License to Lead: Meet Young Agent Deuel Romero
Deuel Romero
Commercial lines agent
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Age: 29
Go-to drink order: Nitro cold brew
Favorite TV show: “The Boys”
No. 1 item on bucket list: Arctic Cruise with my wife
Why insurance?
I’m a bilingual agent. Spanish is my first language. I got into the industry when I saw a huge opportunity with the underserved demographic of the Hispanic business owner community. It’s a topic that’s close to me personally. That’s why I jumped in and took on the challenge.
High-risk construction subcontractors—roofers, framers, concrete, high-rise painters—are experiencing challenges in the industry with the ability to access opportunities in certain markets and needed agents to go a bit further to educate them. I want them to have a good agent on their side to teach them how to take care of this portion of their business.
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Role model or mentor?
Mark Tedford is our agency principal and he is a state representative for the 69th district in Oklahoma. He advocates for the consumer and business owner at the state level, has participated in writing bills that benefit consumers and provide a competitive marketplace for carriers. To me, that says leadership. I learn a lot from him. While I don’t see myself in that particular position in the future, I want to be a community leader.
Work-life balance?
Currently, it’s definitely heavy on the work side. Growing my book is what I’ve been focused on for the last year and a half and I’ll do that until I get to a spot where I can take my foot off the gas a bit. I am very structured when it comes to ending at a certain time and focus on family. Once the kids go to bed, I can hop back on for a little in the evening. I like being flexible, and it helps to make sure you’re not overworking yourself.
Biggest industry challenges?
In my circle, the biggest thing is implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into our daily workflow and procedures. We’re trying to zero in on automation. I’ve spoken with a lot of carriers that have been purposefully looking to implement AI to cut mundane tasks and figure out a way for this newer technology to work for us to smooth the process for insureds or streamline quoting, proposals, binding.
Serving the Hispanic business owner demographic?
A lot of it is education and making sure information is communicated correctly. They need to have someone explain to them why they need a good general liability policy, contractors pollution, or cyber coverage if they’re handling a lot of data.
A big thing is workers compensation monthly reporting opportunities. A lot of them are seasonal and work heavily for eight to 10 months out of the year and are dormant the others. I look for opportunities to help them see their peaks and dips in payroll that help them get a better understanding of their insurance needs. They’re really receptive. For me, being able to present solutions and helping them understand why they need higher liability limits to be compliant is a big way to help address this challenge.
More on workers comp
Best thing about being an independent insurance agent?
Access to multiple markets, with constant shifts in appetites. It’s about being a student and soaking up information. I was with State Farm for three years and hopping to the independent side was like drinking through a firehose. I just try to be a student and coachable.
Also, the work-life balance. I value family a lot, so being able to coach my kids’ sports teams, spend time with my wife, being able to be the owner of my schedule, is probably the biggest advantage to being an independent agent.
Goals for the future?
I told my agency when I started here that I was taking this job to have work-life balance. I told my agency principal that I would always take time with my family and he’s respected that. My goal for the future is to have a work-life balance that leans much more toward family time.
I also want to serve my community. I want to be a community leader. Not necessarily in an electoral position, but somebody who can be a resource for the Hispanic community. I want to be somebody who stands out as genuinely seeking the best interest in mind of the average business owner.
Oklahoma Young Agents Committee (YAC)?
I started my job at Tedford in September of 2023 and got offered a spot on the committee at the beginning of 2024, so I was barely in the industry. I have enjoyed working and connecting with all the people on the committee. I’m fairly new, so I enjoy being a supportive team member—doing what needs to be done and always being willing to help out. I have a background in production and music, so I still play gigs and run sound at events. For last year’s YAC conference, I recommended the band and also helped run sound and set up the public-address system for the event.
AnneMarie McPherson Spears is IA news editor.
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