Most agencies are burning out their team to protect their bottom line.More remarketing.  More manual quoting.  More inefficiencies.All while margins get tighter — and expectations get higher.This week on Getting Past the Premium, Elliot sits down with Chris Peabody from Ascend to unpack what the most forward-thinking agencies are doing differently:✅ Automating the right processes✅ Embedding AI in invisible, high-impact ways✅ Standardizing workflows without losing trust✅ And actually measuring ROI before adopting new toolsThis episode isn’t about “using AI” — it’s about building a more scalable, sustainable firm in today’s reality.👉 Connect and follow us:Elliot Bassett, President & Partner at Ellerbrock-Norris | Co-Founder of LAUNCH | Host of Getting Past the Premium PodcastLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/Website:  https://getlaunch.io/👉 Connect with our guest:Chris Peabody, Director of Partnerships, AcsendLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-peabody-9b686541/ Website:  https://www.useascend.com/_____________________🎙️ Sponsored by LAUNCHThis episode is powered by LAUNCH — the only risk platform that helps producers sell advice, not just insurance.With LAUNCH, you map real business risks in minutes, prove your value before quoting, and win the account by thinking like a CFO.Stop selling price.  Start selling insight.👉 Visit https://getlaunch.io/ and get past the premium._____________________Chapters:00:00 – Intro: Chris Peabody Returns01:30 – What Ascend Actually Solves for Agencies02:30 – Why Direct Bill and Agency Bill Reconciliation Are Broken04:15 – Automation Isn’t Just About Efficiency — It’s About Client Experience06:20 – Standardization: Why It Matters More Than Ever08:30 – The Case for Workflow-Driven Technology09:45 – AI-Powered Invoicing: Real-World Examples12:10 – Human Mistakes vs. System Capacity Limits13:55 – The Hidden Cost of Remarketing in a Hard Market15:30 – Tech That Creates ROI vs. Tech That Creates Noise17:00 – What Agencies Get Wrong About AI19:10 – Ascend’s Approach to Embedded AI (And Why It Works)21:00 – Real Use Cases That Actually Save Time23:30 – Why Tech ROI Starts with Process Clarity25:15 – Stop Mimicking Bigger Agencies — Find What Works for You28:30 – The Real Value of Peer Learning in Insurance31:00 – How to Vet Tech Vendors the Right Way34:00 – Launch, Ascend, and the Power of Listening to Your Clients🎙 Getting Past the Premium is powered by Launch — the only platform helping producers sell insight, not just insurance.This episode is sponsored by LAUNCH.In the world of insurance, independent agencies fight to survive. Brokers are forced to compete by blocking markets and bid for the lowest price. Worse yet, the industry is fragmented.Agencies find it difficult to collaborate across division on the same client. Millions of dollars in potential revenue are left on the table. And agency owners lie awake at night wondering how to scale.THAT’S WHERE LAUNCH COMES IN.Access the full-revenue potential in your existing book of business. See opportunities other agencies can’t. Offer more value. Gain a competitive advantage in a commoditized market.Visit https://getlaunch.io/ to learn more.