Episodes

  • Turning "No" Into Opportunity: A Better Way to Handle Rejection
    Jun 3 2026

    Every insurance advisor hears "no," but the best advisors know how to turn those moments into stronger relationships, better positioning, and future opportunities.

    In this episode of Life Linked, Morgan sits down with marketing strategist, keynote speaker, and advisor coach Tiffany Markarian to unpack the real meaning behind client hesitation and rejection. Together, they explore how advisors can shift from a sales mindset to a consultative approach that builds trust, uncovers client priorities, and keeps conversations moving forward.

    Tiffany shares practical discovery questions, follow-up strategies, and communication techniques advisors can use immediately to improve engagement, reduce resistance, and create more meaningful client relationships. Whether you're a newer advisor learning how to navigate objections or an experienced producer looking to sharpen your process, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

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    29 mins
  • The Advisor Experience: Turning Life Insurance into a Responsibility
    Apr 14 2026

    In this episode, Chad Preston sits down with veteran advisor Ed Steffens to unpack how life insurance evolved from an uncomfortable topic into a core responsibility within his practice. Ed shares how a real-life client tragedy reshaped his perspective, turning life insurance from a "nice-to-have" into a moral and professional obligation.

    They dive into practical ways to introduce life insurance without pressure, why a direct approach works better than overthinking it, and how advisors can build confidence through repetition and real conversations. You'll also hear actionable strategies for the next 60–90 days to help you naturally integrate life insurance into your process, and why doing so ultimately comes down to care, not sales.

    If you've ever hesitated to bring it up, this episode will challenge that and give you a straightforward path forward.

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    15 mins
  • Finding Hidden Growth in Your Book of Business
    Mar 3 2026
    Most advisors spend their time chasing new business, while overlooking the opportunity already sitting inside their existing book. In this episode, we're joined by Niko Kantouros of Proformex to discuss how advisors can uncover coverage gaps, identify cross-sell opportunities, and strengthen retention through centralized visibility into their clients' life insurance and annuities. We break down:
    • Where advisors most often leave revenue on the table
    • How to prioritize outreach instead of guessing who to call
    • Why proactive policy reviews protect against client churn
    • What separates advisors who grow consistently from those who stay reactive
    The fundamentals of this business haven't changed. Relationships and trust still win. But the advisors who thrive going forward will be the ones who combine those fundamentals with a single, reliable source of truth for their entire book and actionable insights to drive their business forward. If you want to grow without adding complexity, this conversation is worth your time.
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    19 mins
  • Estate Equalization: A Smarter Way to Guide Business Owner Clients
    Mar 24 2026

    Many business owner clients face the same problem, but rarely plan for it correctly. One child takes over the business. The others do not. That is where estate equalization becomes essential. In this episode of the Life Linked Podcast, Morgan sits down with Ron Lee, Vice President of Advanced Markets at Mutual of Omaha, to walk through how advisors can navigate these complex conversations with confidence.

    They break down how to structure fair outcomes when assets like a business or farm cannot be divided, why equal does not always mean fair, and how a lack of planning can lead to family conflict, legal disputes, or even the collapse of the business itself. If you advise business owners, this episode will help you lead better planning conversations, uncover hidden risks, and deliver more complete solutions that go beyond the numbers.

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    13 mins
  • Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Advisors in 2026
    Dec 22 2025

    In this episode, John Felton and Zach Gosselin break down why year-end is the most important time for advisors to plan ahead and where the real opportunities for growth will come from in 2026. The discussion covers key industry trends, effective use of permanent life solutions, and the continued role of annuities, and how advisors can help business owners with employee retention strategies using life insurance benefits.

    The conversation also highlights how TBA is supporting advisors with new tools, technology, and back-office resources to drive efficiency and results. John and Zach close with practical guidance on the client conversations advisors should be having now, December best practices to start January strong, and one clear piece of advice to help advisors enter 2026 prepared, focused, and positioned to win.

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    13 mins
  • The Evolving Role of Life Insurance in a Shifting Market
    Jan 27 2026

    Zach Gosselin joins Life Linked to break down how life insurance conversations are changing as clients become more skeptical and distracted. He explains why advisors must lead with risk and outcomes, not product, and highlights the biggest gaps he sees: weak positioning, stalled underwriting momentum, and outdated coverage. Zach shares when permanent vs. term makes sense, why conversion options matter, and a simple question to open better conversations. Action step: build a "top 10" client list and run quick coverage gap check-ins to uncover needs before they become disasters.

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    11 mins
  • TBA Awareness Month
    Dec 1 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with John Felton, President of Tennessee Brokerage Agency, to break down what TBA Awareness Month is all about and why it matters for advisors. John walks through how TBA stands out as a true partner: offering hands-on case support, product expertise, and business-growth strategies that many advisors don't realize they have at their fingertips.

    We cover the key tools and resources available throughout the year, including help with permanent life and annuity opportunities, and the technology and back-office solutions that make an advisor's practice run more efficiently. John also shares real examples of how TBA has supported advisors in meaningful, practical ways.

    Whether you're already working with TBA or just getting to know us, this episode gives you a clear picture of how to take advantage of TBA Awareness Month and how to position your practice for year-end planning and a strong start to 2026. Advisors looking for guidance, clarity, or a trusted partner will find plenty to take away from this conversation.

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    10 mins
  • How Advisors Can Win with Annuities in Today's Market
    Nov 25 2025

    In this episode, we sit down with Kathryn Kinnanne, TBA's in-house annuity specialist, for a practical, straight-forward look at what's happening in the annuity world right now. Kathryn breaks down why fixed annuities are seeing some of the strongest rates in more than a decade, how rising and falling treasury rates shape the market, and why advisors are giving annuities a fresh look as part of their income planning strategies.

    She also tackles common misconceptions, explains how carriers are adjusting their products for today's environment, and shares how longer life expectancies are changing the way clients think about guaranteed income. Kathryn takes us through the growing role of indexed annuities, the impact of new technology on the application process, and what she believes will separate successful advisors from those who get left behind.

    Whether you're already working with annuities or you're looking for ways to better support clients preparing for retirement, Kathryn brings clear, actionable insights you can use right away.

    Her biggest reminder? Stay tuned in to your clients' lives, pay attention to the cues they're giving you, and remember — you don't have to know everything, just know who to call. TBA is here to help.

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    11 mins