Independent insurance agents—are you ready to thrive in 2026? 🚀 In the latest episode of the Ridiculously Amazing Insurance Agent Podcast, Kelly Donupiro, your industry BFF, shares actionable insights on how to grow your insurance agency in 2026 by focusing on leadership, sales strategies, and operational efficiency.
The past five years have been turbulent, with COVID disruptions followed by a hard market that challenged agencies with carrier exits, rate increases, team burnout, and operational inefficiencies. Agencies that succeeded shared a common factor: strong leadership and consistent standards. As we transition into a soft market, now is the perfect opportunity to reset, refocus, and grow—but only with the right strategies.
Key Strategies to Grow Your Agency in 2026
1. Leadership & Soft Market Strategy
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Implement proactive renewal reviews to boost retention and revenue
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Improve efficiency, time management, and revenue per team member
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Define agency identity and role clarity for CSRs and account managers
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Build processes and procedures to minimize wasted time (“time vampires”)
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Become “insurance nerdy” to understand real client risks
2. Sales & Client Success
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Move from a basic quote process to a full sales process
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Use cross-selling, coverage increases, and “four and score” strategies
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Focus on First Call Resolution (FCR) and leveraging integrators/raters
3. Solutions, Training & Resources
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Access cheat sheets, online tools, and agency swag
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Participate in live virtual training, mini-courses, and Agency School
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Use consulting and data analytics programs to improve performance
With discipline, process, and performance as your guiding principles, agencies can boost leadership, strengthen client relationships, and improve team efficiency. Kelly emphasizes that you’re not alone—her proven strategies provide a roadmap to prepare your agency for the evolving insurance market in 2026.
By following these tips, your agency can move from survival mode to consistent growth, building a team that’s ready to succeed in the soft market and beyond.
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