Agency Ascend
Agency Ascend is a podcast for insurance agents and agency owners who are looking for resources to scale their business. The show is hosted by CEO, Chris Sterlacci, and other staff members of CAA to bring you tools and guidance on how they help Agency Owners turn their business into a major asset.
Agency Ascend
Latest Episodes
Do You Actually Own Your Insurance Book? Independent Agent's most Frustrating Problem.
Getting carrier appointments can create a frustrating chicken-and-egg problem for independent agencies: carriers may want proof of production before offering a direct appointment, but agencies need access before they can build that production h...
How To Stop Wasting Time on Bad Insurance Opportunities
Commercial insurance isn’t just a bigger version of personal lines—it’s an entirely different process.In this episode, Amanda Hightower of Hightower Insurance Group joins Agency Ascend to discuss the operational changes required to grow ...
The Math Behind Going Independent (as an Insurance Agency)
Richard Johnston joins Agency Ascend to share one of the most transparent conversations we’ve had yet about leaving the captive insurance model and rebuilding independently.Richard walks through the realities of operating a captive agenc...
The Hidden Cost of Staying Captive
The captive agency model has helped many agents enter the insurance industry, build discipline, and learn how to sell. But in 2026, the model is facing new pressure.In this episode of Agency Ascend, Chad Brumit, Chris Sterlacci, and Jess...
Starting an Insurance Agency? These 5 Things Decide If You Make It
Starting an agency is exciting, but the first 12 to 24 months can also expose every weak spot in a business plan. In this episode of Agency Ascend, Chad Brumet, Chris Sterlacci, Jessica McBurney, and special guest Mindy Monaco, Director of Agen...