Welcome to A Few Minutes with Margy! You are about to learn something about a huge Insurance company you didn't know! Meet Jim Galinsky with Allstate Financial Services. Yes, Allstate has a financial planning arm that is robust and offers unique services for people who are from all walks of life. Tune in!

Margy: Good morning, Jim!

Jim: Good morning, Margy. Great to see you.

Margy: Thanks for joining me! Welcome to A Few Minutes with Margy. I'm Margy Lyman with Dudum Real Estate Group, and today I'm chatting with Jim Galinski from Allstate. Now, Jim’s in a part of Allstate that most of us don’t know much about, so I'm thrilled to learn more and share his story. Thanks for being here! So, Jim, tell us—what do you do at Allstate that’s a bit of a mystery to most people?

Jim: Well, I think it’s easier to start with what I don’t do.

Margy: Smart approach!

Jim: I actually have nothing to do with auto or homeowners insurance—I'm not even licensed for that! That part of the financial world never really sparked my interest. What I do love, though, is personal finance. I help Allstate clients, and other people in the area, mostly around Contra Costa and Alameda counties, with their personal finance questions.

Margy: Okay, interesting!

Jim: If they're younger, I might work with them on life insurance to cover a new mortgage or to ensure their family is protected. Or, I might help them build wealth by consolidating old 401(k)s, or planning for college or retirement. And for those closer to retirement, I use a buckets-of-money approach to create a stable income plan.

Margy: Sounds like a nice hidden gem within Allstate!

Jim: Right? There are about 900 of us across the country, so not really hidden, but you get the idea.

Margy: So, do you have a particular target market or a minimum balance for clients?

Jim: No specific minimum, which can be both a blessing and a challenge. But, if I can help someone, even if they start small, that’s what I’ll do. People usually know others who might need help, too. And often, their financial situation grows over time.

Margy: Right, so those smaller clients can grow over time, maybe to much higher balances.

Jim: Exactly. And, you know, I’m not 22 anymore, so that part of my business may eventually pass to my successor. But that’s okay! I’m here to build and grow a business until I’m not.

Margy: Well, not being 22 also means you bring a ton of experience to the table!

Jim: True!

Margy: How did you find your way into this niche?

Jim: Funny story—I spent the first 20 years of my career in the restaurant business.

Margy: A volatile industry!

Jim: Oh, yes—lots of action, which was perfect for me as a young guy.

Margy: And didn’t we figure out that I might have even visited your restaurant back in Boston?

Jim: We did! That was quite a while ago.

Margy: Small world, right?

Jim: Eventually, I knew I needed a change. I chose finance because it intrigued me, but I knew nothing about it.

Margy: Talk about a learning curve.

Jim: Huge learning curve! But I found it stuck with me. If I read about a topic and it stays in my mind, I know it’s something I care about. Finance did that for me.

Margy: Makes sense!

Jim: The best part is, I remember when I didn’t understand the financial jargon, so I know how confusing it can be. People in my field often talk in industry terms, but I stick to plain English with my clients.

Margy: That’s huge—people appreciate when someone understands their perspective.

Jim: Absolutely. I’d say it’s my superpower. I meet clients who are experts in their fields, but finance might be foreign to them, so I explain it in relatable terms.

Margy: Makes a real difference.

Jim: I think so. Some people like to think finance is overly complex, but we can cut through that.

Margy: Where do most of your clients come from? Referrals? Allstate?

Jim: Primarily, it’s through Allstate. I partner with local agents who handle a lot of auto and home insurance clients, and they send referrals my way. But I also work with clients who come to me from outside of Allstate—friends of friends, neighbors, that kind of thing.

Margy: Got it. You’ve lived in several places. How did you land in Walnut Creek?

Jim: Long story short, I moved here for a relationship. I didn’t know many people, so I had to get creative about meeting new clients. A recruiter from Allstate’s Financial Services reached out and explained how partnering with agents could bring clients my way. I liked that, as I’m more into sitting down with people and solving their problems than marketing.

Margy: Sounds like it was a good fit!

Jim: It was. I started in April of 2009, a pretty tricky time in finance if you remember...

Margy: That was right in the middle of the downturn.

Jim: Exactly. And while there were nerves, my clients were prepared to ride out the storm, thanks to the groundwork we had laid.

Margy: That’s impressive. And you work with a partner here, too, right?

Jim: Yes, Tyler Johnson. He took over his dad’s Allstate agency, along with a couple of other agents’ books. He’s built up a big business here in Walnut Creek. His dad started back in 1970, and they now serve multiple generations of families.

Margy: That level of trust takes years to build.

Jim: It does. I also partner with agents outside Walnut Creek, but Tyler’s office is my home base, right here on Civic Drive.

Margy: Ah, everyone’s seen that standalone building with the famous A-frame parking. And I hear you have a pet squirrel?

Jim: We do! When I first started working here, they even had an office cat. This little kitten showed up during a rainstorm, and they kept her for 16 years!

Margy: That’s adorable!

Jim: The clients knew the cat, too. Last time I brought my dog in for a visit.

Margy: Love it! Well, Jim, this has been such a pleasure. I’m looking forward to chatting with Tyler sometime soon as well. Do you have a website or easy way for people to reach you?

Jim: Sure, folks can go to Allstate.com and type in my name.

Margy: That’ll bring up the info?

Jim: Yes, just remember, I’m not the car insurance guy—I’m the financial planner.

Margy: Got it! Jim Galinski—"Gal in the sky." Thanks so much for your time, Jim.

Jim: Thank you, Margy.

Margy: And thanks for tuning in to A Few Minutes with Margy. If you or someone you know would like to do a quick interview, reach out to me! Thanks, everyone.