Agency Acceleration Lab

Alex Branning

0.0 (0)
Marketing

Agency Acceleration Lab is the podcast for insurance agents and agency owners who want to scale smarter, not harder. Hosted by Alex Branning, each episode breaks down real growth strategies, marketing systems, and client retention frameworks that help you attract better clients, increase lifetime value, and build a more predictable agency. If you're serious about building a high-performance insurance business, you're in the right place.

3d ago

Andrew Saksa Revealed Why 80% of Clients Leave Their Agent and How to Stop It

Episode 19 – Andrew Saksa Revealed Why 80% of Clients Leave Their Agent and How to Stop It Most agency owners assume they lose clients because of price, competition, or a bad experience. Andrew Saksa has a statistic that proves otherwise — and it is going to make you rethink everything about how you stay connected with your book of business. In this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning sits down with Andrew Saksa from Essential Engine — a direct mail veteran with over a decade in the financial services industry — to talk about why physical mail is one of the most powerful and underused tools available to insurance agents right now, and why the agencies that are using it consistently are seeing real results in retention, referrals, and client loyalty. Andrew shares the story of Larry Goldberg — the first agent in Banker's Life history to make the President's Circle in three years — and the one tool he credits for making it happen. He also breaks down why a magazine survives the trash can, lands on the coffee table, and stays there for four to six weeks while every email you sent got buried in the inbox. If you have been pouring money into digital marketing while your existing clients quietly drift away, this episode is going to change how you think about retention. In this episode you will learn: Why 80% of clients leave their agent and what you can do to prevent itHow a magazine gets past the trash can and stays on your client's coffee table for four to six weeksThe Larry Goldberg story and the one marketing tool that took him to the President's Circle in three yearsWhy direct mail works even better in 2026 in an AI dominated worldHow to use a welcome piece to make every new client feel seen from day oneWhy there is no promotions tab and no algorithm working against you in the mailboxHow to stay omnipresent with your clients across mail, digital, and social mediaThe Spanish language magazine opportunity that almost no agent in the market is taking advantage of🔗 Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/CDHeySYeUAIFollow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627
Jul 13

The Social Security Strategy Behind Roy Snarr's Multi-Million Dollar Annuity Agency

Episode 18 - The Social Security Strategy Behind Roy Snarr's Multi-Million Dollar Annuity Agency Most agents walk up to a prospect and lead with annuities. Roy Snarr walks up and leads with value — and that one difference has made him one of the most successful agents in the long-term care and annuity space. In this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning sits down with Roy Snarr to talk about the door opener strategy behind hundreds of millions of dollars in annuity premium, why Social Security is the most underutilized tool in the senior market, and how any agent can start using it to get in front of the right people and build the kind of referral partnerships that generate business on autopilot. Roy also shares the seminar model he has used over 300 times, the revenue share partnership structure that has some of the biggest Medicare agencies in the country sending him clients, and the professional designations that get him in the room with CPAs, attorneys, and wealth advisory firms. If you are in the senior market and you are not talking about Social Security, this episode is going to change how you approach every prospect from here on out. In this episode you will learn: Why Social Security is the most powerful door opener in the senior marketHow Roy positions the Social Security conversation to lead naturally into the annuity saleThe free seminar strategy he has used over 300 times to fill his pipeline with warm prospectsHow to build referral partnerships with Medicare agencies using a revenue share modelWhy adding partners directly to the application builds trust and eliminates awkward money conversationsThe professional designations that open doors with CPAs, attorneys, and wealth advisorsWhy Roy never does joint seminars and what he does instead to keep the flow workingWhere to download Roy's free Social Security and long-term care books🔗 Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/oZUKJxCEJlIFollow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627
Jul 6

Crystal Barker Stopped Buying Leads and Built This Instead

Episode 17 – Crystal Barker Stopped Buying Leads and Built This InsteadWhat if the best clients you will ever have are already sitting inside your existing book of business? In this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning sits down with Crystal Barker — a ten-year insurance veteran licensed in fifteen states — to talk about the referral system she built by doing the things most agents never think to do. Crystal shares how she stopped chasing leads and started building relationships deep enough that her clients send their entire families to her, refer their neighbors without being asked, and call her first when something goes wrong. From showing up to client funerals to building referral partnerships with funeral home directors, Uber drivers, and local bartenders — Crystal has created a community-based business that generates consistent referrals without spending a dollar on leads. If you have been grinding through tele-sales and wondering if there is a better way to build something that lasts, this episode is your answer. In this episode you will learn: Why Crystal stopped buying leads and what she built insteadHow she cross-sells through an entire family from the very first conversationThe funeral home strategy that most agents have never consideredWhy showing up to a client's funeral is one of the most powerful business moves in insuranceHow Uber drivers and bartenders became some of her best referral partnersThe custom GIF strategy she built on Canva that keeps her top of mind with every clientHow to ask for referrals in a way that feels natural and actually worksThe beneficiary strategy that turns one policy into a lifetime of businessWhat most agents are never taught about what happens after the policy is writtenHow to transition from tele-sales only to a community referral system that works alongside it🔗 Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/QKZScATgmagFollow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627
Jun 29

Jordan Edwards on How to Stop Being a Slave to Your Agency

Episode 16 – Jordan Edwards on How to Stop Being a Slave to Your Agency What if the biggest thing holding your agency back isn't your leads, your team, or your technology — but how you're spending your time? In this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning sits down with Jordan Edwards to break down the time management framework that separates agency owners who are building something real from those who are stuck working in their business instead of on it. Jordan walks through his four levels of time management, why most agency owners are living in the wrong levels without realizing it, and the exact steps to start reclaiming your day so your business works for you instead of the other way around. Alex also opens up about a pivotal moment with his own business coach — the day he was told to stop work at 5 PM — and how that one constraint changed everything about how he ran his agency. If you've ever ended a long day feeling exhausted but unable to point to what you actually built, this episode was made for you. In this episode, you'll learn: The four levels of time management and which one is actually driving growth in your agencyWhy staying in reactive and admin mode will never produce the breakthroughs you're looking forHow to do a simple time audit that reveals exactly where your hours are really goingThe mindset shift that has to happen before any productivity system will actually stickWhy being immediately accessible to clients may be costing you more than you thinkHow to set expectations with clients that build trust without chaining you to your phoneThe Warren Buffett planning method Jordan recommends for taking control of your dayHow to put a real dollar amount on your time — and what to delegate once you doWhat leverage actually looks like inside an insurance agency and how to start building itThe one book Jordan recommends every agency owner read to start thinking about time differently🔗Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/e1JfKcbZt_0Follow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627
Jun 22

John Wetmore Exposed the Real Reason Agents Don't Produce

Episode 15 – John Wetmore Exposed the Real Reason Agents Don't Produce Most agency owners think they have a recruiting problem. Or a lead problem. Or a market problem. John Wetmore thinks they have a tracking problem — and in this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, he makes a pretty compelling case that he's right. John sits down with Alex Branning to break down the exact system he's used to build a high-volume agency for over a decade, a system so simple it started as a spreadsheet, and so effective that agents across the country started begging him to make it available to them. He gets into the math that changed his entire mindset in his first year in the business, why a 7% pickup rate doesn't have to stand between you and six figures, and the one diagnostic move that tells you exactly where any agent on your team is breaking down — before you ever have a coaching conversation with them. If you've ever looked at an underperforming agent and not known where to start, this episode is going to change how you think about that problem completely. In this episode, you'll learn: The four numbers that reveal exactly where an agent is breaking down in the sales processWhy John wrote $160K in life insurance working just 20 hours a weekHow to calculate your per-dial value — and why it changes everything about how you show up to workThe triple dial strategy that gets significantly higher pickup rates than single attemptsWhy FaceTime audio and video are bypassing Apple's call screening and getting throughHow sending a contact card can jump your pickup rate from 7% to 25%The connection between cash flow management and production volume most agency owners missWhy John still believes dialing beats texting for new leads — and where automation does fitThe simple social media strategy that works for agents who don't know what to postHow to get John's free tracker and start using it inside your agency today🔗Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/f7Pyu7oPHK4Follow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627
Jun 15

