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What if trying to protect your money is actually putting your financial future at risk? Market volatility, political uncertainty, and the excitement surrounding artificial intelligence can make even experienced investors question their decisions. But while we spend a lot of time worrying about what the stock market might do next, we don't always consider how our own reactions can affect our long-term financial success. In this solo episode of the Stuff About Money podcast, financial advisor Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, explores three things every investor should understand: how markets work, how investors feel, and how successful investors behave. Through historical market data and a real-life story about a husband and wife who took very different approaches to investing, Erik explains why avoiding volatility isn't the same as avoiding risk, how fear and FOMO can derail a financial plan, and why staying disciplined through uncertainty may be one of the most important investment decisions you make. Episode Highlights: Since 1980, the stock market has averaged a 14% decline at some point each year, yet still finished positive roughly three out of four years. (02:28) Erik explains why nobody knows what the stock market will do next, no matter how convincing the predictions sound. (05:09) Erik breaks down the difference between volatility and risk from a financial planning perspective. (07:07) The S&P 500 averaged about 10% over 100 years, but 26 of those years were negative, a reminder that the average return isn’t the actual experience. (09:03) Erik shares how a client who moved her investments into cash didn’t eliminate risk but introduced a different kind of risk. (11:32) Erik explains why being excited about AI and making a good investment in AI are two different things. (14:17) Since 1938, the S&P 500 has posted a gain in the 12 months following a midterm election 95% of the time. (15:48) Successful investors start with an actual financial plan that balances the risk they need to take against the risk they can tolerate. (17:10) Charles Schwab data shows that missing just 10 of the best trading days over 20 years dropped annualized returns from about 11% to 6.6%. (19:09) Erik shares why sometimes the best thing to do with your investments is nothing. (20:41) Before making an investment change, Erik encourages listeners to ask whether something changed in their financial life or simply in the headlines. (23:09) Key Quotes: “ We can't eliminate emotions from investing, but we can learn to recognize when those emotions might be influencing our decision that are contrary to our goals.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ “The goal of investing isn’t necessarily to eliminate volatility, it’s to take the appropriate amount of risk to accomplish our financial goals.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ “Maybe being a successful investor isn’t so much about getting better at predicting what the market’s gonna do. Maybe it’s about getting better at understanding how we’re gonna respond when the market does something we didn’t expect.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ Resources Mentioned: Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

You don’t need to know how to build AI to get ahead with it. You need to know how to use it. IndieTech 2027 Featured Speaker Ruben Hassid sits down with Jason to talk about choosing the right model and how fast AI is getting cheaper, and as Co-Founder of GPC, he shares how companies actually get their teams on board. Key Topics: Ruben’s mission to teach people how to use AI, not how to build it The gym analogy: 20 minutes twice a week puts you ahead of 99% of people One AI tool or many: why most people should pick one and get good at it Open models, the Pareto line, and the trade-off between intelligence and cost How team subscriptions under 150 seats make Claude a better deal than paying per token AI getting 79 times cheaper every year, with those savings compounding Jason’s experience with “You are a text file” and training AI on his writing style GPC’s view that AI adoption is a people problem, not a technology problem How a $700 million food company turned two data entry roles into two new salespeople Why Ruben says AI is here to stay, no matter what the stock market does Reach out to: Ruben Hassid Jason Cass Visit Website: GPC IndieTech Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

