The Scratch Agency Mindset In An AI World

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Kelly Mora & Steve Mora of Heritage Insurance Agency, the agency featured on the July 2025 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: Building an ag-focused insurance agency from farm roots The “tailgate relationship” approach to client connection Balancing modern technology with personal service Cultivating agency culture across generations Leading through mentorship, education, and EOS principles Strategic growth through acquisitions and team development Empowering young professionals and honoring legacy wisdom Reach out to: Steve Mora Kelly Mora Jason Cass Visit Website: Heritage Insurance Agency Rough Notes Magazine Produced by PodSquad.fm

As a high achiever, your work never really 'stops'—but should it? You feel pressure from the outside and from deep inside that you NEED to find balance. But balance seems elusive. Just when you feel you've found it, it’s gone. In this episode, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, and Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT break down the myth of work-life balance, the cost of blurred boundaries, and how to set limits that work without guilt or career damage. Episode Highlights: Erik introduces the episode by framing the common struggle of work-life balance and the guilt that often surrounds it. (01:31) Matt discusses how high achievers often experience work creeping into home life and the need to define realistic boundaries. (03:56) Erik explains why he believes work-life balance is a myth and argues for alignment of values instead of perfect balance. (06:45) Matt shares his definition of balance: enjoying both work and home life without one impeding the other. (10:07) Matt emphasizes that integration, not perfection, is the key to sustaining relationships and success. (13:51) Matt explains how unresolved work stress affects sleep, health, and emotional presence. (17:52) Erik highlights the role of self-awareness and coaching in identifying when work is intruding on personal life. (19:20) Matt shares the importance of start-stop rituals and sacred times, noting their role in maintaining boundaries. (24:09) Matt encourages leaders to model healthy habits and communicate boundaries to both teams and clients. (27:31) Matt explains how setting boundaries may trigger guilt and discomfort, but it’s a normal part of growth. (36:04) Key Quotes: “ Success shouldn't come at the cost of your personal life.” - Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT “The goal isn’t balance or like getting the scales to be weighed. It was more of an alignment of value and purpose.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ “Create sacred times for your family and for personal priorities. These are things that are, for the most part, 99% of the time, non-negotiable.” - Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT Resources Mentioned: Cultivate Success Podcast Series Companion Handouts Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT Matt Morris & Associates Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

Want to future-proof your insurance agency? Jason, Shawn, and Stephen talk about the tech that matters, the tasks worth automating, and why relationships still lead the way. Key Topics: AI is a tool to enhance—not replace—relationships in insurance. The biggest mistake agents make is staying siloed instead of connecting with others. Agencies need to stop chasing what's changing and double down on what stays the same. Efficiency gains from AI can be redeployed into productivity, but that window won’t last forever. Licensing staff numbers will shrink as bots and VEs take over repetitive tasks. ChatGPT isn’t a shiny object—it's a foundational business tool if used right. Agency success will hinge on vision, implementation, and customer focus, not fear of new tech. Reach out to: Shawn Fitzgerald Stephen Turnbull Jason Cass Visit Website: Scratch Agency podcast Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

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 throwback episode on building a $1,000,000 or more Book of Business. Key Topics: The power of micro-niching to attract and convert ideal clients Winning BORs with a 12-month service plan Lowering premiums through strategic pre-renewal planning Follow-up cadence is the key to consistent prospecting Keeping prospects engaged without overwhelming them Maximizing outreach efficiency for better results Closing more deals with a proven sales framework Reach out to  ⁠Charles Specht⁠ Visit: ⁠www.PermissionProducerSchool.com⁠ ⁠Permission Network⁠ Produced by ⁠PodSquad.fm

Jason gets real about why the old agency model isn’t working—and what he’s doing about it. From a free manual to a full book and audiobook, he’s laying out a new path forward for agents ready to build smarter, not harder. Key Topics: Why agency life feels broken—and how we got here. The rise of “IndieTech” and agents building their own tools. AI as an accelerator, not a replacement, for human intelligence. Lessons learned from 70+ hours building a manual, book, and audio blueprint. The power of emotional clarity and shared leadership in agency innovation. Giving as a leadership philosophy, inspired by Andrew Carnegie. Why 2030 starts now: building toward the agency of the future. Reach out to: Jason Cass Visit Website: Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

