Trustmark Mutual Holding Co.
08/09/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/09/2024 12:09
The roots of industry success by Lyric Welty
Growing up, I was surrounded by the world of insurance. My father, a dedicated broker, spent many years building meaningful relationships and providing exceptional service to his clients. From a very early age, I knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and have a career in this industry. Attending networking events with him and witnessing his passion for his work solidified my desire to be part of this world.
My career path has always been in insurance, and I couldn't be more passionate about it. From my initial days as an insurance intern, to taking the initiative to get my insurance license my senior year at Samford University, to joining Trustmark, I've learned a variety of lessons along the way that illustrate how to be successful within this industry and what's needed to get there.
Paving your own way
While I had the opportunity to take over my father's book of business when he retired a few years ago, I decided to pave my own way and establish myself in the Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana regions. It might seem easier to step into an established role, but there's immense value in making your own relationships and connections. For me, it's far more rewarding to build something from the ground up, and you might find the same satisfaction in your career. Sure, you can take inspiration from others, but positive and sustainable relationships are built on authenticity. You can't offer that to clients by being anything other than your genuine self.
By choosing this route, you're able to bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to brokers, clients, and employers. From what I've observed, establishing yourself independently and creating a strong personal brand helps you tailor your strategies to the unique needs of each client, building stronger, more personalized relationships.
Balancing tradition with innovation
When establishing a career in my territory, I've quickly learned that traditional values hold a strong presence in the industry: a firm handshake, eye contact, follow-through, connecting personally face-to-face. For the next generation, it's motivating to prove that you can be just as successful adopting new approaches while holding true to those core values. Learning from my father, who represents the older generation, has taught me that you can blend old-school with new-school attitudes to be successful.
In practice, that means you should value that face-to-face meeting, but then follow up and maintain engagement via LinkedIn or text. Use the traditional insurance spreadsheet to present products if that's what works for your clients, but then incorporate new data to introduce forward-thinking benefits. Respect your roots, respect tradition, but use all the tools and information we have at our disposal to build the benefit solutions that will help the employees of tomorrow.
The core of your business will always come from the connections you make with your clients and partners. But, regardless of your role in the industry, be it a carrier rep, broker, or producer, those who are willing to learn and adapt to new technology while maintaining the value of traditional relationship building are positioned to find much more success.
Finding the right enviroment
I have taken lessons learned from my father and industry peers to heart, and it's played a driving factor in my decision to join Trustmark. In my experience, both as a broker and carrier, finding an environment that believes in your values and encourages stronger relationships within the industry can be game-changing for your success. If you're lucky enough to have found this in your career, you know why finding the right environment to thrive is critical to being successful.
In joining Trustmark, I believe I've found the best tools to maintain and grow my business, allowing me to focus on what truly matters-building and nurturing relationships and supporting employers/employees. With this type of environment, you can bring the best of both worlds together: the timeless values of integrity and personal connection, combined with the efficiency and reach of modern technology. I'm excited to continue building my career here, creating great relationships while leveraging my unique background and skills to deliver invaluable benefit solutions.
My career path has always been in insurance, and I couldn't be more passionate about it. From my initial days as an insurance intern, to taking the initiative to get my insurance license my senior year at Samford University, to joining Trustmark, I've learned a variety of lessons along the way that illustrate how to be successful within this industry and what's needed to get there.
Paving your own way
While I had the opportunity to take over my father's book of business when he retired a few years ago, I decided to pave my own way and establish myself in the Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana regions. It might seem easier to step into an established role, but there's immense value in making your own relationships and connections. For me, it's far more rewarding to build something from the ground up, and you might find the same satisfaction in your career. Sure, you can take inspiration from others, but positive and sustainable relationships are built on authenticity. You can't offer that to clients by being anything other than your genuine self.
By choosing this route, you're able to bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to brokers, clients, and employers. From what I've observed, establishing yourself independently and creating a strong personal brand helps you tailor your strategies to the unique needs of each client, building stronger, more personalized relationships.
Balancing tradition with innovation
When establishing a career in my territory, I've quickly learned that traditional values hold a strong presence in the industry: a firm handshake, eye contact, follow-through, connecting personally face-to-face. For the next generation, it's motivating to prove that you can be just as successful adopting new approaches while holding true to those core values. Learning from my father, who represents the older generation, has taught me that you can blend old-school with new-school attitudes to be successful.
In practice, that means you should value that face-to-face meeting, but then follow up and maintain engagement via LinkedIn or text. Use the traditional insurance spreadsheet to present products if that's what works for your clients, but then incorporate new data to introduce forward-thinking benefits. Respect your roots, respect tradition, but use all the tools and information we have at our disposal to build the benefit solutions that will help the employees of tomorrow.
The core of your business will always come from the connections you make with your clients and partners. But, regardless of your role in the industry, be it a carrier rep, broker, or producer, those who are willing to learn and adapt to new technology while maintaining the value of traditional relationship building are positioned to find much more success.
Finding the right enviroment
I have taken lessons learned from my father and industry peers to heart, and it's played a driving factor in my decision to join Trustmark. In my experience, both as a broker and carrier, finding an environment that believes in your values and encourages stronger relationships within the industry can be game-changing for your success. If you're lucky enough to have found this in your career, you know why finding the right environment to thrive is critical to being successful.
In joining Trustmark, I believe I've found the best tools to maintain and grow my business, allowing me to focus on what truly matters-building and nurturing relationships and supporting employers/employees. With this type of environment, you can bring the best of both worlds together: the timeless values of integrity and personal connection, combined with the efficiency and reach of modern technology. I'm excited to continue building my career here, creating great relationships while leveraging my unique background and skills to deliver invaluable benefit solutions.