What if you’re not behind financially? What if you’re just getting started? In this episode of Money in Real Life, Stuff About Money co-hosts Xavier Angel CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC®, and Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA™, tackle the pressure young professionals feel to build wealth while paying down debt, starting careers, managing everyday expenses, and still trying to enjoy their lives. Xavier and Erik explore why building wealth isn’t about following someone else’s formula or trying to build in five years what may have taken others 30. They talk about comparison, creating financial breathing room, building an emergency reserve, and developing small financial habits that can grow along with your career and income. Because financial progress isn’t about hitting someone else’s benchmark. It’s about using your money to create more opportunity and more choices in your own life. Episode Highlights: Xavier shares common listener questions about saving, building wealth, and managing student loan debt on an entry-level income. (02:57) Xavier explains how defining wealth on personal terms, rather than by industry standards, leads to the next step of building breathing room. (08:19) Erik explains how comparison culture and social media push young professionals to accumulate in five years what took their parents 30 years. (12:53) Consumption smoothing is explored as a way to balance spending and saving when strong future income growth is likely. (19:15) Erik shares an idea for parents to give young professionals a meaningful gift by seeding an emergency fund. (24:44) Xavier reminds listeners that the destination of financial planning is opportunity and choices, not money. (29:37) Key Quotes: “You could start with $25 or $50 or $150 a month. The importance right now is to start creating the habit, the habit of saving.” - Xavier Angel CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC® “Life is a series of decisions, and sometimes you have to make hard decisions to get to what you really want.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA™ “The destination of financial planning is not money. The destination of financial planning is giving you opportunity and choices.” - Xavier Angel CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC® Resources Mentioned: Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Linda Fisher, Founder of Cardinal Insurance Group, the agency featured on the October 2026 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: Why taking care of the team comes before taking care of the client Moving from boss to leader and helping employees chase their own dreams Hiring lessons learned and why agencies should track the lifetime value of an employee How two books helped Linda step back and finally feel like an owner Setting expectations early so long-term client relationships can be handed to the team Why ego keeps owners from delegating and how to let team members learn How a separate Michigan insurance counselor license drives referrals from financial planners and attorneys A standout community giving idea: Halloween trick-or-treating at a local cancer center Doubling down on face-to-face service and a new office despite mergers and aggregators Picking your lane and focusing on your ideal client instead of chasing every squirrel Reach out to: Linda Fisher Jason Cass Visit Website: Cardinal Insurance Group Rough Notes Magazine Produced by PodSquad.fm

What if your biggest competitor isn't the agency down the road, but your own habit of hiring? Jason Cass goes solo this episode to break down NexAgency's rollout of NexOne, why AMS platforms are becoming little more than a database, and how a lesson from Southwest Airlines reframes what real competition looks like for independent agents. Key Topics: NexAgency rolled out NexOne on September 1st, growing from 10 demo agencies to 11 paying clients Reading an unsolicited client testimonial on NexOne's impact Why AMS platforms are becoming systems of record instead of operating systems Breaking down the real cost of point solutions versus an open system like Momentum A firsthand study showing most agency staff barely log into their AMS How NexOne integrates with HawkSoft, Momentum, HubSpot, Outlook, Teams, and more A virtual employee's testimonial about NexOne simplifying her work inside Momentum Introducing Scout, NexOne's built-in AI powered by Claude Opus 5 and Fable Using data and routing to cut payroll costs from 55% down toward 30% of revenue Herb Kelleher's Southwest Airlines lesson on identifying your agency's true competitor Reach out to: Jason Cass Visit Website: NexAgency Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, pulling from the archives, Jason Cass sits down with Randall Boss, Certified Risk Manager and Certified Risk Architect at Ottawa Kent Insurance Agency (now part of HIGHSTREET Insurance Partners), the agency featured on the July 2012 cover of Rough Notes Magazine. Key Topics: What landing the cover of Rough Notes in 2012 meant to Randall The job site tragedy that moved Randall from policy pusher to risk management Why following the risk management steps matters more than simply knowing them Building Emerge Apps and oshalogs.com with his son to give clients OSHA tracking tools Joining HIGHSTREET in 2019 and getting through five computer system changes Why showing up every day and hands-on relationships still define the business The $40,000 agency bill loss on a trucking account and the lesson it taught Seeing AI as a thought partner and accelerator, not a replacement for people How AI speeds software to market, but training and selling keep customers Advice for newcomers and why preventing losses is where Randall hangs his hat Reach out to: Randall Boss Jason Cass Visit Website: Ottawa Kent Insurance Agency Rough Notes Magazine Produced by PodSquad.fm

