How Two Insurance Brokers Built TopShelf Insurance From Scratch

Ronnie Moore on Faith, Military Service, and Starting a Scratch Insurance Agency

Most business owners learn strategy the hard way, but discipline often comes from places far outside entrepreneurship. For Ronnie Moore, that foundation was built over 30+ years of military service before transitioning into insurance. Ronnie Moore is the owner of The Membassy Group LLC, where he focuses on helping families and business owners understand real coverage gaps and prepare for life’s most critical moments. With a background in the military and experience as a minister, he brings a people-first approach to insurance that prioritizes education, clarity, and responsibility over sales pressure. His agency specializes in home, auto, supplemental, and business insurance, with a focus on protecting small business owners and families from financial exposure. In this Brokers Hotseat Podcast conversation with Graden Reber, Ronnie breaks down what it takes to transition from military service into entrepreneurship, why discipline and structure matter in building an agency, and how insurance becomes meaningful when it focuses on life, death, and real outcomes. The discussion also covers leadership skills, business strategy, and why trust and education drive long-term success in the insurance industry. Chapters 0:00 - Military mindset vs insurance entrepreneurship 1:29 - Discipline, structure, and people-first systems 3:04 - Educating clients and finding coverage gaps 4:57 - Facing life, death, and real responsibility 6:37 - Faith, leadership, and decision making 8:52 - Building The Membassy Group LLC Connect with Ronnie Moore: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnie-moore719/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnie-moore719/] Connect with Graden Reber: Website: https://www.agencyva.com/ [https://www.agencyva.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graden-reber [https://www.linkedin.com/in/graden-reber] About Show: Brokers Hotseat Podcast features real conversations with insurance professionals, agency owners, and leaders focused on business strategy, leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build a sustainable insurance business. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #brokershotseatpodcast #insurance

How Two Insurance Brokers Built TopShelf Insurance From Scratch

Sometimes the best entrepreneurship stories start with frustration. Two brokers saw the wrong way to serve clients, walked away, and built something better. That’s where real business advice and long-term success stories begin. Josh Roy and Jacob Patterson are the founders of TopShelf Insurance, an independent brokerage built around value-first insurance strategy for business owners and decision makers. After working at the same agency, they realized they shared the same belief. Insurance should not be a race to the bottom on price. It should be about protection, service, and real strategy. Since launching TopShelf Insurance in September, they’ve been scaling fast, building a top shelf client experience, and preparing to bring on more agents as the business grows. 0:00 - How Josh got licensed in one week 0:20 - The story behind TopShelf Insurance 2:18 - From music education to insurance sales 3:49 - From blue collar work to commercial insurance 5:20 - Building a brokerage from scratch 5:47 - The biggest scaling lesson they learned Connect with Josh Roy & Jacob Patterson: Website: https://topshelfagency.net [https://topshelfagency.net] LinkedIn Jacob Patterson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-patterson-66a567172/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-patterson-66a567172/] LinkedIn Josh Roy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-roy-63533a3a2 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-roy-63533a3a2] Connect with Greg Kirkham: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-kirkham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-kirkham] Brokers Hotseat is where top insurance professionals share real founder stories, business strategy, and the lessons behind scaling a business. From entrepreneurship and leadership skills to startup advice and client growth, every conversation brings practical insight from people building in the field. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #brokershotseat #insurance

Chuck Claypool and Leiby De Jesus on Why Cheap Insurance Can Ruin Your Finances

Most people think insurance is just about finding the cheapest rate. But one bad policy decision can cost you thousands when life goes sideways. This business podcast conversation with Leiby De Jesus breaks down the real risks most people never think about until it is too late. With more than 22 years in the insurance industry, Leiby De Jesus has built a reputation for helping families protect their homes, vehicles, businesses, and financial future through education first. Licensed across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, she has earned recognition as a top cross-sale agent with a reported 95% success rate. In this conversation with Chuck Claypool, she shares the real reason most people misunderstand coverage, the lawsuit that changed her view on risk forever, and why being a trusted advisor matters more than selling policies. From deductibles and uninsured motorists coverage to claims strategy and customer trust, this episode is packed with practical business advice and real-world lessons for entrepreneurs, homeowners, and anyone serious about financial freedom. 0:00 - The $500,000 lawsuit that changed everything 1:22 - Why cheap insurance can cost more later 4:05 - The coverage most drivers do not understand 6:06 - High deductibles. Smart move or dangerous risk? 9:13 - Becoming a trusted advisor instead of a salesperson 17:34 - Why filing small claims can hurt you long term Connect with Leiby De Jesus: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leiby-de-jesus-a70273321?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leiby-de-jesus-a70273321?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18okrhyHVf/?mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/share/18okrhyHVf/?mibextid=wwXIfr] Email: leiby.dejesus@brightway.com [leiby.dejesus@brightway.com] Connect with Chuck Claypool: Linkedin: Chuck Claypool About Brokers Hotseat Podcast: Brokers Hotseat Podcast brings together top insurance professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders for real conversations about business strategy, leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build trust in today’s market. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #brokershotseatpodcast #insurance

