EARLIER in her career, financial advisor Deon Graveney preferred being on the road engaging with prospective clients and selling life insurance because she viewed herself as a career agent who preferred to focus on self-actualisation and financial freedom.

These days, with more than three decades in the insurance industry, Graveney, who is a team lead and unit manager at JN Life Insurance, has transitioned to the next phase of her career where she not only sells, but is responsible for mentoring, training, and sharing her decades of knowledge with rookie advisors and watching them become industry experts.

“We get to different stages in life, and I am moving to the next. I still love to go on the road, but it’s a little deeper for me now. I love developing agents and new talents,“ she said.

“There’s a certain satisfaction with moulding advisors who are new to the industry with limited experience and knowledge and watching them grow into accomplished agents. The feeling is remarkable and is one of the most amazing parts of being here at JN,” she shared.

However, her first love is still selling life insurance.

“It’s the accommodating work hours and flexibility in terms of your earnings. You can set yourself a target and there’s no limit to achieving that target. I can gauge how much I need to make in a year and earn that amount if I put in the work. A career that doesn’t offer that kind of flexibility would be a challenge for me at this stage,” she said.

The Mandeville native entered the insurance industry by chance after leaving a family business and becoming a personal assistant to three-time industry champion, the late Walter Grant.

“I was enjoying my time in my family’s business, and I got to complete my degree at The University of the West Indies. I was director of the company and was doing well,” she recalled.

“That company went under some restructuring after a while and that was when the opportunity presented itself for me to assist Mr Grant, and I said yes. I was doing so well at it that the branch manager and other colleagues encouraged me to get licensed so I could sell insurance. For a while I was doing both, but insurance is a very consuming and jealous job. You just can’t do it and do something else that is going to consume equal or more of your time. So I chose the insurance industry,” she added.

Graveney’s decision has been rewarding. During her time, she has achieved nine consecutive Million-Dollar-Round-Table (MDRT) designations and is aiming for a 10th this year.

“MDRT is the premier association for financial professionals. You want to make MDRT because it validates you. It says you’re in the top 10 per cent of advisors in the global industry. You’re knowledgeable and excel in relational sales and service. It is self-actualising, financially rewarding, and offers opportunities for travel and exposure,” she explained.

Earlier this year, she also wrote herself into history as she became the first financial advisor at JN Life to achieve the Financial Services Certified Professional (FSCP) designation.

“The FSCP designation programme combines essential product knowledge with basic planning concepts providing agents with the tools they need to get a jump start in the business and promote long-term success,” she shared. “It feels good achieving this designation, it has illuminated and underscored all that I know and practice, and especially as it is a first for JN Life Insurance.”

In March, she was named JN Life Insurance Sales Advisor of the Year for 2024 for her role in helping the company to continue its upward trajectory in the insurance industry and increased share of the market.

Othneil Blagrove, chief – sales and marketing, JN Life Insurance, commended Graveney for her commitment and passion.

“Ms Graveney helped us to achieve all that we did in 2024 despite the challenges that we encountered. In the true spirit of the JN Group, she found a way to rise above the obstacles and led her team well,” he affirmed.

Graveney, who starts her day at 4:00 am with meditation, prayer, and planning, says admiration for the company and the sister entities in the JN Group runs deep. For her, what started as a household name in banking has become a dynamic, innovative force in insurance and financial services.

“We’re pushing boundaries. The products we’ve developed are bold and pioneering and rivals anything that existed in the market. We came in as the new kids on the block, and we are doing well to the point that the other companies have sat up and taken notice,” she said.

She encourages anyone contemplating a career in insurance to “go for it” because it is a “life-changing opportunity”.