Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Batres.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Coming from the creative field as a dancer, finding my way into the financial industry was very surprising to many. Yet, the reason for it is something I hope will open the eyes of many in my generation. During the pandemic, many people suffered financially. I was extremely shocked to see people in the dance industry years ahead of me suffering in the same way I was. No one had money saved, and no one had retirement. More than that, as people were passing away from this new illness, I also noticed how many fundraisers popped up. No one was covered with insurance. As I looked deeper into the problem, I realized the lack of financial literacy in and out of my own community. This business of financial services quickly touched my heart as I saw a huge problem that needed fixing. I now find immense passion in educating families and individuals about the current issues we face as Millennials and below. It’s such a great feeling when I am able to show them how they can get ahead of the financial turbulence to come and get on the right path to financial prosperity. At the same time, my office is growing with some of the most hard-working, trustworthy agents who are looking to do the same thing as me on a daily basis!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running any business will never be smooth. I’ve had two previous businesses prior to finance in both fashion and the fitness field. Although the problems change, the one thing that is consistent is how windy the road to success can be. Whenever I train a new agent up in the company, I always have to set up the expectations that this will not be easy, but it’s always worth it. The first obstacle a new agent might face in this field is learning to become a great relationship builder. Most people think finances is purely transactional. However, building a lasting relationship with the clients will guarantee we are setting them up with the right product. Sometimes this side of things comes hard to people who just want to make quick money. With financial services, it’s all about our mission first. If an agent can’t get past that, it may be hard for them. They just genuinely care about each client. For me personally, the roughest part about this industry isn’t the work. It’s all the missed opportunity I didn’t take to help a family. I have seen students from my high school pass away without coverage and watched the financial burden that laid out for the family months after the death. I have also seen people in retirement wait too long to move their money and get penalized after saving that money their whole career. Once I got over being shy to reach out to people, that’s when this industry got easier.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an independent financial service agent who raises up other agents who want to work from home. I am most proud of each person I am able to put in a financial product that will make sure they bypass future financial problems. For example, if we really do our research on retirement accounts for Millennials and below, we would see that whatever our jobs offer us won’t be enough. Not even close! Yet most people are blindly signing up for anything their jobs offer them and hoping they will have retirement. Unfortunately, if that is your case, you will wake up at 65 and come to terms with working until the day you pass away. There are many ways we can make sure that doesn’t happen, but only if we begin prioritizing our finances now and with the support of a professional like myself. One of the biggest ways I am set apart (or so my clients tell me) is the way I take my time in educating them on a product before just setting them up. Most people are used to just being sold something, whereas I like to make sure my clients feel fully empowered by their finances before setting them up. This way, they feel a part of their journey to financial prosperity.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Make sure you work in a recession-proof industry! While everyone around me had businesses closing down and layoffs, our company did one of its biggest years during the pandemic. How much more did people begin paying attention to their finances when in financial distress? The answer is much more! While every other business is teaching people how to spend their money, we are in one of the few industries that’s helping people save it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katierose.bae?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-batres-30b626b7/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wealthwife?_t=8jfeHaz77mM&_r=1
Image Credits
@elite_vizuals
Leilani Togisala
Yesenia Rios Vargas
@matthew.ofalla
