Final Expense to Financial Freedom: How the Kennedys Turned Life Insurance Into a Legacy

What would happen if you actually bet on yourself for one month? In this episode of the Life Insurance Academy Podcast, Roger sits down with Clark Stanley of Anchor Point – a brand-new dad and former corporate sales manager who just wrapped up the biggest month of his life: $101,000 in final expense AP 71 applications 25 days All while still making time for faith, family, and community But this conversation isn't just about big numbers. It's about the Principled Sales Process, the power of framework over scripts, and how the right community can completely change your life and your family's future. Clark embraced the Life Insurance Academy system, coaching, and became one of our best students. We watched him steadily grow his game from a struggling start to an industry top producer in less than 12 months.   In this episode, you'll hear: How Clark went from a safe corporate job with a newborn at home… to betting on himself and going all-in on life insurance Why his first few months were full of chargebacks, self-doubt, and "just trying to write anything" The principled sales framework that helped him: Stop chasing "perfect scripts" Find his own voice Raise his placement and persistency The story of Miss Shirley, an 86-year-old client whose day-one coverage paid out just days after Clark wrote the policy How one persistently called lead turned into more coverage and $200+/mo in savings for a family Why mindset, consistency, and community mattered more than any lead vendor or contract The real math behind: Leads (Caboom Leads) Investment (~347 leads) 12+ hour days 100k in a holiday month How Clark balances building a team, being a husband and dad, and staying in the trenches producing You'll also hear Clark shout out the people and organizations that shaped his journey: True Wealth (Mike & Jalen), Lasting Mark, Dana Nesen, Elvir Bazdarevic, Anchor Point, his brother Jack, his parents, and his faith in Jesus. If you're a new or struggling agent, or someone sitting in a corporate job wondering if there's more – this episode will challenge your beliefs, your goals, and your excuses.   🔔 If you're an agent, don't miss: Live training & bootcamps: https://lifeinsuranceacademy.org/bootcamps/ Learn the principled sales framework: https://lifeinsuranceacademy.org/ Connect with our community: https://lifeinsuranceacademy.org/enroll/   👉 Connect with Clark: YouTube: Life with Clark Stanley Email: [email protected] Instagram: @clarkstanley_    @theanchorpointgroup If this episode encouraged you, drop a comment with your next big goal and share this with another agent who needs to hear it.

What happens when you stop chasing status and start building a family mission? 💥 In this episode of the Life Insurance Academy Podcast, Roger and Chris sit down with John & Jen Kennedy of Kennedy Wealth Strategies—a husband-and-wife team from Chattanooga who've turned life insurance, Medicare, and annuities into a family business grounded in faith, service, and legacy. You'll hear how John went from saying "no" to the industry for six years… to writing over $24K his first month, building a thriving Medicare vertical, and issuing over $5M in annuities from Jen's Medicare book alone—all while raising three kids who are in the journey with them. Along the way, the Kennedys share: 🎯 Why culture, mentorship, and aligned values matter more than high comp 💬 How to get spouse buy-in (and why peace at home is a business strategy) 🤝 The shift from status to service—and how it changed everything 💸 The simple, permission-based annuity question that opened the door to millions in production 🧭 How to cross-sell life & annuities from Medicare appointments without feeling "salesy" 🕒 Their red / yellow / green time strategy for protecting family time and building freedom 🥊 What it means to fight for your business and with your spouse instead of against them 📈 Their "irreducible minimum goals" for annuity, life, and Medicare growth If you've ever felt: Torn between family and building your business Stuck in a culture that doesn't fit your faith or values Unsure how to expand past a single product or vertical …this conversation will give you clarity, language, and a path forward. They build with their kids beside them, pray with clients in the office, and model what it looks like to build a business that funds a life, not just a lifestyle.     🔔 Subscribe to the Life Insurance Academy Podcast for more real conversations on sales, systems, culture, and building a life you're proud of. 💬 Tell us in the comments: What resonated most—spouse buy-in, culture over comp, or the permission-based annuity question? 📩 If you're an agent looking for mentorship, community, and proven systems, reach out to our team to learn more about partnering with Life Insurance Academy.

