YAC Spotlight: Cody Parsons

When and why did you decide to pursue a career in insurance? 

• They say timing is everything, and I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. A good friend of mine, John Churey, who was also attending Florida State University and who is a highly respected Amwins employee, encouraged me to attend a meeting where an FAIA speaker was featured. That was it. That was my lightning-in-a-bottle moment. At the time, I was a general business major, but once I saw the door opening to the RMI route and all the opportunities available, my decision was made. At the time, I had no idea about insurance or the insurance industry, but after taking some classes, attending sessions, and networking, it seemed a perfect fit for what I was looking for. 

Who has made the biggest impact on your career up to this point? 

• As I’ve grown, I come to realize that it is not the length of time you know someone, but more importantly, the timing of when they enter your life. A good example of this confluence of timing and influence is Susan Langston, our underwriting manager, who has been a huge advocate for me. Susan has such an impressive depth of professional knowledge that working with her is a continual education. One of the most important skills I have learned from her is how to navigate people and achieve goals and tasks with the help of others. She has been a tremendous help to me each and every day over the last five years. I consider myself very fortunate to have direct mentorship on a day-to-day basis in the office. 

What advice would you offer college students unsure of majoring in Risk Management? 

• My advice would be to get involved in as many opportunities as possible. Go to every event, workshop, and presentation, be a part of it, get outside your comfort zone, and learn how to talk to people. Be a “yes person” with a positive approach and attitude, and everything else will begin to fall into place. It’s challenging to be around negativity, so the more you become a “yes person,” the more doors will open for you.

Tell us about the importance of building and maintaining relationships in the insurance community as a young agent.  

• It is often said that the industry in which we work is small and I have found that to be very true. Keeping in mind how small the community is, I try to focus on always adding value to my work, my team and co-workers. It is important to me to be impeccable with your word and to under-promise and over-deliver. If you say you are going to get something done, then be on time in your delivery and, whenever possible, get it done early. To me, it’s important to ensure that you are being thoughtful and punctual and basically be a person of your word – do what you say you’re going to do. Showing up and working hard as much as possible is how many successful people get started – regardless of the industry, but especially true in insurance. I’ve found the key to success is communication, helping to retain clients, secure new deals and always be adding value to whatever task you’re doing.  

What is your favorite aspect of the job? 

• It is often said that the industry we work in is small, and I have found that to be very true. Keeping in mind how small the community is, I try to focus on always adding value to my work, team, and co-workers. It is important to me to be impeccable with your word and to under-promise and over-deliver. If you say you are going to get something done, then be on time in your delivery and, whenever possible, get it done early. To me, it’s important to ensure that you are being thoughtful and punctual and basically be a person of your word—do what you say you’re going to do. Showing up and working hard as much as possible is how many successful people get started, regardless of the industry, but especially true in insurance. I’ve found the key to success is communication, helping to retain clients, secure new deals, and always adding value to whatever task you’re doing. 

In your opinion, what is the most valuable skill that a young agent can have? 

• In my experience, learning how to communicate clearly and effectively by conveying yourself well to others has been the key to successful relationships with clients, the team, and all co-workers. When you ask yourself, “Are you just listening to respond, or are you listening to understand?” then you are hopefully making sure the other person feels seen and heard, which is important in any interaction or relationship. The more you can build comraderies within the team and get people to work with you, the better the relationship will be whenever there are ripples in the pond. We work in a people-driven industry, and the more you can build meaningful relationships, the greater the impact will be in your success.

What do you do for fun? 

• Being a South Florida insurance guy, I love getting on the boat, golfing, cooking, traveling around, and visiting friends in other cities. I’m an out-and-about kind of person.  

Who do you admire and why? 

• I recently read David Goggin’s last book Never Finish. I think he’s an impressive person based on his discipline. He was a Navy Seal and got his notoriety doing ultra-marathons and 100-mile races to raise awareness for veterans. His selflessness and his acts of service for everyone other than himself are pretty commendable. He’s a figure of admiration in my eyes, and has done a lot for the advancement of veterans and the country.  

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

• Wasting time! 

Are cats or dogs better and why? 

• Dogs. Period. I’ve got a yellow lab and the best thing is on Sunday afternoons is throwing a toy for her in the pool and she’ll be out there for hours, which is a nice weekend reset for me.