August Felker doesn’t consider himself a book balancing believer. “Honestly, we don’t look at it that way,” says the CEO of The Murphy Insurance Group, a six-location firm based in Madison, Wis. “We look at each type of business differently, and we have d
My wife Nanette and I were on the road in May and missed the horrible weather that came through Oklahoma on back-to-back days. In difficult times like these, it’s important for independent agents to support each other and our communities—including our ass
Easter is upon us, and with it, time with family and friends is on our minds. Nanette and I have had a bit of a break and now are beginning the spring convention season with our own state convention in Norman, Okla., on April 3–5. We were excited to host
One thing that’s become even more clear to me over the past several months is that the businesses that are succeeding through these tough times are the ones that are focusing on increasing revenue and sales and on getting and keeping customers—much more t
Most fans of the 1960’s top-rated television series “The Andy Griffith Show” recall the episode when Barney Fife purchased his first car. Against the advice of the discerning Sheriff Taylor, the deputy is duped into buying what is presented as a perfect,
The fall is always an extremely active time of year for all of us. Thanksgiving has passed, Christmas is coming and the New Year is right around the corner. There are so many things to be thankful for as this year begins to wind down, and this causes each
The economy isn’t recovering quickly from the biggest recession in decades. But apparently that isn’t stopping independent agents. Revolutionary transformations are underway in the independent insurance industry, including a significant increase in the nu
Bobby Bramlett has a passion for golf. But it’s not just about the sport—it’s about using it to make connections in the business world. Because when you get into business, he says, golf is something that everyone likes to talk about.
As I begin to write my first Chairman’s Voice column for Independent Agent magazine, it causes me to reflect over the 37 years of being a Trusted Choice® independent insurance agent. Why are my wife Nanette and I here—about to become chairman of the Indep
Call Chris Boone old-fashioned—or call him realistic. As executive vice president of marketing for Bancorp South Insurance Services in Jackson, Miss., Boone selects the insurance companies this 30-branch agency uses. The agency currently represents 200 ca