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As leaders, it's easy to get so close to our work that we miss opportunities or overlook solutions. That's where a coach comes in. Executive coaching offers something invaluable: a fresh, experienced perspective that's not tied to your day-to-day operations. Think of it like stepping outside to view your business or leadership challenges through a new lens. Coaches aren't there to take over but to ask the right questions and help you see possibilities you might have missed. Here's how a fresh perspective can benefit you: - Uncover Blind Spots: Even the most successful leaders have areas they can't see clearly. A coach helps you identify and address these, opening the door to new opportunities.
- Challenge Assumptions: It's human nature to fall back on what's familiar, but growth often lies in rethinking the status quo. Coaching encourages innovative thinking and bold strategies.
- Reframe Challenges: Stuck on a problem? A coach helps you step back, rethink, and reframe issues to discover practical, achievable solutions.
Leaders who embrace outside perspectives make smarter decisions, lead more effectively, and inspire their teams to reach new heights. Coaching gives you the clarity to focus on what matters most and the confidence to take action.
Sara Bradshaw Rae
- BIGiOK VP of Strategic Initiatives
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Call to Action:
Ready to uncover fresh strategies and solutions? Let's talk about how executive coaching can reframe your challenges. Contact me today to get started. Sara@BIGiOK.com
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|  MyNetwork focuses on the "O" in WHOLE: Organizationally Focused this month. For leaders at the table, this means defining and sticking to a dynamic strategic plan—whether it's for your business, your team, or even yourself. It's about aligning personal and professional goals with purpose and intention so you can lead with clarity and confidence. At our February sessions, we'll explore practical strategies for being Organizationally Focused, equipping participants with tools to craft or refine their strategic vision. No matter where you are on your leadership journey, this focus ensures you're not just setting goals but staying committed to achieving them. We'll also host a special BrainTrust session, where members will share their "My Favorite Things"—the books, tools, apps, and practices that have made a meaningful impact on their leadership. This exchange of ideas adds to the rich repertoire of resources and inspiration we bring to our leadership roles. Why MyNetwork? For those who haven't experienced it, MyNetwork isn't just a program—it's a powerful space for growth, connection, and transformation. It's designed specifically for female leaders at all stages of their careers to challenge themselves, learn from peers, and leave better equipped to tackle leadership demands as a woman. Our monthly virtual sessions bring together women from across the country in the insurance industry to tackle real challenges, share actionable strategies, and foster meaningful relationships. MyNetwork creates a community where women can be vulnerable, supported, and inspired to take their leadership to the next level. A Call to Action Do you know a woman in your organization who would benefit from MyNetwork? Or perhaps you're a leader looking for a space to develop, challenge, and connect with others. Whether you're an emerging leader or an established executive, MyNetwork provides tools and insights to lead with purpose and impact. Now is the perfect time to join the conversation or share this opportunity with someone who could benefit from it. Help the women in your organization thrive by giving them access to a resource that prioritizes growth, connection, and leadership. Ready to Take the Next Step? Learn more about MyNetwork and how you or the women in your organization can get involved by visiting www.MyNetworkINS.com. Let's build stronger leaders and more impactful organizations, one connection at a time. Together, we're building leaders who are not just at the table—they're shaping the conversation. Join us for some special events this Spring and Summer to get a feel for what the magic of MyNetwork is all about by using THIS LINK
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It's a question we often hear in moments of doubt or challenge, but what if we flipped it into an opportunity for self-reflection and empowerment? Who do you think you are? Not in terms of your role, responsibilities, or résumé—but at your core, how do you naturally take action? Understanding and validating your innate strengths is not just a journey of self-discovery; it's the foundation of confident, effective leadership. The Kolbe A™ Index is a powerful tool designed to help you answer this question with clarity and certainty. It doesn't measure your personality or skills; this assessment reveals your conative strengths—instinctive ways you approach tasks, solve problems, and get things done. Through this lens, you can embrace who you are at your best, lean into your natural strengths, and better understand how to collaborate with others whose strengths complement your own. If you're ready to dig deeper into who you think you are and unlock the potential of your Kolbe strengths, I invite you to join our virtual Kolbe Strengths Workshop on April 30th. This interactive session will provide practical insights and strategies to effectively leverage your unique strengths in both your personal and professional life. Ready to Dive Deeper into Your Strengths? Join us for the next Virtual Kolbe Workshop on April 30th, 2024, from 2:00–4:00 PM CT. During this interactive session, you'll learn to identify and leverage your Kolbe strengths to unlock your full potential. Register now to reserve your spot:
Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect with your natural strengths and start the new year with clarity, confidence, and purpose. I look forward to seeing you there! Sara |
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This January, MyNetwork tables engaged in a transformative and thought-provoking discussion on David Brooks' book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. The conversation was a remarkable opportunity for female leaders to explore the art of deeper connection and empathy in leadership. Highlights from the Discussion Brooks' insights on how to truly see and understand others sparked engaging conversations among participants. Leaders shared their personal takeaways on building meaningful relationships, fostering trust within their teams, and practicing intentional presence. The exchange of perspectives from women at different leadership stages enriched the experience, leaving everyone inspired and equipped with actionable ideas for their personal and professional lives. One participant noted how Brooks' approach challenged her to reassess how she communicates with her team, while another found the discussions around empathy and understanding especially impactful in navigating her leadership role. These discussions exemplify the power of MyNetwork programming in fostering growth, connection, and insight. Why Join MyNetwork? Leadership isn't just about making decisions—it's about building relationships that inspire trust and collaboration. MyNetwork creates a unique space for female leaders within the BIGiOK membership to engage in enriching discussions like these, helping you grow as both a leader and a person. If you're seeking a platform to connect with like-minded women, challenge your perspectives, and expand your leadership toolkit, MyNetwork offers the perfect opportunity. Our book discussions are just one element of the programming designed to support women leaders at every stage of their journey. Join Us Next Fall If you missed this engaging book discussion, we'd love to welcome you to a MyNetwork table next fall. It's your chance to join a community of female leaders committed to growing together through shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and impactful programming. To learn more about MyNetwork or express your interest in joining a table next season, reach out to me, Sara@BIGiOK.com. Together, let's continue the journey of leadership development through connection and learning.
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| By Scott Freiday “Nothing is certain except death and taxes," said Benjamin Franklin. For independent insurance agency owners considering a sale of their business, they may find the certainty of income taxes to be elusive for 2026. The looming uncertainty relates to the reality that when agency owners sell their business, it's not what they get that is important, rather it is what they get to keep. Although agency owners often focus on the multiple of an agency's revenues or cash flow that is used in calculating the sale price, the deal terms are equally significant. Most agency sales — but not all — involve the purchase of the agency's assets rather than a stock purchase to limit the liability exposure of the buyer. The typical approach uses an installment payout and often involves an employment agreement with the agency owners that they will stay with the agency for a specified number of years —one, three or five years, for example — with an earnout provision relating to the final payment. The earnout provision is used to motivate the sellers to continue to increase the value of the agency during their employment. Even if they own 100% of the agency, agency owners have a silent partner in the sale: the taxman. Although the tax implications of an agency sale are often contemplated in structuring the deal, what is not known is the status of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA). Enacted in 2017, it lowered corporate tax rates to 21% and, for pass-through entities like S Corps, LLCs, LLPs and sole proprietors, it introduced a Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction of 20%. Approximately two-thirds of all independent insurance agencies are pass-through entities. Of great significance is that the TCJA lowered the capital gains rates in most cases. However, the TCJA is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025, which means that tax rates will revert to pre-2017 levels, and the capital gains rate will be linked to the taxpayer's ordinary income tax bracket as it was before the TCJA was enacted. Regardless of which party wins the November election, in an era of massive federal deficits there are political uncertainties about the ability to renew the TCJA. If not renewed, the after-tax earnings of agency owners will decrease, and the net sale proceeds will be lower on an after-tax basis. Agency owners who are not yet ready for a total sale of the agency may be more motivated to sell a portion of their agency during 2024 and 2025. A partial sale of the agency to a key staff member (or members) accomplishes two objectives: • It helps perpetuate the agency by retaining key staff and establishing the future leadership regime. A stock purchase loan can be arranged to provide funding for the partial sale. • It assists the agency owners in diversifying their personal balance sheet and provides for tax efficiency of their return on assets.
