Are you wondering why insurance feels more complicated (and expensive) than ever?

In this episode, Oliver Kotelnikov sits down with commercial insurance expert Julie Janowicz to pull back the curtain on the real state of insurance—what’s changed, what’s insurable, and what you actually need to know before your next big business move.

From wild stories about insuring axe-throwing bars and navigating drone inspections, to actionable advice on getting the best value from your broker, you’ll hear insider knowledge that’s critical for business owners, buyers, and anyone trying to survive today’s unpredictable insurance environment. Whether you’re dealing with commercial policies, fleet auto, D&O, or want to understand how AI is affecting your rates, this conversation is essential listening.

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Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliejanowicz/
Company: http://www.dcigi.com/
Email: Julie@dcigi.com

Connect with Oliver:
Email: oliver@ibainc.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oliverkotelnikov
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextVentureAlliance
Instagram: instagram.com/nextventurealliance

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Next Venture Alliance: The Podcast
• (00:01:00) - Julie Janowicz on Insurance
• (00:02:41) - Insurance: The current state
• (00:08:41) - Private Bars and Commercial Property Underwriting
• (00:18:11) - Do Insurance Companies Deny Businesses Based on Social Media?
• (00:21:06) - Does Insurance Play a Role in a Merger?
• (00:25:13) - Claims Made vs Occidental Claims: What's The Difference?
• (00:30:18) - What Do Large Fleets Need to Know About Auto Insurance?
• (00:31:45) - Commercial Auto Insurance, Washington
• (00:34:47) - Driving Expenses
• (00:40:19) - How Do You Have Hard Talk With Clients?
• (00:46:32) - "A Little Piece of Me"
• (00:52:36) - Insurance Advisor Turns Down Advice From Hip Hop Fans
• (00:58:28) - Bar and nightclubs in the 1980s
• (01:02:09) - New Business Owners: Qualified Experience and Insurance
• (01:06:10) - Do Natural Disasters Affect Property Insurance?
• (01:15:15) - Do You Need Earthquake Insurance?
• (01:20:50) - Insurance Underwriting: AI in the Industry
• (01:26:23) - Is AI Involved in Business Insurance?
• (01:35:52) - Is There an Extra Cost to Working With the Broker?
• (01:37:29) - Insurance Brokerage: What's Different About Us?
• (01:45:51) - Can You Import A Car From Japan? If It's Older Than
• (01:50:03) - Next Venture Alliance: Exploring the Future