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Meet Janine Walker of Insurance Network Group LLC in Snellville

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine Walker.

Janine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My family moved from Germany to the US when I was young. My father was military and met my mother in Germany. I grew up traveling and to this day, I enjoy traveling with my family. I always was a numbers person and in High school, I discovered I loved accounting.

After receiving my degree in accounting, I worked for a global company for five years. This is where I learned real world concepts and learned that although I wanted to be accountant and was on the CPA track, I wasn’t feeling fulfilled by my career. Something was missing.

I had already obtained my insurance license as I was helping my husband in his business. This is when I felt purpose as I was using my experiences and helping people. Everyday, I am able to educate people on insurance and finance, which are related. Later, I then started my own agency to expand my vision of helping people by having more flexibility.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth road? Not by far. There were a lot of trials and errors. I am a firm believer that in life, you have to try and if all fails, learn from that failure and it becomes part of your success. Although there are many books and resources on how to start and run a business, they don’t tell you what obstacles may come your way and how to deal with it.

When I first started working in the insurance industry, I still had a foot in corporate America and at times would have to travel. When I wasn’t traveling, there were days that I would work my regular 8-5, pick up my children from daycare, drive an hour away to my husband’s office and work until midnight. The next day we would do it all over again. There weren’t any vacations or downtime. Work/life balance was none existent.

When I went into my own business full time, it was even more difficult. Money, time and resources are what a business needs to thrive. People said “No” when I wanted to expand, which only pushed me more. I also had to stay initiative and ahead of the industry to make sure that my business stayed successful. I started getting licensed in other states and started other business ventures. I always keep in mind that not only does my family depend on me, but the people that work with me and their families depend on me as well. Real economics at heart.

Today I keep those memories and I am grateful for those hard times.In addition, I feel these are valuable lessons for my children. I want them to have a better life than I did growing up; however I also want them to know that life doesn’t just give you what you want. You have to go after it!

Please tell us about Insurance Network Group LLC.
I am a independent insurance broker and entrepreneur. I am proud that when people are referred to me, they know that I am not just another agent. This is not just a belief system for myself but for the entire company. We truly care for peoples’ entire well being and know that whatever decision they make about their insurance and finances, that they made a informative decision.

I am not a sales person. I am an educator in insurance. Every policy is not one size fits all. I take time to review options with my clients, explain coverages and discuss what their needs. I want my clients to have a sense of being empowered to decide on what is best for them not the other way around.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The challenges that I have experienced make me who I am today. My grandmother was a influential woman. She raised five children on her own and worked many jobs to support her household. She showed me that you must have strength and with that you can overcome and will be successful. My mother was a immigrant woman who too taught me that life is full of lessons. When we moved to the United States, neither she nor I spoke English. She faced adversity in a new country where everything was completely unknown.

With this, I say I wouldn’t change anything. Everything happened in the time it needed to; whether it was good or bad. If I started over, I would do everything the same way.

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Image Credit:
Jessica Ivey

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