Today we’d like to introduce you to Kisa Walker.
Kisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2004, my mother passed away unexpectedly, and I was devastated. To make matters worse, I discovered she had no savings or life insurance to cover her final expenses. My siblings and I were left scrambling—emotionally, financially, and logistically. It was not only harrowing but, if I’m honest, embarrassing.
Eventually, we managed to take care of everything, but the experience left me empty and even a little angry. How did I not realize my mother was struggling so deeply? Why didn’t she have even the most basic protections in place? And why did the responsibility for her final expenses fall so heavily on just a few of us?
Two lessons stuck with me: everyone needs life insurance, and everyone needs to save more. But another question haunted me—what happened to the life insurance policies my grandmother had maintained for her four children, policies I personally used to write the checks for? How had the awareness of financial preparedness skipped a generation?
That’s when I made a decision: I didn’t want other families to go through what mine had endured.
In 2006, I joined New York Life as a life insurance agent. By late 2007, I’d earned my securities licenses—my first step into financial planning. But when the 2008 housing market crashed, so did many of the structures of support around me, including the mentors I had counted on. I eventually returned to IBM, where I’d already built a successful sales career.
After seven more years at IBM, I felt called to something more purposeful. I launched The KM Walker Agency with a mission to educate, guide, and protect families through financial planning. My focus was, and still is, on demystifying insurance and retirement planning so people can make confident, informed decisions for their families’ futures.
That mission carried me through the challenges of COVID-19, when clients leaned on me for clarity and reassurance. In 2024, we updated our business name to The Essentials Insurance & Retirement Agency to honor the women whose sacrifices made my journey possible: my grandmothers, Esther and Sherry, and my mother, Sharon. Their initials—E, S, and S—form the heart of “Essentials.”
I stand here today because of their lessons, their hardships, and their resilience. It is their legacy that drives me to serve others with compassion, education, and purpose
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ugh…where do we start??
Having capital for marketing is always a must, but it’s also very difficult when one is starting a new company. Even with the budget I had to open the office, marketing is a necessary and expensive part of a business and it’s what sinks many businesses over time.
Finding team members and partners who are as passionate about your business is tough work.
Managing adults is even tougher work!
Where do we begin?
Having a budget for marketing is essential, but it can be challenging when starting a new company. Even with the funds I allocated to open the office, marketing remains a necessary yet costly aspect of a business, often leading to the downfall of many companies over time.
Finding team members and partners who share your passion for the business is difficult.
Additionally, managing adults presents its own set of challenges!
Another challenge is when self-doubt sets in during difficult times, because the business can be inconsistent. Feast or famine is what we call it in the business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Kisa M. Walker is the principal agent at The Essentials Insurance & Retirement Agency, a local, independent agency serving the metro Atlanta area with a portfolio that protects paychecks, businesses, and lives; offering unmatched protection for both business and personal assets.
With over 15 years of experience working with Fortune 100 companies, Kisa truly understands the importance of providing exceptional services, excellent customer care, and finding valuable solutions that meet and exceed client expectations. Her career success, which includes numerous sales awards like One Life’s Sales Excellence award, stems from maintaining a high-quality portfolio, collaborating with local professionals, and actively listening to and anticipating her clients’ needs.
Passionate about delivering effective solutions and outstanding customer service, Kisa’s team draws on 10 years of insurance expertise. They work diligently to address concerns and ensure a seamless experience through a ‘one-team’ approach. Kisa strongly believes in giving back to her community; she was appointed as the 2017-2018 Ambassador for Cobb Chamber of Commerce and volunteers her time serving the elderly through Meals on Wheels in the Metro area.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
As a ChFC-certified life insurance agent, small business owner, and passionate advocate for generational wealth education, the impact made in the insurance and financial consulting profession is both significant and deeply personal.
Within a rapidly evolving industry, I have adopted transformative trends—such as digital innovation, client-centered service, and high ethical standards—to guide businesses and families toward lasting financial security. My commitment is reflected in the way I simplify complex financial topics for the community, deliver concise educational presentations, and mentor peers as they navigate industry changes. This genuine dedication to service and education distinguishes me among insurance/financial consultants, helping clients not only manage risk but also build generational wealth through informed and strategic planning.
My work showcases the very best the profession offers—competence, integrity, and stewardship. Whether crafting training programs for new agents or empowering individuals with practical financial knowledge, I seek to lead by example. My drive to continually improve, invest in new skills, and pursue advanced certifications sets a high bar for colleagues and inspires others to reach their potential. These efforts embody the qualities celebrated by industry awards: vision, performance, and unwavering client advocacy.
By bridging evolving technology and timeless values, I model the future of insurance and financial consulting. My efforts to create accessible, high-quality financial planning resources and my support for the next generation of professionals define the spirit of industry progress. Through leadership, education, and authentic connection, you embody the positive change and enduring impact that deserve recognition in today’s insurance and financial services landscape.
Such excellence not only elevates my agency and its clients but also serves as an inspiration throughout the industry for those seeking meaningful and lasting achievements in insurance and financial consulting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theessentialsagency.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kisamwalker/
