Agency Intelligence: The Insurance Podcast Network

You know, if a producer doesn't get to $100,000 of commission in a reasonable amount of time, they often either get fired or they find a new job outside of insurance. So, we not only need to help them get to $100,000 of commission but I think -- more importantly -- we need to get them to a $250,000 commission Book of Business as soon as humanly possible. Why? Because, once a producer gets to $250,...

I have a confession to make: I firmly believe insurance agents are prospecting all wrong. And, it is not only costing them thousands of dollars every year in new business commission, but they are losing literal weeks (months?) of their lives in the process. But, I also have some good news as well. The good news is that you can be happier as a producer, more successful, get more hours of your life...

How do you earn the right for a prospect's time? How do you set yourself apart from the agency down the street? And how are you being creative with your follow-up? David Sliman, CEO of Sales Proformance Consulting, has led sales teams across multiple industries, including insurance and risk management. He joins us today to discuss his four principles of selling – and it starts with speaking the la...

Debt. Some people hate it. Some people tolerate it. And when it comes to a mortgage, the debate gets even more interesting. In this episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, Erik Garcia unpacks the question that’s been on the minds of several clients this week: Should I pay off my mortgage early? With four unique client scenarios—ranging from low-interest-rate borrowers with ex...

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Mike Hotchkiss, CEO of Hotchkiss Insurance Agency, the agency featured on the March 2025 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: The honor of being featured on Rough Notes and its significance. Hotchkiss Insurance’s 50-year journey and industry evolution. The impact...

Have you ever been rejected when doing your prospecting? Of course you have. Probably thousands of times in your life so far. It comes with the territory. But putting in the work helps you find your people. Getting hundreds of "No's" helps you find the dozens who say, "Yes!"  In this episode of the Millionaire Insurance Producer podcast host Charles Specht explains how to embrace the rejecting hat...

"I hate the word broker." Casey Schrader is more a fan of the word advisor. As Regional Sales Manager and Risk Advisor at Oswald Companies, he practices what he preaches. Brokering is about selling a product. Advice is about expanding how you think and how you serve your clients. Casey also dives into marketing and content creation, creating "warm calls" as opposed to cold calls, and driving value...

In this episode of the Stuff About Money podcast, Erik and Xavier kick off this episode with a slightly humorous conversation about the unique way people from New Orleans speak—because if nothing else, in The Big Easy, they have their own way of doing things. But that same tendency to do things our way extends beyond language—it also applies to how we handle money. More specifically, how we don’t...

There are THREE things that if insurance producers did, they would have far more success at prospecting and selling insurance. What are these THREE things you might ask? Well, that's what podcast host Charles Specht will teach you in today's episode on building a $1,000,000 or more Book of Business. Also... The next cohort of PERMISSION PRODUCER SCHOOL starts on March 3, 2025 and goes through to M...

Going for the BOR is always the better option, but sometimes you just have to quote. If you go through a normal quoting process, be sure to get these three (3) things from the prospect. Once you do this, your quote-to-win ratio will increase so much that you could see your new business revenue increase by some 50% annually. That's a lot of commission. It's YOUR new business commission! But only if...

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Aurora Mullett, Managing Partner at Sky Insurance Brokers. Teresa and Aurora talk about how insurance agents can learn about their state's fair plan, how they can help be an advocate for change and assist their communities. Key Topics: The growing role of FAIR Plans in wildfire-prone areas Why many agents struggle to prope...

We all want the best talent. Recruiting can be pain, but even beyond finding good people, developing them can be equally difficult. Brett Young, President & CEO at Erb and Young, is taking a unique approach to training and development: Erb and Young University. From weekly trainings to onboarding to its "Masterclass" series, finding a way to focus on helping your team learn and improve is vital to...

