As we’ve seen throughout COVID-19 pandemic stories, many families were not prepared for this virus. Financial devastation and unexpected deaths have left many at a great loss and has emphasized the importance of things like life insurance and financial literacy, and savings.
Alexita Bridgeman is working to help inform and educate individuals on the importance of these topics through her work as an insurance broker agent and financial literacy education coordinator.
How Alexita found her calling helping others as a Latina insurance agent
Alexita was born in New Jersey to Peruvian immigrant parents who settled in Pennsylvania after living in Los Angeles, California and became a single mom at an early age. To provide for her family she went to college and worked real estate part-time, selling homes. Later, she got a license for insurance with the goal to work only when the banks were open, allowing more time for her family and volunteer work in the community and local prison on the weekends.
She first started working in the Poconos, Pennsylvania a 1.5 hour ride from NY, then when Obamacare came into effect 2010, she became an agent.
“My obstacle at the time was not being able to clone myself. The laws had changed regarding medical insurance and it was difficult to gather all information needed. Insurance is not an easy subject in English let alone Spanish. The service was in demand but it allowed me to introduce other insurance products to protect families financially. I had to sacrifice late nights in order to have weekends with my family and do what I love.”
Now, as an agent at Statewide Insurance Solutions LLC, Alexita works to assist Spanish-speaking families and business owners through the process of enrolling in health plans and other insurance products.
Education is power, “ignorance is expensive”
Located in the heart of Easton, Pennsylvania, Statewide Insurance Solutions is just a short walk from Philipsburg, New Jersey and historical tourist attractions like the Delaware River and Crayola Factory. With Easton being home to many South and Central Americans as well as Caribbean Latinos, the Spanish-speaking insurance agency caters to the local Latino population, offering solutions for home and business.
During the past year of COVID-19, Alexita and her agency have worked hard to provide life insurance for families and general liability insurance for new businesses starting up from home.
“The demand for home remodelers and general contractors rose and protection for small businesses became available. Online access for business startups such as roofing, carpentry, and landscapers has always been the center of the Spanish speaking community along with restaurants and barbershops,” says Alexita.
“Covid and other health issues have fired up the importance of life insurance, a very “un-sexy” topic for Latinos,” she says. To combat the ignorance and stigma surrounding health insurance, Alexita hosts free classes online with no pressure to buy, just to inform and educate because “ignorance is expensive,” she says.
You might be interested: Tips to improve your financial smarts this National Financial Literacy Month
“Just because one does not speak English, it doesn’t mean that they are not intelligent. Middle income America, in any language, is unaware of the options that are available to protect their family and protect their business reputation. People do business with those they like and trust. In my world if both do not align that means I must work harder on myself so I can sleep and know that I gave my best!”
“Dale con ganas,” Give it your all!
As a Latina professional, Alexita’s strengths lie in her ability to connect, network, and educate the Hispanic community. She has been able to leverage social media to reach others and provide educational resources to Spanish-speaking families and business owners who need them most.
“I am a proud host of free dinner classes, lunch and learn workshops that teach about money protection, homebuying, credit counseling and tax savings programs. When people come to me for help I feel honored that they trust me to help in their family or business goals and with protecting their financial household,” she says.
Alexita’s advice to other Latina and minority women is: “Dale con ganas,” give it your all!
“When you take the risk, your gifts will bless others,” says Alexita. “It will all be returned to you in one way or another. Blessings are not always monetary.”
So if you have an idea, business venture, or dream, then take the risk and go for it. Your efforts will be rewarded in time.
