094: Meet the MGA Market 2023 with Mike Keating - MGAA

What are the benefits of networking with MGAs? What is the ‘Meet the MGA Market’ event, and why should you attend?

In this episode of the Insurance Broker Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome back Mike Keating for his third episode! This time, in conversation with Boston Tullis’ Sarah Myerscough, he discusses the MGAA’s upcoming ‘Meet the MGA Market’ event. It will be held on the 1^{st of} March at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, five minutes from the station. It’s undeniable that the industry is currently facing challenging market conditions. As such, the opportunity to forge new relationships in order to better navigate this turbulence, and thereby continue to provide positive outcomes for customers, cannot be understated. The ‘Meet the MGA Market’ event enables brokers to speak to a vast array of exhibiting MGAs about their product lines and expertise, and to discuss opportunities for partnership moving forward.

 

Quote of the Episode

“The importance this event cannot be undervalued, because from a broker lens, they have the opportunity to engage with MGAs, they already work with, but also to explore new relationships with MGAs, who are basically showcasing their very wide and diverse specialist product ranges, their service delivery, all these attributes, which MGAs have been doing successfully for many, many years. Given that the association and its members tend to about 90% deal with the broker community, is a fantastic opportunity for those key stakeholders to be in one room to network, to talk about the market, to talk about, from a broker perspective, their customers’ needs.”

Everyone has been struck by the economic challenges currently facing the market. Customers know that there is no cutting corners with insurance, but brokers and MGAs together can work to secure the best outcomes possible within these parameters. As such, the ‘Meet the MGA Market’ event offers a great opportunity for brokers and MGAs to forge new relationships, with which they can strategize to deliver for the customer.

Key Takeaways

At the event, MGAs will be exhibiting, and brokers will be free to take a look around and speak to as many MGAs as they see fit. No one will be corralled into a room and forced to endure endless PowerPoint presentations. The purpose of the event is for brokers and MGAs to network and forge new connections. For Mike, face-to-face networking is crucial to the industry, which is largely contingent upon good communication. He notes that, in previous years, the event has been held online, which was satisfactory but failed to create the same energy and impact as in-person interactions often do. We can now really cherish the opportunity to network in-person and to get the most out of these events. Both Sarah and Mike spoke to a significant ‘buzz’ at the MGAA capacity exchange last year which they both expect to be replicated at the ‘Meet the Market’ event in March.

 

Don’t miss out! If you haven’t yet booked your ticket, there’s no time like the present. Participant numbers are growing day by day, and MGA members have demonstrated great interest in meeting prospective broker partners. To book your ticket, you can find the link in the ‘Resources’ section below.

 

Additionally, Sarah will be a roving reporter at the event, so please come and have a chat! We will be recording interviews throughout the day, and would love to hear from you. We want to know why you’re at the event, what you’re hoping to get out of it, the challenges you and your customers are currently facing. We hope to capture the spirit of the event and to fuel and record great conversations!

 

Best Moments/Key Quotes

‘It's always a fantastic event in terms of bringing MGA members and the broker community together for the benefit, ultimately, of the end customers.’

 

‘This is all time for the most important people in that room, which are MGAs and the brokers.’

 

“I think the value of face-to-face networking and events is really an amplified when we couldn't do it as an industry during COVID. I also think that the industry is supporting these events even more than they did pre-COVID, because they now identify and recognise the value of them.”

 

“The Meet the Market event brings together the MGA community and the broker community. 90% of the association's membership deals with broker distribution. That allows MGAs to both engage with existing broker relationships which they enjoy, but also gives opportunities to showcase their products and their underwriting expertise to brokers who perhaps may not be aware of them.”

 

Resources

Click here to register for the ‘Meet the MGA Market’ Event: https://meetthemarket2023.eventreference.com/

MGAA – Meet the MGA Market 2023: https://www.mgaa.co.uk/meet-the-mga-market-2023/

 

About the Guest

Mike Keating is the CEO of the Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA), having previously held executive positions at AXA, UK General and Claims. Throughout his 35 years’ experience in the industry, he has worked for insurers, brokers and MGAs in both commercial and personal lines markets.

Mike’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-keating-230b8424/

 

About the Host

Sarah Myerscough is the Sales and Marketing Director of Boston Tullis Group. The founder of The Insurance Brokers Podcast, she brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective on communication in the insurance sector. Boston Tullis works with insurance professionals to build effective communication both internally and externally through podcasting, event reporting, videography and internal communications facilitation. 

Website: https://bostontullis.co.uk/

Evaluation Link: https://s.bostontullis.co.uk/s/podcastevaluation