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Looking for inspiration, insightful advice, and a supportive community to help you navigate your business journey?
The Carolina Women's Collective is your one-stop shop. This biweekly podcast, hosted by Booth Parker, features interviews with a powerful network of female entrepreneurs and business leaders, sharing their inspiring stories, actionable advice, and industry expertise.
Whether you're a entreprenuer just starting out or a seasoned company executive, this show has something for you.
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Booth Parker: [00:00:00] Today on the Carolina Women's Collective Podcast, I am joined by Paige Harris. Paige is the principal of Flatlands Jessup Insurance Group. Welcome to the podcast today, Paige. Thanks so much. I appreciate you having me on. So the agency itself, I believe, was started by your father and he focused on life insurance, and then you joined about 20 years ago and have been pivotal in growing the agency into additional types of insurance.
Booth Parker: Can you tell us about that growth and how you went about it?
Paige Harris: [00:01:00] Sure. So, um, our dad and I say our, because one of my business partners is my brother, um, started the agency in 1963 and really, uh, spent most of his career selling life insurance to local agriculturalists. We live in Eastern North Carolina.
Paige Harris: Certainly, you know that agriculture is a big part of who we are. Um, and so that was a natural connection for him. My brother, Reed Allen joined him after he graduated from UNCW in the mid nineties. And then he began a career in, uh, group health insurance along with what dad was already offering with life insurance.
Paige Harris: Reed at that point met, uh, mark Jessop and they had a very loose connection because they both represented many of the same products. And so we got to know, um, Mark very well in the early two thousands. I spent my original, uh, as I say, my first career in higher education. I taught women's history in the community college system and said I would never join the family firm.
Paige Harris: But you know, as soon as you say I'll never, you can assure [00:02:00] yourself that you will. So my husband and I made the decision to move back to Eastern North Carolina. Um, and I was still teaching at Wake Tech. I had one of the very first online contracts for the community college system, but I also knew that it probably wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my career.
Paige Harris: About the same time our dad passed away and my brother and I, who've always had a phenomenal relationship, said, well, you know. Insurance really is a lot like education. If you're doing insurance well, you're just teaching people, uh, what their options are and then they get to choose. And so Seth, I said, sure, I'll, I'll give it a try.
Paige Harris: And so I came, um, actually our daughter who's 25 now was, uh, her kindergarten year. So in 2005, as you said, unbelievably 20 years ago. Um, I joined and so since then we've added another partner. In 2015, we added Michael Lee. It was our intention because we have been a large life and health agency that we wanted to offer other lines of [00:03:00] business, and so we got into the property and casualty world.
Paige Harris: Joined forces officially with Mark Jessup and we also have something that I'm very proud of, and that is the largest independent insurance agency for crop insurance with Rain and Hill in the United States. So it's been a journey.
Booth Parker: Wow. Yeah. That's a lot. That's a lot. So you just mentioned that, um, you're an independent agency.
Booth Parker: What exactly does that mean, and why have you chosen to structure that way? Sure,
Paige Harris: and that's a great question, and I think a lot of people don't understand insurance period, but certainly not when you start talking about in intern independent insurance agencies versus captive insurance agencies. Well, when I say independent, it means that you're gonna represent a lot of different companies.
Paige Harris: You get to choose the carriers you represent, whereas a captive group, like a farm bureau who are all greats, it's just a different model. Farm Bureau, state Farm, they represent the products that their corporation represent. [00:04:00]
Booth Parker: Okay. Okay. So you almost kind of have more options for your clients to choose from, is that correct?
Booth Parker: Completely,
Paige Harris: yes. More flexibility for the coverages that we can provide. And, uh, we, we think it's a great model. We also have a, a very good state representation, um, with independent agencies and on the national level. So just because you're independent doesn't mean that you're kind of left on your own.
Paige Harris: There are lots of others who choose that path, and we have as I said, great representation that can help move the needle forward for independent agencies.
