My Hero Story- Please Review

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- May 31, 2018 at 6:28 pm #12857
 Robert Eldridge
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 @robertvegas88@gmail.com
 My Hero Story!
 
 Headline: How I lost Everything and I clawed my way back by helping businesses.
 My Story:
 My name is Robert Eldridge and I am going to be 100% real with you. I have been in the Insurance & Finance field for over 20 years now and in 2008, my life changed. We’ve all heard stories of people losing EVERYTHING and how they make a miraculous comeback, right? Here’s my story.
 I was a thriving and successful insurance producer, making a six-figure income. I was living what we call the American Dream. I owned two homes, two cars, had a fiancé, and a loving loyal dog named Baileys.
 1st Setback
 It all started in 2008 when the stock market tanked. I was laid off almost immediately. Then the domino effect started. I was now living off my savings and unemployment. I was faced with making VERY difficult choices like, eating or paying bills. Since we cannot survive without food, I chose to eat. Long story short, I lost my homes. I also had to sell my favorite toy in the world, my Mustang Shelby. I cannot describe the sadness I was feeling. And as if it couldn’t get any worse; in a 30-day period, I lost my grandmother and my beloved Baileys. I lost everything. There are no words to describe my anguish and sorrow.
 I all but gave up on life. I felt like a complete failure and that life was not worth living.
 I’m one of those people who are very organized and I do everything in a timely fashion. I’m never late for work, I call back the people I say I will call. I show up to meetings and functions on time. I paid bills sometimes before they arrived in the mail. So, the thought of not knowing how I was going to pay the bills made me sick to my stomach. I was sick to the point where I couldn’t get out of bed some days.
 In the afternoons, I hated going to my mailbox because I was afraid of what might be waiting for me. An eviction notice? A utility disconnection notice? It was dreadful.
 When people talk about college kids eating Ramen noodles in their dorm rooms, that was my reality.
 One day, I remember sitting in my living room with my head in my hands and I clearly heard a little voice say: “You’re not Done Yet!”
 That voice was as clear as a bell on Sunday morning and I immediately sat up straight. A warm feeling came over me. It felt very soothing and good. Up until this point, I only felt despair. I can’t explain it but that voice…that feeling, shifted EVERYTHING in me.
 Pretty soon I was no longer afraid to think of the future. In fact, I started thinking of forming my own insurance agency. That’s right, I was broke and wanting to start a business! Days later, I signed up for an internet marketing class. This one decision changed my situation, forever.
 I ran into a few old associates from my former work life. As we began to small talk, I was asked “what’s new”. I smiled as I was very proud to say that I’m starting an agency and it will be a completely online business. They all kind of grinned…or maybe they were trying hard to keep from laughing? Anyway, one guy said, “I was going to die on the vine.”
 I’ll never forget those words. Those words cut deep. He said that to a person who literally had nothing, but hope. His words sparked a fire deep within my soul. That fire gave me the drive to continue with full force.
 I eventually scraped together enough money to purchase a small digital video camera and I wrote and produced over 500 training videos ranging from Retirement, Annuities, Health Insurance, and Trusts.
 And then a peculiar thing happened, I was being contacted by people from all over the world regarding their questions and issues.
 It was amazing to me. There I was in my home office, and I was having conversations with people I never met.
 I started gaining new clients weekly. It seemed unreal and I lost myself in the moment.
 Within 6 months, I was able to claw myself back to some resemblance of my former self.
 2nd Setback
 Eventually, the Affordable Care Act took effect and I lost interest in Group Health Insurance. The ACA took all the fun out of that line of insurance.
 The term “Affordable” is a relative term. When I would go on appointments, I would see individuals paying essentially a healthy mortgage payment for a $5,000 deductible plan.
 Employers struggled between costs and benefits and many of my friends were laid off because of it. Most of the time, employers would hire part-time employees so that they wouldn’t have to pay for healthcare benefits.
 Employers also dreaded the annual renewal periods, having to deal with different geographical locations, and meeting participation percentage guidelines.
 Oh, and trying to keep insurance premiums “affordable” for their employees.
