Broker of the Year alumni: What’s new?

Have you ever wondered what happens to Broker of the Year winners and finalists once they’ve left the big stage and headed back to work? Well, we caught up with a few advisors from previous years to see how their life, business and industry perspectives have evolved.

Editor-in- chief Paul Wilson moderated this insightful conversation and he was joined by Ami Shah, Felipe Barganier and Adam Berkowitz.

Industry change

“We are a very archaic industry as it relates to the rest of other industries. Insurance and employee benefits are not moving at the same pace as technology and I feel like we should embrace it a lot more.”

-Felipe Barganier, CEO, GAB International LLC

Looking back

“Be curious and be paranoid. I always say this to my team, and they ask, ‘What do you mean, be paranoid?’ It’s very simple. Look at how many carrier parties are out there, and some of them look like they are all selling the same thing. So, if you look at it from the face… if you are not paranoid when you are talking to them to find out their true pros and cons, you can’t sit there with your client and tell them, ‘This is why this company is right for you.’”

-Ami Shah, vice president, National Accounts, CSG

Transforming the industry

“One of the biggest things for our organization is focusing on culture and building a culture thatcan develop talent that this industry needs… It is our job to cultivate a culture and environment that is financially competitive, that’s incredibly rewarding because of the work we are doing. And then we can foster and raise talent of all walks of life.”

-Adam Berkowitz, founder & president, Simpara

One quality you would look for in a Broker of the Year candidate

“Tenacity,” says Shah.

“Humility, integrity, and results” shares Berkowitz.

“Knowledge about the industry,” Barganier says.