We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Genell Holloway. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Genell below.

Genell, appreciate you joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I started my insurance business 4 years ago, and how I wish I had started it 40 years ago. The freedom to truly do what helps make a difference in the lives of people has been such a blessing to me.

The experiences I had in corporate America did help me to better prepare for owning a business. While I absolutely love being an entrepreneur, it is not for the faint of heart. It is being willing to do the work every day. Yes, it’s hard work. But, then if it were easy, everybody would do it.

I believe that steady consistency is the secret sauce to being successful in any business endeavor. You have to work at it every day to be just a little better than the day before. I don’t compete with others. I compete with myself to be better today than I was yesterday.

Genell, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I began my insurance sales business several years ago starting as a captive agent selling pre-need funeral packages. I learned quickly that it made a world of difference in how well people could cope in crisis situations because their loved one had preplanned the memorial service. And, I wanted to do more than just the end of life preparation.

I met a young lady who had started her own insurance agency because she wanted the flexibility to be at home with her children. My husband was terminally ill, and I wanted that flexibility too. So, I partnered with her for a year before going on my own.

I found an insurance brokerage firm that did all types of insurance benefits where I could truly be a part of a team yet be independent. I now have the best of both worlds – corporate support but independent ownership.

I love helping people better understand how insurance works. I start by asking them questions. I find out what their lifestyle and dreams are. I learn about their budget and their needs. Then, I begin the education process. Knowledge is power once they truly understand how the insurance can be laid out to best protect them from a financial storm.

One of my favorite products is Medicare. It used to terrify me because like most people, I didn’t understand it either. But, I have learned, and I continue learning. I share the knowledge with others so they can make an informed decision about what is best for their situation.

I also do health insurance, supplemental plans like cancer, critical illness,, life insurance, final expense, and long term care.

Very few people are prepared for the financial storms that occur as we age. The average American is not able to save enough money to cover the costs. Thus, long term care insurance is the best way to weather these financial storms. It can truly make a difference in how comfortable we will live out our last days on earth.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

One of my favorite ways of meeting people is through networking. Some agents do all their business over the phone, and that is certainly what we had to do during the covid pandemic. For me, I love building relationships with my clients. They become friends as we walk together through difficult life situations.

Warm referrals from people who already know, like and trust me make building a new relationship so much easier. I try to spend more time on the front end fostering that relationship through sharing and educating my clients. I answer my phone at 9pm at night if they call me. I am well connected and can help them with finding people to help even when it’s not an insurance need at the moment. I make it a point to meet people I can refer my clients to when they need them.

Being a member of BNI helps me to be a better resource person. Being a member of Professional Network on Aging (PNA) allows me to know about other resources in the senior community. Being a sponsor of Talk Shoppe allows me to be better positioned to help others along the way too.

The bottom line is my clients know that I genuinely care about them, and that is what sets me apart from my competition.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I mentioned earlier that I started my insurance business because my husband was terminally ill, and I needed the flexibility to be able to care for him as he progressed in his illness. In the insurance world, my busiest season is 4th quarter aka open enrollment period. Sweetie’s health declined rapidly during last year’s open enrollment season, and he passed from this life on the 12/15/21. I ran appointments as much as I was able and took calls from clients all the way through. On 12/15, I took my clients’ calls, explaining the situation at hand and followed up with them the next few days after that. They were kind and understanding. In return, I was able to follow up with them, and take care of them in the manner they needed as well.

The next season, 2022 open enrollment, I have been blessed with enough referrals that I didn’t have to do any cold calling. Every referral was a warm referral. Again, the secret sauce is to be consistent in who you are every day and to show people how much you truly care about them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eagle-hollow.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/genell.holloway
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/genell.holloway
• Youtube: youtube.com/@genellholloway

Image Credits
Photos by Linda White