Rafael Gallardo, CDO & Co-founder Weecover

Rafael Gallardo is an expert in digital business, product, and the entire ecosystem surrounding the internet era, a sector in which he has developed his professional career since 1996. Gallardo has held senior positions in Digital Management at companies such as Zurich Spain and Credit Suisse. He has collaborated on digital strategy for prestigious companies like Mercedes-Benz, L'Oréal, Telefónica, Grupo Prisa, RTVE, etc. Additionally, he has consolidated his expertise in digital business by serving for 7 years as Chief Digital Officer on the board of directors of Grupo Océano. An Executive MBA from EAE, he has always defended and specialized in the executive bridge position between technology and business, seeking full synergy between both as the only path to successful digital business.

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The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) SOC 2 certification assures Joshu customers the highest recognized standards of information security compliance in the world are in place. The SOC 2 Type II certification specifically ensures all information stored on the Joshu Platform is secured to the design and structure of the proper controls, policies, and procedures.

“Security was built into the DNA of the Joshu platform,” said Shimi Bornstein, CTO and co-founder of Joshu. “As more insurance organizations rely on Joshu for complete automation of the insurance policy lifecycle, the importance of remaining SOC 2 compliance was evident. This recertification demonstrates our commitment to earning and maintaining the trust of our customers by protecting their data and their businesses.”

Joshu achieved their SOC 2 Type II compliance recertification through an external audit of the company’s internal controls around data security, firewall configurations, change management, logical access, backup management, business continuity and disaster recovery, security incident response, and other critical areas of the business by Johanson Group, a licensed CPA firm which provides readiness assessments, examinations, and audits for organizations looking to achieve SOC 2 compliance.

Founded by InsurTech experts, Joshu is laser-focused on helping insurance product owners bring new programs to market quickly with a complete tech solution that accelerates product development, underwriting, and distribution. The Joshu Platform is purpose-built to harness digital growth, maintain high underwriting standards, and win new markets faster.

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New data released today shows that together Gen Z (ages 18-26) and millennials (ages 27-42) are almost equally likely to own cryptocurrency (21%) as they are to own real estate (20%). They are also more likely to try financial “hacks,” often popularized on social media. In fact, 62% of the members of these younger generations have tried at least one of the six financial hacks we asked about in the survey, with the “no spend challenge” the most popular with Gen Z (21%) and almost two in 10 millennials (19%) having tried extreme couponing. Only 36% of Gen X (ages 43-58) and baby boomers (ages 59-77) have tried any of the financial hacks — maximizing credit card rewards was the most popular hack for these generations (21% and 19% respectively).

The 2024 Policygenius Financial Planning Survey found that the feelings different generations have about their finances vary greatly as well, with around three-quarters of baby boomers (78%) saying they feel at least somewhat proud of their finances, compared to 70% of millennials and 64% of Gen Z.

The survey also found that:

• Gen Zers are more likely to own cryptocurrency (20%) than they are to own stocks (18%).
• 14% of Gen Z have tried “infinite banking” — a term for borrowing against the cash value of a whole life insurance policy.
• Gen Z and millennials are more than twice as likely to turn to social media first with a financial question (8%), compared to Gen X and baby boomers (2%).

“Younger generations store their wealth differently than their Gen X and boomer counterparts, including novel investments like cryptocurrency. This could show a bigger willingness to take risks with their money, but it could also reflect obstacles they can’t control, like the growing housing shortage,” Myles Ma, Certified Personal Finance Counselor at Policygenius, said. “Buying a house may be out of reach at the moment for many, but taking big financial risks isn’t necessarily going to help. More time-tested options — stocks, bonds, life insurance — will serve you better in the long run, especially if something happens to you and your loved ones need the financial coverage for their living expenses, like paying a mortgage or college tuition.”

Policygenius commissioned YouGov to poll 4,063 Americans age 18 or older. The survey was carried out online from Oct. 16 through Oct. 19, 2023. The results have been weighted to be representative of all U.S. adults. The average margin of error was +/- 2%.

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Keyes’ ongoing expansion is reinforced by the recent acquisitions, enhancing their capacity to offer personalized, commercial, and benefit solutions to clients. Recognized for its extensive group benefits offerings, Sabal Benefits brings valuable expertise to Keyes’ expanding partnerships, further enhancing their ability to deliver innovative solutions for their clients.

Gran LeCompte, President at Sabal Benefits, shared insights on the acquisition, stating, “Joining forces with Keyes Coverage is an exciting opportunity for Sabal Benefits. We believe that our combined expertise, leveraging Keyes’ commitment to innovation as well as ours, will not only benefit our clients but also contribute to raising the industry standards. Together, we look forward to creating more solutions and setting new benchmarks in the employee benefits landscape.”

