Insurance and Financial Advisor Testimonials
I first heard about Optimal Outcome at a Rural Mutual rally, where the company provided the opportunity for me to leverage agency business coaching with a reimbursement mechanism built in. I'm not one to leave money on the table, so I signed up for the one-hour coaching experience, and I clicked with my coach immediately.
Honestly, my biggest hesitation about committing to coaching was time. I was already struggling to get everything done, and I couldn't picture where a coaching program would fit. But my coach met me exactly where I was, giving me the flexibility and structure to work through the program in a way that actually fit my agency — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
What I didn't expect was how life-changing it would be, both personally and professionally. Before Optimal Outcome, I rarely left the office for anything personal. Work/life balance was something I talked about, not something I lived. A year into the program, I decided to take my family on a 10-day cruise. And here's the part that still amazes me: I confidently booked it before I even had the funds, because I finally understood how to plan for it. I focused on my sales, hit my year-end plan early, and the money was there when I needed it.
Optimal Outcome didn't just help me grow my business; it gave me the confidence and clarity to build the life I actually wanted alongside it.
I became a Career Agent immediately after another agent abruptly retired. At the time, I had only been a Financed Agent for two years and had personally written approximately 75 policies. Overnight, I inherited a book of over 500 policies. The transition was overwhelming. The inherited book required significant cleanup — missing information, incorrectly written policies, overdue reviews, frustrated customers, and operational gaps that I was not prepared for. At the same time, my family was navigating one of the most difficult personal seasons we had ever experienced.
Through Optimal Outcome, I built systems, routines, workflows, and organizational structures that now allow my office to function efficiently and consistently. Today, my office has processes in place for nearly every recurring task or situation. I have successfully restructured my team by making difficult staffing decisions, hiring intentionally, and creating workflows that support my staff’s success rather than contribute to confusion or burnout. Most importantly, I have built stronger relationships with my customers, greater confidence in my leadership abilities, and healthier boundaries within my office, my customer relationships, and my home life.
Optimal Outcome did not remove the hard parts of this transition. It gave me the tools and support to navigate them successfully instead of drowning in them. Without my coach and Optimal Outcome, I truly believe I would have burned myself out. I would have made reactive decisions instead of intentional ones. I would not be as organized, prepared, or emotionally equipped as I am today. The coaching gave me the ability to take things “one bite at a time” and remain focused on building something sustainable instead of simply trying to survive each day. Optimal Outcome gave me tools, structure, accountability, and confidence during a season when I needed it most. And my coach made an impact on my life that extends far beyond business numbers. For that, I will always be grateful.
If you’re considering working with Benchmark Business Group, I couldn’t recommend them more highly. The experience has been thoughtful, supportive, and truly impactful—not just for my business, but for how I show up as a business owner.
A huge part of what makes Benchmark so exceptional is my coach. She is insightful, encouraging, and genuinely invested in her clients’ success. Her coaching is both strategic and practical, helping create real momentum instead of overwhelm.
I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance and support I’ve received. If you’re serious about growth and want a company (and coach) who will challenge you, support you, and celebrate your wins, Benchmark Business Group is an easy recommendation.
I don't think of the Optimal Outcome coaching program as an expense — it's an investment in my business. My coach feels like a true member of my team, someone who helps me keep the ship pointed in the right direction.
With my coach's guidance, I established a weekly team meeting with a structured agenda, which has made a real difference in keeping our 10 employees and 3 locations organized and aligned. Beyond that, my coach helped me build out processes for hiring, onboarding, training, and employee reviews — systems that have brought consistency and confidence to how we grow and manage our team.
The clarity and structure I've gained using Optimal Outcome have been worth every penny.
When I was introduced to the Optimal Outcome Coaching Program at the Fall Sales Rally during my first year as a Farm Bureau agent, I knew it was exactly what I needed. I had experience as an insurance agent, but starting my own agency was a whole new challenge — and I understood that before I could build the house, I had to build the foundation.
The program transformed the way I think. It pushed me outside my box, sharpened my accountability, and helped me become a stronger delegator. My coach walked alongside me every step of the way — helping me identify the processes my agency needed, develop them, and then stay on track executing them.
The results have spoken for themselves. I'm so proud of what we've built that I actively tell my peers: having a coach made all the difference in the world.
I joined the Optimal Outcome Coaching Program to create better efficiencies and processes for my business — and it delivered exactly that. We built systems for hiring, firing, and handling phone calls, and my coach kept me motivated and accountable while helping us hit our sales goals.
What sets this program apart is its flexibility. My coach identified my greatest area of need and we tackled that first, then worked through the rest of the program. My staff has already noticed the difference — the new workflows and efficiencies have made a real impact on how we operate.
I can't recommend the Optimal Outcome Coaching Program enough.
Before joining the Optimal Outcome coaching program, I lacked a true business owner mindset and had no clear roadmap for growing my practice. I knew I wanted more, but I didn't know where to start.
Working with my coach changed that. I learned how to build structured processes that brought real organization and consistency to my business. Thanks to the hiring tools offered in the program, I was able to successfully bring on a new sales associate, something I had been putting off for far too long.
If you're in financial services and struggling to develop the systems and mindset your business needs to grow, I wholeheartedly recommend Optimal Outcome. It delivers.
My previous work experience led me to treat being an insurance agent like any other job — I was simply showing up for a paycheck. The Optimal Outcome coaching program completely changed that mindset. It helped me understand that I wasn't just an agent; I was a business owner — and that distinction makes all the difference.
My coach challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and think strategically in ways I never had before. The growth didn't stop with me — my wife, who manages our office, went through a transformation of her own, and together we've uncovered strengths we didn't even know we had.
