Insurance Automation Godfather Reveals How to Reinvent Your Agency Workflows

Published: August 23, 2019
Episode Length: 33:59
Guest: Todd Braeger

The Automation Revolution

Todd Braeger has been called the "Godfather of Insurance Automation" for good reason. For over two decades, he's been helping agencies eliminate manual work, streamline operations, and create leverage through technology.

But Todd's approach to automation isn't about replacing humans with robots. It's about freeing humans from soul-crushing busywork so they can do what they do best: build relationships, solve problems, and grow businesses.

In this episode, Todd shares his blueprint for reinventing agency workflows and explains why most agents are automating the wrong things.

The Workflow Wake-Up Call

Todd starts with a brutal truth: "Most insurance agencies operate like it's 1995. They've added a few digital tools, but their core workflows are still built on paper-pushing, manual data entry, and human memory. It's insane."

He shares a story of an agency he consulted for that was spending 30 hours per week manually tracking renewals in spreadsheets, calling clients, and following up on outstanding quotes. All tasks that could be 100% automated.

"When I showed them what automation could do, the owner literally cried," Todd recalls. "Not because he was sad, but because he realized how many years he'd wasted doing things manually."

Todd's mission is simple: Stop treating your agency like a factory from the Industrial Revolution. Start treating it like a modern, tech-enabled business.

The Knowledge Nugget: The Automation Hierarchy

Todd introduces his Automation Hierarchy—a framework for deciding what to automate first:

Level 1: Eliminate Redundant Data Entry
If you're typing the same information into multiple systems, you're wasting time and introducing errors. API integrations, import/export automation, and data-sync tools should be your first priority.

Level 2: Automate Repetitive Communication
Renewal reminders, quote follow-ups, policy anniversary messages, customer satisfaction surveys—anything you send regularly should be automated. Use email sequences, SMS automation, and CRM workflows.

Level 3: Systematize Workflow Triggers
When X happens, Y should automatically follow. When a policy binds, trigger an onboarding sequence. When a renewal is 60 days out, flag it for review. When a quote sits untouched for 3 days, send a reminder. Build if/then logic into your operations.

Level 4: Leverage Intelligence and Predictive Tools
Use data to predict customer needs. Identify cross-sell opportunities. Flag underinsured clients. Spot retention risks. This is where automation moves from efficiency to competitive advantage.

"Most agents never get past Level 1," Todd says. "They're still fighting with basic data entry while their competitors are using AI-powered insights."

What This Means for Your Agency

If automation feels overwhelming, start small and build:

Do an automation audit. List every task your team does weekly. Highlight anything repetitive, time-consuming, or error-prone. Those are your automation targets.

Start with quick wins. Pick one workflow that's driving everyone crazy and automate it completely. Build momentum with success.

Invest in the right tools. Don't try to build automation with duct tape and free tools. Pay for a real CRM, a real automation platform, and real integrations. The ROI is 10x.

Train your team on automation thinking. Every time someone says "I need to remember to…" that's a candidate for automation. Empower your team to identify and fix workflow bottlenecks.

Partner with an automation expert. Todd's final advice: "You don't have to figure this out alone. Work with someone who's done it hundreds of times. It'll save you years of trial and error."

The Bottom Line

Automation isn't the future—it's the present. Agencies that embrace it are scaling profitably. Agencies that resist it are drowning in manual work and losing to competitors who've built better systems.

Todd's parting wisdom: "The goal of automation isn't to work less. It's to create capacity to work on what matters: serving clients at a higher level, building strategic relationships, and growing your business."

Listen to the full episode: The Insurance Dudes Podcast Episode 40
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