You’re successful, driven, and operating at a high level—but something still feels off. Maybe you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or just not seeing the growth you want. You can use help to get to the next level. Hiring a coach could be the missing piece. In this episode, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, and Dr. Matt Morris break down the difference between coaching, therapy, and mentorship, and how to self-assess whether coaching is the right move. Episode Highlights: Matt recalls hiring a golf coach when he felt stuck and needed help improving his score. (01:55) Erik describes hiring a business coach after realizing there were skills he hadn’t yet developed. (05:10) Matt emphasizes the value of hiring a coach when you don't know what you don't know (06:27) Erik explains his natural drive to grow and his desire to learn from people ahead of him. (08:50) The two discuss how coaching can help with specific roadblocks or feelings of dissatisfaction. (12:43) Erik outlines how hiring a coach provided objective, emotionally detached insight for better decision-making. (14:00) Matt breaks down the differences between coaching and therapy, clarifying their distinct purposes. (18:00) They compare coaching to financial advising and mentorship, identifying key overlaps and distinctions. (20:45) Erik reflects on the loneliness of entrepreneurship and how coaching offers perspective and clarity. (28:51) Matt and Erik encourage listeners to explore coaching when feeling stuck, off-balance, or in need of accountability. (30:34) Key Quotes: “Coaching is a strategic partnership between me, you, and someone else who just needs to tackle some roadblock in their work life.” - Dr. Matt Morris “Every individual should sit down with a financial planner at least once in their life.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ “You can be content without being complacent. You could be content and still be ambitious to want to do something more.” - Dr. Matt Morris Resources Mentioned: Cultivate Success Podcast Series Companion Handouts Dr. Matt Morris Matt Morris & Associates Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

Jason Cass brings back Landry Fields to talk about how AI is already changing the way agencies work. From building smarter workflows to thinking beyond ChatGPT, this one’s all about what’s next—and how to get there fast. Key Topics: Why Landry compares AI’s future role in agencies to Iron Man’s Jarvis. The rapid shift from automation to AI delegation—and what it means for staff roles. How Zapier’s new AI agents hint at the rise of autonomous operations. The myth of security concerns and the real blockers to AI adoption. Why Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot will soon be agency essentials. The path from generative AI to agentive AI—and why it’s coming fast. How agencies can slash costs and outperform competitors using AI-driven models. Reach out to: Landry Fields Jason Cass Visit Website: Nova Insurance Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

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 competitors, your prospect will subconsciously toss you in the bucket of mediocrity and not do business with you. Why? Because, they already have an agent equal to or better than you, so they don't need you. In this throwback episode of the Millionaire Insurance Producer podcast, host ⁠Charles Specht⁠ will GIVE YOU EXAMPLES of differentiation services, both that are insurance-related and also Micro-Niche focused. Also, be sure to check out⁠ www.permissionproducerschool.com⁠ as the next cohort of students to go through our sales school will take place at the end of February. Get registered before all of the seats are gone! Key Topics: Why competitive differentiation is key to winning more business The power of micro-niching to stand out from competitors How to create a unique value proposition that prospects can’t ignore Differentiation services that help secure more clients Proven strategies for negotiating lower premiums with underwriters Real-world examples of successful competitive differentiation tactics Overview of the Permission Producer School for mastering sales and prospecting Reach out to  ⁠Charles Specht⁠ Visit: ⁠Permission Producer School⁠ ⁠Permission Network⁠ Produced by ⁠PodSquad.fm

This one’s all about how AI is flipping the internet on its head. Jason walks through how the web works now, how AI reads between the lines, and what you can do to keep your site and content relevant as everything changes fast. Key Topics: Understanding how Google works today—and why that’s about to change. How AI interprets intent, not just keywords, to deliver smarter answers. Why traditional SEO is losing ground to AI-first content discovery. Tactical tips to write AI-optimized content that actually works. Practical website upgrades every agent should implement right now. The rise of AI-first search and its impact on Gen Z and insurance markets. A vision of the near future: integrated AI systems managing your entire business life. Reach out to: Jason Cass Visit Website: Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

No doubt you were hired to sell insurance. But did your agency leadership make you FIRST prove that you can prospect to set appointments? I would suspect probably not. And, that's why so many insurance producers fail and don't make it -- or at least why they don't make enough money. They are good at relationship building and closing business, but they just can't set enough appointments. In this throwback episode of the Millionaire Insurance Producer podcast, host ⁠Charles Specht⁠ will talk about what you need to start saying in order to set more new business appointments with your prospects. After all, prospecting is a numbers-game but selling insurance is a relationship-game. Key Topics: The dual careers in insurance: prospecting versus selling insurance. Why poor prospecting skills often lead to failure and how to fix them. The importance of a defined process for setting appointments. Overcoming objections like gatekeepers and timing issues. Crafting simple, relatable messaging to connect with prospects. Balancing numbers in prospecting with relationships in selling insurance. Refining prospecting skills or outsourcing to avoid stagnation. Reach out to  ⁠Charles Specht⁠ Visit: ⁠Permission Network⁠ Produced by ⁠PodSquad.fm