This program has been worth the investment. I've already referred several fellow agents and will continue to recommend it without hesitation.
Honestly, I wish I had started with Optimal Outcome 3 years ago. I wasn’t prepared and thought I could just wing it, but without solid systems and processes, you just spin your wheels. Optimal Outcome would have been invaluable, especially for new agents without strong support systems. Coming from a completely different field, I needed help to build a successful business and high-performing team. Optimal Outcome was exactly what I needed to make the right changes and move forward.
The Optimal Outcome Coaching Program helped me to identify the need to hire a new position to place a focus on sales and marketing for my business. The program also helped me to structure the position including what duties the employee would have in order to set them up for success. With this structure I was able to hire an outstanding candidate and they are doing a great job of generating activity.
“I found myself at the end of last year hitting the ceiling in that I just couldn’t do any more than what I was doing. Bob came out and presented at our kick-off conference and what he was talking about really appealed to me and so I took the risk. I took out $12,000 from my 401k through a loan. Now in the business account there is over $125,000 in there. Obviously, the rate of return blew away what I could have done in the 401k.”
Optimal Outcome has shown me the value of systemizing my business. Systems have enabled myself and my staff to proactively address client needs and function in a more efficient manner. The perspective of my Coach, as an objective observer, has been incredibly helpful and the information contained in Optimal Outcome is well worth the investment.
“Before Optimal Outcome, I had my hands in everything and did a poor job of delegating tasks to my staff and then holding them accountable to those tasks. With the help of Optimal Outcome and my Coach, my staff and I have been able to restructure the office and eliminate the chaos.
Optimal Outcome and my Coach have enabled me to transform from an overworked insurance agent with no clear direction to a confident business woman with increasing productivity, on the path to an optimal work/life balance
I was dragging my feet about Optimal Outcome and resisted for years, thinking I didn’t need it since I was already producing high volume. The challenge was we didn’t have the staff to handle it all. Optimal Outcome allowed us to step back, identify the problems, and make crucial changes. While I was achieving high production, my quality of life was suffering. The program helped me fix that and make necessary adjustments for my Agency. It’s been transformative, and I would definitely recommend it to others.
Before Optimal Outcome, I spent 12+ hour days at the office always trying to catch up. With the help of my Coach, I am now designing an 8-10 hour day that not only enables me to get in front of more clients and increase my sales & revenue but will also let me spend more time with my family.
The program and my Coach have shown me how to prioritize and organize in such a way that I am now able to delegate tasks to my office staff and get out in front of more clients. As a result, my business has increased 40% over the last year. I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience in the Optimal Outcome Program
Optimal Outcome and my Coach have paved the way for me to be a more effective manager and to better understand the knowledge my staff must have in order to better satisfy our clients. Optimal Outcome has given me peace of mind
As a new Agency Owner, finding the balance between work and life was a real challenge. Optimal Outcome has been a lifesaver. The program showed me how to set up clear processes and document everything, which was a game-changer for delegating tasks. I used to worry about what to assign to new hires, but now I feel confident in how to integrate them into our operations. This program has made a huge difference in how we run things. Highly recommend it to anyone in the same boat!
Optimal Outcome should be a pre-requisite for any insurance agents looking to open an agency. The program and my Coach saved me countless hours of trial and error and unnecessary mistakes by providing a structured environment in which to talk through ideas and, in fact, brought to light opportunities that I may not have seen otherwise
The Optimal Outcome Program has given my business consistent production with less burden on me. I have more confidence in my management approach because there is more structure for me to delegate better. This difference has made my team more pro-active and enabled them to take ownership and solve problems without me. The Optimal Outcome program content is invaluable, There are so many tools and resources within the program that I use regularly. The one resource I would like to have more time with is my coach. She is a joy and a talented person who knows my business and how to approach each situation.
It took me awhile to get started, I thought I was too busy and never had enough time. I am now very ecstatic that I started the program and am more focused on what my business needs. The Optimal Outcome program and my coach have allowed me to build a great business. I work “on” my business more and less “in” my business. I have increased production and am more efficient. The program has touched every facet of my business and I am just getting started.
The Optimal Outcome experience was life changing for me and what I learned in the program flows into every part of my life. I decided to begin Optimal Outcome because I had just taken over a book of business with no staff, no insurance experience, and my prospecting activity was falling short. I was overwhelmed and felt unsuccessful. Through Optimal Outcome I saw an immediate change to my business. I had consistent and repeatable results and I was better armed to manage and hire. Through the program I developed many tools that I still use on a daily basis.
I was in a place where I felt like I couldn’t keep my head above water. Even though I had two employees, I wasn’t good at delegating and felt like I needed to do everything myself. Optimal Outcome helped me prioritize my time, leverage my staff, and set boundaries. I went from feeling like I was constantly in a hole to having control over my business. I highly recommend this program for anyone who feels overwhelmed and wants to get their business on track.
I’ve been an agent for almost 10 years and before I began Optimal Outcome my performance would fall in the middle of the pack. The Optimal Outcome program taught me how to set goals and to focus on my close ratios in order to grow. The results have catapulted me into being a top producing agent which has allowed my team and I to go on some fabulous trips. This keeps us motivated to continue to grow.
Optimal Outcome helped me get a better grasp on how to look at my career as a business and structure it like a business. They helped me create a business plan so I have direction in where I want to go and a plan on how to get there. They helped me create the tools to run my business more efficiently and offer better communication with my employees. I have a clear direction in how I want my business to look in 5 years and feel confident in the steps it is going to take for me to get there. All in all they truly helped me understand how to transition my mindset from employee to business owner.
