Agency Intelligence: The Insurance Podcast Network

The Executive Sessions: Ryan Westerman, President at AndDone Executive Sessions are all about humanizing the C-suite, and this one does just that. Jason sits down with Ryan Westerman, President at AndDone, to talk about his path from physics major to payments innovator, the lessons that shaped his leadership, and how AndDone is changing the way agents get paid. What starts as a career story unfold...

In this new episode of Insurance Shoptalk, join host Eric Stein and guest Jim Urseth, president of Reliable Premium Management (RPM), for a deep-dive into their pay-as-you-go solutions. RPM has many unique offerings, including a pay-as-you-go general liability program billed by payroll instead of the company’s revenue. Their pay-as-you-go offerings also include Workers’ Compensation programs, with...

When clarity meets compassion, leadership becomes legacy. Jason Cass sits down with Jason Sanders, COO and Senior Vice President at IPFS, for an Executive Session that uncovers how a people-first mindset can shape an entire organization. From starting in the mailroom to building one of the industry’s most respected leadership programs, Jason shares how structure, service, and culture drive both hi...

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, explore the world of human resources (and more!) with host Eric Stein and special guest host Ryan Floyd. Eric and Ryan talk with David Ainsworth and David Bell from Zynergia, a trusted HR partner that offers a variety of services, including payroll, benefit management, risk management, and more. They discuss Zynergia’s the coverage, features, and benefits of...

In this episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, and Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC, tackle one of the most important yet often overlooked financial topics: long-term care. The conversation kicks off with a laugh as Erik shares how Xavier nearly got himself kicked out of a professional study group for challenging the conventional wisdom around...

What shapes a leader who has spent decades at the highest levels of business? Jason sits down with Frank Friedman, CEO & President at IPFS, for an Executive Session that blends personal stories with industry insight. From mentors who made a difference to premium financing, payments innovation, and the future of insurance tech, this conversation highlights the human side of leadership. Key Topics:...

What happens when a State Farm agent decides he’s not cut out for the captive world and instead builds a tech empire supporting $2B in premium? Jason Cass sits down with Austin Moorhead, Founder of Lava Automation to unpack that journey.  Key Topics: Austin’s leap from State Farm to automation and his “lightbulb moment” with Keap Growing from a side project into 350+ virtual assistants powering $2...

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Jackson Rollo, President at Rollo Insurance, the agency featured on the October 2025 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: The honor of being featured on the Rough Notes Magazine front cover Carrying forward a family agency legacy while creating new impact Jackson...

We’re bringing back a powerful Executive Session with Ryan Hanley, who at the time of this recording was CMO at Linqura (and is now the company’s President). In this replay, Ryan opens up about his journey from small-town beginnings to industry leadership, sharing raw insights on humility, resilience, and the seasons of business leadership. He and Jason dig into AI’s role in reshaping insurance, w...

In this episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, hosts Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA™, ChFC®, and Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC, dive into what they call “backwards planning.” Erik shares a story about driving his daughter to college, where the destination was clear but the journey allowed for meaningful detours that still aligned with their ultimate goal. This idea of starting wit...

What does marketing look like when it’s less about pushing products and more about building trust?  Jason sits down with Rushang Shah, Chief Marketing Officer at HawkSoft, for an Executive Session about trust-driven marketing, lessons from the early tech world, and how a purple cow became the company’s most recognizable symbol. Key Topics: Why HawkSoft views marketing as building trust, not promot...

What happens when the next generation of InsurTech leaders blends efficiency with servant leadership? Jason Cass sits down with Toby Hung, Co-Founder & COO of 1Fort, to talk about AI-driven automation, the future of agency workflows, and why people, not just technology, remain at the center of insurance. Key Topics: Toby shares 1Fort’s vision as an all-in-one AI solution for commercial agencies Au...

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, join host Eric Stein and guest Vladimir Vladimirov for an in-depth exploration of NowCerts and their cloud-based integration CRM and agency management system, Automate 365. In this episode, NowCerts system manager Vladimir talks though the many uses and benefits of Automate 365, including the system’s ability to assist P&C agents with task like online quoting...

Executive sessions are all about pulling back the curtain, and this one does just that. Sean Hawkins, Co-Founder and VP of Development at HawkSoft, joins Jason to share how a farm kid turned programmer helped build one of the industry’s most trusted systems. From navigating shiny tech trends to keeping data ownership and people first, Sean’s story shows why HawkSoft’s culture continues to stand ou...

Are you disgusted yet? Yes, disgusted! But, disgusted with your own personal sales results, more specifically. I mean, at the end of the day, nothing will get better until you become disgusted enough with the results you've been getting that you then implement change and do something different. It really is that simple. Building a $1,000,000 or more Book of Business through a signed Broker of Reco...

Ohio Workers’ Comp Just Changed – Here’s What Agents Need to Know: In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein talks with Bob Butts, Chief Risk Officer at Alternative Comp Solutions (ACS), about a major change in Ohio’s workers’ compensation market. For the first time, agents can now sell workers’ comp in Ohio and earn commission, thanks to Senate Bill 2011 and approval by the Ohio Bure...

What do engineering, entrepreneurship, and divinity have to do with each other? Apparently, more than you think. In this episode, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, sits down with Tulane professors Rob Lalka, who teaches entrepreneurship, and Matt Escarra, a professor of engineering, to talk about a course that challenges students to ask the big questions. They discuss technology, ethics, purpose, an...

What happens when the heart of a company beats just as strongly as its technology? Jason sits down with Paul Hawkins, CEO at HawkSoft, for an in-person Executive Session at HawkSoft HQ. From family roots and servant leadership to AI, agency tech trends, and the story behind the Purple Cow, this conversation is as much about people as it is about platforms. Key Topics: Why HawkSoft hires 80% on cul...

Having coached Producers over the last fifteen on how to sell insurance, there is one main factor I see as the primary indicator of whether or not that Producer will write a lot of new business commission this year ... or struggle at merely hitting their goals. What is that one thing? Well, that's what host Charles Specht will share on today's episode. But .... it's not just about telling you what...

When Jason Cass sits down with Ryan Hanley, CMO of Linqura, you know it’s not going to be a lightweight conversation. This time, the two go head-to-head on what AI really means for agencies, why margins are the battlefront, and how different visions of success shape the way you build. From the future of efficiency to the heart of agency culture, this one has everything. Key Topics: Ryan’s journey...

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Natalie Stone, President of Hill & Stone Insurance Agency, the agency featured on the September 2025 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: Natalie’s surprise at being featured in Rough Notes The 1912 founding of Hill & Stone by her great-grandmother Four generatio...

Welcome to another episode of Insurance Shoptalk, where host Eric Stein provides P&C agents with industry updates and in-depth information about new tools and programs they can use to improve their business! In this episode, Eric chats with guest John Tillery, one of the founder's of Whiteboard Risk, a commercial property and casualty agency located in Southern California and operating in all stat...

Are you a P&C agent interested in learning how to quote, bind, and service without the need for multiple logins? Find out more in this episode of Insurance Shoptalk with host Eric Stein and guest Phil Friedman from iBynd! iBynd is a comparative insurance rater that allows P&C agents to quote, bind, and service for property and casualty insurance carriers in Workers’ Compensation—all without the ne...

Change is part of life—but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Transitions—whether personal, professional, planned, or unexpected—can shake our sense of identity, rhythm, and control. Even positive change can feel disruptive when it alters what we’ve known or how we’ve operated. In this episode, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, and Dr. Matt Morris explore how leaders can navigate seasons of change without...

The insurance world is shifting fast. Jason sits down with Chris Paradiso to talk about carrier cutbacks, industry consolidation, and how AI is changing the game for independent agencies. Key Topics: Carrier pullbacks and the struggle for new appointments Why agents are being pushed toward clusters and aggregators The role of rate increases vs. true agency growth How COVID accelerated technology a...