How This Agency Grew To $200 Million Premium Organically

On this episode of the Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers sit down with Jeff Wingate, President at Rate Insurance, for a deep dive into the realities of building a top 100 insurance agency through organic growth—not mergers and acquisitions. Jeff Wingate shares Rate’s journey from relying almost entirely on mortgage-generated leads to creating a scalable, tech-driven, virtual organization sourcing business nationwide. The conversation uncovers the advantages and challenges of proprietary technology, integrating APIs with carriers and mortgage partners, and the long runway of hiring and training licensed agents. The trio also gets candid about industry cycles, consumer patience, AI’s impact on agency operations, and cross-selling strategies for bundling auto and home. With honest discussions about setbacks and wins, this episode is packed with lessons for agency owners seeking to grow smart in a changing market.