What’s the good news, ladies? Fall, y’all!

Original Post: BenefitsPro Broker Innovation Lab

Susan L. Combs | September 21, 2020 at 07:47 AM

I cannot believe that 4 ^th Quarter is days away!  That means that open enrollment is on the horizon and oof … how it’s going to be different this year?  Hope you all have your virtual toolkit ready to go; I know we have been busy planning and gearing up for this in our office to make the process as easy and smooth as possible. But we’re all in insurance, right?  So we look at worst case scenario.  If you’re like me, you lay awake in bed thinking “What’s the worst than can happen?” And then you lay awake longer.  Gah!  Good luck, ladies.  Feel free to share the best idea or tool you are using; I’m sure many would love to hear about them.

We had such a blast at the virtual BenefitsPRO Broker Expo this year and got to meet some incredible women that way!  I’m really excited to introduces you to these fine women this month who are keeping it real in the world of COVID, home schooling and just being rockstars in our industry.  Please welcome Sarah, Robin and Sarah to the fold!

Sarah Wilson, Compass Benefit Advisors

“Interesting? Challenging? Uncertain?  I’m not quite sure how to describe the last 12 months.  For me, it has involved creating a new role for myself within a new firm while learning to be a teacher overnight to my 8 and 9 year olds.  Juggling and adapting have become my forte.

One thing I’ve learned is we’re not meant to do this thing called life alone and that it’s OK, even good, to put ourselves out there and lean on others.  Connecting has become my mission, even if only by Zoom.  I’ve pushed myself to make connections with mom friends and other female colleagues a priority, carving out time to share and encourage each another.  In an effort to connect with others, I’ve started a think tank for clients and prospective clients to discuss their good, bad, and ugly and to encourage one another when it comes to topics like COVID, compliance, leadership and employee morale.  It’s served as a great sounding board for human resource leaders.

When you make life a party, not a competition, and give yourself and others an opportunity to connect, it allows everyone to thrive together.  Here’s to ducking, diving and keeping our heads above water!”

Robin Wahby, CLU, Wahby Financial Group, LLC

“I am proud to say I recently conquered a goal that had always eluded me. This goal was to move families from managing money and financial advice to working towards the achievement of life’s purpose and leaving a legacy.  During the pandemic, I have been helping clients feel less anxious and more in control of their finances but am also now beginning to talk about the people and organizations that are important to them.  And talk they did!

Our client families are acting now to preserve their values and goals for future generations.  As a result, estate and charitable planning in my firm has increased significantly.  We have helped more clients than ever before design settlement letters and ethical wills.  An ethical will is a love letter to your family and bequeaths values. It can be as simple as a handwritten letter or a selfie video message.”

Sarah Gottheim, Savoy Associates

“Last month marked my 13-year anniversary in the dynamic health insurance industry. This year has been the most challenging, as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the nation. Adapting to a new virtual world, companies are expected to conform to an online-driven work environment, including benefits administration. To accomplish this, business owners are relying on trusted brokers.

Working at a leading general agency, it is my job to work hand in hand with my broker partners to provide top-notch benefits consulting for the most sought-after benefits. I have consulted with hundreds of clients and brokers at companies of all sizes and industries to help them keep up to speed on benefits trends and legislative changes.

Relationships are key, and pairing with a strong team with deep knowledge and expertise drives new levels of success. I’m excited for the opportunities to work with dedicated partners to support business growth and boost client satisfaction.”

Know of a rockstar woman in our industry who’s doing things better than the rest?  If so, I’d love to connect!  You can just shoot me over an email with their information or feel free to make a virtual introduction to me at scombs@combsandco.com   Stay safe, sane and mask up, my friends.