Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Zimmerman.
Hi Rachel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After serving in the US Navy, I came home and went to college at SIUE. I took a job at JCPenney while in college and ended up joining their management program right out of college. Over the next 10 years, I went from Alton, IL to Columbia, MO, to Joplin, MO and finally St. Peters, MO. I loved my job and thought I would retire from JCPenney eventually with a nice pension and all the normal things.
During the recession, we were all very scared for our jobs but as 2008, 2009 and 2010 passed it seemed we were okay. In 2011, I was in the first round of lay-offs. I never saw it coming, Everything came as a whirlwind. It seemed as soon as the lay-offs started, they were everywhere. I applied for jobs everywhere I could but everyone was laying people off so there weren’t many jobs to get.
I ended up doing a interview with a national supplemental employee benefits company and was sold on the pitch. The problem was, I was not a commission sales person and I had no real desire to be an insurance broker. I was mentally blocking the entire idea. But with no jobs, I didn’t really have any other options, so I gave it a try. I worked odd jobs like setting up wedding linens and such the first year to make ends meet. I gave up my apartment and moved in with family. It was a really tough time, I lost everything. The second year, I started cocktail waitressing evenings at Hollywood Casino and things got better. I would sell insurance during the day and waitress in the evenings while I got my business off the ground.
In the first couple of years, my heart wasn’t really in it and I was still looking for retail jobs to apply for. But over time, I was able to help people. Really help people. In addition, the Affordable Care Act was launching and I was able to help business owners understand what it all really meant. Everything changes when you start to feel like you’re truly helping people.
Over time, I started selling for additional insurance carriers, I started offering small group employee benefits packages, then adding individual health insurance. After about 5 years in, I decided it was time to start putting my business name on my cards instead of these insurance carriers. Zimmerman Benefits was born and has grown exponentially since then. I’ve now been in business nearly 15 years and am launching a course to help others become independent health insurance brokers like me. I’ve built a really great life and am hoping I can help others build a life they love as well by helping people.
In addition to health insurance, I am on the Leadership team for the Arnold MO chapter of Little Black Book: Women in Business. I helped bring LBB to Jefferson County and was the President of the chapter the first 2 1/2 years. I’m now the Programming Liaison.
I also founded a ladies Scuba diving club called Midwest Mermaids Scuba to help bring awareness that there IS Scuba diving in the Midwest and encourage women to get certified. The biggest problem for women in diving is that it is highly male dominated and finding female buddies to dive with is often difficult. Our Facebook group pf 1200 women helps to solve this.
In my free time, I am a Scuba instructor for LifeWaters, an organization that helps Veterans, First Responders, and civilians with disabilities learn to Scuba dive. We work with all ranges of disabilities from PTSD to quadriplegia. I also take care of their social media and website.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Zimmerman Benefits?
We offer small business employee benefits and individual health insurance. Health insurance is generally the largest expense for businesses and can be a family’s largest expense as well (sometimes second to mortgage). But most people don’t understand it. They choose something because they have to but don’t really know that it’s the best option or how it works. I take a very educational approach, with small businesses and individuals. I want to take the time to make sure they understand what their options are and why the one they’re choosing is the best for them.
What I am most proud of is that I have been able to build a career/life that allows me to give so much back to the community and empower other women to build a similar life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m not sure it’s luck, but I tell everyone the best thing to ever happen in my career is getting fired from JCPenney. Obviously, I didn’t know that at the time, but if not for that, I’d still be stocking shelves and running registers.
The other piece of luck came when a friend invited me to an insurance conference in Texas. She had someone in her group cancel last minute and had an extra ticket. That conference is where I first learned about the power of social media marketing. Implementing a strong social media marketing plan has completely changed my business.
Pricing:
- BUILD BRAND BROKER Course $497 but initial launch sale pricing is $197
- Individual modules may be purchased at $97 each (originally $197)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zimmermanbenefits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zimmermanbenefits
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZimmermanBenefits/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zimmerman-benefits/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zimmermanbenefits
