Rod sits down with Skylar Romines, founder and owner of ATW Advisors in Orange County, California. Skylar is an expert in commercial real estate insurance with 15 years experience in the insurance industry. She passionately advocates on behalf of business owners, helping them secure better insurance terms and control over their programs.

Skylar described herself as a late bloomer who struggled socially in high school, but found her footing later in life. During college, she started working at Nordstrom, but later transitioned to insurance after receiving advice from a family member. She unexpectedly found success in the insurance industry while earning her psychology degree.

Skylar discusses the challenges and changes within the insurance industry, particularly in the current hard market cycle, where there are fewer options and insurance premiums are increasing significantly. She advises investors to be proactive, working closely with their brokers to avoid pitfalls, such as shopping multiple brokers and delaying insurance considerations.

One of the key points Skylar made was that real estate investors should engage their insurance brokers early during the acquisition process to ensure accurate quotes, avoiding any surprises with coverage costs, and to fully understand any associated risks. Investors should focus on maintaining property conditions, as insurance costs often reflect the risk associated with property age, systems, and geographical factors.

Skylar shared her recent success and expereience using social media platforms, like Twitter and LinkedIn, to connect with professionals and grow her network in the real estate industry. She notes how Twitter (X) can foster a sense of community and engagement across industries, unlike LinkedIn, which is more formal.

Additionally, Skylar mentions her upcoming book relesased this July, So She Did: Stories, Stats & Strategies to Help Women Win, which focuses on the underrepresentation of women in high-paying roles in the insurance and real estate industries. Drawing from dozens of interviews, she shares compelling statistics, actionable advice, and the collective wisdom of women who are challenging norms and inspiring women to claim their own seats at the table of leadership, ownership, and equity. Skyler hopes to empower women to rise, thrive, and lead in their own unique and inspiring ways.

Overall, the episode provides insights into Skylar’s journey from a college student with a side job to a successful commercial insurance expert. It also touches on broader themes in commercial real estate, the state of the insurance industry, and the importance of networking in business.

Note: These highlights are designed to provide an overview of this episode’s content. Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the full episode for a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.

At the Massimo Group we have 15 years of experience helping the most dedicated brokers, like you, build the CRE business and life they have always desired. If you’d like to learn more visit https://massimo-group.com/

Rod sits down with Ken Ashley, CCIM, MCR, SIOR, Executive Director of Cushman & Wakefield and Founder of CREI, Commercial Real Estate Influencer. Ken is a successful Atlanta broker with nearly 30 years experience with tenant representation and sales in the commercial real estate industry.

They discuss the importance of building a personal brand and using social media effectively in the commercial real estate industry. Ken shares his strategies for engaging with prospects, valuing your time, and creating a strong online presence. He emphasizes the need to focus on the other person and provide value in order to build trust and influence. Ken also announces the upcoming CREI Summit, a conference dedicated to helping commercial real estate professionals build their brands and increase their influence.

Note: These highlights are designed to provide an overview of this episode’s content. Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the full episode for a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.

At the Massimo Group we have 15 years of experience helping the most dedicated brokers, like you, build the CRE business and life they have always desired. If you’d like to learn more visit https://massimo-group.com/

Rod sits down with Ron Koenigsberg, Founder & President at American Investment Properties, a successful Long Island Broker with 30 years experience in the commercial real estate brokerage industry.  

As Ron recalled the pathway to his start in commercial real estate he stated that he “[wished] everything was a straight path… but there are lessons to be learned that are probably never in a straight path, and you certainly have to have a little bit of resilience along the way.” 

Ron describes his journey from growing up in Long Island and watching his father survey buildings and construction sites, through his time in college, first jobs, and the eventual decision to establish his own firm, American Investment Properties. 

Rod goes on to ask Ron what’s the one common thread that allowed him to not only succeed, but thrive during the market cycles over the years? Ron responded that he attributes his success to two factors, his call counts and his coaching from The Massimo Group. 

Ron recounts a time in his career when he was scared, he was making a lot of calls, but business had come to a halt. After seeing an advertisement for The Massimo Group, Ron encountered James Nelson and asked him if The Massimo Group was really worth it, since it was expensive! 

Ron was a successful broker, “but [he didn’t] know what [he didn’t] know.” After 10 years with The Massimo Group, Ron stated that “It changed my life. Within five years, I went from really losing money or just getting by to… Broker of The Year… and I won the MVP (The Massimo Group’s Most Valuable Producer award) bat on the back of my book.”

Rod then goes on to ask Ron what the foundations to his success are? Ron immediately replied with relationships, daily phone calls, and reaching out to his prospects, especially through face to face communication and active listening. Ron notes that while social media is important, it’s also a double edged sword. 93% of the essential parts of how we communicate, per an FBI study in the 1970s and 1980s, never come through with the use of technology. 

Lastly, they discuss Ron’s new book, Power Broker: How to Succeed In Life And Business. This is an essential mindset book for any broker on how to attack everyday, especially if you’re feeling stuck, questioning what to do, or are plateaued. It details 9 skills that Ron believes are essential for making people successful. You can find Ron’s book on Amazon, Audible or at www.RonKoenigsberg.com.

Note: These highlights are designed to provide an overview of this episode’s content. Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the full episode for a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered.

At the Massimo Group we have 15 years of experience helping the most dedicated brokers, like you, build the CRE business and life they have always desired. If you’d like to learn more visit https://massimo-group.com/