According to a post in June 2023 by ZipDo, a meeting management software firm, approximately half (53%) of Americans are unhappy at work. Globally, job dissatisfaction is even greater – with 85% of individuals across different career paths discontent with their professional lives.
Those of us who work in the insurance industry are lucky. The industry offers many rewards – both personal and financial. If you make it past what can be lean years when you’re first starting out, a career in health insurance sales can be very satisfying and rewarding.
With Thanksgiving just days away, I wanted to share some thoughts about reasons to be thankful. Obviously, if you’re in good health, that is something for which you should be thankful. If you have friends and family, that’s something else to reflect on and appreciate. Having a home (or other dwelling you can call home) is a third wonderful thing for which you can show appreciation.
When it comes to your job, and our industry, for what are you thankful? Let me share five things I’m thankful for – and for which you should be, too.
1: Predecessors whose passion and commitment have shaped our industry. I have been with The Word & Brown Companies for more than 27 years. I have been fortunate to know and work with some strong outstanding industry leaders, including our company co-founders, John Word and Rusty Brown. These two gentlemen changed the Small Group health insurance marketplace. Their innovative approach to quoting and their launch of the CaliforniaChoice private health insurance exchange, among many other advances, have vastly improved things for brokers, small businesses, and employees. John’s and Rusty’s leadership and mentorship have shaped so many in our industry, and I thank them for all they have done.
2: Insurance professionals contributing to the sustained growth of our business. Our industry’s continuing and future success is dependent on ambitious sales, underwriting, marketing, financial, and other professionals across multiple generations. It is vital that we attract, engage, motivate, and reward those who want to develop and implement the tech, process, and other changes necessary to ensure a brilliant future. I am grateful that Word & Brown has been successful in attracting some of our industry’s best and brightest minds and talents.
3: Ongoing support for Continuing Education. Yes, Continuing Education (CE) is a requirement in most states (including California and Nevada) to maintain your insurance license. But not every general agency (GA) is as dedicated to CE as Word & Brown. We are the only GA with an in-house team committed to helping simplify compliance and answering your – and your clients’ – questions. We offer Compliance training and other CE-eligible courses to keep you up to speed on the latest issues and evolving industry standards and practices. Our roster of courses can help you build a stronger connection with your clients, ensuring a long-term relationship. These courses can also protect your clients from liability and hefty financial penalties for failure to comply with changing ACA, ERISA, and COBRA regulations as well as account-based plans like FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and POPs.
4: Our work can be challenging, but it is always rewarding. I am thankful that our work offers challenges, but also significant rewards. The rising costs of health care in the United States is, obviously, a concern to all of us. But as health insurance professionals, we are working hard every day to help more Americans gain access to coverage they need. It is a part of our organization mission to simplify access to better health insurance choices.
I have heard countless stories from both veteran and novice brokers about the dramatic difference health insurance has made/is making in clients’ lives – and the lives of insured employees and dependents. What we do has a positive impact.
I am thankful for the tools Word & Brown offers to help brokers find a plan that gives employers, employees, and family members access to their preferred doctors, hospitals, and prescription drugs. Our industry quoting platforms offer powerful, accurate quotes, highlighted plan differences, online enrollment integration, and more. We’ll work with you to find a plan that helps employers control their benefits expenses, while still offering access to vital insurance.
5: Extras to make things easier for you and your clients. I am also grateful that Word & Brown offers broker extras to help you build a stronger connection with your clients. These perks include no-cost COBRA set-up, ERISA and POP services for qualifying cases, and a commitment to deliver “Service of Unequalled Excellence.” Brokers have relied on Word & Brown for nearly 40 years, and I thank you for being our valuable partner. We are working every day to earn your business and maintain your trust.
Happy Thanksgiving!
