Declaration of Independents

Carrie Reynolds

Owner
Alan Galvez Insurance
Bellefontaine, Ohio

“Insurance Goddess” is her alter ego and personal brand. Carrie Reynolds is willing—even eager—to poke fun at herself if it means people will engage with her and learn something about insurance. The goddess sprang to life from Reynolds’s blog, “Confessions of an Insurance Goddess.” Why that title? “Because if I called it ‘Carrie’s Insurance Blog,’ no one would read it,” she quips.

MOTIVATION?

To humanize insurance and make it easy to understand. To show that insurance needn’t be complicated or boring—that simple, valuable information enables you to make good decisions. And you just might have some fun in the process.

LIFE/BRAND BALANCE?

The persona isn’t my full-time job, but the two are a beautiful marriage. You’ve got your Flo and your Mayhem, but the goddess can actually do something. She can solve your insurance problems.

BEYOND THE TOGA

My dad’s name is on the agency, and I’m proud to own the family business with him. We’re involved in our community and we help people through civic and charitable work, and by providing insurance services like no other business does. The Insurance Goddess is our agency spirit personified.

QUEEN OF DENIAL?

For a while after I introduced the character, I got some backlash from a few people in the industry. But I get far more compliments and encouragement from people who appreciate what it takes to build a personal brand—and who might wish they could be brave enough to establish their own brand. Sometimes I still get looks, but I don’t care.