Commercial and Personal Insurance Brokers and Risk Managers. We are the professional intermediaries between consumers and insurance companies and between consumers and loss adjusters. In short, we are advocates.
Tell us about yourself?
I followed family into the business in 1982. I have been with a Fortune 500 company (for 18 years) and started an independent organization about 26 years ago.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Work/Life balance. Us boomers are not good at that.
What problem does your business solve?
We protect commercial and personal assets from insurable loss. Having the right coverage at the time of loss is critical. We work for our clients, not the insurance companies, to make sure that the package is tailored to individual needs.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
It seemed even 25 years ago that the brokerage business was going the way of the banking business; to be successful, you had to work for someone else. It’s all about the ability to scale and remain relevant over time. Our business model creates opportunities for people to be owners of their own businesses in the communities in which they live, work, and play.
What is your magic sauce?
We give the people who create wealth in a business sense equitable ownership of what they create. So powerful. We focus our company on smaller communities that are generally underserved, whereas most of our competitors focus on big cities exclusively.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
Getting close to retirement, I have done what I set out to accomplish. I would be happy to elaborate.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
Likely the largest challenge is the relative obscurity – especially with today’s youth – of how rewarding a career in the insurance industry can be. There is a chronic shortage of good-quality people looking to enter the industry. There really is a niche for everyone – and every skill set – in our business.
How can people get involved?
I think I will answer with a focus on career planning. Find and talk to HR professionals at insurance companies, insurance brokerages and claims adjusters. Explore college and university programs with a focus on insurance, including management programs, law and actuarial studies. There is something for everyone.