BlocBuilder 2025 brought together insurance industry leaders, partners, tech innovators, and AgencyBloc clients from across the country to connect, learn, and look ahead. Held at the beautiful Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass just outside Phoenix, Arizona, this year’s event wasn’t just another conference — it was a celebration of our growing community, The Bloc, and a look into the future of our industry.
From some pretty major product announcements to meaningful cultural moments, here’s a look back at some of the highlights from this unforgettable week in the desert.
A Setting Rooted in Tradition and Community
This year’s venue, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, set the tone for a conference centered around connection and purpose. Nestled on the land of the Gila River Indian Community, the property gave attendees a chance to experience rich tribal traditions and culture firsthand. We were honored to incorporate a land acknowledgment and blessing, hoop dancers, local musicians, and cuisine into the event.
From the scenic backdrop to the incredible hospitality, the location reminded us all of the importance of community — something at the heart of what it means to be a Member of The Bloc.
AgencyBloc Certifications & Leadership Sessions
To kick off BlocBuilder, select attendees took part in hands-on certifications, leadership deep-dives, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. This year, we brought back certification opportunities for two of our Plus Suite solutions, AMS+ and Commissions+, allowing users to sharpen their skills and leave with credentials that demonstrate their knowledge.
The Communications & Outreach Certification, a course covering capabilities within AMS+, sold out twice, requiring us to extend the course into two rooms. We were so excited to see the interest! In the course, clients learned to effectively utilize AMS+’s Automated Workflow and Email Marketing features. With it, they’re now equipped to create and manage automated processes to drive productivity and foster stronger client relationships.
In the Commissions+ Certification course, commissions managers and analysts gathered together to learn how to set up, track, and report commissions accurately and efficiently.
Lastly, a core group of agency executives and leaders gathered together with Mari Tautimes, EOS Implementer, for a half-day leadership development session. In it, the group learned how to drive their team towards meaningful metrics, effectively place team members in the right seats, and structure the most focused, goal-driven meetings to achieve success at their organizations.
BlocBuilder add-on opportunities provide a unique space where like-minded AgencyBloc users and industry professionals get together to not only get the most out of their technology, but also learn practical business skills from one another.
The State of the Industry
Day 1 of sessions kicked off with one of the most impactful moments of the week: the State of the Industry Panel. Moderated by AgencyBloc’s CTO, Cory Schmidt, the panel featured Bill Hepscher, Janet Stokes Trautwein, Bob Harding, and John Greene — industry veterans, agency leaders, and government and compliance experts. This session tackled the trends, challenges, and opportunities facing life and health insurance professionals in 2025 and beyond.
Topics ranged from the impact of technology, evolving client expectations, regulatory shifts, and more. It set the tone for the rest of the event to be spent addressing how to overcome these shifts and set agencies up for success.
Top Discussion Items & Takeaways for Agents and Agencies:
- Prescription costs are driving decision-making. Employers are increasingly shifting their cost-saving strategies from wellness programs to prescription sourcing — including Canadian providers — because the savings are immediate and measurable.
- Carriers are consolidating and cutting commissions. The number of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) has dropped to just 7 in 2025, the fewest since Part D’s inception in 2006. Some of these plans are no longer paying or plan to no longer pay commissions in the near future, directly impacting agent compensation and plan strategy.
- ICHRA interest is up, but brokers and agents need more information. More employers are exploring Individual Coverage HRAs as a cost-saving alternative to traditional group benefits. However, brokers are expressing the need for more support in identifying when and how to recommend ICHRAs and how to guide clients through the buying process.
- The regulatory landscape continues to be uncertain. There’s growing talk in today’s Administration around decentralization — with decisions moving from the federal level back to states. For multi-state agencies, this could add complexity and risk of inconsistency.
- One enrollment window, one chance to get it right. Many individuals only engage with their benefits’ advisor during AEP/OE, and the habit of deferring care that arose during the COVID pandemic has continued. These things combined have heightened the stakes for agent-client interactions during enrollment periods.
The experts on stage addressed these items and more, giving advice and guidance to the audience on how they might overcome these shifts in the industry.
