ACA WAY 2026 Announces “The Trust Stack: How FMOs Modernize Without Losing the Agent”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MIAMI, FL — August 5, 2026 — As artificial intelligence, automation, and connected technology rapidly transform insurance distribution, ACA WAY 2026 will convene executives from leading Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs), independent agencies, and emerging InsurTech companies for an important conversation about the future of the industry.

The panel, titled “The Trust Stack: How FMOs Modernize Without Losing the Agent,” will take place Thursday, September 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Hilton Miami Downtown.

Panelists include:

Together, they will examine how FMOs can modernize operations, introduce emerging technology, and scale their organizations without losing the accountability, guidance, and personal relationships agents and consumers continue to rely on.

“Technology should make agents more capable, not make them feel replaceable,” said Sherry Feijoo, CEO of ACA WAY. “Innovation only matters when it removes friction, strengthens the agent experience, and helps people receive better guidance. This panel brings together leaders who understand both the possibilities of technology and the responsibility that comes with implementing it.”

FMOs Sit at the Center of Insurance Distribution

FMOs occupy a critical position within the insurance ecosystem.

They manage carrier relationships, compliance requirements, training, contracting, business development, and agent support, all while serving the independent agents who perform the essential work of building client trust.

That puts FMOs on the front line of one of the industry’s most important challenges: How can organizations introduce AI, automation, and connected platforms without eroding the human guidance people still depend on when making decisions with long-term financial and healthcare consequences?

The Trust Stack will move beyond broad predictions of insurance technology. Leaders representing established national FMOs, a venture-backed AI-native brokerage, and independent agencies serving Central and South Florida will compare where technology is genuinely removing friction today, where it is merely adding another system to an already crowded workflow, and what organizations should consider before adopting the next platform.

The discussion will also explore how FMOs can modernize while preserving the accountability and personal support on which the independent agent model is built.

When Technology Helps—and When It Gets in the Way

Technology now touches nearly every part of an insurance organization.

AI is changing how agencies manage leads, communicate with clients, analyze performance, and prioritize opportunities. Automation can reduce repetitive administrative work, while connected platforms can give leaders a clearer view of operations and consumer needs.

However, technology alone does not create trust.

When systems are poorly selected or implemented, they can lead to duplicate work, disconnected information, additional training burdens, and greater confusion for agents. When implemented thoughtfully, technology can simplify contracting, improve communication, support compliance, accelerate onboarding, and give agents more time to educate and serve clients.

The panel will examine how industry leaders can:

Perspectives From Across the Insurance Ecosystem

Micah Mathews brings more than 17 years of insurance experience spanning field sales, carrier operations, and national FMO leadership. As Vice President of Marketing at Messer Financial Group, he supports the development and recruitment of emerging and established call centers across health and life insurance.

His career has given him a broad view of distribution from the perspectives of the field agent, carrier, and FMO.

Mathews will address what agents genuinely need from an FMO and how technology can support producers working across multiple products and markets.

Will Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of Gyde, is developing an AI-native insurance brokerage model designed to help agency owners scale without sacrificing service.

Before founding Gyde, Johnson held senior roles at Oscar Health focused on growth strategy and business operations and previously advised healthcare and technology organizations at Bain & Company. He will discuss how AI can be integrated into brokerage operations while preserving the trusted guidance clients expect.

Carlos Chavez brings the perspective of a leader who has helped grow a multistate organization across Medicare, ACA, life, and supplemental insurance.

His leadership has remained closely connected to independent agents and the communities they serve, including efforts to create business opportunities within the Latino community. Chavez will explore how organizations can expand into new markets while maintaining consistent support and strong agent relationships.

Steve McLaughlin, CEO of Agility Holdings Group, invests in and develops InsurTech and HealthTech companies.

Its portfolio includes Agility Insurance Services, a national General Agency, and Patient Care Health, an organization focused on improving access to care for Medicare and ACA populations. McLaughlin’s experience in distribution, insurance regulation, compliance, and technology investment will provide insight into how innovation can support business performance and healthcare outcomes.

Adriana Alfonso, Chief Growth Officer of Health Family Insurance, leads growth strategy, agent development, and call center operations for a family-founded national FMO.

Health Family Insurance supports more than 5,000 agents across ACA, Medicare, supplemental, and life insurance. Alfonso will discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in modernizing a long-established organization while protecting the relationship-first culture that helped build it.

The Independent Agent Remains Essential

Despite advances in digital enrollment, artificial intelligence, and automated consumer experiences, insurance remains a highly personal decision.

Consumers frequently need help understanding premiums, provider networks, prescriptions, eligibility requirements, plan differences, and the long-term consequences of their coverage selections.

Independent agents continue to provide context, education, and reassurance that technology alone cannot replicate.

FMOs will play a major role in deciding how emerging technology reaches those agents and how it is ultimately used in the field.

“The organizations that lead the next era of insurance distribution will be the ones that combine stronger infrastructure with a genuine understanding of what agents and consumers need,” Feijoo said. “Technology should strengthen the relationship between the agent and the client—not stand in the way of it.”

Why This Conversation Matters Now

Insurance distribution is entering a period of significant change.

Consumer expectations are rising, compliance responsibilities are becoming more complex, and agents are being asked to serve clients across multiple products while responding faster than ever.

At the same time, AI and automation are creating opportunities to complete work that previously required hours of manual effort.

These developments allow FMOs to provide stronger support, but they also require careful leadership.

Organizations must consider data privacy, system security, quality control, employee training, agent adoption, and the practical realities of implementing new technology across established workflows.

There is no single blueprint for the FMO of the future.

However, every organization will need to decide whether its technology creates more friction and distance or gives agents the tools and time to serve people better.

At ACA WAY 2026, the leaders shaping that decision will share one stage.

About ACA WAY 2026

ACA WAY is a national conference dedicated to the advancement and evolution of the Affordable Care Act and the broader healthcare ecosystem.

The conference brings together carrier executives, FMO leaders, agency owners, brokers, independent agents, policymakers, compliance professionals, healthcare advocates, technology executives, and innovators for two days of education, strategic conversations, demonstrations, and relationship-building.

ACA WAY 2026 will take place September 23–24 at the Hilton Miami Downtown and will feature keynote presentations, expert-led panels, technology demonstrations, exhibitions, and networking with professionals influencing the future of healthcare access and insurance distribution.

Event Information

ACA WAY 2026

September 23–24, 2026

Hilton Miami Downtown

1601 Biscayne Boulevard

Miami, Florida 33132 ​

The Trust Stack: How FMOs Modernize Without Losing the Agent

Registration and additional event information are available at theacaway.com.

Media Contact

Megan Whitehead

Director of Corporate Relations

hi@theacaway.com