Today we’d like to introduce you to Mara Gabino.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I will try to be brief, I was born in Mexicali, Mexico and lived there for about seven to eight years. My sisters, my mom and I moved to California after my dad passed away in a car accident. He was a federal agent and the accident happened while he was on the job. Of course, that changed our entire lives completely.
We went from having a very stable and happy childhood to chaos, confusion, and constantly moving from one city to the next. We moved a lot; I think my mom was trying to find her place in California – not too far from our family in Baja California, Mexico. After six different elementary schools and moving from Northern California to Southern California, we finally settled in the Coachella Valley where I graduated high school. I share this much because while I didn’t like the constant moving and having to change schools often, it forced me to adapt, adjust, make friends fast then say good-bye. I didn’t like that at the time, but I realize it built my character and resilience.
I moved to London, England for school in 2006. I went to University there and got my B.A. in Psychology. I always thought I would be a family therapist, I loved studying the subject and understanding people without my opinion or judgement. London quickly became home to me, I loved the city, the architecture, the arts, the fast-paced life, I loved that everyone was from a different country and spoke at least 2 languages, I met a lot of wonderful people from all over the world that became and still are my closest friends, and the energy of the City inspired me daily. I absolutely loved living there.
In 2012, after living in London for almost six years, I came back to California and settled in San Diego. My plan when I first moved to San Diego was to get my MBA and perhaps move back to London or Chicago – I love a cold and big city. I had my cv/resume online and I was looking for a job that would be flexible with a school schedule. I ended up at a career briefing for an Insurance and financial services company then went to their 2nd interview and their 3rd… I never thought I would start a career in the insurance industry, but I loved it. Perhaps knowing nothing about insurance helped me keep an open mind and approach the career as a student. It is a fast-paced industry that requires a ton of patience. Requires one to constantly get out of your comfort zone, ask personal questions, meet people, network, and to always be learning. I think studying Psychology and having the life experiences I have been blessed to have helps me be a better advisor to my clients and connect with people from all over the globe.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t want to use the word ‘smooth’ because I feel that takes away from commitment, resilience and work ethic. It’s not always smooth. But smooth and easy is never my goal, ‘Growth’ is, and to never be complacent, and to meet my clients where they are in their planning.
Initially, when I first started in the Insurance and financial services industry almost seven years ago, I experienced a lot of rejection, but I was good at not taking it personal and being persistent. I understand there is a lot of information people are being bombarded with and need to be cautious in deciding.
I made a lot of cold calls and they weren’t always easy to make but I was always glad I made them. Often enough, the leads I was given were wrong numbers, I learned to pivot and make the appointment anyway with the person on the other line. I think my passion was conveyed in my voice, I truly believed in our products and genuinely had people’s best interest at heart, and I think people somehow felt that on the phone and that’s why they would agree to the appointment.
I wasn’t from San Diego and I didn’t have a warm market. I had to create one, and I had to put myself out there and cold call 6 days a week, network and not be a secret agent. There was a lot to learn, not only about our products and the industry but it’s an ongoing personal development journey. It requires one to learn about business, marketing, branding, networking and all that entails when you are self-employed. A lot of trial and error. There is no salary or hourly pay, insurance agents work on 100 percent commission. But I was focused and determined to learn and build my clientele, and I truly loved and enjoyed the journey. I was obsessed.
Fun fact- it took my family 5 years before they became clients. It wasn’t and it’s still not always a smooth journey, but I have learned a lot and recognize I still have a lot to learn. I learned when to be patient and when to recognize I was wasting my time. I learned how to qualify a potential client and when to accept that sometimes it just isn’t the right time for people to move forward.
My responsibility as a licensed professional is to educate and make suitable recommendations, I am not responsible for people’s decisions or lack of.
It takes time to build one’s clientele, generate referrals, and build a book of business. I learned early in the industry the importance of planting seeds, networking and most importantly, approaching my clients with a serving heart, and my responsibility to always be learning and stay on top of my game to better serve the people I am fortunate to work with. It wasn’t easy but I wasn’t expecting it to be. Don’t expect things to be easy. Expect more of yourself and learn, apply yourself and push yourself. If you apply this mindset, you won’t be disappointed or easily discouraged, you will see every challenge as an opportunity for growth. And when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and/or down, pause and take a deep breath, go to the gym, go for a walk, talk to a friend, reset, pray, meditate, rest but don’t give up on yourself.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am very excited about the work we do with our clients. With so many options and information, making financial decisions isn’t always easy and can paralyze one from executing. I make sure my clients understand what their options are when it comes to their life insurance and financial products, I educate them on how plans differ and help them customize a plan that works for them.
Every client is unique and has a different budget, family size, career, goals, etc., so together we create a strategy that’s customized to meet their needs, fit their budget and reach their goals.
I work with my clients and build a relationship with them, staying in touch is important and helps manage and update our approach as their life changes and grows. I care about the people I work with and it’s important to me that they are happy with their plan and clear about the strategy and plans we are implementing.
Some of the solution products I provide are Life Insurance, Long-term Care Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Financial planning as well as asset protection.
I specialize in Life Insurance. Life insurance is the foundation of a solid financial plan and can help protect one’s family by replacing lost income and providing a financial safety net if the breadwinner passes or a premature death occurs. One can have all the savings and investments in order but like a house, if you don’t have a solid foundation then a catastrophic event can wipe out all your assets. It’s important to start with protection for your family and a financial plan that is flexible, depending on where one is at in their career. There are different types of Life insurance policies; Term, Permanent or Whole Life Insurance, and Universal Life. I provide all options to my clients as it’s important the person you are receiving this service from has access to the different types of policies. Otherwise, they are selling you a product and not providing a solution to your specific needs. I have clients that have several policies, and some have one vs the other, they all serve a different purpose and I help my clients determine which one is right for them.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
There is a lot to be said but most importantly, Believe in yourself. There will always be challenges, embrace them. See them as opportunities for growth. I truly believe that if God and life has imprinted that calling in your heart is because you were born for it. You are being called to it; you have what it takes. And that is a lot of heart, courage and ambition. Don’t expect others to see life through your lens like you do and to be supportive, God didn’t give them the vision He gave you. Perhaps the people that you thought would be your first supporters are not. That is OK. The most beautiful gift you can give yourself is belief. Stay positive, optimistic and focused on your vision. Life is full of lessons, when something doesn’t have the result that you were working for, ask yourself; What is this teaching me? What do I need to change? What is my next step? Our mistakes and failures are there to navigate us in the right direction. Confidence is a muscle we must exercise daily, and we grow it by doing, by taking action. Also, make your health a priority. Our health is priceless and when you feel good, you do good.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4365 Executive Drive.
Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92121 - Phone: 619-343-6036
- Email: mgabino@ft.newyorklife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maragabino/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/info.maragabino/
Image Credit:
Credits to Wasio photography in my headshot
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
