Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Tomlinson.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
So on a windy day in a dark ally! Just joking…. After spending over 15 years in corporate America, I suddenly found myself without work following a disagreement with the CEO I supported. What followed was one of the toughest seasons of my life—six months of unemployment, living off savings, and facing rejection after rejection for being “overqualified.” At one point, I was willing to take any job just to help my wife with the bills, all while we were in the process of fostering my great-nieces. The possibility of them being separated into different foster homes weighed heavily on me, and I knew I had to find a way forward.
Then, one phone call changed everything. An insurance company invited me to interview, impressed by my background. I remember telling my wife, “I’ve never been a salesman in my life—how am I going to sell insurance?” She simply said, “What do you have to lose?”
That opportunity opened the door to a new career path. I quickly learned that success in insurance wasn’t about selling—it was about educating. By teaching people how insurance can protect their families and strengthen their financial future, I built trust and lasting relationships. That philosophy has led me to where I am today: running my own brokerage.
When clients sit down with me, they know they won’t face a stressful, high-pressure sales pitch. Instead, they leave with confidence and understanding—knowing exactly what they’re investing their hard-earned money into, and why it matters for their future.
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?
My journey into the insurance world has been anything but easy. Anyone who has ever tried to build a career in this industry knows it requires time, money, and patience. It is not a profession where you see immediate cash flow or overnight success. Instead, it demands persistence, long hours, and the willingness to invest in building a foundation that will last.
When I first started, I had no savings to fall back on. That financial pressure weighed on me, and the doubts began to creep in. I often asked myself if I had made the right choice or if I was chasing something too far out of reach. At the same time, I knew that taking the safer route — working for an insurance company as an hourly employee — would not fulfill me. While that path might have allowed me to learn the business faster, it would also have meant treating customers like numbers instead of people, and worse, I would be building someone else’s business instead of my own.
The challenge was not just financial — it was deeply personal. Like many who have built something meaningful, my background has not always been easy. I came from circumstances that forced me to be stronger and more determined than I ever thought possible. Those hardships became my training ground. They taught me that setbacks are temporary, but perseverance builds character.
Every obstacle I’ve faced has shaped me into who I am today. I may not have had a smooth road, but I’ve learned to push through the doubt, to adapt when things don’t go as planned, and to keep moving forward. This journey has given me not only resilience but also the conviction that I am building more than a business — I am building a legacy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
When I set out to create BAJM Agency, I knew I didn’t want to be limited to representing a single company. Through my research, I realized that working with just one carrier meant clients only had access to a narrow set of products and services. That didn’t align with my vision. Instead, I built BAJM as a brokerage, so when someone asks me which company I represent, my answer is: “Would you like me to list them all? Because there are quite a few.”
Our clients deserve choices, because no single company is the right fit for every individual or family. At BAJM Agency, we currently provide Medicare, Health, Life, Dental, Vision, and Annuity products. And we’re growing. In 2026, we’ll expand into Property & Casualty, offering Home, Auto, and Commercial insurance, as well as Travel Agency services—making BAJM a one-stop resource for both insurance and vacation needs.
Beyond products, one of the most valuable services we offer is education. We take time to guide our clients, answer their questions, and ensure they feel confident in their decisions. Our approach is built on building personal, lasting relationships—our clients are never just numbers, they are names, faces, and families we genuinely care for.
The name BAJM reflects that commitment to family. It was originally formed from the initials of my wife, myself, and our first two children, and it has since grown along with our family of five. At BAJM Agency, family is everything—and we treat every client like part of ours.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
God, Attitude towards others, enjoying what life has to offer, Family is highly important, Time is essential, Success is surrounding yourself around people likeminded and positive, When you fail don’t take it as the end but as a learning curve and build from it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bajmprotection.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikes_great_world_of_life?igsh=cmU1czAwMG1sYmRt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/BAJM-Agency/61559694994577/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-tomlinson-0243b917a
- Other: https://sunnydays.globaltravel.com/
