FemmeFinancial Podcast

Kristina Watts said YES to the life insurance industry in 2020. Then she quit. Then she quit AGAIN after her second YES in 2022. FINALLY going all in on this opportunity in October 2022, it has since changed her life. She's owner of Watts Family Agency which is proudly 95% women. In her first full year they did $1.09 million in APV, and are on track to blow past that in 2024. She is a mom of 3 and is building an agency of impact where they #doboth - they are BOTH present in their lives and with their families AND building BIG profitable businesses.

Janet Mathews was born in Greensburg, PA, into a family that has run a successful masonry and restoration business since 1911. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double major from Mt. Vernon College, now George Washington University, in Washington, DC. Janet’s career began in real estate, where she worked for 13 years in Virginia and later in West Chester, PA.

Janet has always been competitive, participating in sports throughout her life. She has been married to George Mathews for 28 years, and they share their home with their dog.

Before joining Symmetry Financial Group, Janet worked as a Guest Host on QVC for eight years and co-founded 4 Leaf Energy with her husband. However, she found herself with little control over her time and finances, lacking mentorship and a strong lead system. In July 2013, a friend introduced Janet and George to Symmetry. By June 2014, through hard work and dedication, they became Agency Owners after just 11 months.

Their success grew rapidly, winning the "SFG Fired-Up" Award in 2015. In June 2021, Janet and George reached the top contract level and were promoted to Senior Vice Presidents. In 2022, they joined the Advisory Board and received the prestigious Blue Jacket Award at the Reimagine Quility National Conference, recognizing their 108% agency growth.

In both 2020 and 2023, they were honored as Symmetry and Quility’s Impact Players of the Year. Currently, The Mathews Agency boasts nine Agency Owners, 183 writers, and their best year recorded $6.9 million in Annual Premium Volume (APV).

For over 11 years, Janet has been deeply committed to mentoring agents, helping families secure their financial future, and empowering others to become business owners.

Born in Fairbanks, Alaska. Raised in Washington state where Sierra met her husband of 9.5 years. Spent the majority of her life trying to find her value in the opinions and approval of others until she decided to finally start writing her own story. Sierra began her business 2 years ago and has spent that time developing her own self worth and learning to walk in her power. Building an agency and a team that she is extremely proud of and excited to see what the future brings.

Lisa Kimbrell was born in El Paso, TX, and adopted from a foster home in Las Cruces, NM, by a wonderful couple from Indianapolis, IN, along with three other siblings from different families. Following in her father's footsteps, she pursued careers in Aviation and Finance and became the first member of the Purcell family to graduate from college.

At the age of 34, Lisa met her husband Kyle and his two daughters, then ages 2 and 7. They married when she was 37 and welcomed a son at age 44. Lisa has worked alongside her husband for 24 years, and together they have built an agency with 30 agency owners, achieving $90 million in sales.

Lisa attributes her success to her faith, gratitude, and commitment to serving others.

LaTonya James joined Symmetry Financial Group in December 2018 and before her career at Symmetry, she was a licensed family psychologist. After 15 years of higher education, LaTonya holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, a Master's in Psychology, a Doctorate in Philosophy of Psychology, and she also completed 1.5 years of law school. Her pivot to the financial services came from a deep desire to be more present in her children's lives.  

As a mother of three daughters, ages 22, 14, and 9, LaTonya started her insurance journey as a single mom, and over the years she has been able to pay for her eldest daughter’s college education out-of-pocket. LaTonya has received notable recognition, winning both Rookie of the Year and Woman of the Year back-to-back in 2020 and 2021.

Her greatest achievement is her family and the mother she has become. She finds peace in traveling, which she loves.

Casey Craig is a Partner at ARCrypto, the leading cryptocurrency and decentralized finance education company.

She is passionate about financial literacy, emerging technologies, and helping her students to achieve the three freedoms in their lives: financial freedom, location freedom and time freedom.

She is demystifies emerging technologies such as cryptocurrency, blockchain and decentralized finance in a simple fashion to help her students turn knowledge into wealth. Casey delivered a TEDx talk on blockchain technology in 2023 and has been nominated for Wirex and The Cryptonomist’s Rising Women in Crypto Power List.

When she’s not educating you can find her on the ski slopes, hiking trails or jumping from airplanes!

Courtney Wallace, born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, began her financial services career in 2018 during her senior year of college. In an industry predominantly male-dominated, Courtney made it her mission to succeed and to inspire other women to see what’s possible. Her dedication and exceptional performance have earned her several leadership awards, marking her as a standout in her field.

Courtney is passionate about empowering individuals to unlock their full potential. She embraces new learning opportunities and approaches life with enthusiasm and passion. Her focus on creating a lasting positive impact is evident in all her endeavors. Courtney believes that with the right strategy, ambitious professionals can achieve significant wealth and become role models for their communities, showcasing the importance of women in leadership.

Sheila Shine, born and raised in Augusta, GA, is a dedicated professional in the financial services industry with a rich background in ministry and counseling. Sheila's journey into finance began after a fulfilling career in education and ministry. In 2001, she attended Capstone Institute to obtain her certification in Banking and Processing Management, marking the start of her financial career.

Sheila transitioned from education to the mortgage industry, where she excelled as a broker and led the Processing Department Operations. Following the 2008 financial crisis, she joined Bank of America and SunTrust Bank, overseeing their Mortgage Lending Departments. In 2012, after SunTrust relocated, Sheila chose to take a buyout package to spend more time with her family.

In 2013, Sheila attended a Financial Services meeting that sparked her entrepreneurial spirit, leading her to start her journey as a business owner. Her new career allowed her to travel extensively, meet new people, and explore diverse aspects of life.

In 2016, Sheila and her family faced unexpected challenges, but this period also introduced her to Symmetry Financial Group. This pivotal moment transformed her life and career, leading to new opportunities and achievements in the financial services industry. Sheila is an Agency Owner as well as Top Producer and Most Consistent Producer. 

Kira Gainey’s journey began on the farms outside Baltimore, Maryland, where her lifelong passion for horses led her to competitive riding along the East Coast throughout her college years, eventually steering her toward a career as an Equestrian Coach.

Driven by a profound passion for learning and exploring life, Kira found her purpose in helping others recognize their potential. Her coaching and teaching career, which spanned over two decades, saw her mentoring a diverse range of individuals, from college equestrians to preschoolers.

In 2015, Kira sought to broaden her impact and explore new opportunities by joining her husband in their growing life insurance agency at Symmetry Financial Group. Initially working part-time and taking on various behind-the-scenes roles, she decided to fully immerse herself in the business. In 2018, she completed her licensing, and by 2021, she transitioned from teaching to working full-time in the insurance industry.

Today, Kira serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Gainey Financial Group, where she oversees daily operations. Despite her demanding role, she continues to manage the day-to-day activities on their family farm, balancing life with her two children, two dogs, and, of course, two horses.

Miranda Martin, Executive Vice President at Symmetry Financial Group, started in the Financial Services as a single mom of two boys ages 3 and 5 in 2015, after a successful career as a Sales Trainer for a Nationwide furniture wholesaler. Her first year, she capped $425 in personal production earning her the #3 overall agent of the year as well as the prestigious Julie Ranali Award for Top Female of the Year. 

It took her 3 years to get to the top contract level with a team of 13 Agency Owners that supercedes 7 million in revenue per year. 

She is a 3 time Mercedes Benz of excellence award winner, was named Businesswoman of the Year Finalist Tampa Bay, has won numerous Leadership Awards and currently serves on the Advisory Board.