(Warm guitar instrumental)
Hello, everybody. Welcome to SHARP.
I'm Natalie Toalson and there are seven of us on the SHARP team now--
--some of us which you will get to meet today.
Brian Kasper and I own and operate SHARP together.
SHARP stands for Senior Health and Retirement Professionals.
That was the company that Brian and I founded back in 2005.
We came together as independent agents here in Yavapai county.
And the way all that history started was actually prior to 2005--
--when I met Brian Kasper as a coworker at Humana.
Back in the Humana days, we only sold Medicare plans for that one company.
If you and I sat down and went over the program I had available and--
--it wasn't a fit for you, I wasn't allowed to sell you anything else.
I was what is called a 'captive agent' and so was Brian.
What Brian and I have created with SHARP is the ability to help you--
with any of the plans.
Yavapai county has grown over the years and you have seen this--
--because when we started up here back in 2004 there was one plan--
then there was two plans. And it held at two plans for years.
There were only two companies. The big dogs. They were up here.
But over the years we have seen so many changes and advancements--
--and growth in Yavapai county.
What was once considered a rural market -- this is no longer that.
We now have 14 different plans next year.
As you examine your choices, do you really want to work with--
--someone who, number one, only represents one program?
And can only sell you that one plan?
And, number two, do you really want to work with someone who--
--dabbles in Medicare? Because that's not SHARP.
We do this year round and this is all we do.
We're not going to call you in the middle of the year and--
--sell you an annuity or a life insurance plan or ask you about--
--your auto coverage.
That's not it.
Medicare is complicated enough.
We are the experts and this is all we've done.
Brian's been doing this -- I tease him over 40 years but--
--I think it's 39 years.
And Carlos, he's 38 years in the business.
So we bring a ton of experience and we're growing our team as we've grown.
So you'll see new faces. A lot of you saw last year that we--
--added Michelle to our team, and Dana, and Melonie.
We have some new surprises and some real experts coming in--
--from Yavapai county that are already established within your--
--community that have joined forces for next year with SHARP.
And the last member of the SHARP team that we haven't properly--
--introduced is my husband, Chuck Keatley.
He is behind the scenes for all things tech. He helps us--
--with our online enrollments. He helps us with our phone systems--
--so that when you call us, all of our phones ring at the same time.
That's how you get ahold of us so smoothly and quickly.
And finally, for his wonderful help with our videos this year.
The reason we're growing at such a rate is because this upcoming--
--year is going to be challenging to do seminars.
They're not supported by the carriers -- meaning the Aetnas--
--the Uniteds, the Humanas -- they're not supporting large meetings.
And that's unfortunate. We love seeing your happy, smiling faces.
But we want to stay safe. We want to keep you all safe.
As a result, we are going to do some virtual meetings this way--
where I'm presenting to you, on camera, and talking to you about--
--the different programs and you're able to watch it from--
--the comfort and safety of your home.
The other option is to give us a call and say, "You know what, Nat?"
"I didn't want to watch that."
"Thank you for sending it to me but I'd rather just talk to you--"
"--on the phone or meet with you in person."
And we can do that. We can get together at a coffee shop--
--as needed.
Or we can spend an hour or two on the phone. It's no problem.
We want to keep your business. We want to earn your business.
So those of you who have worked with us in the past, please--
--continue to work with us. Let us help you next year.
We can review your current plan that you're on and, as you know--
--if you decide to stay on your plan, you don't need to re-enroll.
If you decide to enroll in a different program, let SHARP help you with that.
We can help you by phone, we can help you in person, and we can--
--help you electronically.
We will make it work.
We want to keep your business. It's important to us.
This is how we earn our living.
We are not employees of an insurance company, which means--
Brian, myself, Carlos -- full time -- this is all we do.
And by you staying with SHARP, we earn a commission.
That commission is regulated by the federal government and by Medicare.
I have no incentive to tell you that one program is better than the other.
My only incentive -- my true calling -- is to put you in the best plan--
--for your needs so that you're happy with us.
And throughout the year, what I give in you exhange for that--
--is access to myself, Brian, Carlos, and Michelle.
The insurance industry is evolving so that next year, some of the--
--plans will let me change your doctor for you.
I won't have to tell you, "Sorry Joe, you'll have to call in to the insurance company."
I can do that for you next year. This is new stuff.
They're always changing. The rules are changing. The plans are changing.
The plans are growing. It's confusing.
That's why we specialize in Medicare.
And that's why SHARP is your advocate for all Medicare plans.
Thank you for listening and taking the time to watch our videos this year.
We appreciate our clients more than ever.
I know this is a hard year not meeting in person.
One of the things we want to mention is that we know what a--
--unique year this is. It's hard and we're doing some of this on video--
--instead of in person.
Many of you have worked with us in the past and we're hoping to--
--get back to face-to-face seminars or in-person appointments next year.
We can't wait to see you guys.
But you may also have friends and family that can't get ahold of their agents.
And that's understandable, this is an interesting year.
It's a hard year. And some of these insurance agents may not--
--have been ready to pivot to a virtual environment like this.
Or to a phone session. But we are.
So let us help your friends and family if you hear within the--
--community about people who don't have anybody to give them Medicare advice.
Or are just lost because they had somebody they can't reach now.
Give them SHARP's name and number.
We will meet them -- and meet you -- where you are.
So thank you again for watching our videos.
And please send us your friends and family.
We love referrals and we appreciate you all so much.