plane – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Blume Doll – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Frozen 2 Singing Elsa Doll – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Frozen 2 Anna and Elsa Doll Set – Amazon | Target

Frozen 2 Ultimate Arendelle Castle Play Set – Amazon | Target | Walmart  

Hatching Toothless – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Hot Wheels id Smart Track Kit – Amazon | Target

Hot Wheels Colossal Crash Track Set – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Imaginext Transforming Batmobile – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Juno My Baby Elephant – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Kindi Kids Snack Time Friends – Amazon | Target | Walmart

L.O.L. Amazing Surprise – Amazon | Target | Walmart

L.O.L. Glamper – Amazon | Target | Walmart

L.O.L. Winter Disco Dolls – Amazon | Target | Walmart

L.O.L. Winter Disco Fluffy Pets – Amazon | Target | Walmart

L.O.L. Winter Disco Lils – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Lego Hidden Side Newbury Haunted High School – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Melissa & Doug Slice-and-Bake Wooden Cookie Play Set – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Melissa & Doug Top and Bake Wooden Pizza Counter Play Set – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Melissa & Doug Turtle Ball Pit – Amazon | Walmart

NERF Fortnite AR-L Elite Dart Blaster – Amazon | Target | Walmart

NERF Fortnite Sp-L Elite Dart Blaster – Amazon | Target | Walmart

NERF Fortnite Ap-R & Llama Targets – Amazon

Nintendo Switch (HADSKABAA or HADSKAAAA) – Walmart

Nintendo Switch Lite – Amazon | Target | Walmart

PJ Masks PJ Seeker – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Pictionary Air – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Ryan’s World Treasure Safe – Walmart

Scruff-A-Luv Electronic Mystery Plush – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Treasure X Alien Dissection Kit with Slime, Action Figure, and Treasure  – Amazon | Target | Walmart

Treasure X Kings Gold Treasure Tomb – Amazon | Target | Walmart

How to tell if you’re buying the old Nintendo Switch or the new one

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Build Your Brand with Community Involvement | ASG189

Connect with your local community and grow your insurance business at the same time! Use our helpful tips to get started.

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November 22, 2019 | The Friday Five

The Friday Five for November 22, 2019: The Trump Administration announces health care transparency rules, Slack shares drop, Microsoft Teams' user base rises, beware of "juice-jacking" while traveling, Facebook and Instagram hide like counts, and find out what’s new and coming soon from the Agent Survival Guide team!

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2020 Medicare Part A and Part B Premiums and Deductibles

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November 22, 2019 | The Friday Five

The Friday Five for November 22, 2019:

• The Trump Administration announces Health Care Transparency Rules
• Slack shares drop with Microsoft Teams user count report
• Beware of ‘Juice-Jacking’ While Traveling
• Instagram hides likes, Facebook next?
• New and Coming Soon from the Agent Survival Guide team!

Mentioned in this episode:

7 Strategies to Prevent Rapid Disenrollments from Medicare Plans

Facebook tries hiding Like counts to fight envy

Facebook Trying Out Hidden Like Counts

New Trump rule to make more health care rates public

Slack stock falls after Microsoft boasts 20 million Teams users

Stop! Don’t Charge Your Phone This Way

The best-case and worst-case scenarios for Trump’s health care price transparency rule

Trump Administration Releases Transparency Rule in Hospital Pricing

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey praised Facebook’s experimental moves to hide Instagram ‘likes’

Why You Should Think Twice About Plugging Into Public USB Power Stations

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November 15, 2019 | The Friday Five

1. CMS announced 2020 Medicare Part A and B Premiums and Deductibles
2. The Social Security COLA for 2020
3. Whoop closes their series D funding round
4. Google’s Project Nightingale now under investigation
5. Nike breaks up with Amazon

2020 Medicare Part A & B Premiums and Deductibles

CMS just announced the 2020 Medicare Part A and B premiums and deductibles. Find out what the cost of Medicare will be for your clients in the coming year.

Be Prepared to Discuss Medicare Telehealth Coverage This AEP

Are you prepared to talk about Medicare telehealth benefits this AEP? Whether you call it telemedicine, telecare, or a virtual visit, these benefits are growing in popularity. Learn how your clients can utilize them, which beneficiaries are most likely to access them, and more!

The Advent of Retail Healthcare & What It Means for Medicare Beneficiaries

Retail healthcare is on the rise in the United States. But what exactly is it? And, how does it affect Medicare beneficiaries? Consider this your primer on all things retail healthcare.

Tips on Working with a Difficult Client

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Subscribe & Follow:

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Overcast

Podbean

Spotify

Stitcher

Connect on social:

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