What if the biggest thing keeping young adults from building wealth isn’t how much money they make, but believing wealth is even attainable? In the second episode of Money in Real Life, Xavier Angel, CFP®, and his daughter Caitlin tackle the question that naturally follows their first conversation: I know what I want my money to make possible, but how do I actually get there? Xavier and Caitlin talk through why building wealth can feel so far out of reach when rent, groceries, debt, and everyday life consume so much of a paycheck. They explore how understanding where your money is going, creating some financial breathing room, and starting small can begin to turn something that feels impossible into a plan. Because building wealth doesn’t start when you finally have enough money. It starts with what you decide to do with the money you have today. Episode Highlights: Caitlin explains that her father's wealth-building presentation wasn't landing with young adults and that there were steps they needed first. (03:38) Caitlin describes the wave of real questions from her age group after she posted a clip from their last episode, from Roth IRAs to buying a house. (06:20) Xavier explains that building wealth isn't about already being wealthy, but about what you consistently do with the money you have. (10:10) Xavier discusses"breathing room," the cash buffer that sits between you and your next unexpected expense. (13:10) Xavier explains that building wealth starts with a decision to set money aside for your future self, not with hitting a dollar amount. (20:10) Caitlin closes the episode with an action plan: define what wealth means to you, then map out where your money is actually going. (23:40) Key Quotes: "You build wealth because of what you consistently do with the money that you have, and that means that the starting point isn't how much money do I have, the starting point is actually what am I doing with the money that's coming through my hands?" - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC "Number one, you have to define what wealth is for you. Now the next step is now that we know what wealth means for us, we need to know where our money is going, and we need to be able to map that out." - Caitlin Barnes "You don't need to know everything about investing to start building wealth. You just need to understand the next step." - Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Resources Mentioned: Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

Turning an hour-long insurance quote into a 20 minute process is exactly the kind of problem Gaya was built to solve. Jason Cass sits down with Carl Ziadé, Co-Founder of Gaya, to unpack how the platform is reshaping the way agents fill carrier portals, handle transportation submissions, and prepare for what's next in agentic quoting. Key Topics: Gaya autofills carrier portals as a browser extension complement to raters Gaya's growing carrier network now reaching 600 carriers and counting Transportation and trucking submissions remain a major focus area for Gaya The difference between RC1 and RC3 rate call pricing, broken down Agencies are shifting away from traditional raters toward using Gaya directly Gaya's integrations with HawkSoft, Momentum, Applied Epic, and AMS360 Building Gayiti, a fellowship program developing future engineering talent in Haiti Gaya stays focused on product and support over sales and marketing What's next for Gaya: a proposal tool, submission OS, and agentic book rolls Gaya remains profitable and independent without taking on VC funding Reach out to: Carl Ziadé Jason Cass Visit Website: Gaya Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, Eric Stein sits down with Patrick Davis, CEO of InsurePay, to discuss how pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation is changing the way businesses pay premiums—and why insurance agents should understand it as both a client benefit and a retention tool. Patrick explains how pay-as-you-go connects workers’ compensation premiums directly to actual payroll, recalculating exposure with every payroll cycle instead of relying on annual estimates. The conversation covers how this approach can improve cash flow, reduce large audit surprises, lower the risk of cancellations for nonpayment, and simplify the workers’ comp experience for insureds. For insurance agents, carriers, MGAs, and business owners interested in workers’ compensation, payroll integration, premium billing, client retention, and reducing audit headaches, this episode provides a practical look at why pay-as-you-go is becoming an increasingly important option. #InsuranceShopTalk #WorkersCompensation #PayAsYouGo #InsuranceAgency #CommercialInsurance #InsuranceTechnology #Insurtech #Payroll #InsuranceAgents #WorkersComp

