Suzilla: Family Business Podcast

Ready for the New Year?

Around Wenatchee Insurance we are. 

Yes, the Lunar New Year occurs on Saturday. We have gone through the fires of 2023 and are looking forward to the New Year and the prosperity that comes with it. We have been laying the groundwork for the last couple of weeks to begin hatching. New Year, New us.

It takes time for renewal. What have you set up for prosperity in 2024?

Life is a game of trust

As insurance professionals, we work with trust. Customers have to recognize that you have a product that will work in their darkest hours. We build trust just the same way that we tear it down. Here comes an exercise in trust.

We are going to talk to about Veterans and America today.

We are going to talk about being a Veteran in America on Veterans Day. There is predatory marketing that takes place, an IG moment or two and then we are used as political talking points to take away helping others. We are getting real with our office Veteran.

Civic duty is important

After running the enrollment center with the Washington Healthplanfinder for the last six years, we know a little about giving back. In the age of people running to jury duty, maybe we need to make a 180 and run to it. Instead of making a difference one day a year how about making a difference a week or daily? Community engagement goes beyond Instagram moments. It’s why animal clubs are dwindling or don’t maintain beyond social commitments. Let’s add community meaning.

Supporting the arts is important for business

While STEM gets a lot of play, what doesn’t get enough talk is supporting the arts in school. We use a heck of a lot of art and we run an insurance agency. My hands are bricks and it doesn’t stop me from supporting and appreciating art. This is where kids get to explore their creativity which drives genius and empathy. As business owners our next partner, employee, or client will probably come from the arts.

Energize your fall

Fall is an exciting time of the year around here. Kids in school, Football, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Black Friday Specials, Dances, Open Enrollment, Halloween. Setting up for winter We are going to talk about energizing your life, your family, and your business during this episode.

If you want to last then you need to adapt and evolve.

After 12 years of running an insurance business, I can say one thing. There is no perfect customer, employee, or business model. Every year I set a plan and make adjustments. We are going to get into making adjustments so that you can fly. 

The first rule that we work with is to get out of your business and do events. 

Scheduling is Critical to growth.

Scheduling is critical when you do Health Insurance and you are looking at hundreds of appointments in a few weeks. We just dropped a little over $500 for our Calendar program for the year and it is worth every penny. 

In the last couple of years, we have heard complaints about supply chain shortages. Some of that comes from scheduling. I went to see three different tattoo artists.  I literally spent four days tracking down artists and attempting to schedule a new piece with cash in hand. 

How many hours have you spent waiting on your doctor for an appointment? 

All businesses rely on scheduling. Some are for clients and some are for resources for your business. 

If you rely on booking appointments, then you want to dial in.

Health Insurance regardless of Immigration status in Washington State.

We have been assisting with health insurance since the beginning of the ACA. The first year I had a ton of people with ITINs and tax returns seeking to purchase health insurance. Because of how the ACA was written they were eventually denied coverage. Later in 2017 during a rules change the Dreamers were also denied using the Healthplanfinder for coverage.

It all changes on November 1,2023, when we began enrolling immigrants regardless of status on the Healthplanfinder. They may be eligible for state credits and not federal however it is a start. The plans will start on January 1, 2024.

The information stays in the state system, so in-person assistors will be working hard to verify applications. This will keep the information private however it does mean that enrollments will take longer. 

July 1, 2024, those making less than 138% of poverty will be eligible for Apple Health on a first come first serve basis. We are recommending that everyone interested in selecting appointments early as the enrollment period ends January 15, 2024. 

Goals, Bonuses,& Prizes the most used and abused tools of businesses.

It is an important time to talk about the three big mechanics of delayed gratification. This is how you build teams and experiences. These are powerful building tools when used correctly. When mishandled then it becomes destructive.