Episodios

  • Grow Your Book with a New Workers’ Comp Program in Ohio!

    Grow Your Book with a New Workers’ Comp Program in Ohio!
    Jan 9 2026
    In this episode of Insurance Shop Talk, host Eric Stein introduces a game-changing workers’ compensation opportunity for P&C agents in Ohio and surrounding states. With Ohio’s monopolistic system long limiting agent participation, a newly approved Alternate Employer Organization (AEO) program now allows agents to earn ongoing commission while delivering meaningful cost savings and improved claims management for their clients. Eric breaks down how the program works, who it’s best suited for, and—most importantly—the practical sales strategy agents can use to position it with existing clients and prospects. From pay-as-you-go billing and simplified claims handling to real-world savings examples, this webinar offers a clear roadmap for agents looking to unlock new revenue and strengthen client retention in a competitive market.
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    40 m
  • Recruiting Is Broken in Insurance Here’s the New Playbook

    Recruiting Is Broken in Insurance Here’s the New Playbook
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, host Eric Stein sits down with Walter Sabrin of Venture Employer Services for a wide-ranging conversation on the realities of hiring, recruiting, and retaining talent in today’s insurance agency environment. Drawing on decades of experience, Walter breaks down why agencies should always be recruiting, how internal referral programs and small-scale job fairs can deliver outsized results, and why traditional job boards often fail to reach the best candidates. The discussion also explores proactive headhunting, building a recruiting pipeline for future needs, leveraging nearshore and remote talent to reduce costs while increasing productivity, and the importance of communication, training, and career progression in improving retention. Together, Eric and Walter share practical, real-world insights that agency owners can use to strengthen their teams, adapt to a changing workforce, and build a sustainable hiring strategy for the future.
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    49 m
  • Rough Notes Front Cover, 2022 Agency of the Year: Granger Financial

    Rough Notes Front Cover, 2022 Agency of the Year: Granger Financial
    Jan 1 2026
    In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Jeff and Eboné Granger, Managing Partners at Granger Financial, the 2022 Rough Notes Magazine Agency of the Year. Key Topics: The significance of being featured on the front cover of Rough Notes Magazine Building the agency from the ground up during COVID and scaling intentionally over time Expanding beyond insurance into multiple financial service verticals to better serve clients Creating a culture centered on mission, legacy, and long-term impact Using community service as a core business driver, not a side initiative Developing and retaining talent through an ownership mindset, culture, and values Reach out to: Jeff Granger Eboné Granger Jason Cass Visit Website: Granger Financial Rough Notes Magazine Produced by PodSquad.fm
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    31 m
  • Stuff About Money: Episode 99: Should You Wait to Invest When the Market Feels Expensive?

    Stuff About Money: Episode 99: Should You Wait to Invest When the Market Feels Expensive?
    Dec 31 2025
    In this episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, Erik Garcia is joined by Miles Clark, Senior Analyst at Nasdaq Dorsey Wright, to explore a simple but important question: what’s better—time in the market or timing the market? The conversation opens with a long-term look at how markets have behaved over multi-decade periods and what that data can teach investors when they’re deciding what to do with new money, especially when markets are sitting at or near all-time highs. From there, Erik and Miles walk through three common investor approaches: investing a lump sum right away, waiting for a pullback, or easing in over time. They discuss which experiences tend to lead to better long-term outcomes and why those results often surprise people. The conversation also touches on momentum, relative strength, and market breadth, including what it means when market leadership becomes narrow and valuations stretch. The episode wraps up with Miles’ thoughts on what matters most heading into 2026, what investors tend to worry about too much, and what deserves more attention moving forward. If you found this episode helpful, follow the show and share it with someone who’s still waiting for the “right” time to invest. Episode Highlights: Miles discusses a study showing "Average Joe," who invests $500 monthly regardless of market conditions, outperforms market timers by about $1 million. (07:25) Miles breaks down market breadth through a football analogy: it tells investors whether the market is on offense or defense. (13:20) Miles mentions that in core-dominated markets, the real risk isn't beating the benchmark but simply keeping up with it. (18:55) Miles discusses how Dorsey Wright applies relative strength to identify which assets to hold, focusing on sustained trends rather than short-term news. (22:45) Miles explains how momentum investing rotated out of tech in 2022 into energy and utilities, then back into tech for 2023-2024. (29:30) Erik emphasizes that risk capacity matters more than risk tolerance, which is often driven by emotions about current market conditions. (36:25) Key Quotes: "We don't necessarily have to focus on protecting against the entire market washout. We really just need to protect ourselves against where we're over-concentrated in our portfolios." - Miles Clark "In core-dominated markets, a lot of the risk is actually just not keeping up with the benchmark because it is so strong." - Miles Clark "Finding and earning positive relative strength is just trying to pick those assets that are doing relatively better towards the up or downside than their benchmark." - Miles Clark Resources Mentioned: Miles Clark Nasdaq Dorsey Wright Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors
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    43 m
  • Stop Buying Hammers, Start Solving Problems

    Stop Buying Hammers, Start Solving Problems
    Dec 30 2025
    What if every phone call your agency receives could tell you exactly how customers feel and how your team is performing? Jason Cass sits down with Winston Smith, CEO of Bridge Insure and Magellan Insure, to unpack how call intelligence is reshaping agency operations. The discussion explores why phone systems are more than dial tone, how real insights surface from everyday conversations, and why focusing on customer happiness and employee productivity creates a clearer picture of agency performance. Key Topics: The evolution of Bridge and the launch of Magellan Why phone systems are an untapped intelligence source Using call transcription to surface meaningful insights Measuring customer satisfaction through real conversations Evaluating employee performance with service standards Real time alerts for negative customer experiences Connecting phone data to revenue and premium impact Contrarian perspectives on AI in insurance agencies Reach out to: Winston Smith Jason Cass Visit Website: Bridge Insure Magellan Insure Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm
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    36 m
  • Stuff About Money: Episode 98: Plan Before Life Forces Your Hand: The Cost of Waiting

    Stuff About Money: Episode 98: Plan Before Life Forces Your Hand: The Cost of Waiting
    Dec 17 2025
    In this solo episode of Stuff About Money They Didn't Teach You in School, Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC, steps behind the mic to wrestle with a tough truth: planning isn’t optional, not if you want control over your future. Fresh off his conversation with Giovanni Arenas about Gio’s life-threatening condition and remarkable double lung transplant, Xavier gets another call that hits just as hard. A dear friend's cancer has returned, and with it comes the realization that he never put proper business succession plans in place. It is a moment that reveals not just financial vulnerability but emotional fallout, the kind that compounds heartbreak when families are already hurting. Xavier digs deeper into why waiting to plan is one of the costliest decisions a business owner can make. He lays out how proactive planning protects the people you care about most and why delaying those decisions hands your future over to circumstances instead of intention. This episode is an honest call to action: don't wait until life forces your hand. If the message resonates, share the episode with someone who needs the nudge, and make sure you're following the show for more conversations that help you take control before life does it for you. Episode Highlights: Procrastination is a bill that silently compounds, delaying tasks makes them harder to complete, and weighs you down. (01:00) Time is the most valuable asset when building wealth. Every year of waiting meant losing opportunity, not just time. (01:30) Xavier references his previous episode with Giovanni Arenas about his double lung transplant and how quickly life can change. (02:30) Xavier shares a personal story: A close friend's rapidly progressing cancer forced immediate business and family decisions no one was prepared for. (04:10) Xavier outlines action steps: Create a will, establish an estate plan (not just for the wealthy), and build a business continuation plan. (07:10) Planning documents are acts of love and gifts of clarity that ensure your intentions, not others' emotions, guide what happens next. (07:50) Key Quotes: “Procrastination doesn't just slow you down. It widens the gap between where we are today and where we want to be.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC “Planning isn't when life is perfect. Planning isn't when life happens, planning now it matters.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC “ Take that first step today, no matter how small. Start planning today. Start the conversation, get the documents in place. Build the plan that protects the people and the legacy you want to fulfill your future self and your family will thank you later.” - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC Resources Mentioned: Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors
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    10 m
  • Millionaire Insurance Producer: If You Offer Quotes To Non-Clients, Do This First!

    Millionaire Insurance Producer: If You Offer Quotes To Non-Clients, Do This First!
    Dec 15 2025
    I know you probably work only on signed BOR ... right? Well, sometimes you might be tempted to offer quotes to a prospect (aka: Non-Client; someone who doesn't trust you yet) who won't sign the BOR over to you. Should you still work on that account and offer a quote, or should you push the "pause button" and try again next year? Well, it all depends on whether or not you can get the prospect to give you three things first. In this episode, host Charles Specht shares what three things you should do in order to increase your Quote-to-Bind rate by other 25% or more. Give a listen, subscribe, and let Charles explain. And, visit our newly updated website at: https://permissiongroup.com Key Topics: Why second place in insurance sales pays zero commission The three critical things you must secure before offering any quote How to demand exclusive access to the carriers you need to compete Getting objective commitments on what you must accomplish to win the business Why prospects must agree not to share your numbers with other agents How agents lose 20-30% of business when prospects share quotes behind their backs Why it's your fault, not the insured's, when you get used in quoting The reminder system that reinforces commitments throughout the sales process Why insurance buyers prefer one trusted agent but don't know how to choose How agency leaders can boost profits by requiring BOR letters over blind quotes Reach out to Charles Specht Visit: Permission Network Produced by PodSquad.fm
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    31 m
  • The Executive Sessions: Francisco Lopes, CEO Of Sonant AI

    The Executive Sessions: Francisco Lopes, CEO Of Sonant AI
    Dec 9 2025
    Pressure on agency call volume has never been higher, and the gap between what teams can handle and what clients expect is widening fast. In this Executive Sessions conversation, Jason Cass sits down with Francisco Lopes, Founder and CEO of Sonant AI, to unpack how AI voice technology is transforming call handling, reducing repetitive tasks, and freeing teams to focus on higher-value work. Their discussion breaks down real adoption challenges, workflow design, routing logic, and the future impact of AI on agency operations and client experience. Key Topics: AI phone agents purpose-built for insurance operations Improving call latency, clarity, and conversational flow Differences in inbound versus outbound AI call performance Workflow design that reduces repetitive staff tasks Routing logic tied to AMS data and team roles Increasing task capacity through automated call handling Adoption hurdles and the tension between personal touch and AI Future impact of agentic systems on agency productivity How AI reshapes efficiency, staffing, and client communication Reach out to: Francisco Lopes Jason Cass Visit Website: Sonant AI Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm
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    29 m
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