"Fear Is the Real Objection — And Most Agents Don't Even Know It." In this episode of the Life Insurance Academy Podcast, Chris and Zach break down the real reason most agents struggle to gain traction in this business: fear. Whether it shows up as procrastination, perfectionism, avoiding hard questions, talking too fast, over-explaining, apologizing for the price, or sounding like a script-reading robot… 👉 It all points back to fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of looking inexperienced. Fear of failing — or worse… fear of giving your best and still not winning. In this honest, hilarious, and highly practical conversation, you'll learn: ✅ The 7 "fear symptoms" that show up in your sales calls ✅ Why action—not confidence—is the cure for fear ✅ How to stop sounding nervous, robotic, or apologetic ✅ The mindset shift top producers make when talking about price ✅ Why slowing down your cadence instantly builds trust ✅ How to ask hard "stakes" questions without feeling awkward ✅ Why you must identify your fear if you want to overcome it If you've ever struggled with overthinking, avoidance, fast talking, or battling nerves… this episode will feel like a mirror. And a breakthrough. ✨ If you're in the fight right now — tired, nervous, learning, pushing — we're proud of you. Keep going. 👇 Drop a comment: Which "fear type" do you relate to most? 👇 Want coaching? Visit LifeInsuranceAcademy.org to join our Thursday morning sessions.  

What if you're sabotaging 90% of your sales in the first five minutes? Most agents spend all their energy perfecting scripts, word tracks, and closing lines… but they miss the one foundational element that makes everything else work: trust. In this episode, Roger Short breaks down the most essential sales fundamental that separates top producers from struggling agents — and shows you how to build trust fast through authority and empathy in every environment: 📞 Over the phone – when your voice is your handshake 💻 On Zoom – when your presence speaks louder than words 🏡 In person – when every detail communicates professionalism and care You'll learn: ✅ The first-five-minute mistakes that kill your sales ✅ How to combine authority and empathy so clients trust you quickly ✅ How to earn the right to lead your clients with confidence ✅ Why "trust isn't a step in your sales process — it's the atmosphere it lives in." If you want to close more sales, earn more referrals, and help more families, it starts with mastering trust. 👇 Drop a comment: What's one way you build trust early in your appointments?

From Uber shifts to building Legacy Wealth Academy: In this episode of the Life Insurance Academy Podcast, we sit down with Mark Cassara (Frisco, TX)—a financial strategist and educator who's grown an audience of 2M+ across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook— to unpack how short-form, value-first content can build trust, generate inbound leads, and fuel a thriving virtual practice focused on IULs, executive bonus plans, and retirement strategies. Mark shares: How he went from 3 jobs to full-time in 6–8 months—and then doubled his income year over year The content system (and cadence) that took him from 0 to 100K+ followers in months Why short-form "give, give, give" education beats hard selling Clear, plain-English explanations of IULs (upside potential, 0% floor, liquidity, and common pitfalls) Real-world client use cases: enhanced liquidity riders, premium deposit accounts, and executive strategies How he onboards agents with a social media bootcamp so they can win faster If you're an agent, leader, or entrepreneur who wants to build a pipeline without buying leads—and serve families with clarity and confidence—this one's for you.     🔗 Links & Resources 🧰 Free LIA Telesales Script: https://lifeinsuranceacademy.org/ 📱 Follow Mark: TikTok @MarkCassara | Instagram @MarkCassara.legacy | YouTube @MarkCassara 📩 Contact LIA: https://lifeinsuranceacademy.org/       ⚠️ Quick Note This video is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Products, riders, caps, floors, and crediting methods vary by carrier and policy design. Always review client suitability and consult carrier materials, compliance, and a licensed professional in your state.

