Agent Survival Guide Podcast

CMS just released the 2026 MA and Part D Rate Announcement! Listen to learn more about what this means for the upcoming coverage year.   Resources: 3 Additional Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales: https://lnk.to/asg656 4 Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales: https://lnk.to/asg655 CMS Updates, Content Library, & More! https://lnk.to/asgf20250328 Introducing a Content Marketing Solution for Insurance Agents: https://lnk.to/contentlibrary  The Best Appointment Schedulers for Insurance Agents: https://lnk.to/asg657   References: “2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Advance Notice Fact Sheet.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 10 Jan. 2025, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-advance-notice-fact-sheet. “2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-rate-announcement. “Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cms.gov/files/document/2026-announcement.pdf. Tong, Noah. “CMS Finalizes 5.06% Medicare Advantage Benchmark Increase.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 8 Apr. 2025, www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cms-finalizes-506-medicare-advantage-benchmark-increase. “CMS Finalizes 2026 Payment Policy Updates for Medicare Advantage and Part D Programs.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-finalizes-2026-payment-policy-updates-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-programs. “Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (CMS-4208-F).” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/contract-year-2026-policy-and-technical-changes-medicare-advantage-program-medicare-prescription-final. “Final CY 2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7 Apr. 2025, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/final-cy-2026-part-d-redesign-program-instructions.   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

  Get on track with Sabine Barrett! We chat about Ritter Roadshows and what agents can expect when they attend.   Upcoming Events & Webinars for Insurance Agents: Integrity Webinars: https://learningcenter.tawebhost.com/MedicareCENTER-Webinar-Schedule.pdf Ritter Insurance Marketing Events: https://ritterim.com/events/ Registration for upcoming Ritter Summits: https://summits.ritterim.com/   Not registered with Ritter? See what our FMO is all about: https://ritterim.com/   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

Expand your portfolio with C-SNPs! Learn about the benefits Chronic Special Needs Plans can offer to your clients and your business in Ritter’s Guide to Prospecting and Selling C-SNPS.   Download your copy today!   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

  In this episode, Jake McGeoy takes the wheel, chatting with Sarah about upcoming Ritter Roadshows.   Upcoming Events & Webinars for Insurance Agents: Integrity Webinars: https://learningcenter.tawebhost.com/MedicareCENTER-Webinar-Schedule.pdf Ritter Insurance Marketing Events: https://ritterim.com/events/ Registration for upcoming Ritter Summits: https://summits.ritterim.com/   Not registered with Ritter? See what our FMO is all about: https://ritterim.com/   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

When feeling stressed or helpless, it’s important to take care of yourself. In this episode we share things you can do to combat feelings of uncertainty.      Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing: https://app.ritterim.com/public/registration/      Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.    Resources:  Apps to Use Instead of Social Media: https://lnk.to/asga79   Best eBook & Audiobook Apps: https://lnk.to/WsIGZ5  How to Create a Healthy Balance Between Life and Work: https://lnk.to/asg643     References:   Klynn, Bethany. “Emotional Regulation: Skills, Exercises, & Strategies to Regulate.” BetterUp, BetterUp, 28 Nov. 2024, https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotional-regulation-skills.   Blain, Tiara. “How to Manage the Feeling of Life Being out of Control.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 9 Apr. 2024, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-life-feels-out-of-control-5217728.   “How to Take Control of Your Life: 10 Ways to Empower Yourself.” Calm Blog, Calm Blog, 9 Feb. 2024, https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-take-control-of-your-life.     Crafts:  “7 Easy Crafts Using Common Household Items.” Assisting Hands, Assisting Hands Home Care, 3 Apr. 2023, https://assistinghands.com/blog/7-easy-crafts-using-common-household-items/.   Anderson, Amy. “50 Crafts to Do at Home.” Mod Podge Rocks, 20 Apr. 2024, https://modpodgerocksblog.com/crafts-to-do-at-home/.     Recipes:   Jameson, Melissa. “28 Five-Ingredient Dinner Recipes That Are Oh-so-Simple.” Tasty.Co, Tasty, 4 Mar. 2024, https://tasty.co/article/melissaharrison/five-ingredient-dinners.   Sevier, Joe. “29 Mocktails Worthy of a Second Round.” Bon Appétit, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024, https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/best-mocktail-recipes.   Szewczyk, Jesse, and Kimberley Wehby. “32 Easy Work Lunches You Can Pack in the Morning.” Tasty.Co, Tasty, 14 Jan. 2025, https://tasty.co/article/jesseszewczyk/easy-make-ahead-work-lunches.     Mental Health Resources:  Mental Health America, https://mhanational.org/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.   “Mental Health Resources.” Mental Health First Aid, 29 Jan. 2025, https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/ .   “Mental Health Resources.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/caring/index.html. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.     Follow Us on Social!  Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X (fka) Twitter, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance      Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel    Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/ 

