Timeliness is everything

One of the things in life you can’t get back is your time. It’s our unrenewable resource. We’re all human, and sometimes we run a few minutes behind schedule or forget to look at the clock, but when you have to spend time waiting for others, it’s frustrating. And in the voluntary benefits business, especially as a former broker myself – timeliness is everything.

Over the course of my career, I’ve learned that great preparation, attention to detail, and readiness will not only save myself time in the long run, but the time of those I’m partnering with. And although you can never give anyone their time back, I’ve learned if you can be the partner who doesn’t waste their time, clients and partners are going to immediately appreciate you, think more highly of your company’s solutions, and ultimately tell others about the experience.

It’s what immediately drew me to Trustmark, and it’s the reason I’m here today. Trustmark’s timeliness and attention to detail are unlike anything I’ve witnessed in the industry, and they reflect values we can all use with our clients.

The value of preparation

Those who know me know that I’m all about quality family time, specifically going out on our boat. And despite my fears of something going wrong whenever we take out our boat, it’s always rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when we get out on the water.

And what keeps them safe? It’s preparation and attention to detail. I make a checklist (physical and mental) of what needs to be done in order to be as prepared as possible.

It’s the same thing when working with partners and clients: preparation leads to great experiences. If you do your homework, know your client, and come up with a plan, you’re well on your way to (pardon the pun) smooth sailing. And, on top of that, you’re respecting the oh-so-important resource I discussed above: time.

Not just products, solutions

Ultimately, what I’m bringing to Trustmark is a great appreciation and empathy for brokers who want clear communications, timely responses, and to work with others who genuinely understand their concerns. As a former broker myself, I loved nothing more than when I got the chance to work alongside a partner who offered me actual solutions. Everyone has products (some better than others) but what really mattered to me was pulling together different resources to create comprehensive benefits solutions for clients. I think most brokers would agree that’s what’s important.

Already in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen first-hand that all those different tools I was pulling together myself… They’re all right here at Trustmark. From billing to technology, customer service & implementation, legislation knowledge, and marketing – Trustmark really does it all. And I’m excited to deliver that to my broker partners, I’m excited to continue making the Trustmark difference. It’s an opportunity for myself and my broker partners to deliver not just products, but the solutions our mutual clients need, which in turn sets everyone up for success.

Getting it right



Having great product and service solutions is one thing, but we can all agree that they don’t succeed without buy-in from our employer clients. Not only do my colleagues and I have the products and services to provide high-level broker experiences, but we can arm our brokers with the information and education needed to get client buy-in and solve any problem they might have.

In my time as a broker, one of the greatest challenges I faced was articulating a carrier’s value on its behalf. It’s critical to give partners the confidence to walk into any conversation and showcase why employers should choose our voluntary benefits. That’s certainly my job as a representative to support that understanding, but it’s backed up with marketing solutions that make life easier for our partners. It’s really unlike anything I’ve experienced before. There’s an old industry motto, “Never make a broker look bad in front of the client,” and Trustmark takes that approach to heart.

A former mentor used to say, “Make yourself indispensable – make them feel that to lose you is to lose their aorta.” That’s how I intend to approach every interaction, every client-broker relationship, and every minute of my time with Trustmark.

Voluntary experiences are often determined by what you do (or don’t) get right. I get great joy from being able to solve problems, and at Trustmark I’m excited to have access to the tools and knowledge I need to create the best broker experiences in the industry. And I intend on getting those experiences right. Just as if I were on the boat with my family, that starts with ensuring the timeliness, preparation, and attention to detail needed to create memorable experiences.