Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Aguayo.
Nancy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 20 years old I was working an admin job at a big insurance company. At this age, I had never even purchased insurance, and it was all very foreign to me. However, I knew it was something that I could do and looked like a promising career. I would walk past the large group of male-dominated sales agents, and thought to myself: I can do that! At this point in my life, I had already attended cosmetology school, taken broadcasting classes, and taken classes at The University of Texas in Arlington.
I became a mom at a young age, and this moment sparked a fire in me. I knew that admin job wasn’t for me, it wasn’t challenging & it didn’t pay enough for someone who just started a family. Soon, I was applying for a sales position at my employer. I applied three times, and was rejected every single time! Was it my age? Was it my gender? I didn’t get it, but I knew they didn’t believe in me. I’ve never been afraid of no, so I decided to look elsewhere. I applied at another large insurance company & was hired immediately as a Sales Associate in 2009 for a high performing Insurance Agent. This person would become my mentor throughout my insurance career.
I worked under this agent as a Sales Associate for two years, then moved on to become an agent myself in 2011. Sales is tough, and I was working relentlessly. I felt like a hamster on a wheel. I desired a better work-life balance. My mentor had moved on to start his own independent agency and invited me to join him & his business partner as an independent agent. I knew that was the right move for me & my family, but I knew it would be tough. I would be leaving a well paid employment with benefits, to a 100% commission position & no benefits! But I knew that if I stayed, I would be stuck, working 40+ hours, with very little flexibility only to be building a book of business that I would never own. What was important to me, was my family, flexibility, and building a book of business of my own. I made the decision to leave my job. I became an independent agent in 2013, and it was a very tough road financially, especially because one year after becoming an independent agent, my husband was laid off. After working as an independent agent for six years, I branched off completely on my own in June of 2019. The road won’t be smooth now either. I’m wearing different hats as a branch owner, so it’ll be interesting to take on more of a leadership role.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle I faced was definitely when my husband got laid off. This was a very tough time for us financially & mentally. I had just become an independent agent and was making little to no money. At this time, we had two kids, a mortgage & everything else that came with being an adult! It was tough to stay positive, many times I thought of giving up & going back to my 9-5. I questioned whether I had made the right decision too many times. Another struggle I would say was that I wasn’t confident enough early in my career. Perhaps it was my age. I was a young female in a male -dominated field. I felt that it was harder to earn people’s trust, as their agent.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I own an independent agency & as an independent agent, I work with several different insurance companies. I shop for you. I find the most competitive prices, without sacrificing coverage of course! We live in a time where people want options, and as an independent agent, I can provide that. I specialize in personal lines, such as auto & home insurance. I also specialize in Commercial lines, which would be insuring anything to do with a business. The name of my agency is TWFG Nancy Aguayo Insurance, & I’ve been an insurance agent now for a little over ten years. I would say that being a one-woman show, and a young female is what sets me apart. Also, insurance has become very transactional. Many people want to do business online, connect over email & txt, so being able to provide all of that while still being able to have a personal connection with my clients through digital platforms is what I would say sets me apart.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Overcoming the hardships that came with deciding to work for myself. Having the flexibility to be available for my kids, it’s what was most important to me. You cant buy time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1105 Stonewall St, Ste 502A
Garland, TX 75043 - Website: twfg.com/nancyaguayo
- Phone: 469-786-0070
- Email: nancy@twfg.com
- Instagram: @naguayoinsurance
- Facebook: facebook.com/naguayoinsurance
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/twfg-nancy-aguayo-insurance-garland
Image Credit:
Renato Rimach Photography
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