Episodes

  • 4 Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales

    4 Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales
    May 26 2026
    In this episode of the Agent Survival Guide, we’ll walk through four effective strategies that you can use to help close an insurance sale. We’ll teach you which technique is most effective in certain scenarios and the traits you should strive for to make any close more successful. Read the text version Get Connected: 🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Resources: 10 Essential Tools for Beginner Insurance Agents Getting Started Selling Medicare Supplements Empower Your Prospects to Act Before Turning 65 Medicare Advantage Trial Rights Explained for Agents References: Abbott, Tom. “The Assumptive Close: A Powerful Tool for Increasing Sales.” SOCO Sales Training, 15 Apr. 2026, www.socoselling.com/the-assumptive-close/. Copley Ph.D., Laura “How to (Re-)Build Trust in a Relationship.” PositivePsychology.Com, 8 Nov. 2025, positivepsychology.com/build-trust/. “How to Be Confident.” Tony Robbins.com, www.tonyrobbins.com/building-confidence/how-to-be-confident. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026. How to Understand Body Language and Facial Expressions, www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026. “Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment.” Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, www.ncoa.org/article/whats-the-difference-between-medicares-open-enrollment-period-and-medicare-advantage-open-enrollment/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026. “Researcher Investigates How Our Snap Judgments Affect Society.” FABBS, 25 Jan. 2024, fabbs.org/news/2023/09/researcher-investigates-how-our-snap-judgments-affect-society/. “What Is the Puppy Dog Close?” HubSpot Blog, blog.hubspot.com/sales/puppy-dog-close. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026. Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Introducing the Integrity Health Plan

    Introducing the Integrity Health Plan
    May 15 2026
    The Friday Five for May 15, 2026: Field Notes: Camp RitterThe “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s)”TRICARE Transition from DS Logon to myAuthScammers Using Meta to Target SeniorsIntroducing the Integrity Health Plan Get Connected: 🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. The “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s)”: “20 Days, 20 Data Drops.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, https://newsroom.spotify.com/spotify20/, Accessed 12 May 2026. “It’s Your Party of the Year(s): A Look Back at Your Entire Music History on Spotify.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, 12 May 2026, https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-05-12/spotify-20-personal-music-retrospective/. Weatherbed, Jess. “Spotify’s latest ‘Wrapped’ covers your entire music history.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 12 May 2026, https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/928395/spotify-20th-anniversary-wrapped-recap. “What 20 Years of Spotify Data Reveals About Our Listeners.” Newsroom.spotify.com, Spotify, 23 Apr. 2026, https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-23/spotify-20-data-listening-trends/. TRICARE Transition from DS Logon to myAuth: “TRICARE logins transitioning to myAuth in 2026.” Newsroom.tricare.mil, TRICARE, 5 May 2026, https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/4477500/tricare-logins-transitioning-to-myauth-in-2026-what-you-need-to-know. Obis, Anastasia. “TRICARE systems to transition to myAuth by the end of 2026.” Federalnewsnetwork.com, Federal News Network, 6 May 2026, https://federalnewsnetwork.com/technology-main/2026/05/tricare-systems-to-transition-to-myauth-by-the-end-of-2026/. Scammers Using Meta to Target Seniors: Ingram, David. “Facebook allows repeat scam artists to send ads to seniors, researchers say.” Nbcnews.com, NBC News, 11 May 2026, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/meta-allows-repeat-scam-artists-target-seniors-report-says-rcna344068. “How Meta Helps Medicare scammers target seniors.” Counterhate.com, Center for Countering Digital Hate, https://counterhate.com/research/scambook/, Accessed 12 May 2026. Integrity Health Plan: IntegrityCONNECT Integrity Health Plan Learn More About Integrity Benefits The Exclusive Benefits Available By Joining Integrity through Ritter Resources: 5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule Cigna's ACA Exit, Certification Dates, Sleep Audio Content Corner: Fundamentals of Senior Finance FMO vs. IMO vs. NMO vs. MGA vs. GA: What’s the Difference? How to Grow Your Insurance Business by 45% Ready-Made Marketing for Insurance Agents: Inside the Content Library Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Content Corner: Fundamentals of Senior Finance

    Content Corner: Fundamentals of Senior Finance
    May 13 2026
    Don’t miss our brand-new series we’re calling Content Corner! Listen as we discuss the newest Content Library materials from Ritter Insurance Marketing - Fundamentals of Senior Finances. Keep listening for our conversation on recent internet trends and how to position them for your business marketing efforts.

    Check Out the Fundamentals of Senior Finances from Ritter’s Content Library

    Get Connected:

    🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!

    📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!

    💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

    Resources:

    Best Practices for Using Ritter’s Content Library

    Content Library Homepage

    Cooking For Beginners

    Happy, Healthy Christmas

    Mastering Medicare Insurance Coverage

    Medicare Basics

    Senior Travel Guides

    Top Spooky Spots for Halloween

    Travel Tips

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance

    Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social

    Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • The Content Library: Content Marketing for Insurance Agents

    The Content Library: Content Marketing for Insurance Agents
    May 12 2026
    Check out Ritter Insurance Marketing's Content Library for a simple way to Educate, Entertain, and Retain your clients. In this episode, we cover what the Content Library is, what it offers, and why you should be using it today! Read the text version

    Get Connected:

    🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!

    📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!

    💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

    Resources:

    Content Library Homepage

    Content Library Best Practices

    Content Library: Medicare Basics

    Content Library: Senior Travel Guides

    Content Library: Cooking for Beginners

    Content Library: A Happy, Healthy Christmas

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube

    Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads

    Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • How to Grow Your Insurance Business by 45%

    How to Grow Your Insurance Business by 45%
    May 11 2026
    Not sure how to scale your business sustainably? We walk through specific equations agents and agencies can use (and tweak!) depending on how you'd like to grow. Read the text version Get Connected: 🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Resources: 3 Easy Ways to Build Your Insurance Sales Territory 4 Ancillary Cross-Sales to Show Clients You Care A Quick Guide to Cross-Selling Ancillary Insurance with Medicare Products Ask Integrity Developing an Agency - Your Guide to Getting Started Best Practices for Training Downline Agents The Complete Guide on How to Sell Final Expense Insurance The Complete Guide to Selling Critical Illness Plans Diversify Your Insurance Portfolio & Reap Real Rewards How Ask Integrity Can Streamline Your Medicare Sales Appointments How Insurance Agents Can Set SMART Goals to Succeed How to Recruit Agents to Your Downline The Insurance Agent’s Guide to Understanding Hospital Indemnity IntegrityCONNECT PlanEnroll Remote Sales Tips for Insurance Agents Making Cross‑Selling Less Awkward for Insurance Agents ft. Demetri Simos and Dawn Myers The Advisor Approach: Cross-Selling by Fact-Finding References: "65 Customer Retention Statistics You Need to Know in 2025." SEMrush.com, SEM Rush, https://www.semrush.com/blog/customer-retention-stats/, Accessed 13 Apr. 2026. "Kellogg’s Cereal: How They Dominated the Breakfast Aisle" 42signals.com, 42 Signals, 16 Jun. 2025, https://www.42signals.com/blog/kelloggs-cereal-story-of-dominance/. Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • Cigna Exits ACA, 2027 Certification Dates, Sleep Audio

    Cigna Exits ACA, 2027 Certification Dates, Sleep Audio
    May 8 2026
    The Friday Five for May 8, 2026: Quick Hits & HeadlinesCMS Admin Dr. Oz on Prior AuthAudio to Help You SleepCigna to Exit ACA for CY 2027AHIP & NABIP Dates for CY 2027 Get Connected: 🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Quick Hits & Headlines May 8, 2026: Roth, Emma. “Apple agrees to pay iPhone owners $250 million for not delivering AI Siri.” Theverge.com, The Verge, 5 May 2026, https://www.theverge.com/tech/924706/apple-iphone-siri-intelligence-class-action-lawsuit-settlement. Joseph, Jibin. Got an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro? Apple May Owe You Up to $95 in AI Siri Settlement.” Pcmag.com, PC Mag, 6, May 2026, https://www.pcmag.com/news/got-an-iphone-16-or-15-pro-apple-may-owe-you-up-to-95-in-ai-siri-settlement. Malik, Aisha. “Meta will use AI to analyze height and bone structure to identify if users are underage.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, 5 May 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/05/meta-will-use-ai-to-analyze-height-and-bone-structure-to-identify-if-users-are-underage/. “New AI-Powered Age Assurance Measures to Place Teens in Age-Appropriate Experience.” Aboutfb.com, Meta, 5 May 2026, https://about.fb.com/news/2026/05/ai-age-assurance-teens/. Malik, Aisha. “Threads finally brings messaging to the web.” Techcrunch.com, Tech Crunch, 5 May 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/05/threads-finally-brings-messaging-to-the-web/. CMS Admin Dr. Oz on Prior Auth: “CMS Announces Progress on Improving Prior Authorization Process.” Youtube.com, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 5 May 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taZ2VqOy38A. “CMS Electronic Prior Authorization Progress Highlights.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/files/image/electronic-prior-authorization-progress-timeline.gif, Accessed 5 May 2026. “Moving Prior Authorization into the 21st Century.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 5 May 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/blog/moving-prior-authorization-21st-century. Audio to Help You Sleep: ASG Podcast Audio for Sleep Playlist 🥱😴💤 Huang, Pien. “Americans aren’t sleeping enough. Here’s what could help.” Npr.org, National Public Radio, 2 May 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5807074/americans-sleep-better-hours-insomnia. Audio for Sleep Playlist Chapman, Bridget. “No More Silent Nights: What to Know About the Rise of Sleep Music.” Forbes.com, Forbes, 1 May 2026, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/music-for-sleep/. “Sleep Audio Market Research Report 2033.” Growthmarketreports.com, Growth Market Reports, https://growthmarketreports.com/report/sleep-audio-market, Accessed 5 May 2026. Cigna to Exit ACA for CY 2027: “Cigna Healthcare’s 2026 Footprint.” Cigna.com, Cigna, https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/ifp/m-26-fly-all-997206-ifp-broker-expansion-map-counties-customer-flyer.pdf, Accessed 5 May 2026. “Cigna Shares Drop 2.5% After Announcing ACA Marketplace Exit in 2027.” Indexbox.io, Index Box, 4 May 2026, https://www.indexbox.io/blog/cigna-shares-drop-25-after-announcing-aca-marketplace-exit-in-2027/. Minemyer, Paige, “Cigna to exit ACA market, pursue strategic alternatives for eviCore unit.” Fiercehealthcare.com, Fierce Healthcare, 30 Apr. 2026, https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cigna-posts-165b-profit-q1-earnings-beat. Bannow, Tara. “Cigna will exit ACA individual markets next year, adding to tyumult for patients.” Statnews.com, Stat+, 30 Apr. 2026, https://www.statnews.com/2026/04/30/cigna-exits-aca-market-2027-369-thousand-people-affected/. Hilton, John. “New Cigna CEO: Insurer to exit ACA, focus on ‘relentless’ push for affordability.” Insurancenewsnet.com, Insurance News Net, 30 Apr. 2026, https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/new-cigna-ceo-insurer-to-exit-aca-focus-on-relentless-push-for-affordability. Resources: 5 Things About the CMS 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule Big Moves in Healthcare & Tech: What Insurance Agents Should Watch CMS 2026 Prior Authorization Proposed Rule CMS Final Rule on Fax & Snail Mail CMS Update on BALANCE Model & Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social Not ...
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
  • The Beginner's Guide to C-SNPs

    The Beginner's Guide to C-SNPs
    May 7 2026
    Many who qualify for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) find that this type of plan suits their specifics needs with tailormade benefits and networks. This episode of the Agent Survival Guide is your crash course in C-SNPs.

    Read the text version

    🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!

    📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!

    💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

    Resources:

    The Beginner’s Guide to C-SNPs

    The Guide to Prospecting and Selling C-SNPs

    References:

    “Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-Snps).” CMS.Gov, www.cms.gov/medicare/enrollment-renewal/special-needs-plans/chronic-conditions. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

    “Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans: 2024 Market Landscape and Future Considerations.” Milliman, 15 Mar. 2024, www.milliman.com/en/insight/chronic-condition-special-needs-plans-2024-market-landscape.

    “National Diabetes Statistics Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

    “Special Needs Plans (SNP).” Medicare, www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/health-plans/your-health-plan-options/SNP. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

    “Statistics about Diabetes.” Diabetes in America: Prevalence, Statistics, and Economic Impact, diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/about-diabetes. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

    Follow Us on Social!

    Ritter on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube

    Sarah on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Threads

    Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • 6 Proven Ways to Grow Annuity Sales

    6 Proven Ways to Grow Annuity Sales
    May 6 2026
    Strengthen your annuity sales strategy with these best practices. Hear takeaways for agents of all experience levels, plus how to download our fact-finder that can help you ask better questions. Read the text version Download the Fact-Finder PDF Get Connected: 🤝Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 📧Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You! 💌Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail. Resources: Cross-Selling Ancillary Insurance with Medicare Products eBook Fixed vs. Indexed vs. Fixed Indexed Annuities: What's the Difference? Insurance Agents Can Generate More Leads with a Referral Marketing Strategy Life and Annuity Resource Center (LARC) Social Media Marketing for Insurance Agents eBook What Are Annuities? References: Gibson, Trey. "55 Open-Ended Sales Questions to Close More Deals in 2026." Spotio.com, Spotio, https://spotio.com/blog/open-ended-sales-questions/, Accessed 9 Apr. 2026. "Do Insurance Brokers Have a Fiduciary Duty?" Mployer.com, Mployer, https://mployeradvisor.com/blog/do-insurance-brokers-have-a-fiduciary-duty, Accessed 9 Apr. 2026. Kenton, Will. “Risk Assessment: Definition, Techniques, and Analysis Types Explained.” Investopedia.Com, Investopedia, 23 Nov. 2025, www.investopedia.com/terms/r/risk-assessment.asp. Sheikh, Mahnoor. "Social media demographics to inform your 2026 strategy." sproutsocial.com, Sprout Social, 18 Feb. 2026, https://sproutsocial.com/insights/new-social-media-demographics/. "Trends in Health Insurance Retention: Exploring Recent Data and Trends." insureuniversity.com, Insure University, https://www.insureuniversity.com/key-insights-from-latest-data-and-emerging-trends-health-insurance-retention/, Accessed 9 Apr. 2026. Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins