Agency Intelligence

We all think having more money will make us happier, but what if the way we instinctively spend it isn’t actually the key to lasting happiness? In this episode of Stuff About Money, Erik Garcia, CFP?, dives into five ways we can use money, and why the thing we want to do with it—buying more stuff—won’t bring us the deep, fulfilling happiness we hope for. Instead, he explores the four things that actually do create happiness: investing in experiences, buying back time, giving generously, and saving for the future. From reflecting on a family trip to Disney World to the conversation we all love to have—“What would you do if you won the lottery?”—this episode challenges the way we think about money and what it can (and can’t) buy. Erik breaks down why spending money on experiences creates memories that last, why buying time back only works if you actually use it wisely, and how generosity is one of the most unexpected happiness boosters. Plus, he explains why saving money isn’t just about financial security—it’s about progress, and progress makes us happy. If you’re looking for a way to shift your mindset on money and happiness, this episode is for you. Tune in, challenge yourself to rethink how you spend, and share this episode with someone who could use a fresh perspective on what really leads to financial joy. Plan wisely, live confidently! Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/4kPaRdS

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 language of your ideal client. Enjoy the episode! Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/3Xwlnwk

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 excess cash flow to high-rate homeowners debating a refinance—Erik highlights why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Along the way, he shares his personal philosophy on debt (hint: not all debt is created equal) and why blindly following financial advice can sometimes backfire. As the episode unfolds, Erik explores the key factors to consider when making this decision—your interest rate, cash flow, investment potential, and, most importantly, your comfort level with risk. Sure, being mortgage-free sounds appealing, but what if paying it off means leaving yourself cash-poor? Trading your liquidity for a paid-off home might seem like the responsible move, but could it actually be a risky bet? Before you rush to throw extra payments at your mortgage, tune in to this thought-provoking conversation to ensure your financial strategy aligns with your long-term goals. Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/3QPBGRf

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. Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/3DgtTbV

"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 with your clients over sales. Enjoy the episode! Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/4b73wBZ

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 haters when prospecting in order to find the people who want to do business with you and say, "Yes!" ALSO... the next cohort of "PERMISSION PRODUCER SCHOOL" starts on March 3rd - 7th (2025). You don't want to miss out. Learn more and get registered at: https://lnkd.in/guJ9_qpW Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM

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 handle it. That’s right, this episode dives into the all-too-common habit of financial procrastination and why we keep telling ourselves, “I’ll take care of it tomorrow.” Why do we put off saving for retirement, getting life insurance, or investing for the future? It turns out, human nature makes it easy to prioritize today’s wants over tomorrow’s needs. Erik and Xavier explore the psychology behind why we delay crucial financial decisions, touching on everything from marshmallow experiments to why our future selves feel like total strangers. They also break down practical ways to stop stalling and start acting—from automation to visualization and a little bit of accountability (actually, a lot of accountability). Lean into this conversation for a fresh perspective on making smarter financial choices—or at the very least, to expand your New Orleans vocabulary. Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/4bc6GUT

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 March 7, 2025. It's a virtual sales training program for commercial P&C and EB producers. The sessions last for 2.5 hours daily. If you're interested in learning more, go to: https://lnkd.in/guJ9_qpW Get registered at: https://lnkd.in/guJ9_qpW WHEN IT TAKES PLACE: March 3rd - 7th Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM

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. Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/4aXGDkl

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 scalable success. Brett walks us through how they're using technology to scale their training processes, where they are seeing results, and the confidence it's built among the producers on the team. Enjoy the episode! Listen here: https://spoti.fi/3sTAbTM Watch here: https://bit.ly/3CHKWn6