We recently connected with Johanna Mirpuri and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Johanna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back at the decisions you made early in your career, particularly whether to join a firm or start your own, do you feel you made the right choice for that stage of your career?
When I first started in the insurance industry back in 2018, I joined an FMO as a brand-new licensed agent. At that time, I was completely new to the business and wanted to immerse myself in an environment where I could learn the fundamentals—everything from prospecting and client education to policy structure and compliance. Those early years were all about building a strong foundation, understanding how the industry worked, and seeing firsthand how impactful the right financial strategies could be for families and business owners.
Over time, I became deeply passionate about not just selling insurance, but helping people use it strategically—to protect their income, build wealth, and create legacies. By 2022, after years of experience and mentorship, I knew it was time to build something of my own that reflected my values and approach to planning. That’s when I decided to create my own brand, which became Barry Group & Associates in 2023.
At Barry Group, we focus on Executive Bonus Plans for business owners, using whole life insurance as a tool for income protection and guaranteed cash value growth. We also help clients roll over their 401(k)s and 403(b)s into Fixed Index Annuities for secure, lifetime income, and guide families in using life insurance as the cornerstone of their financial strategy.
Looking back, joining a firm first was absolutely the right decision. It gave me the structure, mentorship, and experience I needed before striking out on my own. Those first few years were full of challenges—long hours, constant learning, and refining my craft—but they were also some of the most valuable years of my career. They taught me not just how to succeed in the business, but how to build something lasting and impactful for others.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
What a lot of people know me as is Momma Cuisine—a cooking personality, show host, and cookbook author. My journey started in 2009, long before “influencer” was even a word people used. I was a young mom who wanted to show that great everyday meals could be made with simple ingredients and a little creativity. What began as a small online cooking show turned into a full-fledged brand that connected me with families, national brands, and audiences across the country.
Through Momma Cuisine, I learned the power of storytelling and authenticity. I built my brand during a time when social media was just emerging, and it taught me that people gravitate toward real stories and real value. I spent years working with top food and lifestyle brands, producing content, hosting live events, and building a loyal community—all while growing as an entrepreneur and businesswoman.
As my life evolved, so did my purpose. I started to see how many families, business owners, and creatives were thriving on the outside but struggling to build financial security beneath it all. That realization inspired me to pivot and expand my mission—from helping families find comfort in the kitchen to helping them find peace of mind in their finances.
In 2023, I co-founded Barry Group & Associates, a firm that helps individuals and business owners create long-term financial strategies through life insurance, Executive Bonus Plans, and Fixed Index Annuities. We specialize in helping people protect their income, build guaranteed cash value, and create generational wealth.
What sets Barry Group apart is that we lead with heart and education. We meet clients where they are—whether they’re just beginning to think about their financial future or are ready to build a lasting legacy. I’m proud to bring my years of experience as Momma Cuisine into this work, because at the end of the day, both worlds are about the same thing: nurturing people, building trust, and helping others create something lasting for their families.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
One of the biggest things that’s helped me build my reputation has been consistency, honesty, and transparency. I always say that the principles in love, life, and business all go hand in hand—you can’t separate them. To be successful and truly trustworthy, you have to live by the same core values across all parts of your life.
For me, that’s meant always showing up—being the first to arrive, the most dependable, and the one who’s willing to do the hard work that others might shy away from. It’s also meant showing up with a good attitude, even when life or business gets difficult, because people remember how you made them feel.
Over time, my clients and partners have learned that they can rely on me—not just for what I do, but for who I am. They know I always have their best interests at heart, and that kind of trust is something you can’t fake or rush. It’s earned through consistency.
That approach has never failed me. It’s opened doors for me both as Momma Cuisine and as the Co-Founder of Barry Group & Associates. Whether it’s in front of a camera, in a kitchen, or across a conference table, I’ve learned that integrity and dependability are the true foundations of any lasting reputation.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the biggest pivots in my life came when I transitioned from being known primarily as Momma Cuisine—a cooking personality, host, and entrepreneur—to entering the financial and insurance industry.
For over a decade, my life revolved around food, media, and storytelling. I built a brand from scratch, worked with national companies, hosted live cooking shows, and connected with families across the country. But when the world began shifting—especially around the pandemic—I started reflecting deeply on what people truly needed. Food connects us, yes, but what I saw everywhere were families and business owners struggling with something even more fundamental: financial security.
That realization changed everything for me. I knew I wanted to make a deeper impact—to help people not just live well day to day, but to actually build something lasting for their families. So, I made the leap into the insurance and financial field. It wasn’t an easy pivot. I was learning a completely new industry while re-establishing my professional identity. But I approached it the same way I approached Momma Cuisine: with consistency, curiosity, and purpose.
That pivot led me to co-found Barry Group & Associates, where I now help individuals and business owners protect their income, build guaranteed cash value, and create generational wealth. Looking back, that decision was one of the most rewarding and courageous moves I’ve ever made.
It taught me that reinvention isn’t about starting over—it’s about evolving with intention. Every skill I built through Momma Cuisine—communication, creativity, trust-building—transferred into this new chapter. And today, I get to blend both worlds: the heart of service and the strategy of financial empowerment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barrygroup.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrygroupassoc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrygroupassoc
- Twitter: @barrygroupassoc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BarryGroupAssoc
