Meet Suzanne Altman of Altman Insurance

Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Altman

Hi Suzanne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Moving to the United States at 12 was not easy. As kids, all we want is to fit in and be like everyone else, so we learn to adapt and change. I was a very passionate teenager and loved singing, which helped me navigate this new world. Coming to America made my dreams much bigger, and I believed that with hard work, I could reach the stars, or so I thought.

Choosing a career in the music industry made me realize the challenges that came with the path I was pursuing. Every opportunity also came with obstacles. The competition pushed me to work harder, but it also taught me that no matter how good I was or how hard I worked, there were no guarantees of success.

When I had the opportunity to attend music school, I also took on a job in the service industry while getting involved in my family’s insurance business. My father believed in earning your place and that nothing was given for free. Everyone started at the bottom, including me. I began with tasks like taking inventory in damaged buildings or homes, filing paperwork, creating brochures, handling secretarial duties, and eventually running the office.

When my first child got sick at an indoor play space at almost two years old and was hospitalized for more than four days, I realized there was a need for a safe, clean space for young children to play. After seven months of planning, often sitting at my kitchen table while still working my job, I opened a play and party space for children aged five and under in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. I owned and ran that business for over 15 years.

As my kids grew, my oldest heading to college and my twins entering their junior year of high school, realized it was time for the next chapter. At that point, I wasn’t sure what the future would hold.

After selling my business and navigating the early months of COVID, I felt uncertain about what I wanted to do next. Daily conversations with my husband who was an insurance adjuster, who negotiates claims for policyholders, kept circling back to the same frustration. He often shared how he couldn’t help clients because they were under-insured or had bad policies written by their agents. Hearing this over and over, I began thinking about the need for someone like me, someone who values protecting what matters most, to step in and ensure people have the right coverage when they need it.

In jest, we joked that I should open my own agency. Three months later, I did just that. Today, I have a thriving agency with a growing team. Together, we work daily to take care of our community the best way we know how by offering our time and expertise to protect what matters most.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been far from smooth, but like all good things in life, challenges are part of the journey. Life is about putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes there are mis-steps, and you might fall, but it’s all about learning to get back up and keep going. Every worthwhile accomplishment comes with work, and struggle and doubt are part of the process.

Being a working mom of three children under five was a challenge in itself. On top of that, I had to deal with a major water loss at my home while my husband was out of town helping others navigate their own property losses. Then, there was the loss of my father which was a deeply personal challenge that weighed on me, especially knowing how proud he would have been of everything I’ve achieved.

These were just some of the struggles I’ve faced, but with the bad came so much good and even more growth. Every challenge taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of continuing forward no matter how hard things get.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Altman Insurance, we are your personal insurance concierge. With 30 years of industry experience, we specialize in providing tailored coverage for your business, home, and life. Our small but dedicated team is always accessible and committed to putting our clients first. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, we go the extra mile to ensure you have the right policy and protection in place. Big or small, we write it all. Our service is our brand, and we are all about helping people and making sure they are taken care of, no matter how much time it takes.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would definitely say I’m a risk-taker. Starting two businesses from scratch without knowing whether I would succeed or fail was a major leap of faith. Life is all about taking risks, and with that comes learning, growth, and hopefully, success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.altmaninsuranceagency.com
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