  Hit the road with Anthony Budhar! We talk about what agents can expect when attending Ritter Roadshows!   Upcoming Events & Webinars for Insurance Agents: Integrity Webinars: https://learningcenter.tawebhost.com/MedicareCENTER-Webinar-Schedule.pdf Ritter Insurance Marketing Events: https://ritterim.com/events/ Registration for upcoming Ritter Summits: https://summits.ritterim.com/   Not registered with Ritter? See what our FMO is all about: https://ritterim.com/   Follow Us on Social!  Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

  In this episode, Steve Telander takes the wheel, chatting with Sarah about upcoming Ritter Roadshows.   Upcoming Events & Webinars for Insurance Agents: Integrity Webinars: https://learningcenter.tawebhost.com/MedicareCENTER-Webinar-Schedule.pdf Ritter Insurance Marketing Events: https://ritterim.com/events/ Registration for upcoming Ritter Summits: https://summits.ritterim.com/   Mentioned in This Episode: The Value of Plan N for Medicare Shoppers ft. Ted Sims: https://lnk.to/ASGtedsims   Not registered with Ritter? See what our FMO is all about: https://ritterim.com/   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

  Develop your personal brand with help from the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Set yourself apart from the competition and formulate your marketing strategy at the same time!   Read the text version   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Resources: 5 Insurance Marketing Tips to Help Agents Stand Out in a Crowd: https://lnk.to/asgf20250321 5 Types of Content to Share on Social Media: https://lnk.to/asgf20250131   Apps for Content Creation: https://lnk.to/ASGA81  Build Your Brand with Community Involvement: https://ritterim.com/blog/build-your-brand-with-community-involvement/  CMS Updates, Content Library, & More! https://lnk.to/asgf20250328 How Relationship Marketing Can Make the Difference in Your Agency: https://lnk.to/asg642 Introducing a Content Marketing Solution for Insurance Agents: https://lnk.to/contentlibrary Marketing Trends for 2025: https://lnk.to/asg639  Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing   References: Sheldon, Robert. “What Is a Unique Selling Point (USP)?” Techtarget.Com, TechTarget, www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/unique-selling-point-USP. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.  

