BIP Fall 2024

2 Don’t settle for someone else’s structure. While working with Goodwin, Griffey started her own corporation, Page 1 Benefits, Inc., to run alongside The Goodwin Company in anticipation of one day buying the latter. “I don't have enough time to tell all the things that I learned from Hal, but one thing that he taught me was that sometimes you have to carve your own path,” says Griffey. Before forming his agency, Goodwin designed the general agent model as an employee of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana. Rather than taking a retirement income from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Goodwin negotiated to waive his retirement income in favor of a general agent contract. “He taught me in that action that nothing is ever really black and white,” says Griffey. “Always keep your options open. Maybe you have an idea of something that might work better for you.” Over the years, Goodwin and Griffey bought blocks of business from brokers with a range of motivations. “Sometimes it's just smart to step back and say, what are both parties trying to accomplish? That's always worked very well for me. Meeting in the middle, usually you can figure things out,” Griffey says. Griffey is an excellent sounding board for ideas and inspiration, says Nicole Fairbairn, president and owner of Creative Insurance Concepts, Inc., in Noblesville, Indiana. "We do a lot of working through issues, problems or legislation, bouncing ideas off one another. As a leader, she does a great job in truly listening to all sides of an issue and objectively sifting through it all," says Fairbairn.

Fall 2024 bip magazine 25