In this Agency Ascend episode, James Spencer of Insurance DFW shares his journey from the captive world to building one of the most respected independent agencies in the Career Agency Alliance. He explains how early frustrations with changing comp plans led him and his brother to take a long-view approach to starting their own agency. By prioritizing coverage over cost and educating clients with clarity, James earned unwavering loyalty—even operating without a website or ad spend.

Listeners will hear James break down how his agency navigated the hard market of 2023–2024, maintained retention by offering real answers to rising rates, and why customer education has become their most valuable marketing tool. From real-life claim stories to insights into commercial policy missteps, James outlines what makes a professional insurance agent stand out in today’s commoditized landscape.

His philosophy is simple: do right by the client, and the business will take care of itself.

Shares:
James - Client story about customer service
Chris - Warren Buffet quote on emotions
Chad - Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy

About the Show

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 Managing Partner, 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.

CoVerica Agency Alliance is a strategic master agency of SIAA, the fastest growing agency partnership in the country. Our “integrator” model combines the best aspects of each partnership model — clusters, aggregators, franchises — to create a one-of-a-kind partnership that enhances distribution and drives organic growth. As a top insurance agency strategic partner in Texas, we offer solutions to greatly strengthen your agency’s position in the market.

New episodes drop triweekly on Wednesdays. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at [email protected]. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

Visit us at www.covericaaa.com