Medicarians founder Jay Weintraub explains how his experience in online lead generation and industry events led to creating a gathering for the Medicare ecosystem. The discussion covers building professional communities, combining agent education with networking and dealmaking, and the year-round work behind a short conference. It also explores event logistics and the mission of helping people live longer, healthier lives.

In this episode

  • Medicarians origin story
  • Industry conferences
  • Professional networking
  • Agent education
  • Event operations

Show notes

Recorded live on the floor at Medicarians Vegas 2026, Dan and Mike sit down with Jay Weintraub, the founder and driving force behind Medicarians, the industry's premier annual conference that has grown from 1,100 attendees to over 5,500 in just five years.

Jay pulls back the curtain on how Medicarians got started, what it was like buying a struggling conference and nearly getting it wrong, and what it actually takes to build a show that serves agents, carriers, IMOs, and vendors all under one roof. He shares the honest story of early mistakes, the feedback that shaped the event, and why getting the right people in the room changed everything.

Dan and Mike also dig into how to maximize your time at a show like this, what agents should be trying to accomplish before they ever set foot on the floor, why Medicarians moved to Caesars Palace for 2027, and what Jay sees for the future of the event and the industry.

If you've ever attended Medicarians or wondered what goes into building something like it, this is the episode.

Chapters

  • 0:00 Welcome - Live from Medicarians Vegas 2026 & Introducing Jay Weintraub
  • 0:56 How Medicarians Got Started & The Origin Story
  • 3:15 Why Medicare Needed a Trade Show & Early Mistakes
  • 5:13 What Was Missing - Getting Agents in the Room
  • 6:38 Building a Neutral Platform That Works for Everyone
  • 7:48 Taking Feedback & How the Show Evolved
  • 9:07 Is the Medicare Industry More Complex Than Others?
  • 10:14 Selling Leeds Con & Staying in the Events Business
  • 11:32 Insurtech, Venture Capital & How Jay's Career Led to Medicarians
  • 13:26 Serving Agents, IMOs, Carriers and Vendors Under One Roof
  • 15:03 How ACA and Life Got Added to the Agenda
  • 16:08 What Most People Don't Know About Running a Live Event
  • 18:04 How to Prepare and Maximize Your Time at Medicarians
  • 21:18 The Two Shows Inside Medicarians – Agent Track vs. High Level Meetings
  • 22:37 Growth Goals & Where Medicarians Is Headed
  • 24:04 Why Medicarians Moves to Caesars Palace for 2027
  • 27:18 The Hardest Part & The Most Rewarding Moment
  • 28:25 The Real Cost of Running an Event in Vegas
  • 29:11 How Jay Curates Content and Tracks for Every Attendee
  • 31:25 Closing – Why You Should Attend Medicarians 2027