Consider a stockholder loan
Keith Mangini, VP Commercial Lending,for InsurBanc, cites an example. “We recently helped a second-generation agency owner address his need to retain a key producer by using the vested value of his book of business in conjunction with capital that we provided in the form of a stockholder loan, which served as the basis for purchasing a minority interest in the entire agency. This solved the needs of both the agency owner and key staffer," he explains. “Further, it reassured other agency staff that there is a perpetuation plan in place, creating a certainty about the agency's future." The psychological advantage of using a stockholder loan to facilitate a partial sale of the agency is that agency owners often procrastinate when it comes to perpetuating their agency. Industry consultants recommend that planning for perpetuation should ideally start 10 years, but certainly no later than five years before the planned agency sale or their exit from the agency. Since the stockholder loan necessitates an agency valuation, it establishes a process for future agency transactions and helps overcome the tendency to procrastinate. With a stockholder loan, customarily there is a buy-back feature that provides the agency with the first right of purchase of the minority ownership. Regarding the potential reversion at the end of 2025 to higher tax rates, the agency owners can take advantage of current capital gains rates and diversify their personal balance sheet. Or they can use the proceeds to invest in the agency's capabilities, acquire a smaller agency, or recruit other insurance professionals with specific expertise to serve a target industry. Now, while the tax environment is known, is an opportune time for agency owners to reassess their personal timeline. If your agency has been procrastinating on its perpetuation plan, keep in mind that as Caesar was warned that “The Ides of March are approaching," so too is the potential sunset of the TCJA at the end of 2025. Reprinted by permission of Standard Publishing Corp. © 2024.
About the Author
Scott Freiday is senior vice president and division director of InsurBanc, a division of Connecticut Community Bank, N.A. He oversees the bank's commercial lending and cash management operations and has nearly a quarter century of experience in domestic and international banking and financial services. InsurBanc specializes in financial products and services nationally for the independent insurance distribution community. Started in 2001 as a vision of the Big “I," InsurBanc finances acquisitions and perpetuations and helps agencies become more efficient by providing cash-management solutions. Sources
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: A Comparison for businesses, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-a-comparison-for-businesses
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| In today's fast-paced world, even the most seasoned leaders can find themselves navigating uncharted waters. Whether you're looking to elevate your leadership skills, address challenges within your organization, or position yourself for future success, executive coaching is a proven way to unlock your full potential. Executive coaching is not about giving advice or solving problems for you—it's about empowering you to find solutions and grow as a leader. It's a partnership designed to help you reflect, strategize, and execute with clarity and confidence. Here are some scenarios where executive coaching can make all the difference: - Navigating Change: Facing a company merger, restructuring, or a new leadership role? A coach can guide you through the complexities of these transitions.
- Building Leadership Skills: Want to strengthen your communication, decision-making, or team-building skills? Coaching helps you fine-tune the attributes that define great leaders.
- Breaking Through Barriers: Feeling stuck or overwhelmed by challenges? Coaching provides the tools and perspective to break free from limitations.
With a coach by your side, you'll have a trusted partner who challenges you to think differently, celebrates your progress, and holds you accountable for reaching your goals.