  Free up your work week by using a digital appointment scheduler. Spend more time with clients and less time managing your calendar.   Read the text version   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Resources: 3 Insurance Business Tools You Absolutely Can’t Live Without: https://ritterim.com/the-ultimate-agent-resource-list/ Best Practices for Video Calls: https://lnk.to/8jc7x9 Digital Marketing for Insurance Agents: Our Top Tips to Boost Business: https://ritterim.com/blog/digital-marketing-for-insurance-agents-our-top-tips-to-boost-business/ Free eBooks & Guides: https://ritterim.com/guides/ Get Your PlanEnroll Site: https://ritterim.com/planenroll/ How to Stay Compliant During All Medicare Sales: https://lnk.to/41gE4C Meet Your Sales Specialist: https://ritterim.com/meet-your-sales-team/ MedicareCENTER: https://ritterim.com/integrity-tools/#medicarecenter Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing What Are Agents Responsible for Under HIPAA: https://ritterim.com/blog/what-are-agents-responsible-for-under-hipaa/ Where It All Begins: Obtaining Permission to Contact for Medicare Sales: https://ritterim.com/blog/where-it-all-begins-obtaining-permission-to-contact-for-medicare-sales/ The Ultimate Agent Resource List Pt 3: Staying Organized: https://ritterim.com/blog/the-ultimate-agent-resource-list-pt-3-staying-organized/  1XU0htQOoBWpMzQpkTNp Appointment Schedulers: Acuity: https://acuityscheduling.com/ Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com/resources/appointment-scheduling/ Microsoft Bookings: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/scheduling-and-booking-app OnceHub: https://oncehub.com/ SimployBook.me: https://simplybook.me/en/   References: Lurie, Matt. “20 Integrable Scheduling Tools for Small Business Systems.” Ruby, 11 Nov. 2024, https://www.ruby.com/blog/20-of-the-best-small-business-appointment-scheduling-tools-and-apps/. “Acuity Scheduling: Online Appointment Scheduling Software.” Acuity, https://acuityscheduling.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Acuity Scheduling and HIPAA.” Acuity : Scheduling, https://help.acuityscheduling.com/hc/en-us/articles/16689567523597-Acuity-Scheduling-and-HIPAA. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Agencybloc’s AMS+ Solution for Health, Group Benefits, & Senior Insurance.” AgencyBloc Insurance Agency CRM, https://www.agencybloc.com/ams/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Appointment Scheduler.” Radius Help Center, https://help.radiusbob.com/en/articles/5448715-appointment-scheduler. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Compare All Microsoft 365 Plans.” Microsoft, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/compare-all-microsoft-365-business-productss. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Free Appointment Booking System.” SimplyBook.Me - Free Appointment Booking System, https://simplybook.me/en/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Google Workspace.” Google Workspace: Secure Online Productivity & Collaboration Tools, Google, https://workspace.google.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) & Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act - Microsoft Compliance.” Microsoft Compliance | Microsoft Learn, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-hipaa-hitech. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “HIPAA Compliance with Google Workspace and Cloud Identity.” Google Workspace Admin Help, Google, https://support.google.com/a/answer/3407054. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “HIPAA for Professionals.” HHS.Gov, 19 July 2024, https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html. “Microsoft 365 - Subscription for Productivity Apps: Microsoft 365.” Microsoft 365 - Subscription for Productivity Apps | Microsoft 365, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Online Appointment Booking Software - Unmatched Free Plan.” OnceHub, https://oncehub.com/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Online Appointment Scheduling with Google Calendar.” Google Workspace, Google, https://workspace.google.com/resources/appointment-scheduling/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Online Bookings and Appointment Scheduling: Microsoft 365.” Online Bookings and Appointment Scheduling | Microsoft 365, Microsoft, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/scheduling-and-booking-app. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “Productivity Apps for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs | Google Workspace Individual.” Google Workspace, Google, https://workspace.google.com/individual/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. Alder, Steven. “The Use of Technology and HIPAA Compliance.” The HIPAA Journal, https://www.hipaajournal.com/the-use-of-technology-and-hipaa-compliance/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. “What Is a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA)?: TechTarget.” Healthtech Security, TechTarget, 14 Feb. 2022, https://www.techtarget.com/healthtechsecurity/feature/What-Is-a-HIPAA-Business-Associate-Agreement-BAA. “What Is Our Online Scheduler Solution?” Producer Max The Agent-Centric Platform, https://www.producermax.com/Online-Scheduler.html. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

  Listen to learn about powerful strategies for closing insurance sales!   Read the text version   Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.   Resources: 4 Effective Techniques for Closing Insurance Sales: https://lnk.to/asg655 4 Tips for Making a Better Insurance Sales Pitch: https://ritterim.com/blog/4-tips-for-making-a-better-insurance-sales-pitch/ Empower Your Prospects to Act Before Turning 65: https://ritterim.com/blog/empower-your-prospects-to-act-before-turning-65/ Interview – Developing a Client Retention Mindset: https://ritterim.com/blog/interview-developing-a-client-retention-mindset/ Interview – Relationship Marketing Strategies for Insurance Agents: https://ritterim.com/blog/interview-relationship-marketing-strategies-for-insurance-agents/ Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing: https://app.ritterim.com/public/registration/   References: Schultz, Mike. “50 Powerful Sales Questions.” RAIN Group Sales Training, RAIN Group, 27 June 2024, https://www.rainsalestraining.com/blog/50-powerful-sales-questions. Curtis, Matthew. “‘Don’t Answer a Question with a Question!’ Were You Ever Told as a Child It’s Rude?” M4C Business Leadership & Sales Consultancy, 6 Sept. 2019, https://www.m4cltd.com/don-t-answer-a-question-with-a-question-were-you-ever-told-as-a-child-it-s-rude. Schipperen, Thomas. “Mastering Sales Uncertainty: Adapting the Ben Franklin Technique for Modern Consumers.” Lepaya, https://www.lepaya.com/blog/ben-franklin-sales-technique. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025. Brooks, Alison Wood, and Leslie K. John. “The Surprising Power of Questions.” Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 1 May 2018, https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-surprising-power-of-questions. Aljets, Paul. “What Ben Franklin Got Right (and Wrong) about Data-Driven Decision-Making.” LinkedIn, 1 Aug. 2019, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-ben-franklin-got-right-wrong-data-driven-paul-aljets/.   Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.