Under the Hard Hat: Insurance for Contractors

No Plan, Big Problems: Estate Planning for Real Life

In this episode of the Accel Advantage Podcast, Corey Rekers sits down with financial advisor Scott Durscher to break down the essentials of estate and succession planning, especially for business owners and farm families. From real-life stories growing up in rural Iowa to practical strategies using wills and trusts, Scott explains how poor planning can lead to costly delays, family conflict, and even the loss of a business. You’ll learn: * The difference between a will and a trust * Why probate can be expensive and time-consuming * How revocable trusts help avoid court involvement * What business owners need to know about continuity planning * How to prepare for incapacity, not just death If you own a business, a farm, or simply want to protect your legacy, this episode will help you understand why having a plan in place is critical and how to get started.   #EstatePlanning #SuccessionPlanning #BusinessOwners #Trusts #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #FarmSuccession #SmallBusiness #LegacyPlanning   Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Accel Advantage 00:30 Meet Scott Durscher 02:15 Farm Roots & Real Estate Planning Stories 04:30 Who Needs Estate & Succession Planning? 05:45 Wills Explained: How They Work 07:45 The Downsides of Probate 08:45 Trusts 101: What Is a Revocable Trust? 09:45 Key Benefits of Trusts (Privacy, Speed, Control) 10:45 Business Continuity Planning Explained 11:30 Avoiding Family Conflict in Succession 12:20 Planning for Incapacity 13:05 Why Most People Delay Estate Planning 13:50 The Peace of Mind of Having a Plan 14:30 Final Thoughts & How to Get Started Check out our website: ⁠⁠⁠acceladvantage.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://acceladvantage.com/]and accelwealthmanagement.com [accelwealthmanagement.com] Follow us on social media for more tips, tricks, and fun! The Accel Group: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/TheAccelGroup%20] ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/theaccelgroup/%20] ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theaccelgroup/%20] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@the.accel.group] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@theaccelgroup] Accel Wealth Management Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AccelWealthManagement] Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/accel-wealth-management] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/accelwealthmanagement/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@accelwealthmanagement]   Keywords: Estate & succession planning, Wills vs. trusts,  Probate, Revocable trusts, Business continuity planning, Family business transitions, Farm succession, Incapacity planning, Protecting legacy

2026 Business Trends: What Every Leader Needs to Know About Risk, AI, Growth & More

Welcome back to The Accel Advantage, powered by TheAccel Group and Accel Wealth Management. In this special one-year anniversary episode, host Corey Rekers is joined by Co-President Josh Budke and a panel of Accel leaders to break down the biggest trends shaping businesses in 2026. From cybersecurity and AI risks to shifting insurance markets, rising healthcare costs, and evolving retirement strategies, this episode delivers a comprehensive look at what business leaders need to know right now. The team also shares actionable insights on employee benefits, financial planning, and how organizations can stay resilient in an increasinglycomplex environment. Whether you're navigating insurance renewals, exploring AIin your operations, or planning for long-term financial success, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you make smarter decisions for your business. Check out our websites: ⁠⁠⁠acceladvantage.com⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠accelwealthmanagement.com⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on social media for more tips, insights, andupdates! Chapters 00:00 Celebrating One Year of The Accel Advantage 00:58 Navigating Business Risks in 2026 05:52 Understanding Insurance Market Rate Changes 12:05 Preparing for Insurance Renewals 12:50 The Impact of AI on Business 13:59 Emerging AI Risks & Security Concerns 15:01 Managing Business Risk with AI 18:40 Practical Uses of AI in Business 20:48 Trends in Personal Lines Insurance 22:03 Why Personal Insurance Costs Increased 23:34 Ways to Save on Home & Auto Insurance 25:55 Navigating Employee Benefits Challenges 26:10 Key Employee Benefit Trends for 2026 30:07 Funding Strategies for Employers 31:53 Understanding Employee Needs in Benefits 34:19 The Future of Workplace Benefits 36:03 Retirement Plan Trends & Innovations 44:10 Personal Investing & Financial Planning Trends 46:52 Market Outlook for 2026 47:52 What Investors Should Focus On 48:35 Advice for Young Investors 51:09 Key Takeaways & Business Strategy Insights 52:51 Outro Keywords business trends 2026, artificial intelligence, cybersecurityrisk, insurance market trends, commercial insurance, personal insurance,employee benefits, healthcare costs, self-funding, retirement planning,financial planning, investing strategies, wealth management, businessresilience, risk management, employee retention, workplace benefits, AI inbusiness, economic outlook, leadership strategy

