Today we’d like to introduce you to Kempton Thompson.
Hi Kempton, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I came to America as a child by way of Jamaica, and Atlanta became my second home. Although I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do, I knew entrepreneurship was in my future. I started in insurance over 12 years ago as a way to get out of retail. I was a store manager for a popular sneaker chain. During holidays and new shoe releases, I would miss family events and special moments. Although exciting, it wasn’t for me; a career change was needed. I did very well in sales, so my wife recommended the insurance industry. I started my insurance career with State Farm and went on to work for Allstate and Nationwide. I became passionate about helping business owners and families protect their assets against risks and loss. I learned a lot about the insurance industry and repeated realized that a good number of people knew they needed insurance to satisfy legal & contractual requirements but didn’t know exactly what they were buying. They didn’t understand how to leverage insurance to not only protect their assets but to preserve and build wealth. I set a mission to not only make sure businesses and families were properly protected but that they were informed. To increase my footprint in this space, I launched an agency with Farmers Insurance. As the agency grew, I realized that my clients needed more. I sold the Farmers’ agency to go independent and now, here we are today with Odico Group LLC. Odico Group is an independent insurance agency providing top-notch risk management and insurance solutions throughout the Southeast USA, Texas and Illinois.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have faced a number of challenges along the way. Here are a couple;
I self-funded the launch of the Farmers agency. As a first-time entrepreneur, it was challenging to obtain capital to start a business. Today, there is more awareness about these challenges especially faced by people of color, but more is needed.
Mobility within the insurance industry has been challenging. There are not a lot of black men who own independent agencies/brokerages. Obtaining mentorship and sponsorship to advance further within the industry has been a challenge. I am thankful for those who have provided guidance and advocated on my behalf.
We’ve been impressed with Odico Group LLC – Insurance & Financial Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Odico Group is an independent insurance agency providing top-notch risk management and insurance solutions throughout the Southeast USA, Texas and Illinois.
Our agency provides
– Commercial insurance for businesses, contractors, truck operators and governmental agencies;
– Personal insurance covering homes, autos, recreational vehicles, or personal property such as art and jewelry; and
– Life planning and legacy services to help you plan for your family’s future through life insurance and other products.
We pride ourselves on not being typical insurance agents but asset protection partners for our clients. With decades of experience, we understand the complexities of insurance. We partner with you to provide insurance protection tailored to your needs.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Every decision you make in life involves some level of risk. For instance, by playing it safe you risk not living a full life. As a professional who manages risk for a living, I say to take a similar and more simple risk management approach in life.
1.) Determine your objective.
2.) Identify & assess the possible risks involved in pursuing the objective.
3.) Identify opportunities to minimize or protect against the risk.
4.) Monitor the progress and make necessary changes.
5.) If you don’t reach the goal or experience loss – learn from the process.
Don’t miss out on opportunities because you fear the risk. That’s not living.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ogagents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odicogroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OdicoGroup/
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@odicogroup