Call to Action: Curious how executive coaching can enhance your leadership? Contact me to start the conversation. Together, we'll explore how coaching can help you grow, succeed, and thrive. Sara@BIGiOK.com
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Have you ever felt like you're constantly swimming against the current? You work hard, follow advice, and try to adopt the habits of others, but something still feels off. It's frustrating, and it can leave you questioning your abilities. What you're experiencing might just be what I call “Hardwiring Amnesia"—forgetting that you're instinctively wired to take purposeful action in your own natural way. The Danger of Working Against Your Grain Each of us is hardwired to approach tasks and solve problems in a specific way. It's not something we learn or choose—it's an innate, instinctive part of who we are. When we ignore this natural way of operating and try to force ourselves to work against our grain, we encounter unnecessary stress, frustration, and even burnout. For example, a person wired to gather all the details before making decisions (an Initiating Fact Finder) might struggle in a role requiring snap judgments. Similarly, someone with a natural instinct for improvisation and risk-taking (an Initiating Quick Start) might feel stifled in an overly rigid, structured environment. When you try to work outside your instinctive strengths for too long, you're likely to feel overwhelmed and ineffective—no matter how capable you are. Remembering Your Hardwiring with Kolbe This is where your Kolbe MO (Mode of Operation) comes in. The Kolbe A™ Index helps you rediscover and embrace how you're naturally wired to take action. It identifies your strengths across four Action Modes: Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor. These strengths highlight the instinctive ways you gather and share information, organize, handle risk, and manage physical or tangible tasks. Understanding your Kolbe MO allows you to stop fighting against your natural tendencies and start leveraging them to your advantage. Instead of trying to be someone you're not, you can focus on maximizing your innate abilities—leading to greater productivity, less stress, and more satisfaction. A Practical Example of Leveraging Your Wiring Imagine someone who is an Initiating Follow Thru. They instinctively thrive on organizing systems, creating continuity, and ensuring that processes are followed to the letter. If this person is forced into a chaotic, ever-changing environment with no structure, they'll likely feel lost and unproductive. On the other hand, once they're placed in a role where their organizational strengths are valued, they'll excel—designing systems and processes that create efficiency for the whole team. Now consider an Initiating Quick Start. This person naturally thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where they can brainstorm, innovate, and adapt on the fly. Asking them to design a complex, long-term system would drain their energy and enthusiasm. But when given the freedom to operate in their natural instinctive zone, they can become a powerhouse of creativity and innovation. How to Overcome "Hardwiring Amnesia" If you've been ignoring or forgetting how you're wired to operate, the first step is simple: Rediscover your strengths. Taking the Kolbe A Index™ is an eye-opening experience that will provide clarity on your natural way of taking action. From there, you can make intentional choices about how to apply your strengths in your work and personal life. Whether that means shifting how you approach tasks, reevaluating your role, or even restructuring your team to better align with everyone's strengths, the result is a more authentic, effective way of operating. The Bottom Line "Hardwiring Amnesia" happens when we forget to honor how we're instinctively wired. But the good news is that it's entirely avoidable. Your Kolbe MO is your personal guide to understanding and leveraging your natural strengths—helping you achieve your goals with less friction and more fulfillment. So, stop swimming against the current. Rediscover your hardwiring, embrace your instincts, and watch as you accomplish more with ease and confidence. It's time to remember who you were naturally wired to be. Ready to Dive Deeper into Your Strengths? Join us for the next Virtual Kolbe Workshop on April 30th, 2025, from 2:00–4:00 PM CT. During this interactive session, you'll learn how to identify and leverage your Kolbe strengths to unlock your full potential.
Register now to reserve your spot:
Save Your Spot: Register Now
Don't miss this opportunity to reconnect with your natural strengths and start the new year with clarity, confidence, and purpose. I look forward to seeing you there! Sara 😊
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Dr. Jessica Rimmer
CEO & Founder, Solomon Strategic Advisors Dr. Jessica Rimmer, PhD, has over 15 years of experience in leadership development, specializing in strategic growth and creating positive workplace cultures. As the CEO of Solomon Strategic Advisors, a Partner Agency of GiANT Worldwide, she works with leading global companies such as Google, BMW, Leidos, and the U.S. military. Before GiANT, she held executive roles in Higher Education, focusing on team performance, leadership development, and enhancing organizational culture. Jessica earned her Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and her Master’s and doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. A sought-after speaker, she covers topics like transformational leadership, cultural diversity, and personal success. Proudly a member of the Cherokee Tribe, Jessica lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with her husband, Terry, and their three children—Myles (9), Maris (6), and Margot (2). She’s a passionate advocate for “keeping it local” and cheering on the Oklahoma Thunder.
