Inspiring Conversations with Analisa Cleland of Coto Financial

Today we’d like to introduce you to Analisa Cleland.

Hi Analisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in the insurance industry. I spent my summers as a teen working for my dad’s agency. I had no intention of going into this business. I graduated college with a biology degree and began working in the medical devices, then pharmaceutical sales. When I was on maternity leave with my second child, my position was eliminated. Rather than take a job that would have me away from my newborn for weeks at a time, I decided to transition into the insurance industry. When I started, things were very different. Health insurance was not guaranteed acceptance, it was a cumbersome process and involved a lot of calls to underwriters. A few years in, the affordable care act was passed and this changed everything as we knew it. I went from earning commission to being paid a fraction of what I made previously. Many agents left the industry and how we sold individual health changed. I was able to make the transition and write a high volume of business due to the guaranteed nature of policies. I soon became a top producer but knew that I needed to offer my clients more than just health insurance. I wanted to offer life, disability, and long-term care insurance to service my clients as I felt they deserved. It was not an easy task to find another place that valued clients and worked hard to do the right thing for them as I was accustomed. After years of research and finding the wrong agencies, I finally found Coto Financial. Through working with them and with the agency owner, Vicki Gunvalson, I have the perfect opportunity to offer my clients everything they need. I’m very fortunate that Vicki is an expert in areas that I’m not. I’m comfortable having her assist my clients so that they receive the best service possible while meeting the ethical standards that we value.

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?
Definitely not smooth! With the passing of the affordable care act, I had to adapt to a different type of selling quickly. I also had to figure out a way to increase my customer base to make the kind of money that I was making previously. I also struggled to find an agency that aligned with my values. I found far too many agencies that wanted to push every client into the same box, completely ignoring what was best for the client. These agencies did not like when I would question what I was doing. Thankfully I found my place with an agency that fits not only mine but my client’s needs and I have been very happy working there for the past almost six years now

We’ve been impressed with Coto Financial, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Coto Financial and Insurance Services. We offer a wide assortment of insurance and financial products for individuals as well as business owners. At Coto Financial, we are able to offer over 300 different companies and because of that, our clients know that we will always find the best plan for their needs, not our own. Between my associate, Vicki Gunvalson, and myself, we have over 50 years of successful licensed experience in our industry. The longevity of the company speaks to the values, you don’t stay in business when you don’t treat clients well

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s hard to say, many are pushing for universal healthcare, so that is always a possibility. With the job market the way it currently is, employers are seeing the need to offer benefits to attract and maintain valuable employees.

There is an even greater demand for retirement planning with the aging population and Coto specializes in that as well.