Linqura

The best AI isn’t one that knows the whole world. It’s the one that knows knows your world.

Chief Marketing Officer

Linqura is a private AI model explicitly designed to produce revenue-driven outcomes for the insurance industry.

Board Member

Finding Peak

Want to learn everything the top agencies across America know about founding, scaling, and exiting an insurance business?

Finding Peak helps insurance businesses leverage organic growth through inbound marketing, technology and battle-tested sales practices to rapidly grow their valuation.

Ryan Hanley, the founder, is consistently ranked as a "Can't-miss" speaker in the insurance leadership, marketing, and growth space. 

He has been featured in Business Insider, The Business Journal, Content Marketing Institute, Social Media Examiner and more.

Having spoken to hundreds of audiences and thousands of people worldwide, Ryan delivers story-driven and passionate performances that motivate and inspire action.

Founder and President

Rogue Risk

Founder & President

Metabolic

Our unique program centers around Metabolic Training, which incorporates “Strength training at a pace”; the ultimate blend of strength and cardio. 

Metabolic Training is optimal for those looking to build muscle, burn fat, increase strength, and improve cardiovascular performance in the most efficient way possible. 

Our certified training staff will create a customized fitness experience for each one of our clients, regardless of age, ability level, or injury history.

One workout.

One family.

One goal.

Find your strength. 💪

Chief Executive Officer

BOLD PENGUIN

Helping insurance agents and carriers write more commercial business with fewer touches, mistakes or headaches. Bold Penguin is where technology meets the human touch in commercial insurance. With a heavy focus on agents, Bold Penguin pushes the boundaries of user experience for businesses, is an easy tool for agents, and offers a streamlined process of underwriting for carriers.

TrustedChoice.com (Consumer Agent Portal, LLC)

The leader of combined sales, marketing and communication functions for all TrustedChoice.com and Agency Nation products and brands.

Managing a team of 19 members spanning business development, sales, marketing and corporate communications, Ryan was tasked with building an audience, engaging the community and generating revenue for the entire organization.

As the head of marketing for TrustedChoice.com, I am responsible for directional leadership in the brand, message and voice of our organization in its work helping independent insurance agents capture new business through inbound lead generation.

Basically we attract new referrals and help independent insurance agents convert those referrals into sales.

We do this in three ways:

1) ONLINE REFERRAL GENERATION

TrustedChoice.com the platform, through both digital and analog marketing methods, captures the attention of insurance consumers. Then through a series of filters matches consumer need with the right insurance solution based on location and appetite.

Learn more at: http://www.trustedchoice.com/

2) EDUCATION

Agency Nation, the sister digital publication to TrustedChoice.com, provides tactics, strategy and training for independent insurance agents seeking to dominate their market through sales, marketing and automation.

Learn more at: http://www.agencynation.com/

3) RESOURCES

As an organization we leverage our marketing and insurance industry resources to provide independent insurance agents access to tools and resources to support their inbound lead generation activities.

THE RUB

In our partnership with IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America) and nine investor insurance carriers, TrustedChoice.com acts as digital matchmaker, connecting insurance consumers with the independent insurance agents who can best serve their needs.

It is my honor to play a role in stewarding this great endeavor.

Senior Vice President Marketing

As the Digital Marketing Lead for TrustedChoice.com, I am responsible for the strategy, creation and distribution of all agent-facing resources and education.

Basically, I'm a Independent Insurance Agent Evangelist. 

The goal of my work at TrustedChoice.com is help all independent insurance agents, carriers and wholesalers harness the power of digital sales, marketing and automation to dominate their marketplace.

As of this hinges upon one simple belief: "That insurance consumers need guidance and there is no better delivery system than the independent insurance agent to provide this most valuable service."

We've only just begun...

Digital Marketing Lead

The Murray Group Insurance Services, Inc

Lead marketing function, in addition to traditional sales role as New York State licensed independent insurance agent focused on helping clients build personal and small business insurance programs.

Producer

American Heart Association

Member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the American Heart Association Northeast New York Chapter.  Co-Chair of the AHA Red Tie Society.

Board of Directors

Capital Alliance of Young Professionals

Capital Alliance of Young Professionals, Inc. (CAYP) is the pioneering independent organization designed to facilitate professional networking among young and young-at-heart professionals living and working in the Capital/Saratoga Region.  