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, Eric Stein chats with Norm Hudson, CEO of Staff Boom, to explore why insurance agencies need to build the right operational foundation before AI and automation can deliver meaningful results. Norm shares lessons from working with insurance agencies, MGAs, wholesalers, and other organizations that have attempted to automate processes only to discover that inconsistent data, workflows, and naming standards can prevent even good technology from succeeding. The conversation covers operational readiness, process documentation, data quality, change management, offshore support, and how AI can amplify the productivity of account managers and producers rather than simply replace employees. Eric and Norm also discuss practical AI applications including supplemental forms, policy checking, renewal preparation, proposals and quote comparisons, along with strategies for helping smaller agencies reduce administrative work and restore their focus on organic growth. If you're interested in AI, automation, offshore talent, operational efficiency, organic growth, or practical ways to help your insurance agency become more productive, this episode offers valuable insights into combining technology, people, and better processes. #InsuranceShopTalk #ArtificialIntelligence #InsuranceTechnology #InsuranceAgency #InsuranceAutomation #Insurtech #OffshoreStaffing #AgencyOperations #AgencyGrowth #CommercialInsurance

What does “building wealth” mean when you’re still trying to figure out rent, your career, debt, relationships, and adulthood? In this episode of Stuff About Money They Didn’t Teach You in School, Xavier Angel, CFP®, sits down with his daughter, Caitlin, for a conversation that started when she gave him some unexpected feedback: “I don’t think you should give this presentation.” Xavier had built a financial presentation for young adults around investing early, compound interest, and building wealth. The problem wasn’t that the advice was wrong. Caitlin helped him realize he was talking about what young adults needed to hear without first asking what they were ready to hear. Together, Xavier and Caitlin explore what the word “wealth” means to a younger generation, what young adults are actually thinking about financially, and why building wealth may need to be framed less around a number and more around creating choices. Because before we ask, “How do I build wealth?” there may be a more important question: What do I want my money to make possible? Episode Highlights: Caitlin shares that she wished she'd known money wouldn't work the simple way she expected: paycheck in, bills on autopay, and leftover cash to spend freely. (03:45) Caitlin explains that the original presentation missed the mark because it assumed young adults already understood why the concepts mattered, when they were focused on immediate financial survival. (06:15) Caitlin describes wealth as "the margin," meaning bills on autopay and being able to buy what she needs or say yes to plans without running the numbers first. (09:50) Caitlin shares how immediate pressures like rent and debt make it hard to think about long-term wealth when she's focused on getting through the week. (12:30) Caitlin completes the thought "I would feel wealthy if..." by describing being able to send a future child to the school of her choice. (15:45) Xavier discusses the building blocks of wealth for young adults: understanding cash flow, building emergency reserves, controlling high-interest debt, and using employee benefits like a 401(k). (19:30) Xavier explains the "pay yourself before you pay debt" approach, walking through how to redirect leftover cash flow into savings first. (24:15) Caitlin advises listeners to find a neutral, outside person like a financial planner to talk to about money instead of relying only on family. (26:45) Xavier shares that a financial planner also serves as an accountability partner and cheerleader who helps clients celebrate their financial wins. (28:00) Key Quotes: “As of now, building wealth seems like something that I'm gonna have to do eventually when I get a job that supplies more for me than what I'm currently paying for.” -  “ To me, wealth, if I were living here and where I am now, and I still had an excess amount of money to build an investment portfolio, that would mean wealth to me.” -  “ Wealth is what you're able to build and keep from what comes in, keep from what's coming in, and ultimately, the goal isn't simply to make more money. It's to turn that money you make into greater security, the freedom and choices over time” -  Resources Mentioned: Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

What can four decades in the restaurant business teach an insurance agency about running a tighter, more profitable operation? Jason Cass sits down with Troy Korsgaden, Founder of Korsgaden Consulting Services and Keynote Speaker for IndieTech 2027, to unpack lessons on client engagement, AI adoption, and building a resilient agency built to last. Key Topics: Parallels between running Crawdaddy's restaurant and building a profitable insurance agency Studying dentists as a model for training, technology adoption, and client experience Consistent payroll and marketing percentages that keep both restaurants and agencies profitable Updating "Power Position Your Agency" with Bradley Flowers for a 2.0 release Why client engagement should happen year round instead of only at renewal How the client engagement matrix schedules touchpoints by alphabet and month Launching Korsgaden Consulting Services' AI powered practice management platform Rising valuations for virtual employee services despite predictions AI would replace agents Why specialization and collaboration matter more than agency headcount Using a 10 appointments a day standard to grow new and renewal business together Reach out to: Troy Korsgaden Jason Cass Visit Website: Korsgaden Consulting Services IndieTech 2027 Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