Industry Highlights During Sessions
Following the State of the Industry, the days continued with industry experts like Mark Mixer, Justin Reinig, Michael Bechtol, Brett Rosen, Bill Hepscher, and Mari Tautimes who provided insights on how to address the growing industry concerns. They spoke on topics like ICHRAs, small group benefits trends, agency perpetuation, the cost of prescription drugs, and how to predictably grow your business’ revenue by 15-30% annually.
A Look Into the Future: Product Roadmap Revealed
BlocBuilder 2025 also featured a much-anticipated unveiling of AgencyBloc’s near term product roadmap. While we’re definitely bringing brand new solutions to the scene (see below), we were especially proud to announce during the AgencyBloc Vision session that we’ve dedicated 70% of our product development resources to our core solution, AMS+. Here are some of the most talked-about roadmap items and announcements:
- Expanded Integrations: We’re in the business of connecting the dots between your workflow, our technology, and other industry partners. New and upcoming integrations include additional and deeper integrations with leading quoting and enrollment tools to streamline enrollment season.
- VoIP Mobile App: Communication within AMS+ is getting a major upgrade with a VoIP-powered mobile app in development. At BlocBuilder, we had our mobile app designer on-site to put the early version of the app literally in our clients’ hands and get direct feedback. The companion app for VoIP calling will allow agents to call and text clients directly from a compliant, record-keeping-friendly platform — anytime, anywhere.
- Workflow & Email Enhancements: A series of powerful updates are coming to our automation and communication tools, giving users more control, flexibility, and visibility into how they interact with prospects and clients.
Overall, we’re evolving intentionally — building the tools agencies need not just for today, but for what’s ahead.
Product Announcement: Engage+
Like we mentioned, 30% of our product development resources this year are devoted to bringing new technology to our clients. One of the biggest announcements at BlocBuilder 2025 was the launch of our latest solution, Engage+.
Engage+ brings together ready-to-use content, digital marketing tools, and strategic education — all seamlessly embedded in AMS+ — to help agencies build trust, attract clients, and grow with confidence.
At BlocBuilder, we kicked off the Engage+ Early Adopter Program, which allows participants to get exclusive access to the upcoming content and social media marketing tools within Engage+ and provide their feedback to help evolve the product. BlocBuilder attendees were the first to get a sneak peek at the new solution, and the response was overwhelming. By the end of the event, all Early Adopter Program seats were claimed.
We’re ecstatic to get our clients’ hands on these tools and use their feedback to make it even better.
Member of The Bloc Connections
BlocBuilder 2025 is never just about learning. It’s about connecting. Throughout the week, attendees took advantage of countless opportunities to build or nurture relationships, share best practices and insights, and enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather.
It all kicked off on the green with our pre-conference golf outing, where clients, partners, and AgencyBloc team members enjoyed a relaxed setting and some friendly competition.
After day 1 of sessions, the famous BlocParty brought everyone together under the desert sky with music, good food, and celebration — complete with local artisans. BlocBuilder continues to be a space where authentic, valuable connections are made and last far beyond the closing session.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
BlocBuilder 2025 was a record year for sponsor involvement. We are so thankful to the following sponsors for their participation and contributions to an outstanding event:
Looking Ahead: BlocBuilder 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, FL
At the end of the event, we were thrilled to unveil that BlocBuilder 2026 will take place from April 7–9, 2026, at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This oceanfront venue offers a stunning backdrop for our continued journey of growth together as The Bloc. See the BlocBuilder 2026 location reveal video that was played for the audience at the very end of the conference:
Attendees at BlocBuilder 2025 were able to secure their tickets immediately for a special On-site VIP rate, and we’re humbled to say that nearly 100 tickets were sold for next year’s event in just the two weeks after BlocBuilder 2025 had commenced.
Mark your calendars: Early Bird registration for BlocBuilder 2026 opens on June 1, 2025. Don't miss the opportunity to join us!
To the clients, partners, and team members who made BlocBuilder 2025 a success — thank you! Your energy, feedback, and passion continue to shape the direction of AgencyBloc, this community, and BlocBuilder events.
Posted
by Kelsey Rosauer
on Monday, May 12, 2025
in
BlocBuilder
About The Author
Kelsey is the Director of Marketing at AgencyBloc. She helps lead a team of talented marketers in their efforts towards serving and educating life and health insurance agencies. Favorite quote: "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." —Maya Angelou... read more