Advertise on podcast: TBA's Life Linked

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outcomes, not product, and highlights the biggest gaps he sees: weak positioning, stalled underwriting momentum, and outdated coverage.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.

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.

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.

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.

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Mark Householder - SVP of Business Solutions at Principal Financial Group - to unpack the biggest takeaways from the 2025 Principal Business Owner Insights Study.  From business protection and succession planning to key employee benefits and retirement solutions, we break down what's driving decisions in 2025 and how advisors can turn data into opportunity. Mark shares practical strategies, overlooked blind spots (like outdated buy-sell agreements), and how top advisors are positioning themselves as trusted partners – not just product providers. Whether you're supporting multi-generational family businesses or next-gen entrepreneurs, this episode offers real-world insight you can use today to deepen relationships and expand your business.

Permanent life insurance is often misunderstood as just a death benefit, but it's so much more than that. In this episode, TBA Vice President Zach Gosselin breaks down what advisors really need to know to position permanent life insurance effectively with clients. Zach shares clear, practical ways to explain the difference between term and permanent coverage, how to set realistic expectations around cash value accumulation, and when permanent life does—and doesn't—make sense. He also dives into integrating life insurance into broader financial and estate strategies, avoiding common advisor mistakes, and navigating compliance when illustrating these products. If you want to elevate your client conversations and uncover the living benefits that make permanent life such a powerful financial tool, this episode is a must-listen.

In this powerful episode, Kevin Riley of One America joins Tennessee Brokerage Agency to tackle one of today's most urgent financial and emotional challenges: the caregiver crisis. Riley reframes the long-term care (LTC) conversation — shifting the focus from paying for care to managing resources and protecting families from the crushing realities of caregiving. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of why LTC planning isn't about averages or age, but about ensuring access, control, and dignity when care is needed. Riley dives deep into the staggering statistics — including the 63% higher mortality rate among unpaid caregivers — and calls out the "lie of consequences" that keeps clients from planning ahead. This episode explores how One America's asset-based LTC solutions empower clients to protect both their wealth and their loved ones. From Care Coordination Concierge services to respite benefits and lifetime joint coverage, these innovative options give families real-life relief when it matters most. For advisors, Riley offers practical conversation starters to help clients confront care planning head-on — not with fear, but with foresight. It's a must-listen for anyone who believes that the true measure of financial planning is how well it safeguards the people behind the numbers.

Life insurance doesn't have to be slow or complicated. In this episode, we sit down with Daneyelle Schneider, Senior Underwriting Manager & Brad Mills, Regional Vice President at Symetra, to talk about the Swift platform and how it's reshaping the way advisors and clients experience life insurance. We cover why speed and transparency matter, how Swift can improve efficiency for advisors, and what it means for reaching more clients who may have been turned off by traditional processes. Whether you're an advisor looking for practical ways to save time, or someone curious about how technology is streamlining the insurance world, this conversation will give you a clear look at what's changing, and why it matters.

Small-business succession planning is often ignored until it's too late. John Fitzpatrick and Mark Berry of John Hancock share real-life stories, key insights from the Connelly case, and practical tools like the BOSS framework to help advisors guide clients through buy-sell agreements, Key Person insurance, and continuity planning. Discover how to position yourself as a solutions provider—not just a product seller—and gain the confidence to start meaningful conversations with business owners. This episode will give you actionable strategies to protect clients' legacies and strengthen your own practice.

August isn't downtime - it's go time. In this episode, John Felton & Zach Gosselin break down why now is the perfect moment for advisors to reconnect with clients, spot life changes, and spark meaningful conversations that lead to real planning opportunities.  From mid-year check-ins that turned into major plan overhauls, to simple tactics for identifying client needs without product overhwhelm, this is your launchpad for the final quarter of the year.  Real advisor success stories How to spot cross-sell opportunities One action step to take before Friday Don't wait for the year-end rush, get ahead of it!

In this episode, we sit down with Grant James, a property and casualty advisor, who shares their firsthand experience navigating the life insurance application process through Vive. The conversation dives into the day-to-day efficiencies gained, the technology's real-world impact on case management, and how Vive streamlined everything from carrier selection to submission. The advisor reflects on initial expectations versus actual results, including time saved, client satisfaction, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're new to the platform or looking to optimize your workflow, this episode delivers honest insights and practical takeaways for today's producers.

In recognition of Disability Insurance Awareness Month, this episode dives into the importance of disability insurance and how advisors can better serve clients by including it in their planning conversations. The discussion covers key target markets for disability insurance, including professionals, business owners, and young earners just starting their careers. Listeners will also learn about the simplified application processes now available, making it easier than ever to get coverage in place. The episode wraps up with a breakdown of the types of disability insurance products on the market today—from individual to group and supplemental policies—helping advisors match the right solution to their clients' unique needs.

In this episode, we're thrilled to introduce Heather Sprague, our new Underwriting Consultant with LIBRA and a true game-changer for your life insurance business. Heather brings years of experience navigating the ins and outs of underwriting—and she's here to help you turn borderline cases into approved applications. Tune in to learn how Heather partners with advisors to strengthen submissions, avoid common pitfalls, and ultimately improve offer outcomes. Plus, she shares practical tips you can start using today to set your cases up for success. If you're looking to boost placement and protect more families, this is one you won't want to miss.

We all know that you can't time the market and when a client is entering the distribution phase of their retirement planning, this becomes an increased concern. In this episode, we take a deep dive into how utilizing an IUL allows your clients to strategically use the plan to fund their retirement.  Adding a life insurance solution not only offers death benefit protection but also options and flexibility within their portfolio to navigate market fluctuations. By understanding the impact of market cycles and how asset location can impact retirement income, your clients can plan for the unexpected. Indexed universal life insurance (IUL) provides powerful tools to help safeguard your clients' portfolios with a tax-advantaged solution.  Case Study discussed in the episode

Through its partnership with LIBRA Insurance Partners, TBA has access to resources that make securing offers for its advisors and their clients even easier. RGA – a reinsurer – is one of those resources that TBA leans out for specific impaired risk cases to secure an offer in just 24 hours. John Felton, President of TBA, sat down with Aaron Baack, RGA's Vice President of Underwriting, to discuss the unique opportunity this presents to advisors, how the process works, what impairments are most likely to get offers, and what carriers and eligibility face amounts and ages that are available through the program. For more information on how TBA and RGA can help you, contact TBA at [email protected] or 865-588-9555.