Podcast
Agency Navigators™
Hosted by AgencyCFO™ · EN
Welcome to the Agency Navigators Podcast! Hosted by AgencyCFO™. With best practices as our guide, our team integrates financial, organizational and growth excellence within independent insurance agencies across the United States. We have one mission: navigate independent insurance agencies to higher GROWTH, PROFIT, AND VALUE. Tune in for guidance on navigating your agency forward.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
AgencyCFO™ + Alliance Insurance Services: Where Financial & Operational Excellence Come Together
Dec 300:41:00Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-H68BYPMKJwIn this Expertise Files episode, Don and Roe sit down with someone who has become far more than a client over the years — Christopher Cook, President of Alliance Insurance Services. What began with a single unexpected phone call has grown into one of the most meaningful professional partnerships of our AgencyCFO™ journey. This conversation isn’t about dashboards or formulas. It’s about the real work of running an agency — the moments of momentum, the moments of doubt, and the people who help us stay grounded through both. Together, we talk about:How shared experiences build trust and long-term partnershipThe human side of retention, culture, and leadershipWhy candor and transparency matter more than perfectionThe seasons when agencies (and agency owners) hit despair — and how to move through itThe generosity behind developing your people and helping them grow into the roles they’re meant forThe importance of knowing your numbers not as abstractions, but as stories about real people and real outcomes What makes this episode special is simple:It’s three people who genuinely care about each other, talking honestly about what it takes to build something that lasts. If you’re looking for strategies, there are plenty in here.If you’re looking for encouragement, there’s even more of that.But most of all, you’ll hear what AgencyCFO™ is built on — relationships, sincerity and the belief that we’re better when we grow together. Click here to listen to the audio:https://www.buzzsprout.com/917515/episodes/16483496-OR-Apple: http://apple.co/3sAQGoZAmazon: https://amzn.to/3nZGO4nSpotify: https://spoti.fi/4anuTaB Connect with us!Meet us: www.agencycfo.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/theagencycfo Facebook:
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S4E17: Value Creation & Measurement - Keeping Score
Nov 500:17:24Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QiaLQlsa1xs How do you really know if your agency is winning? In this episode of Agency Navigators, Roe and Don unpack the true scoreboard every agency owner should be watching — value creation. CFOs don’t just crunch numbers — they measure impact. From growth and profitability to long-term agency valuation, Roe and Don reveal how to track the value you’re building every year and why it matters more than you might think. You’ll learn: 📈 The three buckets of value creation — paycheck, profit, and intrinsic agency value 💼 How to calculate and interpret the Rule of 20 (growth + profitability) 💡 Why value growth matters even if you’re not planning to sell anytime soon 📊 How to turn your agency’s financial data into a true performance scorecard 🤝 How Agency CFO helps owners feel safe, stay profitable, and keep growing Because at the end of the day, CFOs keep score—and the ultimate score is value. Key takeaway: “At the core of financial wellness is value creation. Measure it, grow it, protect it.” 👉 Subscribe for more Agency Navigators episodes that turn insight into action. If you need our expertise and outside perspective to implement needed changes in your agency - we’d love to hear from you - reach out today! Connect with us! Meet us: www.agencycfo.com Listen to the audio: https://agencynavigators.buzzsprout.com/ Apple: http://apple.co/3sAQGoZ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nZGO4n Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4anuTaB
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S4E18: Expertise Files: The Value of Industry Connections - How AgencyCFO™ and APP unite to serve!
Oct 3000:48:11Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/t6RaQW_xY1s In this episode of Agency Navigators, Roe, Don, and Cayla team up with Kelly Donahue-Piro of Agency Performance Partners to explore the power of industry connections. Together, AgencyCFO™ and APP show how data and performance insights can unite to solve agency challenges—from boosting productivity and cutting out “busy work,” to building stronger cultures, recruiting smarter, and creating standards that actually work. Kelly shares actionable tips on leadership, client experience, and how agencies can thrive in today’s tough market. If you’ve ever felt like your agency is “running through peanut butter,” this conversation is your reset. 🎧 Tune in now and learn how uniting finance and performance can unlock your agency’s next level. If you need our expertise and outside perspective to implement needed changes in your agency - we’d love to hear from you - reach out today! Connect with us! Meet us: www.agencycfo.com Listen to the audio: https://agencynavigators.buzzsprout.com/ Apple: http://apple.co/3sAQGoZ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nZGO4n Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4anuTaB
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S4E17 Inertia: The Force Moving Your Agency Forward
Oct 1500:20:23Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tHk8vDmDJ0g Ever feel like your agency is stuck in neutral? In this episode of Agency Navigators, Roe, Don, and Cayla break down the concept of inertia—what keeps agencies from moving forward, and what it really takes to turn things around. Using analogies from freight trains and cruise ships to real-world agency operations, they explore: 🚀 Why momentum matters more than motivation ⚙️ How leadership and team alignment impact growth 📊 The lag between effort and results (and how to stay patient) 💡 The role of compensation, hiring, and AI in building efficiency 🧭 Why continuous training and leadership development are non-negotiable 🎯 How to create motion through better client conversations and feedback Whether you're leading a growing agency or trying to reignite your team’s drive, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you build lasting momentum. Key takeaway: “Small changes lead to big results — but only if you stay in motion.” 👉 Subscribe for more episodes of Agency Navigators, where we help insurance agency leaders turn insight into impact. If you need our expertise and outside perspective to implement needed changes in your agency - we’d love to hear from you - reach out today! Connect with us! Meet us: www.agencycfo.com Listen to the audio: https://agencynavigators.buzzsprout.com/ Apple: http://apple.co/3sAQGoZ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nZGO4n Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4anuTaB #AgencyNavigators #AgencyCFO #Leadership #AgencyGrowth #Momentum
