Today we’d like to introduce you to Belkys Polanco.
Hi Belkys, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am from Venezuela. I came to live in Jacksonville, Florida, on a recommendation, because it’s an ideal city for families with growing children, and it exceeded my expectations. I love Jacksonville! My personal growth began when I connected with the Hispanic community, initially by collecting food, medicine, and other supplies to send to Venezuela, a country under the dictatorship and tyranny of Maduro. When we made the decision to emigrate, I promised myself that I would not forget my country, and that’s how my journey began.
I registered my first business, a cleaning company, and at the same time, I founded the organization Casa de Venezuela Jacksonville, to help Venezuelans who had recently arrived in the city. I also served as a coordinator for another non-profit organization in Jacksonville, Humanitarian Aid for Venezuela, which directly helps Venezuela with food and medicine.
Driven by the desire to educate myself and learn how finances work and how businesses and individuals can protect themselves from various risks, I obtained my life insurance agent license (214) in 2020, and subsequently, in 2021, I obtained another license (220) for general insurance (property and casualty). In 2022, I registered Agencia de Seguros Jax, which opened its doors to the public in 2023.
Today, I am the CEO of Agencia de Seguros Jax LLC, a dream come true that was born to help Hispanic families better understand how insurance works and the importance of having coverage for various personal and/or business risks. We also offer our services to the American public, as we are bilingual.
Our clients can obtain multiple quotes, as we work with different insurance companies for auto, home, health, life, general liability, workers’ compensation, renters, and pet insurance. In addition, they receive personalized and professional service tailored to their needs.
It has been a great journey full of gratitude to God, to those who have trusted in me, and to the fundamental support of my husband and children. Without them, nothing I have accomplished so far would have been possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been easy: adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, getting to know the system in this country, going from working for an important corporation like Electricidad to cleaning houses and offices for a while, which allowed me to discover the next step. Then, once I had my license, I had to get insurance companies to believe in me, in my level of knowledge as an agent and agency. At the same time, I struggled with the feeling of seeing my children grow up without the companionship and affection of their grandparents and close family, and I missed my country, which continues to suffer under the repression of the narco-dictatorship, contributing to the freedom of Venezuela.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Agencia de Seguros Jax?
Agencia de Seguros Jax was born out of my concern about educating our Hispanic community more about the culture and importance of insurance in the USA. We help Hispanic families better understand how insurance works and the importance of coverage for different personal and/or commercial risks, expanding our services to the American public by leveraging our ability to speak both languages. With this in mind, the philosophy of my insurance agency is that our clients take personal/family/business responsibility to protect what they have achieved through so much effort and hard work. That is our social responsibility as a company linked to the community and part of life in the city.
What matters most to you?
What matters to me is continuing to learn and grow in all aspects of my life. For example, for my agency, I want clients to not only purchase insurance policies, but also to purchase something that supports them and helps them financially at any given time. I also want the agency to be a resource for other agents who want to grow in the insurance world. This is a place to do that because we have the resources necessary to pursue income goals.
Pricing:
- General Liability From $35 monthly
- Personal Auto from $60 monthly
- Home from $450 annual
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.segurosjax.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agencia_de_seguros_jax
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17XExMSeYF/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belkys-polanco-017303255
- Twitter: https://x.com/segurosjax?s=11
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jQv2A6TedpjyAbhHA
Image Credits
Belkys Polanco is originally from Venezuela and has dedicated several years to assisting the Hispanic community through her involvement with Casa de Venezuela, a bilingual nonprofit organization promoting the culture of Venezuela. During this time, Belkys observed how cultural nuances impacted people’s experiences when purchasing insurance. Motivated by the desire to provide better support and tailored services, she embarked on a journey to obtain her insurance license.
To ensure a successful start to her business venture, Belkys sought guidance from Veronica Bolado, a bilingual business consultant with the Florida SBDC at UNF in 2020. The expertise and valuable insights from Veronica and the SBDC enabled Belkys to set up her business structure and create comprehensive financial projections. After several years of working with the SBDC, Belkys finally established her licensed insurance business! Agencis de Seguros Jax offers various types of coverage such as life, health, property, and others provided by reputable insurance companies. Once her business was operational, she also met with Jaime Sanchez at the SBDC for assistance in enhancing her brand and marketing strategies and establishing a strong online presence to help build their client base.
In 2023, Agencia de Seguros Jax finally opened a new office, a significant milestone that holds great promise for the growth of her business.