Booth Parker: Excellent. Excellent. I was a little confused on that, so I'm glad you have clarified that for me and anyone listening. So for if someone was to Google Flatlands Jessup Insurance Group, they would quickly see that you have a five star Google rating, and that is no feat for any business, especially the insurance industry.
Booth Parker: So talk to us about the way you conduct business and how it creates such satisfied clients. [00:05:00]
Paige Harris: Yeah, I, you know, for me culture is the driver of everything that we do. And, um, as one of the owners and as the director of operations, it's, it's, it's kind of up to me to be the, the person who leads that culture.
Paige Harris: And so I really believe that if you're always doing the right thing, that the five star Google uh representation will be there. Um, our dad always said, do the right thing and the pennies will add up to dollars. So, with our culture, we believe in education first. I've mentioned that already. Um, we're not, we're not pushy.
Paige Harris: Um, but we believe in our team, uh, we believe in giving our client a wow experience. You know, do we hit that every time? Of course not. But do we learn something from it when we don't hit it? Absolutely. Um, we also ask that our team members be 1% better every day. Like, how can you bring your best. Self to work and how can we help the journey of insurance with our clients.
Paige Harris: And then we also wanna be very active in our community. That plays a huge role is we all believe that you know, to whom much has been given, much is expected. And [00:06:00] so we have had success in the business world and we should give back to our community. We are, you know, with the local chamber. We also support a nonprofit group called Right for Revival because so much of our success has come in the agriculture world.
Paige Harris: It doesn't make sense to us that North Carolina is in the top 10 of production of food. We also happen to be the top 10 in food insecurity. So how can we take our business success and try to combine those two I ideas and solve a problem globally?
Booth Parker: I love that. I love that. And as you mentioned you're in with your brother.
Booth Parker: Mm-hmm. So you're the woman owner in this business. How does being a woman kind of contribute to your leadership style that helps you create this culture?
Paige Harris: Yeah. You know, um, there are three, there are four owners, three of which are male, one's female and most of our staff is female. And I think that that's a great thing.
Paige Harris: You know, when I first became, or, or, [00:07:00] or was on that leadership journey very early in my career, I thought that as a female leader. You needed to replicate what other males were doing. And I've never been a believer that males lead wrong or lead right, or females lead wrong or lead right. We just lead differently.
Paige Harris: And I learned very much to lean into female leadership. I often have seen that females are. Very committed to kind of that lifting as we rise mentality is that once you have success, it's your job it to, to really help out others. And when I look at our our team, you know, um, two of our top producers are females.
Paige Harris: Uh, one of our, our best sell service team is a female. And so when you, you hire other females and you give them the ability to succeed. It is an amazing trickle effect. You know, you want more of that. And so, um, you know, I think a lot of times female leaders, we, we hear, oh, it's, you're, you're more [00:08:00] emotional.
Paige Harris: Okay, well that's a good thing. You know, we shouldn't be afraid to be emotional. I think that's one of our strengths, and we should never be. Fearful of showing who we are. And a lot of times when you're a leader and you have a passion for others and you've had su success, then you look to philanthropy as well.
Paige Harris: And in philanthropy, I think women make decisions based on criteria that's very different than men. And, and our results are different too.
Booth Parker: Yeah, for sure. I feel like the nurturing aspect of a, of a woman's nature really helps. Cultivate those kind of relationships that, that you've talked about, so, um, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Booth Parker: What is something, you know, we talked about you're an independent and not a captive and your culture, but what are, what are some things your competitive advantages that you feel you have created for your agency over, over some of the others in Eastern [00:09:00] North Carolina?
Paige Harris: Yeah, so you know, I've mentioned this fact that we are a multi-line agency.
Paige Harris: What does that mean? It means that we are a one-stop shop for every kind of insurance that you could think of. Whether you, you know, it's your home and your auto, whether it's your life insurance, your health insurance, your crop insurance, your farm insurance. There are a lot of agencies like that as well.
