Building Boutique Success: Community, Cars, and Culture in Insurance with Dana Acabbo and Carrie Keller

What happens when two experienced insurance professionals decide to do things differently? In this episode of The Accelerator, Dana Acabbo and Carrie Keller talk about their journey from big-firm life to launching their boutique agency Make The Switch. Discover why authenticity trumps quotas, how to network effectively from Pebble Beach to rural Nebraska, and why sometimes, the best clients drive Hondas, not Ferraris. If you’re ready to make “the switch” to a more meaningful, memorable business in insurance, you don’t want to miss this episode. Here’s what we’ll cover in this episode: (01:03) Meet Dana and Carrie: Starting a boutique agency (05:04) Carrie’s shift from carrier to broker (07:53) Dana’s leap from big firms to entrepreneurship (12:40) Turning your personal brand into a business edge (14:45) From car shows to building client trust (17:02) Networking tips for agents new to car culture (19:19) Why car passion goes beyond Ferraris (24:37) Industry trends: underwriting, CAT risks, and new wealth (29:15) Growing through referrals (31:41) Team rituals, mascots, and leadership lessons (32:35) Women in insurance: leading with authenticity (34:00) What’s changing in the collector car market (37:58) Succeeding in car insurance, without being a car nut (40:34) Building for the long haul: branding and naming tips (42:51) Balancing business and family life (49:42) Porsche trends and coverage tips for agents Links mentioned in this episode: Dana Acabbo on LinkedIn Carrie Keller on LinkedIn Make The Switch Insurance