Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Jefferson.
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My journey of entrepreneurship started in 2011 when I was a Senior Sales Account Executive at a company in Dallas, TX. My position required me to assist other Sales Account Executives and Senior Sales Account Executives in creating high-powered digital sales proposals for commercial clients. In addition, I also attended sales meetings with many of these Sales Account Executives and assisted in closing and finalizing numerous digital sales which increased revenues in the commercial business sector. Almost two years working in this position, my inner desire to help more people grow stronger, thus, prompting me to seek employment elsewhere that would allow both my creative and professional growth. Looking in hindsight, this was the beginning of my path to entrepreneurship.
After leaving this company, I performed some freelance work for a handful of companies while picking up valuable experience. Then out of the blue, one day I received an email from a captive insurance company which presented the opportunity for me to start my own insurance company and to become an insurance agent. I then passionately set sail on my entrepreneurship trailblazing path!
Oh, the wheels were in motion now! In 2012, I studied for and took the State of Texas Department of Insurance exam to become a Licensed Insurance Agent. The first test I took was the Property and Casualty exam. After a couple of months of preparing for the exam, the big day came, and I was a bit nervous but pumped and ready to take on the challenge. So, I took the test, but much to my surprise — and shock — I missed passing it by — 6 points of the state requirement benchmark, literally 3 missed answers. Needless to say, this was definitely a defeat to my spirit and my intent to continue my entrepreneurial path.
After this seemingly crushing blow to my faith, I knew my “spiritual gas tank” was low. I, therefore, contacted my dear mother in seeking guidance and spiritual upliftment. Without doubt, I started second-guessing my decision of leaving my traditional career path in pursuit of my entrepreneurial goals. After speaking with my mother and gaining encouraging words, as I always do from her, she told me to take two or three days to process this disappointment because I’m entitled to that. And she told me after those few days, pick myself up, dust myself off, cancel the “pity party” and get back in the race! What does not break you make you stronger! So, I buckled down again, restudied all the materials, retook all the study quizzes, so that SUCCESS would be the ONLY option when I stepped up to the plate a second time. And that’s exactly what I did!
The second time around when I retook the exam, I passed it by 14 points beyond the state requirement benchmark. This was the type of boost in confidence I needed to continue fueling my path to entrepreneurship!
I then immediately took the Life and Health exam for the State of Texas Department of Insurance and passed this exam by 20 points beyond the state requirement benchmark on the very first try. My success in taking and passing these exams gave me the opportunity to open my captive insurance agency within the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Thank you, Jesus!
It was now time to regroup and build my business. Within the first two years of being a fully licensed insurance agent, I was awarded two major Life Insurance awards that granted two separate vacations — one to San Diego, CA, and one to Las Vegas, Nevada. I treated my mother and my son to a company all-exclusive trip to Sea World in San Diego, while I lately enjoyed very fine dining and amazing sightseeing views in Las Vegs. While on these awarded vacation trips, I was in the midst of other top insurance agents from across the country as well as within my sales district. I enjoyed my vacations but was super excited to mingle and networking with other colleagues regarding their success within this company and industry. However, my biggest takeaways from these trips were the advice and guidance from attendees, which was invaluable.
After being a captive agent for seven and a half years, in early 2019 God gave me a revelation that to this day is still priceless. He instructed me to close my captive insurance agency and open an independent insurance agency so that I could help, serve and educate an even broader sector of the population.
At the end of 2019, I opened my own Black-Owned, Woman-Owned Independent Insurance Agency, Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC, in Arlington, Texas. While in the midst of opening my own independent insurance agency, I also acquired my Louisiana licenses as well. And opened a satellite location in Monroe, Louisiana. I’m currently dual insurance licensed to sell and solicit business in the states of Texas and Louisiana for Property & Casualty and Life & Health. In addition, I’m also seeking additional dual licenses in other states within the next three months. At the present time, I’m approaching my two-year work anniversary as being an independent insurance broker and having an independent insurance agency. I must admit: this feels amazing! I have been able to help a lot of clients — new and past clients — with all types of insurance products to help protect their assets, their families, and future goals. Furthermore, I help protect their businesses from unseen property claims and professional errors while making sure their employees are covered from incidents occurring in the workplace.