In this episode of Front Cover: A Rough Notes Podcast on the Agency Intelligence Podcast Network, Jason Cass sits down with Robbie Smith, Co-Founder of Oakbridge Insurance the agency featured on the September 2026 front cover of Rough Notes Magazine.  Key Topics: Robbie reflects on Oakbridge Insurance earning a spot on the cover of Rough Notes Magazine Oakbridge Insurance formed five and a half years ago when four Georgia agencies came together The firm now generates over $210 million in revenue across nine Southeast states Business mix spans 60% commercial P&C and surety, 22% personal lines, 18% employee benefits Third party capital from Corsair Capital and now Audax Private Equity fuels growth and M&A A COVID era frustration with failed internal perpetuation sparked the idea behind Oakbridge Insurance Valuing agencies the way they're run, tracking KPIs like shareholder and producer age Structuring deals so the "last generation" gets cash while the "current generation" earns equity Oakbridge Insurance's four guiding principles: opportunity, excellence, collaboration, and community Passing leadership to a new CEO, president, and COO as Oakbridge Insurance targets its next five years Reach out to: Robbie Smith Jason Cass Visit Website: Oakbridge Insurance Rough Notes Magazine Produced by PodSquad.fm

In the final episode of the series, Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ and Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT bring together the core ideas explored throughout The Psychology of Money. They revisit the framework that ties the entire series together: Your thoughts shape you Your habits build you Your choices define you The conversation expands beyond investing and budgeting into fulfillment, relationships, identity, and purpose. Erik reflects on how his work as a financial planner has evolved from simply giving technical advice to helping people create meaningful behavioral change. Together, they explain why financial success is ultimately less about spreadsheets and more about psychology, self-awareness, discipline, and consistency over time. This episode serves as both a recap and a challenge: if listeners want financial freedom, they must begin paying attention not just to what they do with money — but why they do it. Episode Highlights: Erik explains that the future of financial planning is about helping clients make meaningful behavior changes, not just giving technical advice. (03:22) Dr. Matt discusses how mental health and financial health are closely connected, noting it's still overlooked in therapist training. (06:19) Erik shares that clients often hire him for technical help but find greater value in having a thought partner for financial decisions. (08:26) How a client's stated priorities, like family time, can directly conflict with their actual spending and time habits. (10:37) Dr. Matt explains how emotions act as data points revealing what matters, rather than instructions for what to do. (13:18) Dr. Matt shares an example of a 20-year-old investing $100 a month, showing the long-term power of compounding. (16:11) Erik mentions that financial success is shaped by psychology and habits as much as by numbers. (19:34) Key Quotes: “Spend less than you make, save as much as you can, and don't do anything foolish with your money. Super simple.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ “It's really our behavior and our habits that will determine our financial future so much more than our motivation, our intentions, or things that are beyond our control, like the market ups and downs.” - Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT “ Good financial habits compound more powerfully than investment returns.” - Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™  Resources Mentioned: Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT Dr. Matt Morris & Associates Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™ Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors

In this episode of Insurance Shoptalk, Eric Stein sits down with Marc Duffy of Duffy Insurance to explore how a family-owned independent insurance agency can grow through acquisitions while maintaining its culture, personal service, and local identity. The conversation covers agency integration, technology and management systems, employee training, recruiting, producer incentives, and the different reasons agency owners choose to sell. Eric and Marc also explore how Duffy is using AI, automation, and offshore support to improve efficiency while keeping customer relationships at the center of the business. If you're interested in insurance agency acquisitions, organic growth, succession planning, technology, AI, or building a larger agency without losing the personal service that made it successful, this episode offers practical insights from an experienced independent agency owner. #InsuranceShopTalk #InsuranceAgency #InsuranceAcquisitions #IndependentInsurance #AgencyGrowth #InsuranceTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #InsuranceOperations #AgencyManagement #InsuranceIndustry