Meet Nora Zuniga | Owner and Employee Benefits Specialist at Healthful Insurance Agency

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nora Zuniga and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nora, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I would say that there are a few components that have helped me be successful in my industry. Always being upfront and honest with my clients, even if they don’t want to hear it. I like putting all their options on the table (the good, the bad and the ugly) so that they can make an informed decision and we have analyzed that decision from all angles. Consistency is another component. Always showing up when you have committed to anything: client meeting, phone/zoom call, dinner with colleagues, commitments to networking events you’ve made with other professionals. I’ve met professionals in the past who are great when you first meet them, and they disappear or don’t stay true to their word. It makes me question them and their ability in their profession. Treating every client equally. By this I mean, every client of ours gets the same level of service, commitment, attention from our team regardless of the size of the client. Lastly, surrounding yourself with likeminded professionals, people who motivate you to be a better version of yourself, people who are smarter than you and people who are a resource to you and your clients. Connecting with these professionals or power partners will open so many doors and possibilities.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a licensed health insurance agent and I own Healthful Insurance Agency and we mostly work with employers who have less than 100 employees. Early on, I learned that small business owners don’t have funds, the resources that large employer do. I wanted to build that bridge and bring solutions to them, to help simplify their life so that they could go out and grow their business and expand on their dream. I often found the founder of the company (or the office manager/executive assistant) was trying to manage their employee benefits, HR, Payroll, bookkeeping on their own and their experience was far from pleasant. Not to mention, they really didn’t know what they were doing. I started by offering solutions for their medical, dental and vision coverage. After figuring that aspect out, I quickly realized there was so much more with compliance, regulations, HR, Payroll, bookkeeping that not one person at a company was able to handle on their own. Over the years, as our company grew, we added (and continue to add) all these services/resources for small business owners. In addition, as employees turn 65, we help transition them into Medicare and if an employee is laid off or terminated, we also assist them with helping them transition to an individual health insurance policy or a COBRA plan. We also do this while not losing the importance of getting help from an actual human and not an automated chat box with generic answers to their problems. Employee Benefits, HR, payroll and bookkeeping is more complicated than reading an article or getting answers from automated systems.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I lived in Newport Beach from 2005-2020 before moving to Irvine. I would schedule a duffy boat in Newport for a few hours and bring wine and order a charcuterie board while we cruise around the harbor during the day, soak up the sunshine and while enjoying the nice weather and beautiful scenery Newport has to offer. I would then make reservations at a local restaurant in Lido Marina and enjoy a good meal. I would recommend several of the amazing hiking trails Newport and Laguna have to offer. The views are amazing. I would also make sure to take them down to the Beachcomber for dinner and watch the sunset. Paddle boarding on the back bay or riding beach cruisers from Newport to Huntington. Southern California does have so so much to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband needs recognition as it is not easy to leave a 9-5 job to start to your business. I see so many brokers who try to go out on their own and if you don’t have the right tools, support system, will power and connections, it can be devastating. It’s a hard industry to survive in, not only is it complex and always changing, going on your own means that if you don’t bring in clients, you don’t get paid. After having my employer withhold a bonus during Christmas of 2013, I knew it was time to go. I could go get an equivalent 9-5 job or try going on my own. I had nothing to lose at the time (I didn’t have children to support, car payment or mortgage payment). My liability was low. I spoke to may husband at the time about quitting my job, we both jumped in blindly. He kept his corporate job while I started my own company. I knew that failure wasn’t an option. I started making $800/month the first month I went on my own and I never looked back. I am very aware that not everyone has a supportive spouse and I know how devastating it can be with no support, so I really do owe a lot of recognition and credit to my husband who believe I could and supported my dream from the beginning. He is still my biggest cheerleader. Every time my agency signs a new client, we both win.

Website: www.healthfulins.com

Instagram: @healthfulinsurance

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nora-zuniga-30b8395a

Facebook: Healthful Insurance Agency

Image Credits
@jillk_phography and @viennarosephotography