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S4E16: Collaborative Insights: AgencyCFO™ + Lauren at Kite Technology
Oct 100:23:45Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jjbj5rOgo7UIn this episode of Agency Navigators, Roe and Don sit down with Lauren Roberts from Kite Technology Group to explore the critical foundations every insurance agency needs to thrive.Together, they break down four game-changing areas:Change Management – why leadership buy-in and positive momentum make or break system migrations.Right Person, Right Seat – the hard truth about misaligned roles, and how to avoid disengagement across your team.Awareness – uncovering blind spots and “you don’t know what you don’t know” moments that hold agencies back.Maximizing Systems – how to stop treating your AMS like an expensive file cabinet and start using it as your single source of truth.Lauren shares real-world stories from agency projects across the country—highlighting what works, what fails, and how culture, process, and accountability combine to drive efficiency and growth.🎧 Tune in and learn how to clean up your book of business, engage your team, and build the kind of operational foundation that can fuel sustainable success.If you need our expertise and outside perspective to implement needed changes in your agency - we’d love to hear from you - reach out today! Connect with us! Meet us: www.agencycfo.com Listen to the audio: https://agencynavigators.buzzsprout.com/ Apple: http://apple.co/3sAQGoZ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nZGO4n Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4anuTaB#agencycfo #AgencyNavigators #KiteTechnology #LaurenRoberts #ChangeManagement #Insurance
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A Special Re-Release: Unlocking the Advisor Mindset with Larry Linne
Sep 2400:42:10Tap to summarizeYou don’t sell a lot of insurance without giving great advice. In our latest Expertise Files episode, Larry Linne breaks down what separates a producer from a true advisor—and why consulting your future self may be the mindset shift you need. From the five levels of consulting to building momentum through goal-setting, this one’s packed with insight. Roe and Don also reflect on how Larry helped shape their careers—and the power of having someone challenge how you think, so you can do what you didn’t think was possible. 🎧 Watch it now → https://youtu.be/FNqaJGO4aYk #AgencyNavigators #podcast #InsuranceLeadership #AgencyGrowth #ExpertiseFiles #InCitePartner #AgencyCFO Connect with us! Meet us: www.agencycfo.com Listen to the audio: https://agencynavigators.buzzsprout.com/ Apple: http://apple.co/3sAQGoZ Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nZGO4n Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4anuTaB
Transcribe →S4E15: Financial Housekeeping - Strategies for Year End Success
Sep 1700:17:54Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PjZzHHRY8pMAvoiding financial “surprises” in the new year starts before December. The AgencyCFO™ team breaks down the critical steps you need to take now to protect your agency’s financial health in 2026. Understand the importance of: Staying ahead with mid-year CPA reviews Keeping debt covenants and policy cancellations under control Prepping for producer true-ups and compensation planning Tidying up your books before the holidays hit If you’re ready to prepare for the new year, now is the time and we can help! We have a few openings in the AgencyCFO Mastery Program™—reach out today. Like what you're hearing? Connect with us!Meet us: https://www.agencycfo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theagencycfoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgencyCFOYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgencyCFOAgencyNavigators#AgencyCFO #AgencyNavigators #Podcast #FinancialHousekeeping #YearEndCleanUp
Transcribe →S4E14: The Power of an EA (Executive Assistant)
Sep 1000:21:52Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A5hkjuWfUyYWhat do we mean when we say, “We’ve got a Jamie for that”? It’s about having a teammate who just gets it—someone who bridges the gaps, lightens the load, and keeps everything moving forward. In this episode, Roe, Don, Adam, and Cayla celebrate Jamie’s journey from Executive Assistant to AgencyCFO™ Experience Coordinator and the lasting impact she’s made on the team. From streamlining operations to elevating client relationships, Jamie has become the glue that holds it all together. They also share why every agency leader should consider the game-changing impact of a strong executive assistant. Because when you have a “Jamie,” you’re not just saving time—you’re creating space to focus on what matters most. #ThePowerOfAnEA #Podcast #InsuranceAgencyPartner #AgencyNavigators #HireIntentionally #AgencyCFO Like what you're hearing? Connect with us!Meet us: https://www.agencycfo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theagencycfoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgencyCFOYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgencyCFOAgencyNavigators
Transcribe →S4E13: Behind the Scenes - How We Successfully Rebooted the Agency Navigators Podcast
Aug 2000:20:19Tap to summarizeWatch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/W8doZ-tpCSk Agency Navigators started as a COVID-era project that eventually lost momentum. With Adam Bushey taking on the roll as the newly appointed Podcast Producer, Ryan Miller streamlining production, Ryan McGrogan elevating the visuals, and a renewed focus on intentional topics, the show has been brought back to life. The team shares how they simplified the process, raised quality with new tools, and focus on keeping conversations relevant to agency client partners and the insurance industry as a whole. The biggest lesson? A committed team, strong subject matter, and the right resources can transform a podcast into something sustainable—and fun. #agencycfo #agencynavigators #RustBeltStartup #McGroganDesign #podcast #InsurancePodcast #PodcastProduction Like what you're hearing? Connect with us!Meet us: https://www.agencycfo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theagencycfoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgencyCFOYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgencyCFOAgencyNavigators
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