Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Charette
Hi Nicole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My background is 20+ years retail management, corporate training, and IT service. In 2018, my life was turned upside down. That October, we celebrated my son’s (my rainbow baby) 2nd birthday. Less than 1 week later, my Mom (my best friend) was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Immediately I started thinking about the Insurance Agent that we started working with almost a year before. We were told she was working diligently to assist my Mom in obtaining coverage. However, she hadn’t done so successfully. Now, my Mom has a Cancer diagnosis, so she would not be able to obtain the desired insurance. Within just 3 weeks of her diagnosis and 1st round of Chemo, she passed. I remember it like it was yesterday. December 7th, 2018 at 6:45 am, there was a knock on my bedroom door. It was our hospice nurse coming to inform me that her breathing pattern had changed. Within 15 minutes, she was gone. I spent a while absolutely devastated. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe.
After some time, I was able to pull myself together a bit. I really had no choice. I had a miracle child to live for. Shortly after, I had been working as a bartender, just trying to keep our heads above water, Covid hit. Everything shut down. Everything. But not me, or my goals. I managed to obtain my 2-15 Health, Life, and Annuities License. I decided I wanted to be the good that I wanted to see in the world. I decided that people shouldn’t suffer, waiting for insurance or for a reliable, trustworthy Broker to assist them. That is where things get interesting.
After the world had finally stopped hiding from Covid, I had returned to the bar I was working prior to the shutdown. I was going to build my client base while still bringing in a steady income stream. On August 21st, 2021, one of the bartenders that also worked there, showed up drunk, while I was still setting up to open for the day. This guy was obnoxious, offensive, and in my face. Deciding that I was better than being treated this way daily, and knowing the owners were “lacking” (to say the least), I had enough. I walked out.
I was terrified. I had no idea how I was going to support my 2 children, ages 2 and 5 at the time. I called the lady I had looked up to as a mentor. She assured me that she would help me expand my client base and that my boys and I would be just fine. Well, she ended up lying and stealing commission from not only me, but several other Brokers she was claiming to mentor.
I finally found a home to place my Health Insurance and Medicare Advantage contracts. I started from scratch, building my client base organically. I did not do any cold-calling or door to door soliciting. I began offering free seminars monthly at local community centers, providing free information to people who would not be able to, or know where to, obtain it otherwise. I also attend many outdoor events, with a table setup to answer questions and have some fun with the community at the same time. While I maintain all the continued education for life insurance, my focus was more on health insurance. Life insurance people are so shady. I have yet to find an agency I trust with my contracts, and I have experience with several.
All that spiraled into me creating 2 businesses. One business being a non-profit organization called Climbing Together, which essentially, this creation was my Moms dream. She wanted to help the homeless, elderly, parents with young children, and people experiencing domestic violence. She really wanted to change the world. Just because the world lost her, that doesn’t mean the world should also lose her great ideas. The second business being Nicolette Management. This is going to be a Marketing and Insurance Agency focused on ensuring clients get prompt and accurate assistance on many services crucial to financial and physical success. This agency is hyper focused on operating with full transparency, honesty, and the highest level of integrity possible.
Basically, I set out to start a movement. Via my Mom-inspired non-profit, Climbing Together, and the insurance agency I am determined to create from the ground up, Nicolette Management, I will be the voice, the advocate that people need. Since the inception of Nicolette Management, my product lineup has expanded. I now offer not only Health Insurance, Medicare Advantage, Ancillary Plans, and Supplementals, I also offer Notary Services. On top of that, I have partnered with some affiliate marketing companies to provide clients with additional services such as Credit Repair, Identity Monitoring, Debt Elimination, the creation of their Will & Trust, and much more. I have created yet another partnership, Tax Tactix, to be able to bring Tax Preparation to the product lineup very soon. I have been able to structure my business to help other people mirror what I’ve done to become financially independent as well.
Now, instead of running around stressed out, never present, and always out of time, I am able to have a flexible schedule that works around my life. My work life is scheduled around my family. And I am helping people every single day. It’s my dream. I wish my Mom was here to see this.
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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I still hit snags daily. Mostly funding issues. With everything I have going on, there is a lot of money going out and not much coming in. Most of my services have been offered pro bono, because I am paid commission by the insurance companies. However, that doesn’t always balance out to time invested and commission paid. I have been working on finding sources of funding, donations, and form of assistance I can find.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Nicolette Management is an upcoming Marketing and Insurance Agency. We focus on providing people the tools they need to be healthy and wealthy. We do this by partnering with other companies to offer consultations for products such as Health Insurance, Medicare Advantage, Ancillary & Supplemental Plans, Life Insurance (including IUL, Term, Whole, Retirement, Mortgage Protection, Million Dollar Baby, College Savings, Living Benefits, Final Expense, etc.), Credit Repair, Identity Monitoring, Debt Elimination, creation of their Will & Trust, and more. I am a Certified Notary Public, as well as 2-15 Licensed Insurance Broker (Health, Life, and Annuities License) with a strong moral compass for helping others in a transparent, honest way. We have been vetted by the Better Business Bureau and given an A- Rating in 2024. We also put every company we partner with through a thorough vetting process prior to bringing their services into the Nicolette Management product lineup. If the company doesn’t align with the same mindset we have, we will not work with them. You can rest assured that everything we do, we do with you in mind, because we know what it feels like when the intention is not pure. We aim to be the difference.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Not everyone has the same heart as I do. I have been screwed over (pardon the term) more times than I can count. There are so many people in the Insurance industry that are in it for all the wrong reasons. Vetting people, companies, clients… It is a very important process. Don’t skip it.
Pricing:
- In 2025, consultations are now $25. This is because of how many clients would book numerous appointments and never show up. This causes me to lose out on scheduling with people that genuinely need the help. When money has been invested, people are more likely to show up, and stop wasting my time.
- Costs vary based on the service, product, company, and benefit amount selected. Speak with a specialist for more details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nicolettemanagement.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/NicoletteManagement
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/NicoletteManagement
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkicharette
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nicolettemanagement?si=vnJArW-7CKE1l3hq
- Other: https://www.climbingtogether.org
Image Credits:
Nicole Charette