Paige Harris: However, what is different about us is we believe that each division should have that expertise in it. So you may come to Flatlands Jessup for your home insurance and your life insurance and your farm insurance, but you're going to be dealing with. Three different people that are team members at Flatlands Jessa.
Paige Harris: Uh, we don't think that you can be an expert in every field. Um, and so we, we have our team members essentially major in one kind of insurance.
Booth Parker: I like that. So you have like experts in each little niche to, to, uh. Teach backs the education to teach your clients about what [00:10:00] they need and all of that. So along those same lines of teaching your clients kind of what they need.
Booth Parker: A lot of business owners, especially when they're first starting out, or maybe they're growing quickly. They don't know what kind of coverages they need for their business. So can you tell us about different kinds of coverages for businesses and what business owners really need to consider when deciding coverage?
Paige Harris: Yeah, I'd be happy to. And you know, a lot of insurance, the answer is always, it depends. So that question, the answer is, it depends. But one of the things that they would need is obviously to protect the, the personal property, so the building, those sorts of things, the physical things. And then they would also need to worry about casualty things like liability.
Paige Harris: If someone has an accident in your space, what does that look like? Do you have a business, Aldo? Are those things that you need to cover or do they, they need to go on your, uh, personal insurance plans, [00:11:00] especially if you have a business partner? Have you guys. Decided, how are you gonna step away from the business?
Paige Harris: That's one of the pieces of advice that we always give, is have the end in mind. There are things like buy, sell, life insurance that needs, that's very important. I mentioned that I have three business partners, so if something happens to me and I've passed away, although my brother adores my husband, he probably doesn't wanna be in business with them.
Paige Harris: So that's a plan to, to take care of everybody, both the business and my personal interest. Um, and of course like health insurance, if you have a business, do you have employees? Do you need to have those sorts of things with you? So one of the things that we really pride ourselves in is really being risk advisors.
Paige Harris: So we're never gonna come to the table and say. Here's this long list of products that you need. We're gonna ask the questions so that we can discover your risk, and then we can offer a solution. So we have a little, uh, kind of a three letter, uh, approach, and it's called aim. We're gonna analyze your [00:12:00] risk, we're gonna implement a plan, and then we're gonna monitor the progress.
Paige Harris: So it's kind of like when you go to the doctor, if you have a head cold and the doctor prescribes the medication for you. You're probably gonna check in with him or her to make sure that you're feeling well, and it's the same thing is that you should be in constant contact with your insurance provider.
Booth Parker: That is great way to look at it. I love kind of approaching it from a risk standpoint rather than a one size fits all situation. And you mentioned, um, health insurance plans, you know, an employee benefits type situation. Are there certain parameters a business should fall within before they consider offering employee benefits?
Booth Parker: I'm sure it's not a one size fits all either, but how do you kind of decide a business can be ready to, to offer such things?
Paige Harris: Yeah, well of course, you know, health insurance and the cost is a huge topic across the United States. Whether you're an employer or you're an [00:13:00] individual trying to get health insurance there are bands like 10 employees and under, there are some different solutions.
Paige Harris: You can have a one man group plan, so if you're the sole business owner, you actually could run a, what is considered a group health insurance plan through your business. If you get to be 50 employees, the rules are different. A hundred employees plus that's different. So that really is something if, if, if you have a trusted advisor, should be able to sit down and walk through with you.
Paige Harris: I would like if you'll, uh, indulge me for a moment to talk about individual health insurance because we, I don't think it's been published well enough, but 2026 is going to be really a watershed year for individual health benefits. Um, there is a. The, the CEO of Blue Cross is a gentleman by the name of Dr.
Paige Harris: Tunde Tunde and his articles in the Triangle Business Journal. In the last couple of months have warned against what we have called a tsunami of unaffordability. We've known that this is coming for several [00:14:00] years, and unfortunately, when you renew your individual plan at the end of this year for 2026, there are gonna be a lot of people who lose health insurance.
