Placing You First Insurance Podcast by CRC Group

Hosted by CRC Group

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Episodes

119

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Placing You First Podcast spans a diverse spectrum of insurance industry issues to keep you and your clients informed.

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60 recent

September 29, 2026Episode 11936 min

Career Conversations: Building a Career by Saying Yes

A decade in commercial litigation. A leap to Italy to run wine and culinary tours. Then a surprising turn into wholesale insurance that finally felt like the right kind of “win.” We’re joined by Senior Broker Kaylee Higginbotham for the first conversation in our Career Conversations series, and her story is proof that the straight-line career is the rare one. We talk about what it really takes to build a meaningful career in the insurance industry when your results depend on relationships. Kaylee breaks down the unglamorous truth behind “being a people person”: your network with retail agents and underwriters is built with consistency, a plan, and the grit to hear “no” and call again next month. She also shares the mentor advice that still steadies her today and how that mindset changes everything from prospecting to recovering after a lost deal. If you’re exploring insurance careers, wholesale broker roles, or looking for practical career development advice inside a relationship-driven business, this one is packed with takeaways. Subscribe for more Career Conversations, share this with someone considering a career pivot! Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

September 2, 2026Episode 11830 min

How CRC Gets Deals Done: Kansas City Edition

A submission can look “simple” right up until it isn’t, and that’s exactly where deals get stuck. From our Kansas City office, we sit down with Select Binding Office President Matt Blessing and CRC Specialty Broker Matt Zelenc , to explain how we decide the best path for a risk and how select binding authority and brokerage work side by side to keep placement moving. If you’ve ever wondered why speed wins some accounts while others demand deeper marketing, this conversation connects the dots. Along the way, we discuss real world examples, talk about the details that push an account toward brokerage or binding, and how both sides work together. We also share the one thing we wish every retail agent would send before hitting submit and how transparency helps us move faster, avoid duplicate marketing, and come back with options you can confidently present. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

August 12, 2026Episode 11729 min

The Environmental Risk Your Clients May Not See Coming

Fewer EPA headlines can feel like a green light, but environmental liability does not disappear when oversight fades. We sit down with CRC environmental specialists Harrison Scheider and Dustin Helmenstein to unpack the biggest misconception we hear from insureds and even seasoned agents: “less regulation means less environmental risk.” The laws that create liability largely remain, and the pollution exclusion in GL and property policies can turn an everyday incident into a painful coverage surprise. We dig into what makes environmental claims so tricky, and along the way, we connect the dots for common insured profiles including contractors, manufacturers, real estate owners, habitational and hotel risks, healthcare, and municipalities, plus what faster permitting and accelerated construction can change on the ground. To keep it practical, we share four questions retail agents can use right now to uncover exposures early, create better renewal conversations, and avoid relying on limited GL endorsements that are not true affirmative pollution coverage. If you want a clearer, more confident way to talk environmental insurance, pollution liability, and coverage gaps with clients, hit play and take notes. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

July 24, 2026Episode 11618 min

The M&A Safety Net: Understanding RWI in Today’s Deal Market

Deals don’t usually fall apart because people can’t agree on the price. They stall during discussions about what happens after closing if a representation turns out to be wrong. That’s why we’re seeing representations and warranties insurance (RWI) show up in more conversations with buyers, sellers, private equity firms, and transaction attorneys, and why it’s becoming a practical tool for reducing post-closing uncertainty in mergers and acquisitions. We’re joined by CRC Chicago specialists Josh Arnold and Rommel Mayuga to explain what RWI actually does, what it can cover, and why buyer-side placement has become so common. We also talk about the real deal mechanics: indemnity caps, survival periods, escrow pressure, and why a clean recovery source can remove friction when the parties are stuck. As M&A activity rebounds in 2026, the RWI market is evolving as well. More carriers are willing to consider smaller and middle-market transactions, and underwriting has become more efficient, but diligence still drives the outcome. We share a practical example from the private equity world where consistent carrier relationships and early alignment helped speed indications and support a multi-acquisition strategy. If you’re a retail agent, our biggest guidance is simple: loop us in at the LOI or draft purchase agreement stage so we can help assess fit, anticipate diligence needs, and keep timelines from getting squeezed at the finish line. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

June 30, 2026Episode 11534 min

Late Notice, Big Problems: What Retail Agents Need to Know About Excess Claims

Late notice to an excess carrier is one of those “small” steps that can explode into a coverage dispute at the worst possible time, like right before mediation or on the eve of trial. We talk through why excess claims notification is getting tougher in today’s market and how retail agents can protect their clients and themselves when a claim starts creeping toward the tower. We’re joined by CRC Group’s claims pros who live this every day: Dave Gilfillian , Chief Claims Officer and leader of Claims Advocacy, Ari Shapiro , Claims Advocacy Director, and Cammie Powell , Senior Claims Coordinator. Together, we unpack what’s driving bigger claims, how plaintiff expectations and litigation funding can change the exposure curve, and why excess carriers are more likely to take a hard line on late notice. We also explain the concept of “prejudice,” how state law affects the analysis, and what a reservation of rights letter can signal when notice comes in too late. We also challenge a dangerous assumption: “follow form” does not automatically mean “same rules.” Excess policies often include pages of exceptions, unique notice provisions, and surprises around defense costs and endorsements, especially in complex towers with multiple carriers. Our practical takeaway is straightforward: when the thought pops into your head that excess might be involved, send notice, document it clearly, and keep communication moving so no layer is blindsided. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