Agents are failing for five simple, fixable reasons — and it's costing them sales. In this episode of the Life Insurance Academy Podcast, Roger Short and Chris Ball break down what's really holding agents back in telesales — and how to fix it fast. You'll learn how to: ✅ Master your script until it sounds natural ✅ Build confidence through competence ✅ Understand medications & underwriting basics ✅ Discover affordability before pricing ✅ Move confidently toward the application ✅ Practice your carrier apps like a pro These small changes create big wins — more confidence, more trust, and more closes. If you're tired of missing sales you should be winning, this one's for you. 👉 Download your free telesales script at lifeinsuranceacademy.org 👉 Join our weekly coaching calls for live training and Q&A 👉 Get in the room for our next Telesales Bootcamp 🎧 Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts 📺 Subscribe for weekly episodes and sales training 💬 Drop a comment: which of the 5 fixes hit home for you?  

From liquor-store owner to building one of the fastest-growing agencies in life, Medicare, and retirement—Michael Bond returns to share what changed in 2.5 years: going all in, stacking the right people, and building systems that keep 90%+ persistency even without the cheapest product. If you're in your first 0–24 months or considering the industry, this episode is your blueprint. What you'll learn Why "all in" beats "part-time dabbling" (and how to commit without burning out) Building a triple-threat agency: Life → Medicare → Retirement/Annuities The lead discipline that creates consistent weeks and real income How to keep clients (and referrals) with elite service and simple systems Turning team culture into production (shoutouts to Caroline, Melissa, Joel) Memorable lines "This business lets you sign the front of the check—not just the back." "Don't reinvent the wheel. Jump—your static line (system) will open." If this helped, hit 👍, subscribe, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway—or your "all in" date. #LifeInsuranceAcademy #SerenityInsurance #MedicareSales #Annuities #InsuranceAgents #AgentTraining #Leads #Persistency #AllIn  

Unlock the "secret sauce" of consistent closes: tie-downs (aka micro-agreements). In this episode, we unpack how small, intentional yeses throughout your presentation create momentum, uncover misunderstandings early, and lead to a natural close—not a hard close. What you'll learn Why micro-agreements work: The psychology of agreement and Brian Tracy's law of incremental commitment. Where to use them: Rapport/CORE, stakes & urgency, education/presentation, budget framing, and the close. How to deliver them: Tone, timing, the power of the pause, and why consistency beats complexity. Real examples you can steal today: "That makes sense so far, right?" "You'd want this in place for your family, wouldn't you?" "Affordability is a priority for you, isn't it?" "If we find a plan that fits your budget and protects [NAMEs], you'd at least want to apply, right?" Analogies you'll remember Thermometer: keep "checking the temperature" so nothing goes cold. Tent tie-downs / trailer straps: secure each section so the whole sale doesn't blow away. Trail guide: move the fast, middle, and new learners together—everyone arrives at the summit. Try this challenge Add one simple tie-down to every section of your script this week and track them. Watch your confidence (and closes) climb. If this helped, subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite tie-down, and share with a teammate who needs more natural closes. #lifeinsurance #sales #telesales #closing #objectionhandling #LifeInsuranceAcademy  

In this episode of the Life Insurance Academy Podcast, Roger Short dives into one of the most overlooked keys to sales success: certainty. Have you ever left a client meeting knowing they should have said yes… but instead you heard, "I need to think about it"? The problem isn't the product, the carrier, or even the client—it's belief. ✅ Belief in the product ✅ Belief in the company ✅ Belief in yourself When you show up with conviction, your clients feel it. Certainty is contagious, and it's what transforms stalled conversations into life-changing decisions. In this episode, we'll unpack: Why belief is the missing piece in most sales conversations How to build unshakable conviction in what you sell The 3 levels of belief every agent must master How to transfer certainty so clients feel empowered to act This isn't just about selling policies. It's about protecting families, securing legacies, and fulfilling your calling as an agent. 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe to the Life Insurance Academy Podcast for weekly insights, strategies, and encouragement to grow your business and impact lives.