Insurance Isn’t a Price Game | Nick Duffield on Coverage Gaps Most Buyers Never See

Insurance advice often starts with price comparisons, but real protection is not built on the cheapest number on a quote sheet. When a claim hits, coverage gaps, exclusions, and deductibles are what decide the outcome. Nick Duffield from Tri-County Insurance explains why focusing only on price can leave homeowners, families, and business owners exposed when it matters most. From real claim scenarios to overlooked policy details, he breaks down how insurance actually performs when life gets unpredictable. With years in the insurance industry, Nick shares how real protection is built through education, consultation, and asking better questions before you ever sign a policy. This conversation highlights how business advice, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills apply directly to the insurance world, especially when trust and clarity matter more than ever. Nick Duffield is a senior insurance advisor at Tri-County Insurance based in Illinois. He focuses on helping clients understand real risk through coverage education and structured policy reviews across home, auto, and business insurance. In this ceo interview on Brokers Hotseat Podcast, Nick and Chuck Claypool discuss insurance strategy, scaling a business mindset, and why agency growth depends on service and not just sales. The conversation also connects to broader themes like business strategy, entrepreneur mindset, and success stories from real client outcomes. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why cheap insurance costs more later 0:20 - What clients misunderstand about price 1:10 - Coverage gaps that show up in claims 2:30 - Real Florida hurricane example 3:40 - Why insurance feels commoditized 5:00 - Becoming a trusted advisor Connect with Nick Duffield: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-duffield-9b5374147/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-duffield-9b5374147/] Connect with Chuck Claypool: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckclaypool [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckclaypool] ABOUT SHOW Brokers Hotseat Podcast brings real conversations with insurance leaders, agency owners, and industry experts. Each episode explores how brokers think, sell, and scale in a changing market while staying focused on client outcomes and long-term trust. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #brokershotseat #insurance

Shjondel Curtis on Why the Insurance Industry Is Changing Fast and Agents Are Not Ready

Entrepreneurship, business advice, and success stories in this business podcast explore how entrepreneur mindset, leadership skills, and business strategy shape real financial freedom. It focuses on what actually separates high-performing agents from those who struggle with consistency. Most agents know how to sell. Very few know how to consistently create opportunities. That gap drives burnout, unstable income, and missed growth. Shjondel Curtis shares how entrepreneurship, business strategy, and technology transformed his insurance career. From paper applications to AI-driven lead generation systems, he explains why automation is now critical for scaling a business. He also breaks down entrepreneur mindset, startup advice, and why systems matter more than motivation in long-term success. Shjondel Curtis is an insurance entrepreneur with 12+ years in the financial services industry through Family First Life. He is also the founder of GoFindPro.ai [http://GoFindPro.ai], an AI platform for insurance agents focused on lead generation and automation. In this ceo interview with Chuck Claypool, he discusses AI in insurance sales, predictable pipelines, and modern business strategy for agents in a changing market. 0:00 - Why Most Agents Struggle With Lead Generation 2:31 - From Paper Applications to AI Systems 6:21 - Insurance Became a Commodity 8:38 - The Systems That Save Agents Time 14:30 - Building GoFindPro.ai [http://GoFindPro.ai] 16:43 - Why AI Still Needs Human Connection Connect with Shjondel Curtis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shjondel-curtis [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shjondel-curtis] Connect with Chuck Claypool: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckclaypool [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckclaypool] About Brokers Hotseat Podcast: Brokers Hotseat Podcast features real conversations with insurance professionals, agency owners, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. The show focuses on business strategy, entrepreneurship, leadership skills, sales systems, and what actually works behind the scenes of building an insurance business today. Powered by NXC Podcast Network #thenxcpodcastnetwork #brokershotseat #insurance