Life and Work with Grace Kennedy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Kennedy.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Grace. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up outside of Hudson, CO out in the middle of nowhere, on 70 acres. I am a competitive equestrian in my free time and run a blog related to my dressage training and horse lifestyle. I went to CU Denver and studied Public Health and then found myself working as an Allstate Insurance Agent right out of college. I was fortunate to work for a very established agency where I could learn the ins and outs of sales and customer service. We were one of the top-rated agencies for customer service in the state. In 2017, I was recognized as one of the top producers in the region. After four years, I decided to take the leap and branch out to become an independent insurance broker. This meant, that not only was I starting from zero, but I had way more options for my clients since I’m not tied to one company. A huge benefit is that I can shop insurance rates for my customer, which saves them time, and they can build a long-lasting relationship with me as their broker.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Since starting out on my own as an independent broker there’s a lot of ups and downs. I had to start building my own sales pipeline. One struggle was figuring out the best way to market me. I began by doing as much networking as I could. I would find facebook events to attend and just get my face out there and talking to people. I really focused on building my social media for insurance. One thing I noticed is not a lot of brokers focus on that and it seemed like a really untapped resource. So, I create my own content and post videos, giving everyone insurance tips. I always believe the more you give, the more you get back. Which is true whether you are out networking or on social media.

Please tell us about Direct Insurance Services.
I write insurance for homeowners, auto, boat, umbrella, rental properties, business liability, etc in Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada. I am known for my expertise in explaining and making sure my clients have the right coverage for their needs. I make sure they are able to understand how their insurance coverages work in the easiest way possible. I pride myself on my customer service and being able to answer any questions whether or not I am your insurance agent/broker.

What sets me apart is that I am not tied to 1 insurance company. I save my clients time by being able to shop their insurance for them between all my 15+ A-rated insurance companies to find them the best deal. Rate increases happen, so I have an amazing account management team that will automatically shop their insurance each year if they see a rate increase. That way they are assured they are getting the best rates with my brokerage.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
“7L: The Seven Levels of Communication: Go From Relationships to Referrals” Michael J. Maher

I rely on the app HubSpot daily!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 303-807-4410
• Email: grace@directinsservices.com
• Instagram: @gkennedyinsurance
• Facebook: @graceatdirectinsservices

Image Credit:
Horse photo: Rachel and Greg Photography, other: Bill Murf

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