How Will Winter Builds Agency Cultures That Actually Win

Episode 14 – How Will Winter Builds Agency Cultures That Actually Win What if the secret to growing your agency isn't a better sales script… but a better environment? In this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning sits down with Will Winter — former COO of Agent CRM and founder of the Greatness Incubator — to unpack what it really takes to build a thriving culture inside your agency. Will shares why most agency owners skip the most important step in leadership, how your hiring funnel communicates your culture before you ever speak to a candidate, and the seven practical tools every agency owner can use to shape the world their team lives in every day. From defining your core values to crafting the language your team uses on every call, this conversation is a masterclass in intentional leadership — the kind that turns a group of agents into a team that's genuinely bought in. Most agency owners are so focused on recruiting and production that they never stop to ask: what kind of world am I building for my team? Will breaks down exactly how to answer that question — and then do something about it. In this episode, you'll learn: How to define culture in a way that's tangible and actionableWhy your hiring funnel is the first stage of culture buildingHow core values filter out the wrong people before they join your teamThe seven tools Will uses to build world-class culture in any organizationWhy celebration and recognition are strategic leadership tools — not soft skillsHow language shapes your team's mindset (and what Chick-fil-A gets right)The power of stories to connect your agents to a mission bigger than moneyWhat to actually put on your calendar if you're serious about team developmentHow to transition from top producer to world-builder inside your agency🔗Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/9chHAzmiBgQFollow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627 If you want to stop losing good agents to bad environments and start building a team that actually stays, grows, and wins together, this episode is your starting point.
Jun 8

The Future of Insurance Sales Is Voice AI

Episode 13 – BONUS: The Future of Insurance Sales Is Voice AI Voice AI is coming fast, and insurance agencies that learn how to use it correctly will have a significant advantage. In this bonus episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning breaks down exactly how insurance agencies should be implementing Voice AI today, where it creates the biggest impact, and the mistakes agency owners should avoid. From handling missed calls and booking appointments to qualifying prospects and following up with existing customers, Alex walks through a practical framework for introducing Voice AI into your agency without creating unnecessary complexity. He also explains why Voice AI should enhance the customer experience—not replace human relationships—and how agencies can use it to eliminate one of the biggest revenue leaks in their business: unanswered calls. The big shift? Most agencies are using people to do tasks that AI can handle, while their agents spend less time on the conversations that actually generate revenue. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why missed calls are costing agencies more money than they realize • How Voice AI can automatically qualify and book new prospects • The difference between handling new leads and existing customers with AI • How to use Voice AI for appointment pre-qualification and follow-up • Why AI should never pretend to be a real person • Common Voice AI implementation mistakes and how to avoid them • The best outbound use cases for Voice AI in an insurance agency • How AI can free agents to focus on revenue-generating activities 🔗Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/-t-NdQ7J92sFollow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627 Whether you're already experimenting with AI or just beginning to explore what's possible, this episode provides a practical blueprint for using Voice AI to create a more efficient and responsive agency.
Jun 1

How David Price Built One of the Fastest Growing Agencies in America

Episode 12 – How David Price Built One of the Fastest-Growing Agencies in America What if the biggest thing holding your agency back isn’t lead flow… but recruiting volume? In this episode of the Agency Acceleration Lab, Alex Branning sits down with David Price to discuss the numbers, systems, and mindset behind building a high-growth insurance agency. David shares why most agency owners focus on the wrong metrics, how increasing interview volume can dramatically impact growth, and what it takes to build the infrastructure necessary to support recruiting at scale. From onboarding and accountability to leadership and duplication, this conversation is packed with practical insights for agency owners who want to move beyond being a top producer and start building a real business. The big shift? Agency growth isn't about finding the perfect recruit. It's about creating a system that consistently attracts, develops, and retains agents over time. In this episode, you'll learn: The recruiting metrics David tracks to measure agency growthWhy interviewing more people solves most recruiting problemsThe infrastructure needed to support rapid agency expansionHow to transition from producer to agency ownerThe importance of consistency in recruiting and onboardingWhy accountability systems matter as your team growsCommon mistakes agency owners make when scalingHow to build a duplicatable growth engine inside your agency🔗Resources MentionedAgency Acceleration Labhttps://agencyacceleration.ai Connect with Alex BranningInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_branningSubscribe to the PodcastWatch on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/KXLUYg7WFUUFollow on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3NPFO06K9WmfOBoYmHkCnR Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/agency-acceleration-lab/id1882456627 If you want to grow your team, improve your recruiting results, and build an agency that scales beyond your personal production, this episode provides a practical roadmap to get there.

Agency Acceleration Lab is the podcast for insurance agents and agency owners who want to scale smarter, not harder. Hosted by Alex Branning, each episode breaks down real growth strategies, marketing systems, and client retention frameworks that help you attract better clients, increase lifetime value, and build a more predictable agency. If you're serious about building a high-performance insurance business, you're in the right place.

Creator

Alex Branning
Years Active

2026
Episodes

19
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Alex Branning

Careers

Careers

Updated Weekly