Within the year of 2021, God placed people in my life to expand my business even more. As a result, I’ve been able to launch a new division of my insurance agency as well as start an owner-operator trucking business. The first couple of months of 2021, I started a Sports and Entertainment division of my insurance agency — Heritage Insurance Brokerage (HIB) Sports and Entertainment. I have a Former International Basketball Player who runs this division and helps educate sports professionals about the importance of adding Permanent Total Disability/Loss of Value Insurance (PTD/LOV) to their portfolios. This insurance helps to protect their current and future assets. The main focus of this division is to target, ensure, and protect athletes/entertainers and their future earnings should they encounter temporary or permanent disability sports or entertainment related-injuries. The second business I started in 2021, Interlinking Transportation Company, is an owner-operator trucking business. Currently, it consists of one truck and one driver and is designed to travel nationally delivering goods from company to company. The main focus of this business is threefold: 1. To increase the number of trucks and drivers. 2. To provide willing drivers the opportunity to generate a good source of income. 3. To provide entrepreneurial opportunities to those wishing to enter the new owner-operator trucking business.
I’m extremely excited about the anticipated future growth, expansion, and success concerning my businesses: 1. Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC. 2. Heritage Insurance Brokerage (HIB) Sports and Entertainment division. 3. Interlinking Transportation Company.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has not been an easy road — not by any means. But it has, indeed, been worth its weight in gold and then some. My biggest passion in life is helping others. This is why my chosen path to entrepreneurship is a perfect path for me: it allows me to work in an industry where I can be of service to others every day. The struggles I’ve experienced include that of being a female — and African-American female — in a male-dominated insurance industry. Working capital will help expand my business, promote my business, and will allow me to hire more workers to help achieve goals I set for my insurance agency. Finding and acquiring funding for my small business — especially during the first couple of years — has been quite challenging as well. Although the journey has not been smooth, I would not change my experiences or pathway at any step during my process. There are two famous quotes I utilizes daily in implementing my entrepreneurial goals. They are as follows:
“Anything in life worth having is worth working for” – Andrew Carnegie
“Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others” – Danny Thomas
These quotes are the epitome of my work ethic, my daily motivation, and my drive.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC?
In my everyday professional life, I make a strong effort to ensure that I provide Beyond Exceptional customer service to every potential client, every current client, every business partner, and every personal or business referral that comes my way! Customer service and educating clients are very important to me both personally and professionally. Without doubt, my professional career and professional reputation mean a great deal to me. These are some of the foundational blocks that help me to build my company into a generational wealth tool that will provide resources for my extended family and as well as a pathway for others to follow in my footsteps. I saw an inspirational quote on Instagram that stated, “You will be the first millionaire in your family.” (Author Unknown) After seeing this post, I immediately felt inspired and geared to make this statement a reality for my life.
* Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC
* Heritage Insurance Insurance LLC – (HIB) Sports & Entertainment a division of Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC
* Interlinking Trucking Company
Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC derived from a vision from God and the desire to help and educate more people about insurance. In 2019, God gave me a vision to close my current captive insurance agency and start my own independent agency. Needless to say, this was a very scary thought and vision because it would mean stepping into the unknown and stepping out on faith. There were so many unknown factors surrounding my decision to proceed with my entrepreneurial goals, including:
* Not being fully convinced that closing my captive insurance agency at that time was the right decision
* Not knowing whether my current clients would follow me to my new agency
* Not knowing how I would make ends meet
* Not knowing where my new business would be located
* Not having experience on the independent side of insurance industry
All of those things weighed heavily on me. Just a lot of unknown factors — lurking in the wings —trying to kill my dreams and stunt my growth as an entrepreneur. BUT by the grace of God, I made the right decision to take that fork in the road less traveled. I started my own independent agency. This was the best career decision I’ve made since embarking on the insurance industry.
By now having become an independent agent/broker, I have been able to decrease the amount of stress in my everyday work life, help and educate more people about the various products in the insurance industry and most of all – be able to have an overall better way of life! As an independent insurance agent/broker, I can assist more clients with their challenges. I now have greater access to various insurance companies, thus, allowing me to better customize the best services and products that fit my customers’ needs.
Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC specializes in all personal lines as well of commercial lines of insurance:
* Renters Insurance
* Homeowners Insurance
* Mobile Homes
* Manufactured Homes
* Auto Insurance
* Motorcycle Insurance
* Watercrafts Auto Insurance (Boats, Jet Skis, etc.)
* Motorized Auto Insurance (Golf carts, Slingshots, etc.)
Commercial lines includes:
* General Liability Insurance
* Errors & Omissions Insurance
* Professional Liability Insurance
* Business Operating Insurance
* Business Tenant Insurance
* Worker’s Compensation Insurance
* Commercial Auto Insurance
* Commercial and Contract Surety Bonds
Last but certainly not less Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC, specializes in protecting YOU with Life & Health Insurance that includes:
* Individual and Family Term Life Insurance
* Individual and Family Whole Life Insurance
* Burial Life Insurance/Final Expense Life Insurance
* Individual and Family Universal Life Insurance
* Universal Index Life Insurance
* Living Benefits
* Annuities
* 401(k) Rollovers
* IRAs
I’m most passionate about Life & Health Insurance because of the personal coverage and financial options it provides to both individuals and families. The absence of life insurance in people’s lives can lead to catastrophic effects in families that could lead to financial burdens on remaining family members after the uninsured family member’s death.
On the Commercial side, Life Insurance can be used to help secure High Net Worth Executives, it also protect Key Persons within business/organization as well as Partnership Agreements.
And lastly, Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC specializes in Health Insurance/Supplemental (individual and group/small business coverage). Most recently we introduced a new product line (PTD/LOV) Permanent Total Disability Insurance and Loss of Value Insurance. These two lines fall under the HIB Sports and Entertainment division of the insurance brokerage. This division of my agency will provide information and estimates on how much it would cost to protect athletes and entertainers from unseen injuries that potentially hinder their professionals careers.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Personally, in the next 5-10 years, I see the insurance industry continuing to grow in the realm of the Personal Property Insurance side as more people age to the point of purchasing cars, renting or purchasing houses and/or apartments. Also as people increase their awareness of securing their assets and how insurance policies can protect their assets and belongings from unseen incidents. I also foresee an increase in Commercial Insurance as more and more people are transitioning out of the corporate world and into entrepreneurship. Needless to say, more people will need the protection of insurance for their newly formed and also established businesses. And lastly, I personally feel that the acquisition of Life Insurance will increase as more people gain greater knowledge of the advantages of life insurance in the following areas: 1. Assisting with final expenses and burial costs 2. Utilizing Living Benefits Insurance to help people during their lifetime while they are living 3. Using annuities to add to their investment portfolios.
Insurance is an unique advantageous tool designed to protect YOU — the CONSUMER — and your current and future assets. And mostly, how insurance can be used with your BEST interest in mind!
Now that you have read my story on how my journey began into the entrepreneurial world, some of the more bigger struggles I experienced and overcame on the pathway to entrepreneurship, the many lines of personal insurance lines, commercial insurance lines, and life and health insurance products my independent insurance agency offer and sell, Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC.
The newly form and very exciting division of my independent insurance agency, Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC (HIB) Sports and Entertainment.
And lastly, the most recent new business venture I have embarked on, Interlinking Transportation Company, a Black-owned and Woman-owned trucking company.
I would love to speak with you, be your new insurance agent or even help you ship your company’s goods or products across the country. Please see my contact information below:
Heritage Insurance Brokerage LLC & HIB Sports and Entertainment division
2000 East Lamar Blvd.
Suite 600
Arlington, TX 76006
817-765-2099 (Office)
www.HeritageInsuranceTX.com (Website)
Heather@HeritageInsuranceTX.com (Email Address)
Interlinking Transportation Company
Heather.InterlinkingCo@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Email: Heather@HeritageInsuranceTX.com
- Website: https://www.HeritageInsuranceTX.com
- Instagram: @Heritage_Insurance_TX
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeritageInsuranceBrokerage
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HJeffersonAgcy
Image Credits
Jennifer Williams
Zeretha Jenkins
Freda J. Hoston
