Educating First, Selling Second: How Kristina George Built Next Step Insurance on Trust and Transparency
- Great Story
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Kristina George is the co-owner of Next Step Insurance, a Wisconsin-based agency dedicated to helping individuals, families, and employers navigate health insurance with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Founded in 2013 and based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, USA, Next Step Insurance specializes in Medicare, health insurance, employee benefits, life insurance, and additional coverage options.
Kristina has built her career around simplifying one of the most confusing and stressful parts of people's lives—access to healthcare and financial protection. What sets her organization apart is its commitment to education. The agency doesn't simply enroll clients in plans—it empowers them to understand their options, make informed decisions, and confidently use their benefits.
A Career Built on Service and Advocacy
Kristina's leadership journey began in service-focused roles where she learned the value of listening, problem-solving, and putting people first. As her business grew, she recognized that the industry needed more than insurance products—it needed advocates, educators, and leaders willing to put clients ahead of commissions.
That realization inspired her to build a company culture centered on integrity, transparency, and genuine care for others.
Over the years, Kristina has helped thousands of individuals and families access coverage while also mentoring insurance professionals across the country. She is passionate about raising the standard of service within the industry and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
What Makes Next Step Insurance Unique
What makes Next Step Insurance unique is that the agency views insurance as an education and advocacy service, not simply a product. While many agencies focus primarily on enrollment and transactions, Kristina's mission is to help clients truly understand their coverage, use it effectively, and avoid the financial hardships that can result from confusion or misinformation.
Healthcare and insurance are often overwhelming for individuals, families, and employers. Many people purchase coverage based solely on price without fully understanding how deductibles, networks, claims, or benefits work. This knowledge gap can lead to unnecessary expenses, delayed care, and significant medical debt.
Next Step Insurance addresses this problem through:
Education
Ongoing support
Year-round guidance
Clients choose Next Step Insurance because:
The relationship does not end after enrollment
The team remains actively involved throughout the year
They help clients navigate billing concerns, claims issues, compliance questions, employee benefits decisions, and complex healthcare situations
They serve as trusted advisors and advocates
Another key differentiator is the ability to simplify highly complex information into clear, actionable guidance—whether working with a family selecting health coverage, an individual transitioning to Medicare, or an employer designing a benefits strategy.
Core Values That Drive the Business
Next Step Insurance operates on six core values:
1. Educate First – Compassionate, caring people that educate first. Sales happen because of care. The approach to sales through education builds client confidence and strengthens relationships.
2. Seek the Story – Value each client's journey and find the right solutions for their circumstances. Each file has a real person with a unique story behind it.
3. Happy to Help – Saying yes, adapting, jumping in, and being happy to help anyone, anytime.
4. Learn & Lead – Humble experts committed to continuous learning. Doing the research and sharing the knowledge—with each other, with clients, and with the community.
5. Own It – Being accountable for actions and following through. Doing the hard work and the right thing.
6. Be Your Best Self – Valuing each other as individuals and respecting what each person brings to the table. Finding balance and demonstrating care values.
A Team of Dedicated Insurance Professionals
Next Step Insurance is co-owned by Kevin Stifle and Kristina George, who lead a team of experienced insurance brokers and client services specialists.
Comprehensive Insurance Solutions
Medicare Services:
Turning 65 Seminars – Monthly educational seminars open to the public
Original Medicare (Part A & Part B)
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) – "Set It and Forget It"
Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) – "Pay As You Go"
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)
Annual Reviews for existing clients
Health Insurance:
Individual & Family Health Plans
Group Health Insurance
Supplemental Insurance
Dental & Vision Insurance
Marketplace Options
GAP Coverage
Employee Benefits:
Group Health Insurance
Voluntary Benefits
ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement)
QSEHRA (Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement)
Long-Term Disability
Additional Coverage:
Life Insurance – Leaving a legacy or covering funeral expenses
Long-Term Care Insurance – Protecting estates from the financial shock of nursing care
Disability Insurance – Protecting income when unable to work due to illness or injury
Accident Policies
Cancer Protection
Short-Term Disability
Educational Seminars and Community Outreach
Next Step Insurance holds monthly Turning 65 Seminars to help individuals transitioning to Medicare understand the process. Seminars are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the agency's classroom in downtown Plymouth, Wisconsin, with sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
This commitment to education first reflects Kristina's belief that informed clients make better decisions and experience greater peace of mind.
