Jack Wingate: Do We Need One Mobile App For The Whole Industry
In this episode of Agency Intelligence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Jack Wingate, the Founder and President of ALLCHOICE Insurance. Jack discusses how they built an agency that cares more about the customer service experience than its carriers. Episode Highlights: Jason introduces Jack Wingate. (3:45) Jack shares that he started in the North Carolina Farm Bureau, where a lot of people in North Carolina get started in the insurance business in August 2004. (5:28) Jack mentions that they have acquired four locations, Greensboro, Clemmons, Hendersonville, and Wilmington. (5:36) Jack explains how they came up with their beard logo. (7:19) Jack shares that the concept of one app is transformational because, at the end of the day, insurance companies are underwriting companies. (19:23) Jack shares that if we visualize the pyramid, the carriers are at the top, the clients are at the bottom, then in between is either a direct channel, website, direct mail, or the agent. (19:52) Jack thinks that at this point they have been limited from a technology standpoint. (26:49) Jack mentions one of the issues with carriers is their system of customer service. They spend vast amounts on IT’s but don’t get enough solutions. (35:22) Jack thinks that the people who are listening to Jason’s podcasts are the ones who understand that if we want carriers to do tasks for us, we have to do the tasks for them as well. (38:46) Jack mentions that their technology is not stable enough because 80% of their agents don't have access to technology. (39:09) Jack shares that he spends about two to three hours a week reading about technology, search engine optimization, and anything that’s applicable to his agency. (41:04) Key Quotes: “We have a responsibility as agents, we can't continue doing business as normal. We have to sell a value, we have to do our frickin jobs, and assess risk, and not just give prices. If a client wants a price, there are up to 1,000 ways that they can get a price, without the independent agent.” - Jack Wingate “There's so much money that they're spending in IT for band-aids, they throw hundreds of millions of dollars at band aids a year, as an industry. Why not rip the band-aid off and let's actually fix the problem, and integrate to where we are weak.” - Jack Wingate “The reason our technology isn't as good as it needs to be is because 80% of our agents have no technology. So we have to play down to them. It's time to get those guys on the train or let them go softly into that good night because they'll take our industry down, they're holding us back, they've shackled us. It's time for you to go out there and write good business for your carriers.” - Jack Wingate Resources Mentioned: Agency Intelligence We Got Your Podcast Jason Cass Calendar Reach out to Jason Cass Jack Wingate LinkedIn ALLCHOICE Insurance Advertisers: Tarmika Imperial Premium Finance Specialists