June 5, 2026Episode 11416 min

Smarter Submissions: How REDY Intel Helps Retail Agents Win Faster

Submissions can feel like a scavenger hunt: PDFs in one place, schedules in another, critical details buried in an email thread, and a clock ticking while you try to meet client expectations. We wanted to dig into what actually helps, not another tool that creates more work. So we sat down with Leah Herman , product manager for CRC’s Ready Intel, to talk about how AI-driven insights and automation are reshaping the insurance submission and placement process for retail agents and CRC brokers. We break down what REDY Intel is at a practical level: an intelligence layer embedded across the CRC REDY platform that powers automated clearance, submission data extraction, Risk Insights, and Market Insights. We also get specific about what “data extraction” really means, including pulling underwriting fields like payroll, gross sales, vehicle schedules, and construction details, helping reduce missed information and the endless back-and-forth that slows quotes and binding. Then we go beyond speed. Risk Insights turns extracted fields plus context from the submission email into a summarized risk snapshot, giving brokers a head start on understanding exposures and identifying what is missing. Market Insights adds another layer by analyzing placement trends and carrier appetite to recommend better carrier matches, helping you market smarter and set clearer timelines with clients. Throughout, we come back to the same principle: technology should enhance relationships and specialty knowledge, not replace them. If you want faster clearance, stronger submission quality, and more data-driven placement decisions, listen now. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

May 19, 2026Episode 11321 min

From Submission to Solution: How CRC Gets Deals Done—Together

We pull back the curtain on what’s actually happening on the wholesale side when you hit send on a submission, and how we make the first big call: does this risk belong in binding authority for speed, brokerage for flexibility, or a blended strategy that uses both? We’re joined by CRC Sacramento Office President Wendy Mejia and Port Orange Office President Paul Sipos to explain the real decision triggers retail insurance agents run into every day: minimum premium thresholds, total insured value, tough classes, and specialty wrinkles like dock exposure. They share recent wins and get practical about the “crunch time” moments. Binding authority can move fast, but brokerage can win when you need negotiated terms and conditions. The fastest path is often a better submission and a narrative that tells the story. If you want fewer dead ends and more clean quotes, this is the playbook. Subscribe for more wholesale insurance insights. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

April 16, 2026Episode 11220 min

What’s Happening in the Builders Risk Market

Builders risk is moving fast right now and if you’re a retail agent, that can be a gift or a trap depending on how you play it. We’re seeing softer property conditions, abundant capacity, and genuinely competitive pricing, but the market is still picky where it counts: renovations, flood considerations, technology-driven projects, and the steady grind of attritional losses. We break down what’s really driving the shift and where the leverage is hiding for agents who know how to use it. We’re joined by CRC Specialty brokers Philip Young and Randy Van Horn to talk through what the marketplace looks like in the real world. The E&S builders risk marketplace is no longer a last resort; it can be a relevant, flexible source of capacity that helps fill gaps, follow form, or support quota share placements on complex construction. We also explain why CRC’s exclusive Insurisk Builders Risk facility can be a differentiator when speed, insight, and meaningful capacity decide who wins. If you’re placing builders risk insurance or any kind of construction insurance, listen now, share this with a teammate, and subscribe for more. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

February 17, 2026Episode 11123 min

The New Recall Reality: Emerging Exposures + Insurance Impacts

A paradox defined 2025: recall events dipped, but total units recalled soared. We dig into why severity spiked, rising labor costs, tariffs, supplier churn, and a two-speed regulatory landscape, and what that means for your insurance program. With CRC Casualty Brokers John O’Malley and Chris Martin, we connect market signals to real exposures, from food’s massive unit surge and undeclared allergens to ingredient supplier liabilities that turn a one-dollar input into a six-dollar downstream loss. For retail agents planning ahead to 2026, we lay out a focused playbook with a simple goal: cut detection time, contain unit counts, and ensure your policy responds when the stakes jump from a nuisance to a balance-sheet event. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!

January 27, 2026Episode 11029 min

Caring for Caregivers: Risk, Reality + Opportunity in Senior Living

The senior living world is growing fast, but the risk profile is changing even faster. We dig into what happens when higher acuity residents stay longer in assisted living, how staffing shortages and inflation strain operations, and why verdicts are getting bigger and tougher to defend. Alongside partners from Future Care RRG, we unpack the friction between occupancy goals and clinical capability, and we explain how those pressures ripple through underwriting, pricing, and coverage structures. You’ll hear straight talk on the claims that keep operators up at night and why documentation discipline can be the difference between a defensible file and a six-figure problem. We explain the current capacity landscape, tackle ownership dynamics, including the extra scrutiny on private equity platforms, acquisitions of distressed facilities, and the need to present clear improvement plans to underwriters. If you place, operate, or insure senior living and long-term care, this conversation offers a candid map through a market defined by growth, complexity, and rising stakes. Make sure you reach out to your CRC specialty producer for assistance with your senior living account placements. Visit REDYIndex.com for critical pricing analysis and a snapshot of the marketplace. Do you want to take your career to the next level? Join #TeamCRC to get access to best-in-class tools, data, exclusive programs, and more! Send your resume to resumes@crcgroup.com today!