Paige Harris: And there's a few reasons for that. One is the enhanced premium tax credits that came about during COVID will be gone at the end of this year, um, unless the federal government decides to do something about it. But the current federal government is not in favor of that, so that's not something that we expect will happen.
Paige Harris: You have a continued rise in cost. In both, uh, medical coverage and prescription coverage, that's leading to an increased cost. And a lot of the healthy individuals have actually left the Affordable Care Act coverage. So truly a tsunami of unaffordability. It is predicted that 15 million people across the United States are gonna lose coverage.
Paige Harris: 1 million of those happen to be in North Carolina. And I would assume most of your listeners know that it's. Probably Western North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina that are gonna get hit the [00:15:00] hardest. So my advice to anyone who has an Affordable Care Act plan is to seek advice sooner rather than later.
Paige Harris: And remember, your agent is an expert in that field. Your agent doesn't cost anything, and that person should guide you through this kind of difficult choices with plans that you're gonna have as you renew your healthcare coverage.
Booth Parker: Well, I'm really glad that you added that in because as someone who is self-employed and pays for my own health insurance premiums every month, that is good information to know because I know we have a lot of listeners that are also self-employed and that's going to affect their coverages for sure.
Paige Harris: It really will. And, and again, there are gonna be a lot of difficult decisions that are gonna have to be made. The good news is there are some solutions out there. They're not perfect solutions, but there are solutions. And when we think about the rising cost of health insurance. Somebody has to come to the table.
Paige Harris: The health insurance, the [00:16:00] medical systems and the pharmacy have got to get together to address this. One of the stats that I think is it really painted a visual for me is that if inflation with the increase in health insurance costs was the same as the inflation and other products today when you fill up your car, you'll be paying $19 for that one gallon of gas.
Paige Harris: Unbelievable.
Booth Parker: Unbelievable. Yes. Yeah, it is. That is a crazy, crazy number. Wow. Yes. You've given me a whole lot of things to think about when, when I finish up this today. So speaking about the business insurance, go kind of go back to that for just a minute. Can you give us, I don't, I don't like to scare people, but I don't like to, but can you give us some examples of things that have maybe happened to a business client of yours and how their insurance coverage saved their business or their livelihood?
Paige Harris: Yeah, absolutely. I'll give you two exam. Um, one is, [00:17:00] a person or a business, excuse me, that was properly insured and the second was a business that wasn't properly insured and how that affected their family. So let's start with the good news first. We have a, uh, a large scale farming operation that we insured.
Paige Harris: Um, and I won't give you all the details 'cause I don't wanna share their, their private information. But essentially because we had done our job as risk advisors explained policies and explained the what if. Of that policy to them, um, the, uh, kind of the unavoidable insurance. Claim happened and we delivered an $8 million check to that farm, and that was the livelihood.
Paige Harris: This, they have 16 family members that work in that business. So can you imagine if they hadn't received the $8 million, how that affects their family, how it affects their c. How it affects really the state because it's such a large scale operation. So, [00:18:00] um, that's when things work. Well, we'll talk about the, the second group.
Paige Harris: And because we do so much with farmers, they're, they're both examples from the agricultural community. It was siblings that were large scale. Um. They were in the poultry industry. They have a huge, huge operation. We talked to them about covering the siblings with life insurance. What if something happens?
Paige Harris: And unfortunately, they did not take our advice. Something did happen and the remaining sibling was left with so much debt that the business collapsed. So, you know, I think a lot of times, as I said earlier, people don't understand insurance. And, and let's face it, the insurance industry has some, um, nefarious layers, so you need to find somebody who you're comfortable talking with and, and you know, nobody should ever push a product on you.
Paige Harris: They should be talking about what [00:19:00] your risk is and ultimately how comfortable are you with that risk if you're comfortable with it. Okay? If you're not, that's what insurance
Booth Parker: is for. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. And I feel like life insurance sometimes gets bad press, so to speak, but I haven't personally I've seen life insurance really be a, a saving grace at the end of the day for, for a lot of people.