David Ragno, CEO of Keyes Coverage, emphasized the strategic importance of these acquisitions, saying, “These acquisitions are a testament to our commitment to growth and excellence. We believe that by bringing together the strengths of Keyes Coverage, Sabal Benefits, Nat Steinart & Associates, and Robin Lewis, Inc., we are poised to deliver unmatched value to our clients and further solidify our standing in the industry. Importantly, this expansion enhances Keyes Coverage’s footprint and offerings in the South Florida region.”

The recent acquisitions contribute to Keyes Coverage’s overall growth strategy, expanding its reach and capabilities across various segments of their growing client’s needs. “Our growth is incredibly thrilling as it directly translates into a positive impact on our clients’ experience. The expansion not only signifies our commitment to partnering with like-minded leaders but also provide enhanced solutions that make our client’s lives better,” Ragno added.

As Keyes Coverage advances to meet the evolving demands of its clients, these acquisitions underscore the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier services. Clients can anticipate an expanded array of solutions and an ongoing dedication to delivering outstanding value.

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Traditionally, SMBs with various locations spanning across the country have been forced to fill out multiple applications, use disparate means to manage their insurance policies, and juggle several payment schedules.

“At Authentic, our core mission is to develop insurance programs tailored to small businesses, enriching and simplifying their insurance journey. Every small business is different and meeting those specific needs digitally has been a challenge,” says Authentic CEO Cole Riccardi. “Our multi-location capability is a massive leap forward in modernizing insurance for small businesses.”

With these new capabilities, Authentic’s online platform places them in a stronger-than-every position to serve small business owners in this dynamic climate.

Authentic is a tech enabled “captive-in-a-box” insurance platform based in New York and Ohio. The company partners with vertical software, associations, franchisors and other small business affinity groups. To learn more about Authentic and multi-location out-of-state policies

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The Sitecore Experience Awards recognize its customers who have utilized the platform to transform their organizations in innovative and impactful ways, clearly demonstrating how their Sitecore-driven solution delivers ground-breaking customer experiences and great overall business value. 

HUB International earned the Judges’ Choice Winner for its project, “Revolutionizing Efficiency and Technology Advancements with VIU by HUB and Sitecore,” which was designed and implemented by Rightpoint. The team’s strategy included migrating HUB International’s existing Sitecore instance to the latest 10.2 version within just five months, enabling an integrated, composable architecture and a headless approach to content management. The new omnichannel strategy for content distribution empowers HUB International to offer a seamless experience for customers as they discover the best insurance products for their needs across multiple touchpoints. 

Leveraging Sitecore’s best-of-breed technologies in combination with Rightpoint’s Total Experience approach also unlocked a 500% increase in operational efficiencies for HUB International, including launching new products five times faster, making content updates 10 times faster, and improving content consistency by 25% across various channels. 

“It has been an incredible honor to create a transformative digital landscape for HUB International, and for our work to be recognized on a global stage by Sitecore,” said Neil Dowling, Chief Marketing Officer and Global Alliances Lead at Rightpoint. “Our core mission at Rightpoint is to deliver Total Experiences that transform how people, technology, and businesses interact, through an integrated approach that harnesses AI, collective thinking, technical expertise, and evolves industry trends. This project is a perfect example of that vision.”

Rightpoint has been a distinguished Sitecore partner since 2007, earning the coveted Platinum Partner status in 2015, awarded to only a handful of companies in the world. The company was recently recognized with Sitecore’s prestigious Excellence in Business Impact Award for 2023, which honors Sitecore partners who have surpassed expectations in understanding and addressing customers’ unique requirements with Sitecore solutions.

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“We are thrilled to join forces with Coforge in our shared commitment to empowering clients on the OneShield platform,” said Ken Shapiro, Chief Revenue Officer at OneShield. “This alliance signifies a significant step forward in enhancing the user experience, offering clients an even more robust and comprehensive suite of solutions, and delivering an unprecedented level of self-sufficiency.”

Coforge’s Executive Vice President, Insurance, Rajeev Batra, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “At Coforge, we are focused on bringing our expertise in digital core platforms to complement OneShield. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional value by offering business agility, superior customer experiences, and achieving optimal results. We look forward to jointly addressing the dynamic needs of the insurance industry and driving innovation.”

Key areas of this partnership include providing Implementation Services for the deployment of OneShield Enterprise’s Policy, Billing, and Claims solutions, as well as the configuration of insurance products on the OneShield platform. Coforge will augment OneShield’s capacity to deliver enhanced value for carriers and work closely with OneShield’s leading team of architects to build tailored solutions that empower their insurance customers to grow.

