Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Nealis.
Hi Justin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My best friend got me into the business, we were both looking to do something more meaningful for work, for a career. We wanted to do more than just sell something to make money, we wanted to do something that was personally fulfilling and helpful. And selling health insurance fits the card. It’s a very long story about how I got to where I am today so I will give you the cliff note version to the best of my ability. So many factors come into play when I look at how I got to where I am today.
First and foremost, I wouldn’t have got this far if it wasn’t for God’s blessings along the way. I have always been an entrepreneur at heart, I put myself through college at UNCG and graduated with a BS in BA, with a concentration in Small Business and Entrepreneurship in 2008. I grew up in Chapel Hill and always had dreams of working for myself. Over the course of the past 20 years, I have started many small businesses but the three that really changed my life were Prosper Gear, SoFlo iRepair, and Perfect Timing Insurance.
Prosper Gear was a portable solar energy company I launched in 2011; we developed and sold portable solar energy kits for soldiers to use on the battlefield. That business brought me to Florida when I took up a position as the Portable Power Manager for MaxaVision Technologies, a military defense contractor located in Tequesta, FL. We came so close to being very successful, but the cards fell as the government went through sequestration, and the military budget was cut by $500 million dollars in 2012.
In response to the failing venture, I opened a phone repair business, SoFlo iRepair, in Lake Park, FL. I owned and operated a small shop from 2013 – 2018, which was located inside of a Metro PCS. I taught myself how to repair phones, tablets, and laptops beginning in 2011 and developed my skills from there. I tried to expand a couple of times, but it didn’t work out for me. In hindsight, I could have taken the business much further if I had a better plan, and a partner (or partners) with capital and the knowledge to start a franchise.
The time between my repair shop and Perfect Timing Insurance was spent partly waiting tables and mostly at Fresh Aire UV as their Business Development Manager for Commercial Sales in the Southeast and Midwest. At one point in time, I had 13 states under my belt. I jumped on board at the end of February 2020 right before COVID hit and the business exploded because our products kill viruses, mold and bacteria in the Air Handling Units. It was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had in my life but by 2022 I found myself wanting something more.
By 2023 I was approached with the opportunity to start selling health insurance and to work for myself again, which is a dream that I had let go of. I was going to continue to work in the UV industry for one of our competitors but decided to give the insurance business a shot and it paid off. Two years later business is going great, I have many clients in the Raleigh, Durham area, and am beginning to train new recruits to become Independent Agents like me and start their own business.
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?
No, it has never been a smooth road. You have to have some type of nest egg to start a business, or you must work another job until your side hustle takes off. I always tell people, “Don’t quit our day job when you start chasing the dream of starting your own business.” Working for yourself presents so many challenges and income is not guaranteed. Most health insurance agents fail to work independently and end up working under a large company with a guaranteed salary and commission structure. Or they give up because they can’t pay their bills. The average Independent Agent makes $24k per year. The struggles have been the ups and downs of business. My first AEP for 2024 started off strongly and I was excited to keep growing the business in 2024. But OEP 2024 was the opposite of AEP, and I found myself struggling to get business throughout most of the year. It was incredibly challenging and frustrating. But I worked hard and approached just about every Primary Care Office and Financial Advisor business from here Raleigh to Mebane. I also approached dentist offices, pharmacies, and other relevant businesses along the way. The business did not come easy, and I am still grinding every day. Fortunately, AEP and OEP for 2025 turned out good for me and all the synergy from running around the triangle started to pay off.
As you know, we’re big fans of Perfect Timing Insurance. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am Independent Agent which means I represent multiple health insurance carriers for Medicare Advantage and Marketplace Health Insurance (Obamacare). What sets me apart from others is that I really care about people and my main focus is helping others, not making money. I don’t live to work for money; I live to serve others and help as many people as I can. Nothing brings me more joy than when I help an individual significantly lower their health care costs and lesson the burden of life on their shoulders. I am not partial to insurance carriers; I am partial to helping individuals get the most out of their health insurance. I’ve created all my branding, website, and marketing literature and I feel like it turned out pretty good this time. I’m known for my customer service and helping people make the best decisions in a world as confusing as health insurance.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always been an extrovert, funny, silly and full of energy. I am an artist by nature, I’ve always enjoyed drawing, painting, writing poetry, and theatrical arts. I got along with most people and enjoyed getting to know people from all types of backgrounds. I loved Taekwondo as a kid; I was a black belt by 10 years old and probably would be a professional fighter if I never quit. I loved roller blading at skateparks and UNC campus, and had ambitions of being at least an amateur competitor.
Pricing:
- My Services are Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.perfecttiminginsurance.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perfecttiminginsurance
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perfecttiminginsurance/
- Other: https://share.google/cKGRjsz1ZWYebNriG
