Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Booty.
Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My career path has certainly been colorful! I graduated from Texas A&M University with a BA in Speech Communication. After graduation, while trying to figure out how to use my degree, I got a job with ARCO Oil and Gas working in their domestic and international crude oil marketing department. I really enjoyed the energy, the diversity, and the complexity of the job. Unfortunately, after five years, ARCO went out of business and I found myself looking for my next opportunity. I spent the next ten years working for several small companies, including a few start-ups. I enjoyed these jobs as I got exposure to roles other than my day job, which gave me a deeper insight to the day-to-day operations of a small company.
In 2000, once again, the company I was working for unexpectedly shut down. In a late afternoon meeting, the entire staff was let go without any severance pay. This was both a curse and a blessing and proved to be a pivotal moment in my career. Because of the loss of that job, I did not go through with purchasing a house I really did not want; I discovered a new and satisfying career in special education, and I ultimately purchased a house I really did want!
I spent 14 years in special education working with high school students and young adults with learning disabilities. I began as a reading teacher and eventually became a department chair of special education. During those years, I discovered my passion for helping and educating young adults.
In 2012 I finally found and married the love of my life, David. We adopted two kittens and purchased a home together in East Dallas. Unfortunately, we both worked in Plano, so we spent a lot of time away from our home and our crazy schedules kept us from knowing our neighbors and being part of the community. Thus, the year 2015 brought some amazing changes to our lives. I made the important decision to re-prioritize and focus on what was important to me and my marriage. Step 1: I resigned from my job so I could spend more time closer to home. It was scary at the time, but it was the start of an amazing journey. I learned to go after what I am passionate about. Step 2: I became involved in the community doing volunteer work, working with both the SPCA of Texas and Ebby House, a home for young women who have aged out of foster care. Step 3: I fulfilled my goal of becoming a master gardener, and more importantly, Step 4: David and I built relationships with our neighbors. Overall, our lives became more meaningful.
In 2018 I decided to return to full-time employment. During my volunteer work, I met and came to know someone who was a health insurance agent. It was her love and enthusiasm about her profession that led me to consider a career as a health insurance agent. She encouraged me to step out and challenge myself. In August of 2018, I got my license and have not regretted this decision. This allows me to fulfill not only my passion for helping people but also of educating them about what they truly need. Health insurance is always changing, and it can be complicated, but I enjoy the learning and challenges this provides.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No! Becoming a health insurance agent was a difficult decision. The industry is quite different from my career in special education; however, the work is, in some ways, the same. I do not interact with a team the same way I did in the past, but I do get to interact with clients and help and educate them.
A real struggle for me is being my own my own boss. I’ve had to learn different time management strategies and become much better at prioritization. Now I’m the one setting deadlines and I can’t do everything!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I work for IHC Specialty Benefits. I absolutely love the company and the people I work with. We are not just teammates. We are a family. The people in the company care about the success of their agents and provide exceptional support and training. I cannot say enough positive things about IHC Specialty Benefits. I feel blessed to work with them. As a health and life specialist, I work with people under and over 65, helping individuals, families, and small groups find the best health solutions for their needs and budget. Something that sets me apart from other agents is the fact that I am a broker, which means I work with multiple carriers and multiple products. This allows me to offer a broad range of products and solutions to my clients, which supports me as I build relationships with my clients and work to become their resource for health benefits.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a very small community on a small farm. Initially, it was a difficult adjustment, coming from a larger town and having close neighbors, but it didn’t take long until I fell in love with the country. I felt like I knew everyone and became involved in 4-H, church, and numerous school clubs. Growing up, we always had a garden and we had a lot of animals, so this helped foster my love plants, cooking, and taking care of four-legged babies. I love the outdoors, just put me outside and I’m happy. Now in Dallas, White Rock Lake in an integral part of my daily life. When I married living close to the lake was my one requirement. I’m out at the lake almost daily to run, walk, or cycle. Seeing the sunrise is a great way to start my day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ihcsba.insxcloud.com/my-quote/individual-info/index?ref=Umt5ZTRDUGlzK3lLZWpScWhCZDZXdz09&lang=en
- Phone: 214-695-3276
- Email: lbooty@ihcsb.com
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