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2017 Trusted Advisers Insurance Agent: Thomas Jensen

Connell Insurance Inc.

Posted online

As an insurance consultant, Thomas Jensen serves as a protector, designer and problem solver.

“My role as an adviser is to protect the lifelong work and dreams of my clients,” says Jensen, an employee benefits practice leader at Connell Insurance Inc.

In that vein, he works to make certain clients’ insurable interests are properly covered and that they’re fully compliant with regulations related to their business. It hasn’t been easy.

The challenges he’s up against are those his clients face as employers. The biggest recurring issues are finding skilled employees, providing affordable quality benefits and remaining compliant with government regulations.

“The key focus of my career over the last three years has been to alleviate these burdens with a consultative relationship that reduces risks, threats and waste for my clients’ businesses,” he says. “This has been the most disruptive time in employee benefits in 50 years.”

The Affordable Care Act is just one of the giants Jensen has helped clients overcome. One client, the Missouri Association of Manufacturers, faced the issue of losing its ability to offer and provide sustainable health insurance to many area manufacturers. This would force the majority of the groups out of the health program and require them to deal with new regulations on their own.

“I am constantly learning and thinking of creative ways to help employers adjust with the new era of offering health insurance,” he says.

With this mindset, Jensen proposed a workable solution to the statewide manufacturers’ group. He also successfully negotiated a way to grow the association health plan to be available on a statewide basis and added groups from Kansas City. He hopes to eventually add groups from St. Louis to the plan, as well.

“With creativity and a lot of research, I have been able to help ensure the health plan for over 65 employers that is not only compliant, but also sustainable moving forward during the current era of health care reform,” he says.

When he isn’t putting out fires in the insurance world, Jensen is an active member in several industry associations, including the National Association of Health Underwriters, Springfield Area Health Underwriters, Springfield Area Human Resources Association and Midwest Manufacturers Leaders. He is also an allied network partner with MAM.

Prior to joining Connell Insurance, Jensen worked as a corporate account manager for CoxHealth Network and as an insurance sales project specialist for Assurant Employee Benefits in Kansas City.

Jensen serves as an active parishioner for Wesley United Methodist Church. He is also the chairman for Nixa Schools’ Special Education Parents Activities Council, and serves as a youth sports coach.

“As a parent, I enjoy the opportunity to help coach and lead not just my child, but all of the children on the teams I coach. Simply put, it’s very rewarding,” Jensen says.

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