When Johnnie Poore started partnering with Empower Brokerage over three years ago, he had already been selling life insurance for 10 years. Looking to learn about Medicare sales, Johnnie came into contact with Senior Benefits Specialist John Shinn. Mr. Poore credits John for guiding and educating him during Mr. Shinn’s weekly Wednesday meetings and making Empower feel like home. Johnnie further states that Mr. Shinn wants to help agents succeed and has become a friend. “Basically, John Shinn is the man. He’s the one who wrapped his wing around me, and made me comfortable, and made sure I knew everybody [at Empower].” Johnnie found Empower Brokerage to be a strong field marketing organization thanks to supportive staff and effective mentorship, setting the stage for his ongoing growth. But Johnnie’s insurance career journey began even earlier.
Flashback to 2015, before selling insurance: Johnnie Poore sold home improvement products. Once the financial market took a tumble, Johnnie knew he had to find a new career to support his family. A buddy of his was already getting his feet wet in the insurance business, so Johnie was interested in learning more about the field and studying it. The possibility of earning residual income from his sales intrigued Mr. Poore enough to earn his life and health license that year.
Finding the right FMO allowed Johnnie to expand his book of business. He also believes the way Empower Brokerage is structured provides agents with the right tools and resources they need to succeed. The California agent states that those who contract with Empower step into an ideal situation with a staff that takes agents by the hand, walks them through their problems, and helps them find solutions. Many great mentors exist at Empower Brokerage and are eager to assist and guide agents. For instance, the organization’s Regional Sales Directors (RSDs) are a dedicated group of individuals who focus on coaching, recruiting, and supporting agents in their respective regions. Johnnie feels he has an “awesome” RSD in Codey Loveless, who services the California, Nevada, and Arizona markets. “Codey is very good at what he does,” says Mr. Poore. He further describes how Mr. Loveless will make an effort to step out of meetings to return his calls and even call him back during his personal time.
As an independent insurance agent, it is beneficial to have a solid list of clients you regularly meet with to maintain your career. Yet, seeking out new clients is also a healthy way to preserve and increase your book of business. Johnnie likes to get in his car, enjoy the day, and see how many Fact Finder forms he can fill out for the day. Thanks to Empower Brokerage’s free leads program, Johnnie has an abundance of leads to follow up with and visit. He travels house to house, politely greeting those individuals. Like a wise agent, he does not like to pressure people, so he offers them customized marketing materials provided by Empower Brokerage and asks if he can return later in the afternoon for a free, no-obligation Medicare review. Very often, Johnnie finds this no-pressure approach yielding positive results for his business.
Selling insurance can be challenging, but being an advocate for people motivates Johnnie to continue doing his job. “I really love helping people,” says Johnnie. “I love taking care of people. Making sure they are happy. That’s the only reason I’m doing this.” For this California agent, his career does not feel like work. He enjoys his role and has made it a fun journey.
Advice and Hobbies
Of course, Johnnie says he would advise agents to partner with Empower Brokerage and use the organization’s resources, including the customized marketing materials and lead programs. Doing so, as Johnnie Poore and John Shinn say, is a gold nugget for agents. Johnnie also states that agents should not be afraid to sit down at a public place where seniors are likely to congregate. He says agents should mind their own business, open up their laptops, begin working, and let people come up to them. Usually, agents will find that their presence attracts people to them. Seniors begin asking questions about what the agent does for a living, and that opens the door for conversation. That, Johnnie says, is another gold nugget.
Everyone needs time to relax outside of work, and Johnnie does so. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren, whom he calls his “pride and joy.” Mr. Poore also likes outdoor activities, including fishing and hunting. Additionally, he treasures his two friendly bulldogs, who have also helped him meet new customers with their kind demeanor.
Johnnie’s diligent insurance sales efforts have certainly brought him much success and transformed his life over the last decade. He is quite forthcoming in sharing his story and is happy to give credit to Empower Brokerage and its team for working with him on this venture.
Agents
We hope that this agent spotlight on Johnnie Poore is interesting to you.
Empower Brokerage is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions about your health and finances. Whether it’s through webinar training, one-on-one calls, seminars, or marketing plans, we want you to be successful!
Give us a call at 888-539-1633 or leave a comment below if you have any questions.
Quick links: