"I was determined to play at the highest level, and I did."

Al Sica is talking about Division I baseball—but he could just as easily be talking about insurance M&A. Today, he's the founder of Sica | Fletcher, the #1-ranked insurance M&A advisory firm in the country, with over $19 billion in agency deals closed since 2014. 🏆

In episode 9 of Elevate the Hustle, Stan and Dom sit down with Al to break down what actually makes agencies valuable—and what kills their worth. Al breaks down:

• The 3 non-negotiables buyers look for
• Why most agency owners get the timing wrong—and how waiting too long can kill your multiple
• Why you don't sell to get out—you sell to scale up (and how the right partner multiplies your wealth)

Plus, Al shares why he's been working off a yellow legal pad for 37 years, his philosophy on giving equity to the people who help you build, and why he'd rather outwork everyone than be the smartest guy in the room.

If you're an agency owner wondering what your business is actually worth, thinking about an exit someday, or convinced you need to wait until you're "ready" to retire before selling—this episode will change how you think about building value starting TODAY.

👉 Check out Al's podcast, Leaders & Legends: ‪

https://www.youtube.com/@sicafletcher

Real talk, real stories, and occasionally real bad language.

🌐 Website: elevateteams.io
📷 Instagram: @elevateteams
🔗 LinkedIn: Elevate Teams
🎙️ YouTube: @ElevateTheHustlePodcast

"You never lose. You either win or you learn."

That's the philosophy printed on Mike Stromsoe's favorite travel shirt—and it's the mindset that took him from working nights at a bowling alley bar to building and selling a multi-million dollar insurance agency. 🚀

In episode 8 of Elevate the Hustle, Stan and Dom sit down with Mike Stromsoe—founder of UPP (Unstoppable Profit Producer) and former independent agency owner—who now teaches agency owners how to grow their business, create wealth, and live life on their own terms.

Mike breaks down:

• Why he's NOT an insurance agent—he's a marketer who happens to own an insurance business (and why that shift changed everything)
• The simple 3-step blueprint that took him from broke to multi-million dollar exit: People, Processes, Promotion (in that order)
• Why "good enough is good enough" when delegating—if someone can do it 80% as well as you, let them do it

Plus, Mike shares why he makes chili rellenos from scratch and how his "IDGAF muscle" got stronger with age.

If you're an insurance agency owner buried in minutiae, working 14-hour days on $15/hour tasks, or convinced that nobody can do it as well as you can, you can't afford to skip this one.

Real talk, real stories, and occasionally real bad language.

🌐 Website: elevateteams.io
📷 Instagram: @elevateteams
🔗 LinkedIn: Elevate Teams
🎙️ YouTube: @ElevateTheHustlePodcast

"If you're not growing, you're dying."

That's not just a saying—it's Keith Captain's operating principle as President of FirstChoice, the #1 largest insurance network in the country. 📈

In episode 7 of Elevate the Hustle, Stan and Dom sit down with Keith Captain—former sports management student turned insurance claims adjuster turned network president—who's spent the last 8 years helping 720+ independent agencies scale by a minimum of 15% every year.

Keith breaks down:

• Why complacency is the #1 killer of agency growth—and how to recognize it before it's too late
• The "run your agency like it's for sale" philosophy: what it means and why it matters even if you never plan to sell
• How to stop working IN your business and start working ON it (hint: build your org chart 5 years out and hire into it)
• The truth about hiring out of desperation—and why most failed hires are a process problem, not a people problem
• Why you need to start planning your exit 10 years before you think you'll need it (or you'll lose all control)
• What the 2022 merger with Marshberry taught him about culture fit, asking the right questions, and being willing to walk away

Plus, Keith shares why he'd rather sit down for dinner with a candidate than trust a resume, how he almost became a sports agent, and why technology without a customer-first mindset is just expensive clutter.

If you're stuck at 3-5% growth, tired of being the bottleneck in your agency, or wondering how the hell to build a team that doesn't need you for every decision, this episode is for you.

Real talk, real stories, and occasionally real bad language.

🌐 Website: elevateteams.io
📷 Instagram: @elevateteams
🔗 LinkedIn: Elevate Teams
🎙️ YouTube: @ElevateTheHustlePodcast