Success Stories - Secure American Insurance

LANCE LEIVESTAD FEATURE

time to grow. I was scared of being an insurance agent because I never wanted to be a salesperson. But then, I decided this was something I could start investing in to take care of people. Plus, insurance was one of the few fields with stability. There is value in having income over and over long term by getting paid every year on a policy for the next 20 years, or however long I keep a customer.” With the support of his wife, Jacquie, he decided to slowly build an insurance business while still working as a contractor on the side. Lance flourished at American National; however, after nearly two years, the company made a change that Lance couldn’t go along with ethically. “I exited American National when their premiums went through the roof,” Lance said. “My dad gave me a come-to-Jesus’ meeting and said, ‘Son, I love you, but I’m not going to pay a 170% rate increase this year. I’m going to have to shop for insurance.’ I didn’t know what direction I was going to go, so I just put it in God’s hands.” Building Success as an Independent Agent In 2010, Lance started his own agency as an independent insurance agent with Secure American Insurance, becoming the first agent to sign up with the company founded by his mentor, Joe Duncan. “The first time I met Joe, my mom was in the other room and recognized Joe’s voice,” Lance recalled. “It turned out my mom had worked with Joe at Prudential Insurance years earlier. My mom said Joe was probably the most

ethical agent there. If it wasn’t the right place for the business, he would not do it. That reassured me that I was aligning myself with the correct people when I began working for American National. So, when I found out Joe was starting his own company, Secure American Insurance, with his ethics and how he believes in Christ, I knew he was going to do the right thing. Even if it means it’s not going to make him money, I knew he is going to do it right. I can stand by somebody who believes in that and has strong beliefs, which is why I wanted to join him. When you’re putting your trust in somebody to help you grow your business, I think it's important that you have somebody like Joe in your corner.” “For me, it took about 3 to 5 years to really see things come around, but when it did, it’s been such a blessing,” Lance said. “We’ve grown significantly over the years, and I’ve never looked back.” Lance's agency grew organically by focusing on taking care of clients rather than commissions. Today, Lance’s Secure American Insurance Agency in Loveland, Colorado, is a multi-million-dollar company, affording him the freedom to spend more time with his family and engage in activities he loves. Ten Tips From Lance On How To Grow A Thriving Insurance Agency 1. Be An Educator, Not A Salesperson

A After graduating, Lance worked his way up at Albertsons grocery stores, eventually running multiple locations. But when the company wasn’t willing to pay him a reasonable wage for the work he was doing, he quit. “I was running two stores but only getting paid to run one store,” Lance explained. “It was too much work for too little compensation, so my father and I went into the home-building business together.” But in 2008, the housing market crash left Lance at a crossroads. “When the market fell out, I had four kids at four different schools. I was the one taking the kids to school, and there’s no job that would allow that flexibility,” he said. “I considered becoming a real estate agent, but it was similar to being a contractor in that when the job’s done, you get paid once, and that’s it.” Though initially resistant to the idea of being an insurance agent, Lance saw an opportunity to truly help people and began working for American National Insurance in 2008. “Joe Duncan, who worked for American National at the time, interviewed me and requested my wife be there too,” Lance said. “Afterward, I realized he was trying to help me understand if this was the right career path. He was transparent about how the company works, how an agency works, and how it takes

When Lance’s family moved to Colorado during his high school years, he discovered a different

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