Meet Sean and Blanca
A husband and wife real estate team in Minneapolis who launched their business in 2006. They adapted and built their business through the Great Financial Crash.
How will they adapt this time around?
Quick Snapshop of their accomplishments:
- $18-$20 million producers selling 50+ homes per year
- Sell in the Million-dollar+ price bracket
- X4 ICON Agents with eXp Realty
- 95% of their business is referral/repeat
- Featured in Real Producers Magazine 2023
- Accumulated over 6800 shares of EXPI Stock
- Built a revenue share business that is 4 levels deep
- The amazing part is, they somehow did all of this and stayed married while raising 3 kids!
Let's be honest, who cares about the past! What matters in NOW! Even though they had a lot of success over the past 18 years, they could tell that 2023/24 was going to be interesting.
How will they adapt to this market?
Adaptation is one of the most important traits of a successful real estate pro. In 2007-2013 they quickly became short-sale agents and specialized in investors and 1st time home buyers.
From 2013-2022 they specialized in new construction, move-up clients, luxury, and international clientele.
They believe that the role of the agent needs to expand and offer more value. But what could that be?
Brainstorming
They started brainstorming in the winter of 2022. Their strategy sessions were producing expensive and outdated results that lacked value. Like thousands of agents, they considered the following expensive marketing ventures:
- Launching Massive PPC (Pay Per Click) Ad Campaigns
- Mailer Campaigns
- Relentlessly Calling and Spamming Past Clients
- Starting a YouTube Channel
- Joining Forces with Another Team
- Buying "Ads/leads" from Zillow, Yelp, Realtor.com etc
- Going into Commercial Real Estate
- Working with Investors
Do any of these sound familiar?
The Aha Moment
One fateful day, amidst their brainstorming sessions and growing frustration, Sean and Blanca found themselves engaged in a conversation with their coach. The coach posed a simple yet profound question, "Sean, what are you interested in during your free time?" Sean's response was direct and illuminating: "I love current events and finance. I'm always eager to learn how to grow my money." It was a moment of clarity, a lightbulb moment that would change their trajectory forever.
Their coach wasted no time and immediately arranged a meeting with her trusted financial advisor, Renea. Generously, Renea shared her insights with Sean and Blanca, setting them on a path to explore opportunities in the retirement planning and life insurance industry. With newfound determination, Sean and Blanca embarked on a mission to identify the best company, culture and pay structure.
Their quest led them to dive into YouTube, attend appointments with various financial companies, and explore different avenues, all in pursuit of their vision. While the path ahead remained uncertain, Sean and Blanca's unwavering commitment to their newfound mission was undeniable, setting the stage for the transformative journey that awaited them.
Liftoff
The pivotal moment arrived in August of 2023 when they secured their Life Insurance license. Swiftly, by September, they started writing policies with help and guidance from an experienced broker.
What's the Licensing Process?
Getting your Life Insurance license is much easier and faster than a real estate license. It will cost $250-$350 to get your study material and pass the test. Most agents take 1-3 weeks to get fully licensed and appointed with the insurance carriers. From there you can add additional States if you want to sell in multiple states.
How Well Are Life Insurance Agents Paid?
The first policy that they sold was to a past real estate client. This couple was tired of watching their 401k lose money so they rolled over $850,000 from their 401k and structured a Fixed Indexed Annuity (FIA). To give you an idea, that's a $52,200 commission (which they had to split with the broker) - NOT BAD! As thrilled as they were, they had just discovered something real and powerful!
"We are super excited to have new conversations with our friends and clients and change their financial projections forever!" Sean and Blanca
An Invitation to Adapt and Pivot
Sean and Blanca believe that Annuities and Cash Value Life Insurance is a perfect addition to a real estate agent's business. They are here to guide real estate agents and other real estate professionals on how to learn more about this industry.
What has this allowed them to do?
S+B have successfully added a complimentary business to their real estate business, expanding their horizons and bringing financial security and wealth-building opportunities to their past clients and sphere of influence - not to mention closing some nice commissions.
What did they avoid?
Adding wealth and retirement has prevented them from doubling or tripling their marketing budget at a time when most buyers/sellers are not simply making a move right now.
In an industry where adaptability is paramount, Sean and Blanca's journey serves as a pathway for other real estate professionals to thrive by embracing change and seeking new avenues to add value to their clients' lives. Their story encourages Real Estate Agents and other real estate professionals to explore innovative paths and venture into new territories, knowing that success is attainable with dedication and a willingness to evolve.