Meet 2021 AFTF Award Winners!
The fourth annual Agent for the Future Awards celebrate the most forward-looking agencies and individuals. Learn more about this year’s winners.
As the industry and world continues to evolve, forward-looking agents are embracing change with a sense of growth and innovation.
For the past four years, Agent for the Future has recognized independent agents for their forward-looking approach to building and growing their business.
In 2021, that meant adapting to changing market conditions and staying ahead of emerging trends. Agents for the future are trying new technologies and exploring new avenues for growth, all while building workplace cultures that attract and retain top talent. They are leveraging some of the most cutting-edge strategies to boost sales, improve service, enhance the customer experience and ensure employees are engaged.
The 2021 award introduced several new categories, including a new set of categories dedicated to celebrating the individuals that working to build a stronger, more innovative and inclusive independent agency system. The application process was also streamlined and the submission form simplified. Applications were judged based on just one 400-word essay question.
A panel of industry veterans judged applications based on the degree in which they demonstrate three key qualities: innovation, creativity and impact.
The Agent for the Future awards are open to all independent insurance agencies and brokers that sell personal lines or small commercial and are based in North America. Entrants were not required to be authorized to write business with Liberty Mutual or Safeco Insurance.
Why Enter?
Winning Agencies Will Receive
$5,000 cash prize
Each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize to support agency growth and innovation, with full autonomy over how and where the funding is utilized. Past winners have put the funding toward chatbot development, employee retention programs and implementing new marketing strategies.
Industry Recognition
The Outstanding Agency Overall and Outstanding Female Principal will be profiled in the upcoming edition of Rough Notes. All award winners will be also be featured on AgentfortheFuture.com, in a press release and through supporting promotional efforts.
The limited-edition trophy and bragging rights don’t hurt, either.
Peer Networking Opportunities
As part of an exclusive group of Agent for the Future award recipients, winners will gain access to peer networking opportunities with other top agencies. Winners will be paired based on past experience and future growth goals.
Resources
Past Winners
Categories
This year’s award featured two sets of categories, one for agencies and another focused on celebrating individuals.
The agency awards spanned four categories, with the opportunity for one agency to earn the pinnacle Outstanding Agency Overall award. Two additional Agents for the Future were honored based on agency size, while one agency was celebrated for their digital savvy in the newly introduced Digital Innovator category.
Two individuals were also honored. These individuals demonstrate many of the same qualities as an Agent for the Future: innovation, creativity and impact. But they are also engaged in the broader independent agent community and have a history of breaking down barriers.
Applicants that meet the qualifications of multiple categories are welcome to submit more than one application and Agent for the Future reserves the right to consider applications for additional categories, as relevant and qualified.
2021 Agent for the Future, Outstanding Agency Overall
As the top agency award, the 2021 Agent for the Future, Outstanding Agency Overall honor is awarded to the agency – big, small or somewhere in between – that best demonstrates the qualities of an Agent for the Future. In past years, those recognized in this category were named the National Award Winner. All agencies that apply for the 2021 Agent for the Future, Outstanding Agency Overall category will be automatically entered into the Outstanding Small and Large Agency categories, based on annual revenue.
Additional Agency Awards
- Outstanding Small Agency: Awarded to an agency that meets all the requirements of an Agent for the Future, with less than $2 million in annual revenue.
- Outstanding Large Agency: Awarded to an agency that meets all the requirements of an Agent for the Future, with more than $2 million in annual revenue.
- Digital Innovator: Awarded to the most digitally savvy agency that is embracing the most cutting-edge tools and tactics. They are data-driven, omni-channel, are leveraging technology to improve the customer and employee experience.
Individual Awards
Outstanding Female Agency Principal
This award celebrates the women that have built thriving careers within the independent agency system, despite the many barriers of the traditionally male-dominated insurance industry. Whether a founder, partner or other c-level executive – they are an established leader within their agency and the independent agent community at large, and are deeply dedicated to progressing the industry forward.
Emerging Leader
What separates an Emerging Leader is their unconventional path to building and growing their business. This agent or broker may be in the early stages of their journey to becoming an Agent for the Future, are operating a non-traditional agency, have overcome adversity or are breaking down barriers. They are the face of a new wave of insurance agencies and have a unique story to tell.
Meet the Judges
Tyler Asher
Lori Busi
Dave Willis, CPIA
Meet the Winners
We’re excited to reveal our 2021 Agent for the Future Award winners! Learn more about the agencies and individuals who won this year’s titles.