Booth Parker: So, that's, that's interesting that that one sad story that she told where they didn't take it. For sure. For sure. Exactly. And so we're talking about business, but you also handle personal lines like home and auto at your agency, people speaking, just like the health insurance with the rates, people have seen their rates go up a lot in the last few years, especially here on the coast.
Booth Parker: Mm-hmm. Can you tell us how those rates are decided and how people can best navigate those increases while also maintaining good and adequate [00:20:00] coverage?
Paige Harris: You know, that is a huge question and one that we could probably spend a couple of days on. So I will narrow it down the, the best that I can. So yes, those, especially the property.
Paige Harris: Premiums have skyrocketed. There's no doubt. And that also has kind of been a perfect storm nationally and internationally. You have the hardest insurance market that we face. A lot of that has to do with COVID. You know, you also have a very litigious group within insurance, and a lot of insurance companies are paying out for those claims.
Paige Harris: And you also have an increase in natural disasters with hurricanes and with wildfires. And now population in the United States is moving to the places that have the highest. Hurricane and wildfire occurrences. So the claims are increasing. Um, and you know, a lot of people don't understand that insurance really is the law of large numbers, so that when you pay that premium, it essentially goes [00:21:00] into a, a pool and you've got some people who are going to use a lot of that money, and then you're gonna have some that never use that money.
Paige Harris: So the top 20% are the ones that the insurance company really uses to pay for the rest of the premiums. The bottom 20% is costing everybody money. And that middle ground, which is where most people fall. You may have small claims here or there. But yes, we have, you asked how to navigate that. I'm not sure that I have an answer for that.
Paige Harris: My, my advice though would be to find somebody that you trust that can guide you through these issues and absolutely look at your policy every year before it renews. And make sure that your agent is updating anything like you got a new roof. Make sure you're getting that updated 'cause you may get a discount on that.
Paige Harris: Or if you, um, sell a piece of property, you know, make sure that your agent knows that. And if your agent is doing his or her job, they should be asking those questions every year when you [00:22:00] attempt every day.
Booth Parker: Excellent information for sure, because people always kind of complain about the rates, but they're not.
Booth Parker: Looking at where they're coming from and what's, what's driving it. So I'm gonna switch gears and go back to some more personal questions and not such, so much in insurance. But you said your daughter, I believe, was going into kindergarten when you joined the agency. So over those 20 years, you know, you were raising kids and growing this, this, this business with your brother and the other partners.
Booth Parker: What were some of the ways you. The word balance. Some people love it, some people hate it. But what were some ways you balanced that? Uh, you had a lot on you with responsibility, with family and girl, this agency. So what are some tips for women for, for doing that?
Paige Harris: Yeah. You know, balance is hard and I do feel like you know, as moms, especially as working moms, we never feel like we [00:23:00] really get it right.
Paige Harris: And you know it's okay to raise your can too when you're overwhelmed, ask for some help. I had a, the very good fortune. I continue to have a very good fortune of a phenomenal husband who, who shared in those duties. And I do, do have a phenomenal business partner and a brother and two other men who really, uh, have, have made my success possible.
Paige Harris: But you know, one of the things that I learned very early on and, and to throw in on top of those two things we had a mother with Alzheimer's who lived with me. So there was a lot of stuff going on, and I used to feel guilty about taking some time for myself. Until I realized that the only way I could take care of all these other responsibilities was to take care of me first.
Paige Harris: And I think that's really, really hard for females to do. I think we're not conditioned to do that. And, and I finally was able to turn the corner when I think I was, you know, probably overwhelmed, and I was like, okay, I've gotta take a pause. I, I, I have. I have employees that need care taking. I [00:24:00] have a family that needs care taking, um, and I need care taking.
Paige Harris: So what priority are we gonna put on this? And, uh, you know, if I left early one day to go get a massage or to go to a yoga class, I forgave myself for that because I was much better when I came back to all the responsibilities that I have. So I know that that may sound a little odd and that may be diff uh, different advice.