Capital Alliance of Young Professionals, Inc. provides a way for young professionals (YPs) to share business referrals, tips, and "war-stories."  It is a forum for YPs to support one another.  

Membership in CAYP is open to any professional, including but not limited to: accountants, doctors, entrepreneurs, financial advisors, real estate agents, journalists, executive assistants, nurses, sales people, and government employees.  The target age group is 21 to 39, however, as long as you feel young, you are welcome!

Vice President of Board of Directors

Ryan Hanley is the CMO of Linqura, Linqura’s outcome-driven private AI model is specifically designed to increase commercial insurance revenue production.

Ryan is also the founder of Finding Peak, a keynote speaking and media firm helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and ambitious professionals finish big!

Learn more at https://ryanhanley.com

Ryan was previously the founder and CEO of Rogue Risk, a first-of-its-kind digital commercial insurance agency. He’s also held executive leadership positions at Bold Penguin, TrustedChoice.com, and SIAA. 

In addition, Ryan is a sought-after keynote speaker on leadership, growth, and insurtech, bestselling author of Content Warfare, and producer of the industry's top podcast, the Finding Peak Podcast.

Ryan loves to study innovation and growth and frequently makes angel investments in early-stage insurance startups.

Personal interests: reading, writing, boxing, skiing, deadlifts, and sharing stories with good friends.

Ryan Hanley

RLS Consulting

Get unbiased advice and leverage my experience in technology, cybersecurity, education, mathematics/problem solving, and sales & marketing to boost your business and avoid common mistakes.

President and Principal Consultant

Business Owner

Rhodian

Resuming responsibilities after Rhodian acquired Rigid Bits.

VP of Sales & Marketing

Rigid Bits LLC

I work closely with businesses to help them better understand their risk of cyber attacks and best practices that can help them be better protected. With our expertise and unique experience, we're able to add valuable insight and consulting that businesses now depend on to successfully combat against cyber criminals in today's age. 

We often work directly with existing IT teams and 3rd party Managed Service Providers to help them test and enhance their efforts. We rely on ethical hacking techniques, industry standards, knowledge of common areas of compromise, and other tools to expose vulnerabilities that could lead to a breach without attention.

Beyond preventative cybersecurity measures, we help businesses understand and meet compliance or data security law requirements. Our services also include computer forensics solutions to help businesses quickly identify, investigate, and contain breaches.

Vertafore

Working with the Field/Mid-Market sales team with Vertafore, I would support the needs of existing accounts and expand our relationship to better deliver solutions that can help meet the goals and specific needs of clients.

Field Sales Account Manager

As a Client Partner, I work with independent insurance agencies that are current customers of Vertafore, Inc. to help connect them with resources and support to ensure they are getting the most out of the capabilities we provide.  I can also provide advice and recommendations of other offerings to meet additional needs that they may have.  In addition, I also work as an internal resource to the Field Account Manager team.

Client Partner

I work with independent insurance agencies accross the Southeast United States to help them improve efficiencies through the use of software so they have tools in place to better improve client retention, increase revenue, and better manage their business.

Account Executive

Ryan Smith Tutoring Services

Assisted students ranging from grade school to adult
Tutored subjects in Math, Art, Computer Basics, Writing and Grammar
Kept a comprehensive schedule to organize sessions and meeting locations
Researched tutoring materials and techniques on a regular basis
Budgeted and planned business operations and needs

Self-Employed Tutor

Front Range Community College

Assistant to the Instructional Designer
Support and Train Faculty in use of Desire2Learn and other Learning Technology

Instructional Design Assistant

U.S. Bank

Universal Banker

Handled incoming phone calls and web-queries about software 
Gave general overview of features and capabilities of software systems
Made cold calls to insurance agencies
Referred customers to sales reps or tech support as necessary
Had to meet specific metrics in pipeline generation, call volume, and budget

Lead Generation Representative

Westwood College-Online Campus

Managed staff for both Orientation and Tutoring Programs
Provided support as needed for students, faculty, and staff with LMS
Designed and produced training material and resources for LMS
Developed training and evaluation metrics for staff
Certified by Westwood as a faculty trainer
Researched and implemented effective tutoring methods and techniques
Managed system properties for automated reporting and enrolling
Created reports and presented data to Deans and leadership
Wrote and built Orientation course content using HTML and CSS
Created tutorials for students and WCO staff
Advised students regarding academic success and time management and use of technology
Served in many projects designed to improve business flow and general processes