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Joan Curtis, Co-Owner of MVP Insurance. Teresa and Joan discuss the book Who Not How by Dan Sullivan. This is part of a 3 part series. They will be doing the Gap and the Gain next. Key Topics: How the book “Who Not How” reshaped their approach to delegation and leadership The power of finding the right "who" instead of get...

In this episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, certified financial planners Erik Garcia, CFP®, and Xavier Angel, CFP®, are joined by Javier Sanchez, AVP of Financial Literacy for Fidelity Bank. Together, they explore how teaching kids about money has shifted in the digital age. The classic piggy bank may be fading, but the need for financial education is stronger than ever....

Have you ever gone through a season of prospecting where you weren't actually prospecting? You were doing -- I don't, know, whatever -- but just not a lot of reaching out to prospects? Yes, I think we all have experienced that from time to time. Today I had a coaching call with a new producer who has been in the business for about 8 months ... and I had to light him up! He's being lazy, reactive,...

Insurance agents who struggle at setting new business appointments with prospects, or winning signed Broker of Record Letters, or winning through a quoting process, are typically agents that don't have a Competitive Differentiation that makes the prospect say, "Wow!" In other words, if you don't have anything -- either a tangible service or a unique process -- that separates you from other competi...

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Ciara Gravier, Founder of The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management. Teresa and Ciara discuss the book “10X Is Easier than 2X” about leveling up as professionals. Key Topics: Reflecting on the value of decompressing and connecting with like-minded peers. How “10X Is Easier Than 2X” challenges traditional growth mindsets. Iden...

(First, go check out www.microniche.club to see what this is all about) - Do you feel like you're struggling setting enough new business appointments or not winning enough new clients? If that's the case for you, I would say it's likely due to a lack of focus in a narrowly defined Micro-Niche. Most producers struggle or don't make the kind of income they want or know they're capable of making beca...

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Darren Vermost, President of Vermost Insurance Agency, the agency featured on the February 2025 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: Darren reflects on the honor of being featured on Rough Notes. Integrity, relationships, and team loyalty drive the agency’s succe...

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Cheree Sauer. Cheree is a business coach specializing in high-performance women and burnout and creating balance. Key Topics: Cheree Sauer shares about her Success Without Sacrifice Coaching program. The RAMP Method creates seasons of rest for business owners. Recognizing and addressing burnout through self-awareness. Cust...

What should you expect in 2025? Will market volatility and inflation trends continue to dominate the economy? In this dynamic episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, host Erik Garcia, CFP®, sits down with Phil Blancato, Chief Market Strategist for Osaic Wealth Management and CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann, to break down the biggest surprises of 2024 and what’s ahead for the market...

In this episode of Agency Intelligence podcast, host Jason Cass interviews Tony Lew, Co-Founder of InsurTech NY. They discuss the evolution of InsurTech NY, its collaboration with independent agents, and the tools shaping the future of the insurance industry.  Plus, get the details on the upcoming InsureTech NY 2025 Spring Conference and how to save 35% with the code “AI2025CODE”. Key Topics: Tony...

Are you happy with your current status quo or are you satisfied with mediocrity? No doubt, you're not. If not, are you doing anything significant to level-up your revenues, or write larger accounts, or close more new business? I hope you are! In this throwback episode of the Millionaire Insurance Producer podcast, host Charles Specht will help you to see what leveling-up would look like for you an...

In this episode of Power Women In Insurance, Teresa Kitchens sits down with Carie Ann Roach of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT). Carie and Teresa discuss how to find the resources to level up an insurance career. Key Topics: Carie Ann shares her journey from receptionist to industry leader. The value of certifications in career advancement. Building confidence and seeking mentorship in...

In this episode of Agency Intelligence podcast, host Jason Cass discusses the concept of building a "digital you" and "digital staff" using AI tools like ChatGPT. He shares personal stories and practical strategies for leveraging AI to enhance productivity and creativity. Key Topics: Jason’s vision for AI tools as digital assistants Using AI to automate tasks like blog writing and video creation A...