Rising Insurance Professionals Program

Transform yourself (or your employee), whether new or experienced, through the dynamic Rising Insurance Professionals Program (RIPP). This distinctive program enhances confidence, fosters networking, and bolsters the overall performance of the next generation of insurance professionals. The program framework emphasizes personal and professional development, industry engagement, and valuable networking opportunities.

Over the course of the program, participants will take part in five immersive, in-person gatherings. Two of these are exclusive, RIPP-only sessions focused on communication, leadership, and underwriting practices. The other three are built into major Big I Illinois events: Legislative Day, Sales & Leadership Conference, and CONVO where RIPP participants gain insider access, deep-dive discussions and networking experiences at each of the events.

Rising Insurance Professionals Program

What Do Attendees Gain?

Leadership Growth – Participants learn skills they can apply immediately to lead clients, colleagues, and projects more effectively.

Professional Connections – Attendees build lasting relationships with industry peers, carrier representatives, and mentors across Illinois.

Applied Learning – Each session blends networking with actionable strategies and real-world solutions.

Career Momentum – Graduates leave with the knowledge and confidence to take on bigger challenges and leadership roles.

Big I Illinois Rising Insurance Professionals Program

Registration Information

Program Fee: $999

Includes programming and registration fees for all sessions and included events, lunches & refreshments, and CE when applicable. Legislative Day, Sales & Leadership & CONVO full registrations are included in your RIPP fee.

*Open to Big I Illinois members only.

Participants are responsible for their own overnight accommodations and some meals during the program.

Register Here

2026 Dates and Session Details

Day 1: Welcome

2:00 - 4:30 pm: Program Kick-Off
- Introductions and facilitator-led discussion on agency attributes and operations.

5:30 pm: Group Dinner – Attendee Pays ForTheir Own

Day 2: The Power of Connection

Big I Illinois Office, Springfield

8:30 am: Breakfast

9:00 am - Noon: Taking Flight with DiSC
- Participants will gain an understanding of their natural work style - how it serves them and how it might be holding them back, plus strategies to call on their strengths and build more effective working relationships.

Noon - 1:00 pm: Networking Lunch

1:00 - 3:00 pm: The Power of Connection
- This highly interactive session will equip participants with the tools and awareness to build stronger relationships at work. They will learn to break free from disconnection traps, reframe conflict and strengthen relationships with colleagues and clients.

Session in conjunction with Insurance Industry Legislative Day.
(Registration fee included in RIPP Program)

Government Relations Deep-Dive

Big I Illinois Office, Springfield

10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Private meeting for RIPP only

  • Before learning about current legislation and advocacy efforts, we’ll take a deep dive into government relations with Evan Manning, Phil Lackman & Brett Gerger. Attendees will take a look inside the legislative process to learn exactly how a piece of legislation could impact your agency and clients. They'll also learn about communicating with legislators on these issues.

Noon – 1:30 pm: Lunch (provided)

2:00 – 7:30 pm: Legislative Day - programming and reception - downtown Springfield

Session in conjunction with the Sales & Leadership Conference.
(Registration fee included in RIPP Program)

Day 1: Sales & Leadership Conference

Schedule Coming Soon - Full Day

Day 2: Sales & Leadership Conference and Deep-Dive

Schedule Coming Soon - Half Day

(Draft Schedule)

Day 1 - Behind the Carrier Curtain: Underwriting Practices

This session helps to refine the Young Agents understanding of the underwriting process and how carriers approach different risks. It’s crucial to understand what underwriters look for when writing business. This knowledge will allow us to better position our offerings and meet the expectations of our clients and partners. Session attendees should learn high level logic about how rates are built and structured for the exposures presented by the client. Learning these insights and working together with the carrier to implement them effectively, we can achieve remarkable results. In addition to the underwriting process, this session will teach agents other services carriers offer, such as loss control value added items, beyond simply coverages to serve the clients in the most effective way. 

Break for Lunch, catered by Big I Illinois

Evening Group Outing – Attendee Pays Their Own

Day 2 - E&O and Association 101

E&O Do's & Don'ts
- This session will reinforce the importance of procedures and provide E&O best practices for every stage of the process from marketing to underwriting and renewals.

Association 101
- This session will provide participants with information on all the state and national programs and resources accessible as Big I Illinois members.

Session in conjunction with the CONVO.
(Full CONVO Registration fee included in RIPP program)

Additional Details Coming Soon

*Only one session can be missed in order to graduate at CONVO 2026.

The biggest thing that I learned is that there are so many moving pieces in the legislative process. It is interesting to see all the ways bills and legislation can be passed, cancelled, or sneakily packaged to be passed. As an agent, it is difficult to see the impact that legislators have on the industry. This program showed me that the insurance industry is fragile and subject to change at a moment's notice.

2025 RIPP Attendee