Manager of Orientation, Tutoring Center and Learning Resource Coordinator/Academic Advisor

State Farm Insurance

Licensed to sell Property, Life and Health insurance
Assisted current clients with policy transactions
Answered phones and greeted clients

Office Representative

Ryan L. Smith

I totaled 42 speaking engagements in 2025! Not my record but still some results I'm proud of - check out the list of what I've been up to this year:

3 of those engagements were podcasts:

The Power Producers Podcast had me on in Jan: https://lnkd.in/g_Z_QYnN

Insurance Nerds also had me join them in Jan: https://lnkd.in/gSQYj4Dt

And Agency Wise had join them once again in Oct: https://lnkd.in/gNewJbhi

Quick side note: I had set a personal goal to work with both David R. Carothers, CIC, CRM, CWCA and Tony Cañas, CPCU, MBA, AU, ARM, ARe, AIC, AIS in 2024 and was so excited to record those with them in Dec last year - neither of them knew that until now, haha!


I also had 2 articles published (not to mention a ton I wrote for my own blog and Catalyit):

The Rough Notes Company, Inc. - The Math of Sales: https://lnkd.in/gZV7nrVi
Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America Magazine - 6 Phishing Techniques: https://lnkd.in/gS7FhuMS

Webinars included:

"Risk Assessments: What businesses need to know" with Kite Technology Group: https://lnkd.in/gC-nDKND
Catalyit - Easiest way to hack your agency
How to write a good phishing email - RLS Consulting
Data security law deadlines - RLS Consulting
NIPA - Easiest way to hack your agency
 
And, not to mention, for October's Cybersecurity Awareness Month Event RLS Consulting did 19 web events this year! See them here: https://lnkd.in/g336EYU4

I also had the honor of joining several in-person events/groups:

Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado: Shifting the Tide - Culture vs Cyber
Big I Oklahoma - Keynote Panel on AI and Cyber 101
Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) - Panel on AI and Cyber Sales Presentation 
For University of Colorado Denver Risk Management & Insurance Program - I joined another AI panel
Big I Illinois Convo - Easiest way to attack your agency, Phishing Attack Breakdown, and Shifting the Tide
Big I Connecticut CONNECT - 30-min Cyber bootcamp
Cyber Insurex - Cyber 101

There were a few I didn't list here but a super busy year overall!

To top it all off, I also released our Cybersecurity Playbook and have had almost 200 downloads so far (get yours here: https://lnkd.in/e-nNiGRp)

I'll be advertising it more heavily in 2026 along with a few other fun things you'll hear about soon!

Be sure to follow along and join me in my sessions in 2026!

Thank you to all of those tagged here for your help, support, and the opportunity to join your events!

Making cyber risk easier to understand and solve

There are a few things I wish people knew before they ever had a breach, it comes up all the time and can stall an investigation. Here's what you don't want to have happen to you:

We just helped a business that didn't have insurance and needed a quick investigation to understand what happened in a business email compromise and account takeover.

The problem is that they only just engaged us last week and the first sign of suspicious activity appeared two months ago.

Most logs for Microsoft only go back 30 days, some only 7 days.

This means we're not going to be able to see anything that happened in the environment that will tell us exactly how they got in or what they did past 30 days ago.

We've had to shift to recovery mode without a lot of answers about what went down, and no evidence to back up the assumptions we have.

If you look at the data around breaches, the average time to detect an attack is 180 days after it actually began.  

So, if your logs only go back 1 month, it's not going to be nearly enough to be able to investigate it if it's anything like the average attack we see out there.

There are a couple things that you can do to avoid this if you ever have a breach of your own:

1) Don't hesitate to take action immediately after suspicious activity. Have your Incident Response Plan dialed in and know what to expect with your insurance process, and prepare to collect and preserve evidence as you work on getting that claim filed.

2) Look at ways to improve your log retention.  It's going to depend on your license or other tools (like central logging or SIEM solutions) you have available to paint a picture of what's happening in your environment.  There's a give and take here because keeping additional logs will use more storage.


If you've ever wondered why data security laws require specific practices around audit logs and log retention, now you know!

If you need help with this and want to make sure you're ready for things like this that often come up, shoot me a message and I'll do a free consultation to help you identify gaps in your strategy.

Stay safe out there!

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Ryan Hanley

Ryan L. Smith

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