Attending the Roadshow and Finding Success
In the Spring of 2024, O’Neia Washington knew she must begin searching for the right health insurance. Her husband’s job would no longer provide them health coverage, and he would become Medicare-eligible. Fortunately, O’Neia checked her e-mail and found an invitation from Empower Brokerage. The Southlake-based field marketing organization (FMO) encouraged her to partner with their independent agency and visit an upcoming roadshow in her city of Oak Brook, Illinois. O’Neia was excited to learn about the FMO and what it offers. She began her insurance career in 2012, focusing on selling mostly life products and some long-term care insurance. Now, she was ready to expand her book of business. “I was on a mission to find someone that could help me in the ACA space, and it was perfect timing,” says Mrs. Washington. Empower Brokerage Illinois’ Regional Sales Director (RSD) Patrick Lima and now-retired National Sales Director DeWayne Long headlined the Oak Brook roadshow that convinced O’Neia to sign up with the organization. “I thought [the roadshow] was amazing. It gave me the opportunity to rethink my business. There is more than one way to service your client, like with ancillary products. By doing so, that has increased my business.”
O’Neia states that adding Medicare and ACA sales to her business has brought much growth after partnering with Empower Brokerage. She explains how the partnership has helped her reach a broader audience of potential customers through servicing clients online instead of just in person. O’Neia also appreciates having a valuable resource over the last year in Patrick Lima. “It’s been wonderful, incredible,” says the Oak Brook agent. “He has been a great source of support for me.” O’Neia further praises Patrick’s knowledge, good advice, and availability to mentor her. Her confidence in Empower and Patrick has led her to recommend them to others, including a member of her team. The Illinois-based agent is licensed to sell in her home state in addition to Ohio and Michigan. She is also on the way to becoming certified to sell insurance products in Indiana. O’Neia has also utilized Empower Brokerage training sessions with specialists such as MacKenzie Culp and Garrett Wilczynski to learn more about products and serve the public better. The Midwest-focused agent is also active on social media. Recently, she set up a Facebook business page and an Instagram account and is now preparing to start sharing content with her followers.
Future Goals, Hobbies, and Advice
O’Neia is enthusiastic about where her career is headed. She believes in collaboration, and her goals involve establishing her own agency and assembling a community of agents partnering with Empower Brokerage. “Sometimes, you have to create opportunities for yourself,” declares O’Neia, who wants to build a legacy for her children through her career. Mrs. Washington also feels it remains vital for agents to be passionate about what they do for a living. “I think that comes across when you meet people over the phone or in person. I am passionate about what I do,” says O’Neia. “I think that working with Empower is going to give me the peace that I need as well.” She also believes agents need to take their business seriously and continue to educate themselves about products and other aspects of the insurance world.
In her spare time, O’Neia enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing board games, going out to eat at restaurants, taking vacations, and traveling to experience different places. When asked what advice she would give to those agents looking for an FMO, O’Neia recommends agents ask questions to see if an organization meets their needs, research sufficiently, and focus on networking. “This can be a very lonely business if you don’t get out and build those relationships, and so that is what I am doing,” says O’Neia. “That is why an agency is so important– to have a team where we bounce ideas off each other.” She also looks forward to mentoring other agents. “To be able to sow a seed into someone else– I believe in that as a Christian.”
Agents
We hope that this agent spotlight on O’Neia Washington is interesting to you.
Empower Brokerage is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions about your health and finances. Whether it’s through webinar training, one-on-one calls, seminars, or marketing plans, we want you to be successful!
Give us a call at 888-539-1633 or leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Quick links:
Joey Hinojosa graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a master’s degree in mass communications. He began working at Empower Brokerage in early 2022 and enjoys being creative in his writing, photography, videography, animation, and other projects.