Don’t miss EmpowerHER 2025 on March 6, 2025, at Cole’s Garden in Oklahoma City! Registration opens January 7 and closes February 28. Join us for dynamic speakers, including Dr. Jessica Rimmer and Helen Kasper, inspiring sessions, and networking opportunities to celebrate and uplift women in insurance.
BIGiOK.com/women
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Helen Kasper
Chief Operating Officer, Dillingham Insurance Helen Kasper is the Chief Operating Officer of Dillingham Insurance, a 97-year-old firm rooted in Enid, Oklahoma. With over 25 years of industry expertise, Helen brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to her role. Before joining Dillingham in 2023, Helen held prominent leadership roles at The Hartford, including Head of the National Client Group, Division Executive in Chicago, and Head of Sales Excellence. Her extensive background reflects her dedication to driving growth and delivering exceptional results. Helen is a graduate of Notre Dame College and Harvard Business School, equipping her with a strong foundation for leadership. Beyond her professional work, she serves on the Board of Directors for The BIGiOK, supporting the independent insurance industry. Helen resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she enjoys contributing to her community while helping shape the future of one of Oklahoma’s most respected insurance firms.
Don’t miss EmpowerHER 2025 on March 6, 2025, at Cole’s Garden in Oklahoma City! Registration opens January 7 and closes February 28. Join us for dynamic speakers, including Dr. Jessica Rimmer and Helen Kasper, inspiring sessions, and networking opportunities to celebrate and uplift women in insurance.
BIGiOK.com/women
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The Manager's Bootcamp is a 7-session virtual training series encompassing key leadership aspects of workplace management in the insurance industry. Each weekly 3-hour session is designed to help supervisors develop a set of foundational skills that will make them more effective leaders in a supervisory role. Topics will include thinking styles, motivation, change, feedback, communication, coaching, handling conflict, and teamwork. This series is focused on new supervisors and managers, as well as leaders who have been in management for quite some time but can benefit from a fresh perspective on their leadership. The curriculum includes lecture and participant-centered activities. In addition to the actual class time, participants are also responsible for weekly homework and reading assignments required to utilize the principles discussed in each class. Get to Know Your Facilitator
Read Graduate Feedback
Below are the topics that are covered over the seven weeks: Essentials of Modern Supervisory Practices:
- Characteristics and traits of an effective supervisor
- How managing has evolved
- Rethinking management
- The 4 Questions every leader must answer for employees
- The management team hierarchy
Maximizing Managerial Effectiveness through Self-Awareness: - The world according to me (thinking style)
- As I think, so I behave
- Leadership and management style
Enhancing Agency Performance Through Effective Team Management:
- Personal energy
- Pattern learning
- Beliefs and values
- The law of clarity
- Motivators and de-motivators
- Employee engagement
- The dynamics of change
Enhancing Team Performance with Effective Communication and Feedback Strategies: - Feedback definition
- Feedback process
- Communication/feedback model
Enhancing Team Performance with Effective Communication and Feedback Strategies: cont. - Listening to understand
- Assertiveness
- Manager as coach
- Worker maturity cycle
- Competency/willingness model
Building Trust to Enhance Agency Effectiveness:
- Definition of trust
- The economics of trust
- Self-trust
- Relationship trust
- 13 behaviors of high-trust leaders
- Extending trust
Effective Conflict Management for Insurance Professionals:
- The world, according to ME
- When emotions take charge
- Responding to conflict situations
- Conflict resolution strategies
- Naming the conflict behavior
Mastering Team Dynamics for Insurance Professionals:
- What makes a team?
- Stages of team development
- What team leaders do
- Team dynamics
- Sustained growth through mentorship
- Accountability for lasting impact
Each course participant receives a 250+ page guide that includes personal assessments, application activities, and on-the-job assignments to help them connect the information with their workplace experience. - Base BIGi Member Program Fee: $850
- Non-BIGi Member Program Fee: $1065
(3 and 5-session private coaching bundles are also available upon request for an additional fee.)7-week weekly schedule to begin January 21, 2025 – 1:00 – 1:00 PM CT Licensed participants in approved states will be eligible to receive up to 21 hours of general CE credit with full attendance validation. More Information or Register
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