Star City Six – Andy Storz
Appreciation Financial is proud to meet the needs of the public servants in our community, with offerings that center around pension education, safe retirement strategies, and living benefit life insurance. Andy Storz is a local agent with Appreciation Financial (appreciationfinancial.us/nebraska).
Tell us a little about your business.
We are a retirement services and insurance brokerage that focuses on developing customized strategies that keep people’s life savings and futures protected from loss in the market and safe in the event of unforeseen circumstances. We do this by offering products that can capture part of the gains from the markets while offering guaranteed protection against any losses.
How did you get started in the business?
I wanted to do something that allowed me to utilize my previous business experience, in a position where I’d be able to help people. We are in the business everyday of educating, assisting, and keeping people’s hard-earned money safe from loss. I think that’s quite the noble pursuit.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
Getting the message out about what we do and how we differentiate ourselves with our people, products, and process.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
Being able to provide for my family so that my wife can stay at home with our children.
Tell us a little about your family.
My wife, Darlyn, and I have five kids: Mike and Izzy (3 yrs.), Addy and Evy (18 mos.), and Vinny (3 mos.).
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
Having children. It completely changed my perspective on what my priorities needed to be and also provided the additional motivation to go out and do my best every day.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
Part of why I took this job was actually to have days off, which has truly been a blessing. A great one includes time outside spent with the kids.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
Having two sets of twins has topped the list!
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life?
I have a great passion for process improvement, especially Six Sigma. I don’t really get to utilize that on a large scale the same as I did in previous positions.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be?
To work in the NICU in some capacity. Based on my experience with all five of the kids, these professionals are some of the most amazing people in the world.
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
Giving back to the schools is a big part of our company culture, and with a more established presence in Omaha, we’ve done a lot of work with Omaha Public Schools to date. That being said, we’re definitely looking for opportunities to get more involved in the Lincoln community in the future.
What is your favorite local restaurant?
Carmela’s Bistro & Wine Bar is my wife and I’s go-to date spot.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
Marcus Lemonis. On his show that airs on CNBC, The Partner, he invests in failing businesses and turns them around. I love watching the way he thinks and his passion for saving jobs and small businesses.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 419-3426; Email: astorz@appreciationfinancial.com; Website: appreciationfinancial.us/nebraska.