Paige Harris: But I put yourself first. It's okay.
Booth Parker: Yeah, I think you're right. I think women tend to carry guilt if they leave the office early to go to yoga or something like that, right? They carry, they carry guilt with it rather than recognizing what it's doing overall for the wellbeing of, of everyone they're serving.
Booth Parker: So.
Paige Harris: Agree. And I, I did surround myself with some other great women too. And as a, a female leader in business and in some higher education pieces that I volunteer in hearing the stories of other women. Amazing. Um, I have this one woman who I, uh, just so admire. She was [00:25:00] an executive at Duke Energy.
Paige Harris: She's been on the board of trustees at a major university. She was, uh, one of the few women in an engineering program in the seventies, and she's African American. So there, there really wasn't anybody that looked like at the table. And she and I were, uh, volunteering, uh, about something and, uh, she's probably 15 or 20 years older than I am.
Paige Harris: And I said something about some imposter syndrome and she said, I have it every time I sit at that meeting. And that was a light bulb and really kind of a, a moment of change for me. 'cause I thought, okay, it's okay for me to have that. If she has it who has done everything. And I think it's the most put together, successful person I know, then it's okay for me to say one.
Paige Harris: Gosh, how did I get here? But then two, to remember, I earned my seat here. It's okay.
Booth Parker: Yeah. So that, that woman was obviously a wonderful example for you. Yeah. What are some ways, I know you [00:26:00] love to, to lift up other women. What are some, some ways you like to, to do, or things you like to do to help lift other women up?
Paige Harris: I think, uh, probably being an encourager one is important. Um, I know actually at the, um, the, uh, summit last year, one of the panelists had said something about sometimes women are even more competitive with one another. And I think that we need to pause and remind ourselves that, uh, somebody else.
Paige Harris: Fault for us to get here. So turn your head, your arm around and make sure you lift the next one. Um, and so, uh, I, I really encourage our team members to be involved locally in women's groups. You know, we have a, a women in Supportive excellence group here. In the insurance world. We have several female groups that are talking about imposter syndrome, balance, all the things that you and I are talking about.
Paige Harris: So please make sure you participate in those. And I think for me, just being here for them and, and showing an example of [00:27:00] somebody who it, it also can say, who can't get to that today? I'm on the struggle bus. You know, being vulnerable with them is also very important. And you know, when they come into your office and they close the door and say, I need help.
Paige Harris: Listen, you know, I, I always try to think, uh, if somebody comes to me, the first thing I need to do is be quiet and listen to what they need, and then I need to serve them. And however. Way I can. I can't always do it, but, but just listening and being a sounding board sometimes is so very important for others.
Booth Parker: I like that a lot. Listening. Listening to, to people. 'cause sometimes we don't pause long enough to do that. So that is. A really great way to serve, to serve others. And then you also serve in your community with charitable organizations and things like that, and that you mentioned the one about the food insecurity that, that you've been involved with.
Booth Parker: Why is charity such a central focus for you?
Paige Harris: Well, I, I kind of goes back to what I said before. I mean, I really [00:28:00] think that when you live in a small community and that community has led to your success. You just have to give back. I mean, I, that's, we are compelled to do that because I think you've gotta make a difference, you know, when it's all said and done what, what do you wanna be known for?
Paige Harris: And one of those is, Hey, we made a difference. And that's one of, that's the way we choose to do that in our community. Right. For Revival is an amazing group that bring, and there are so many amazing groups that are trying to combat food insecurity. What we love about them is they're bringing food.
Paige Harris: To the neighborhoods that need it. And they're paying a a, a fair wage to the farmers to put that food, produce, bulk goods, those sorts of things on that mobile market. And it's a pay what you can model so you know you can pay it forward. Um, and we've chosen to invest in one of their mobile markets and, um, there's I think there were 96,000.