Overcoming Challenges in a Constantly Changing Industry
Kristina's journey has been defined by resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to grow through challenges rather than avoid them.
One of the greatest challenges she faced was leading a business in an industry that is constantly changing. Healthcare regulations, insurance markets, carrier participation, and consumer needs can shift dramatically from year to year. Staying ahead of those changes while ensuring clients received accurate guidance required continuous learning, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to service.
As her business grew, Kristina also faced the challenges that come with entrepreneurship itself:
Building teams
Creating systems
Managing compliance
Making difficult decisions that affect both employees and clients
These experiences taught her that leadership is not about having all the answers—it is about remaining steady during uncertainty and continuing to move forward even when the path is unclear.
More recently, Kristina has navigated one of the most significant transitions of her career: restructuring and redefining her professional future while launching and expanding a second business focused on employee benefits. Rather than viewing change as a setback, she chose to see it as an opportunity to apply the lessons she has learned and build something even stronger.
A Leadership Philosophy Rooted in Education and Service
Kristina's leadership is driven by a simple belief: when people are equipped with knowledge and supported with compassion, they can make confident decisions that change the trajectory of their lives.
Her goal is not only to build successful businesses, but to create lasting impact in the communities and industries she serves.
Her approach emphasizes:
Education first – Empowering clients with knowledge
Authentic relationships – Building trust through genuine care
Advocacy – Serving as a trusted advisor, not just a salesperson
Resilience – Growing through challenges and setbacks
Community – Creating opportunities for others to succeed
Kristina's Advice to Women Entrepreneurs
My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is simple: do not wait until you feel completely ready. Confidence is not something you have before you begin—it is something you build through action, experience, and perseverance.
For many years, I never viewed myself as an entrepreneur or business owner. I thought successful leaders were somehow different from me. What I eventually learned is that most successful entrepreneurs are simply people who were willing to take the next step, learn from their mistakes, and keep moving forward when things became difficult.
I would also encourage women to lead with authenticity. Build relationships, earn trust, and genuinely care about the people you serve. Business is ultimately about people, and long-term success comes from creating real value and consistently showing up for others.
Do not be afraid of failure or change. Some of the most important lessons in my career came from challenges, setbacks, and situations that forced me to rethink my approach. Growth often happens when things do not go according to plan. The key is to learn, adapt, and keep going.
Most importantly, stay connected to your purpose. There will be moments when entrepreneurship feels overwhelming, but a strong sense of mission will carry you through the difficult seasons. When you know why you are doing the work, it becomes much easier to remain resilient, make difficult decisions, and continue building something meaningful.
Your journey does not have to look like anyone else's. Success comes from having the courage to take the next step, trusting yourself to figure things out along the way, and believing that your unique experiences can create value for others.
For Kristina George, success is not measured by policies sold—it is measured by the clients educated, the financial hardship prevented, the communities served, and the professionals mentored along the way.
Quick Profile
Co-Owner: Kristina George
Company: Next Step Insurance
Founded: 2013
Location: Plymouth, Wisconsin, USA
Industry: Health Insurance / Employee Benefits / Medicare
Specialization: Medicare, health insurance, employee benefits, life insurance, long-term care, disability insurance
Accreditations: Independent Health & Life Insurance Agency
Mission: Helping individuals, families, and employers navigate health insurance with clarity, confidence, and compassion through education and advocacy
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