Dealerships: Building Risk Strategy, Not Just Buying Insurance

In this episode, dealership insurance experts Ethan Thompson and Kaleb Admire share their insights on insuring car dealerships, risk management strategies, market trends, and innovative tools like parametric insurance to help dealers protect their assets and optimize their insurance programs. Check out our website: ⁠⁠⁠acceladvantage.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://acceladvantage.com/] Follow us on social media for more tips, tricks, and fun! The Accel Group: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/TheAccelGroup%20] ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/theaccelgroup/%20] ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theaccelgroup/%20] https://www.youtube.com/@theaccelgroup Chapters 00:00 – Introductions to Ethan and Kaleb 03:45 – Breaking the “Price-Only” Dealer Stereotype 04:44 – Insurance as Capital Protection (Not a Commodity) 10:20 – State of the Insurance Market (2026 Outlook) 13:01 – Property Trends & Weather Risk in the Midwest 15:13 – Rising Deductibles & Risk-Sharing Shift 20:26 – EV Charging Stations & Hidden Property Risks 21:56 – Parametric Insurance Explained 27:13 – Emerging Threat: Transport Fraud 34:27 – Umbrella Policies & Nuclear Verdict Risks 39:27 – Driver Controls & MVR Best Practices 42:22 – Final Advice for Dealership Owners Keywords: auto dealership insurance, risk management,market trends, parametric insurance, garage insurance, wind-hail deductibles, transport fraud, driver control, umbrella coverage, insurance strategies

Under the Hard Hat: Insurance for Contractors

In this episode of The Accel Advantage podcast, host Corey Rekers welcomes special guest John Tatum, VP – Construction Business Unit Lead from UFG Insurance, to discuss insurance insights for contractors. Corey and John are also joined by Accel business insurance advisors Chandler Lamm and Jonathan Patterson. They dive into a market update on the construction industry, key attributes of a strong construction company, the importance of choosing a specialist broker, and more. With real-life stories and scenarios, this episode is filled with great tips and knowledge from some of the best in the business! Check out our website: ⁠⁠⁠acceladvantage.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://acceladvantage.com/] Follow us on social media for more tips, tricks, and fun! The Accel Group: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/TheAccelGroup%20] ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/theaccelgroup/%20] ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theaccelgroup/%20] Check out UFG’s website: ufginsurance.com [https://www.ufginsurance.com/] Chapters 00:00 Introductions toJohn, Chandler, and Jonathan 05:32 Market Update inthe Construction Industry 11:59 Attributes of aStrong Construction Company 12:51 Building aCulture of Safety 14:34 Stories for theInsurance Company 17:30 The Two Cs:Communication and Complacency 19:27 Choosing theRight Broker or Advisor 21:14 Story:Specialization Changing the Game 25:39 Key Takeaways forContractors Keywords: construction industry, risk management, insurance, market update, safety, underwriting, data centers, insurance for contractors, business insurance

Local Business Insurance 101

Welcome back to The Accel Advantage Podcast! This one’sfor all the entrepreneurs and hustlers. In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Rachel Lee, Director of Commercial Lines PBU at The Accel Group, to discuss essential insurance coverages for local and Main Street business owners. Racheland host Corey Rekers explore common misconceptions about business insurance, share real-world stories, and chat about specific tips and tricks for various industries. Tune in now, and if you own a local business, reach out to pbu@acceladvantage.com [pbu@acceladvantage.com] for your quick, no-pressure review! Follow us on social media for more tips and tricks! The Accel Group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/TheAccelGroup%20] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/theaccelgroup/%20] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theaccelgroup/%20] Accel Wealth Management: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/AccelWealthManagement/%20] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/accel-wealth-management/%20] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/accelwealthmanagement/%20] Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Main Street Business Insurance 02:15 Understanding Common Insurance Misconceptions 05:32 Myth #1: Debunking General Liability Myths 09:43 Myth #2: I Don't Need Cyber Liability 13:42 Myth #3: Auto Liability 16:19 Myth #4: Workers' Compensation - 1099 vs.Independent Contractors 18:49 Real-World Example 22:29 Myth #5: Professional Liability 24:56 Final Thoughts and Resources for Local BusinessOwners   Keywords: business insurance, Main Street business, localbusiness, insurance misconceptions, general liability, cyber liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, professional liability, small business owners, insurance coverage