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What might the profession look like for young brokers starting their career in 2035? I strongly believe that by 2035 the whole insurance industry will feel completely different. Most of the boring admin tasks will be handled by AI and automation, leaving brokers free to do the real magic. Strategy, ideas, relationships. Young brokers won’t be stuck behind desks filling in forms. They will be building risk plans, crunching real time data and helping clients see around corners. The industry will be faster, sharper and more transparent, with global markets and micro insurance on tap. But here is the twist…the real winners will still be the ones who can build trust, tell a story and make risk feel simple and human. In 2035, a great broker will be part consultant, part techie and part community builder. The next decade is going to move so fast, and I cannot wait to see the next wave of young professionals come through. What is your broking philosophy or mantra? For me broking is personal. I treat every client’s business or home like it is my own. I want them to feel like they have a mate in their corner who knows insurance inside out and will fight for the best outcome. My mantra is simple, explain it in plain language, do the right thing, and make the process easier than they ever thought possible. I am obsessed with blending old school care with new school tech. That way clients get my time and energy plus the speed and transparency of modern systems. At the end of the day trust is everything. If my clients pick up the phone in a crisis and think “James has got this” then I have done my job. As a young broker, what are some of things about the profession you enjoy that others outside might not know about? What I love most about broking is that it is never cookie cutter. Every client has a different story and a different set of risks. It is like solving a new puzzle every day but with real stakes. I get a buzz out of designing group
policies or finding cover for something everyone else calls “too hard.” I also secretly love being there when it matters most, after the fire, the flood, the accident, helping people rebuild. That is the side no one talks about. You get to be the calm in the storm, the person who makes the impossible feel doable again. And I love educating clients, so they feel confident to grow. It is not glamorous, but it is powerful. How are technology and automation transforming broking today? Tech has kicked the door open for brokers like me. The slow paperwork slog is gone. We are building digital ecosystems that handle quotes, compliance and claims automatically so we can get back to talking to clients about what really matters. In my own brokerage we have built a digital ecosystem of smart tools so clients can self-serve while we focus on strategy. It is not about replacing the broker. It is about unleashing the broker. The more tech takes off our plate the more we can think, innovate and fight for our clients. The future belongs to those who mix high tech with high touch, personal service delivered at lightning speed. If you were to be crowned the national Young Broker of the Year winner, what would that recognition mean to you? Honestly, it would blow me away. This award is the gold medal in our world and to win it would be proof that you can do things differently and still succeed. It would be a huge nod to every client who has backed me and every mentor who has guided me. But it would also be fuel. Fuel to keep pushing the boundaries of what a small family brokerage can do. Fuel to show the next generation that you do not have to wait 20 years to make a mark. You can be bold; you can embrace tech and still hold true to service and community. If I won, I would use that platform to amplify young voices and drive real change in our industry.
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