YAC Spotlight: Ron Kuruvilla

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

• I was actually in the banking field and went into it fresh out of the University of Florida. I loved every moment of it, and it was a great career. However, I got into P&C insurance in 2006, right before the markets crashed, and people thought I was crazy to leave a great industry to get into another industry. The main reason I moved into P&C was that I saw the long-term residual income and saw that I can work hard for a certain number of years but still have an income stream that will continue. I saw other agents I knew (my father was in the P&C world at that time), and I saw the lifestyles they were able to lead in this industry. I got to see insurance professionals continue to make money even while on vacation. That was alluring to me and what led me to join the industry.  

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

• One of the biggest influencers in my insurance career is my father. He was in the energy and oil field insurance business, and I was actually born overseas in Kuwait because he was working for the Central Ministry. When we moved back to the States, he was in the life insurance business and then moved from there to P&C and eventually ended up owning an agency and growing it by leaps and bounds. About three years ago, he sold it and retired. So, he was a great inspiration as someone who had to restart segments of his career in insurance and showed me if you work hard and smart in the early part of your career, you can do all that and still live a good lifestyle. I credit a lot of my growth professionally, especially over the last decade, to him. 

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

• My career has been truly enriched by the relationships that I’ve built in this career. Fellow agents, career reps, other executives, and advocacy groups like FAIA have not only made this career enjoyable, but it’s also helped move my career forward. I spent about nine years with a large insurance franchise before I left last year and, what was so cool, is that industry professionals reached out to me to offer support and opportunities after they heard the news that I was leaving, without me even having to put a big post about it out on LinkedIn. In fact, the current role I’m in came from a relationship I built eight years ago. So, I’ve experienced first-hand the power of relationships and how they help you grow in this industry. 

What is your favorite aspect of the job? 

• When I first got in the industry, it was knowing that I was protecting some of the biggest assets my clients own. They can sleep at night knowing that no matter what happens, their assets were protected because I helped them. I was the one giving them that peace of mind. It is a great feeling and made me feel complete. As my career progressed, I moved into a hybrid role of production and leadership (part of my role was helping others build their agencies), and it gave me a lot of fulfillment seeing other people achieve levels of success they never thought was possible. That’s what I love about my position now.  

How would you help the next generation become interested in a career in insurance? 

• First, I would ask what their why is. Once that’s figured out, the beautiful thing about it is that if the why is money, I can show them how to do that. If the importance is work-life balance, I can show them how they can have that. If it’s retiring at 45 years old, I can even show you how you can do that, too. Whatever your objective is in this industry, you can do it.  

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

• I would say adaptability. You have to be adaptable. Adaptability is a skill that I look for when I’m hiring. Integrity and the ability to learn are important too, but adaptability is the number one skill I feel you should have, especially if you want to grow in this industry. Change is a constant part of life, and in this industry, it is imminent. So, either you can allow change to be chaos in your life, or you can allow change to drive you forward in life. That’s why I come back to adaptability in this business being one of the best and biggest traits to have. 

Who do you admire and why? 

• In getting in touch with my Indian heritage, one of the more recent people I’ve admired is Mahatma Gandhi. It’s because he was dedicated to a cause, sacrificed so much, and was humble in everything he did. All the things we always say we should learn as great adults and as people in general, are things that he stood for. Those are the skills and traits I want to impart on my kids and on everyone around me.  

How would your best friend describe you? 

• My best friends would say I’m a loyal guy and am loyal to a fault. I always give people second, third, and fourth chances. I try to see the good in everyone. But they would say I’m also someone who sticks to my values while also being understanding of other people’s values. They would also say I’m not afraid to have a spirited discussion.  

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

• My biggest pet peeve is people who don’t take responsibility for their actions. Do what you do but take ownership. Own what you did, and don’t blame other people. This is something I try to teach the leaders around me and my kids. 

Are cats or dogs better, and why? 

• I have always been a dog person because they’re just so loyal to you and will protect and give their life for you. They are probably the ones like me most and have traits I look for in people. However, as of late, I’ve been intrigued by the independent, fiery nature of a cat. So, I'm still going to say I'm a dog person, but I would say that cats have made a pretty decent argument to me as to why they make good pets, too.