Paige Harris: Thousand pounds of food last year given out in just that one mobile market. So that is making a difference. And if people, if, if their just basic needs [00:29:00] aren't being met, they can't succeed in society. So let's, let's try to challenge that. And, you know, I, I just, I, I truly believe it's what we're supposed to do.
Booth Parker: I love that it comes, it comes full circle right there. You know, you get, people have to have food and, but they can't be their best selves if they're malnourished or anything like that, so it really does come full circle.
Paige Harris: Agreed.
Booth Parker: And indu. An industry like insurance and many other industries, but especially insurance, your network of people is very, very key.
Booth Parker: What are some ways you have grown your network over the years, and how has that network helped you grow and succeed?
Paige Harris: Sure. Um, you know, I think too often people kind of roll their eyes when you show up at the, uh, chamber event or you show up something like, you know, you're just there to get something out of it, but it's not, it's okay to have a network and then to call on that network in the future when you need something.
Paige Harris: One of the [00:30:00] places that I have chosen to volunteer and to build that network is not only in, in the communities that our offices represent. Um, but through, uh, NC State University and I have spent a lot of time volunteering on certain boards there. But one of the things that I really, uh, I would say it's my passion project is Wolf Pack Women in Philanthropy and the, and the, um, that's about connection.
Paige Harris: So it really is all about your network. It is, uh, it is telling the story of a university that I love and why somebody else should be engaged with that university. Um, and we happen to do it with other women. So, um, I have been able to meet. Phenomenal women, like the example I gave you earlier of somebody who's succeeded on all levels.
Paige Harris: Um, and then I have been able to share my network with them. And so I just think it's such an important conversation when, when we talk about philanthropy, especially with women. Most people don't know this, but 52% of the wealth in the United States is controlled by women. This is a, a huge shift that [00:31:00] has happened in the last 10 years and in the next 10 years, the biggest intergenerational transfer of wealth is about to happen.
Paige Harris: And so many, so many of those dollars are going to women. And so if you are in a charitable position. The conversation to women is very different than it is to men. And I always think it's, IM, it's impressive too. If you looked at the top 10% of the wealthiest men in the United States versus the top 10% of the wealthiest women, those women give 25% more than the males.
Paige Harris: And again, that's not a me versus we thing, it's just a pattern of giving. Um, and if you're in the insurance industry or if you're in the financial services industry, I read a report last. I think it was last month. That said, in a traditional home where the male has made many of the financial decisions, if he passes away, the female has switched insurance agents and financial professionals within a year.[00:32:00]
Paige Harris: So that is an economic driver.
Booth Parker: That is so interesting as a, as a, as a female who is, you know, an accountant and in that, the financial, financial world, I, I do control the, uh, the checkbook at our house. But, um, but I have seen, and I've advised a lot of women who. They don't even know things. And so that's, that's really, it's really interesting seeing that shift and it's really happening fast.
Paige Harris: It, it is and I think that internationally it's, it's almost as fast. It's not quite at that 50% yet, but it, it, it is a conversation that we cannot ignore.
Booth Parker: You are right about that. So, one last question for you. What is some advice you would give, uh, your younger self if you, if you could do that?
Paige Harris: Um, trust yourself and your instincts and don't downplay your kind of God-given [00:33:00] talents for anybody else, it's okay to speak up.
Paige Harris: It's okay to succeed just as long as you remember that once you succeed to give back.
Booth Parker: I love that. Short and sweet. Perfect. Yeah,
Paige Harris: exactly. I'm not, definitely not a complicated person. Yeah,
Booth Parker: I love that. Well, this has been so great. I have, I have learned a lot about insurance today, especially on the, the health insurance side.
Booth Parker: Very, very valuable information for our listeners and I will link your website and contact in our show notes for any of our listeners who are looking. To get new quotes and some risk advice on their business and their personal. So thank you so much for your time today, Paige.
Paige Harris: Thank you. It was a pleasure. [00:34:00]