 A New Beginning
 Although I lost interest in group health insurance I was still being contacted by employers. They spoke with a common theme. They all shared their disdain for insurance companies. The rising cost of health care and the law that mandates them to provide coverage to employees had them all looking for alternative strategies.
 Do you remember that fiancé that I mentioned at the beginning of my story? Well, she never left. She stayed with me through the roughest time of my life and now she is my wife. Imagine that?!
 She too is in the insurance industry and one day she came home saying her company is going to revolutionize the health care world. Well, ok honey…revolutionize is a big statement, I said. I admit she had my attention.
 (Who doesn’t want to be a part of a real-life revolution?!)
 My wife is a healthcare analyst so she can make a long story even longer. However, I know how to get to the point.
 So, in a nutshell, this company eliminates yearly renewal headaches, no more geographical location issues, no more participation problems, and gives the employer more control of their healthcare decisions.
 Employers also keep 100% of their underwriting gains. The underwriting gains are 100% profit to the health insurance companies.
 I asked her what this program is called, and she said a “Self-Insured Captive.”
 That is when I had the “ah ha” moment!
 I was finally able to show businesses that they don’t have to keep expecting +15% rate increases year after year.
 Their rates can remain steady, and they can keep the unused claims funds.
 Imagine a world where changing the status quo for businesses would change the way businesses deal with health insurance companies.
 After many hours of research and training, I learned some simple truths. Like; “You are your claims”. If you have an unhealthy population, you will receive large renewal increases. But even so, how much of that increase does the insurance company keep after paying claims? Do you know your real claims cost? How would you like to keep the money above claims paid?
 I decided to reach out to a friend who owns a large multi-state business. I was curious to get his thoughts on this. He suggested we set up call with his team.
 After speaking with the CFO, & CPA, on the phone, and running through their “real” numbers; I showed them how to fund their health insurance premiums and showed them projections of the underwriting gains over a period of time.
 They could also expect some additional tax deductions according to IRS regulations.
 The response I received from the CFO, “This is too good to be true.”
 Yeah, it kind of is but, this is how revolutions start. Look at Uber, they turned the taxi industry on its back.
 Taking Action:
 After a few weeks of back and forth phone calls, the company took action.
 Fast forward 4 months, the group was running smoothly, the entity was set up properly, and now the HR department does not dread the renewal season, because there is NO renewal season. And no more multiple policies to cover the out of state employees. It’s ONE policy for all.
 The C suite employees were also happy that they were no longer sending monthly checks to an insurance company.
 The employees are happy to keep the same or better coverage. A win-win for everyone.
 Closing
 As I continued to help people and businesses with financial and insurance decisions, I was able to expand my business and bring on new agents.
 I purchased a beautiful new house, and I started a Non-Profit company which pays for Veterans to go to rehab for their drug addictions.
 Today, when I open my refrigerator and see food and drinks, a strong feeling of gratitude takes a hold of me.
 And remember the old associates I ran into years earlier, who smirked at my idea of an online agency? They too have been laid off, and had to start over. Some tried their hand at self-employment and some are still trying.
 It’sfunny how life turns out. Just when life kicks you in the gut and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, things turn around and it will take you to places you never dreamed of.
 If you would like to know more about the “Self-Insured Captive” program and think it’s too good to be true, watch the webinar or give me a call.
 Robert Eldridge
 702-749-4369
 robert@montridgeinsurance.com
- June 1, 2018 at 11:36 am #12917
 Halle Eavelyn
 Moderator
 @halle@coredm.com
 @robert-eldridge, can you possibly post this as an attachment? It’s almost impossible to read – not your fault – the program’s added all this HTML code for some reason.
 
 Re. your headline, please consider changing clawed to rose, or grew, or something like that. Clawed is an ugly word that might speak ill of your character to some people. Make sense?
 
 You can attach the file below in your reply. Thank you!!
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