This partnership aims to leverage Coforge’s domain-specific strengths, expanding OneShield’s network of trained professionals. Clients can anticipate accelerated implementations, heightened customer support, and the expansion of innovative solutions to maximize their experience within the OneShield Enterprise SaaS platform.

“This announcement underscores OneShield’s commitment to excellence and innovation, offering clients a future where their insurance operations are not only streamlined but also equipped with cutting-edge capabilities,” adds Shapiro. “Together, OneShield and Coforge are positioned to drive positive transformation in the insurance industry, providing OneShield’s clients with unparalleled tools to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.”

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Exchange Underwriters was started by Blair C. Ferguson in 1952 in Canonsburg, PA, and provided personal and commercial lines insurance exclusively in the Washington County area. In 1992, Richard Boyer, the current President, assumed ownership and the agency expanded into the Tri-State Area and throughout the entire United States. In 2014 Community Bank purchased Exchange Underwriters, enabling the agency to broaden its marketing efforts and provide a platform for future growth. In 2018 the agency relocated to Washington, PA and merged with Beynon Insurance Agency to become one of the largest insurance agencies in the Pittsburgh region.

“We are excited about the opportunity to join World Insurance,” says Richard Boyer, President, Exchange Underwriters. “We are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service and attention, with the same dedicated team of local professionals. As part of World, we can offer our customers additional products and services.”

“On behalf of the World family, I would like to welcome Exchange Underwriters” says Rich Eknoian, CEO and Co-Founder of World. “They have an excellent reputation of providing their clients with exceptional service, and I know they will continue to be successful as part of World.”

Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla provided legal counsel and MarshBerry advised World on the transaction. Luse Gorman and Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett provided legal counsel and Dowling Hales advised Exchange Underwriters on the transaction. No other advisors, diligence firms or legal counsel were disclosed.

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M D Iverson Group specializes in insurance for high-growth businesses and for the leaders of those companies whose needs exceed the ordinary. With a focus on more than simply writing insurance policies, they work with clients to improve processes now, while planning for the future.

“The M D Iverson Group brings us a unique customer base for our company and a leader who is truly committed to helping businesses grow,” said Oakbridge CEO Robbie Smith. “With our continued expansion, their addition further demonstrates our commitment to outstanding client relationships and innovative growth.”

“Oakbridge has a remarkable footprint with a lot of good people,” says Mike Iverson, the agency’s principal. “”They have the qualities I look for in prospects and business partners, making this an easy choice. I look forward to what we can accomplish together as we become the premier firm in our industry”

The partnership provides both firms with access to a broader pool of resources, industry knowledge and continued opportunities for growth.

As an Oakbridge partner, M D Iverson Group will maintain its office in Fairburn, Georgia.

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“The Medi-Solutions team not only expands SMS’ health and wealth distribution network nationally but also infuses even more energy into the environment of collaboration among all of our acquired partners,” said SMS President Jim Summers. “Together, we’re finding new opportunities and paths forward to address today’s industry challenges, and this truly distinguishes SMS.”

Medi-Solutions serves clients in New Jersey as First Jersey Insurance Agency, which opened in 1985. Starting in 1989 as President, Frank Reilly Sr. grew the business into a leading, respected provider of Medicare plans in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. He handed the reins to James Blumetti in 2010, and the company expanded in 2018 with Medi-Solutions, which sells Medicare in New Jersey, Florida and throughout the United States. Due to the strong brand recognition and customer loyalty in the New Jersey area, the First Jersey name will continue to be used there.

“The success that President James Blumetti, Frank Reilly Sr., and Frank Reilly Jr. have achieved in their long history in the Medicare market is truly remarkable,” Summers said. “They share our mission and our vision for long-term, sustained growth, and I’m confident that SMS and Medi-Solutions are going to do incredible things together.”

Blumetti said the partnership was appealing because SMS’ resources will help attract and retain agents in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace. The SMS platform provides proprietary technology, industry-leading back-office support, proven marketing systems and a comprehensive product portfolio of health and wealth solutions from top carriers. These resources and SMS’ reputation add another layer of trust and stability – added value that Medi-Solutions couldn’t offer agents on its own, Blumetti said.

“We were so impressed with what SMS has to offer to our agents,” Frank Reilly, Jr., said. “Our agents could easily increase their income with some of the systems that SMS has and the ability to bolster quality leads, such as the Client Stream^® Lead Exchange, and we’re very excited to be a part of that.”

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