Advisor Spotlight: Nathan Disenhouse

Where did you grow up and what profession did you want to get into, as a child?

I’m Home and bread in Toronto and as a child, I probably had aspirations of becoming a Doctor, as my late father. However as time went by, I didn’t see that happening and showed more interest in some sort of Finance job.

What inspired you to become an advisor?

I became an advisor by surprise. My background is in Banking. I Was working for a Trust Company in Commercial Mortgage Lending, had my Licensing for Mutual Funds at the time, and one day received a call by a family I knew who had just inherited about $3mm dollars. They asked me whether I could put a Financial Plan together and propose where the money could be invested. I asked a few questions, called a friend of mine who happened to be a broker, put a plan in place and voila, I was in Business. Their kids today are still clients of mine, just on the Insurance side.

What do you feel is Natel Financial’s greatest competitive advantage?

That’s really an open ended question. I like to think that Natel Financials greatest competitive edge is service. I’m a small shop now, but will always be back to people with in 24 hrs. even if I don’t have the problem solved. You must keep people up to date on things, even when you may be encountering road blocks.

How do you think the insurance industry has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Insurance Industry had changed quite a bit since the Pandemic. I wouldn’t say it is all positive. I’ve been in the Insurance business for over 28 years. Covid rapidly turned the Industry on its head, and fast tracked the use of technology. That’s good, however the Industry has always been archaic and slow moving when it came to innovation. A lot of the technology they switched to had many glitches in it, and today still are dealing with some of those issues. That has made it somewhat difficult in certain areas. It would have been nice if the Industry as a whole would have been on the same page when it came to non-medical limits and E-Signatures, how initial premiums are paid, etc. I’m sure other Advisors wouldn’t agree with me; however the larger case market still can’t be done fully web based.

What is your favorite and least favorite part of being an Advisor? 

Favorite part of the Business is dealing with clients and their needs. Listening to their issues in the past, and definitely how they have been impacted over the last year. Least favorite would be a drop in client service levels from the Insurance Companies. I no longer accept that people are working from home at this stage. It’s a total cop-out. A client wouldn’t want to hear that from me, so I sure don’t appreciate it from my suppliers. Have a problem, fix it.

What is one piece of advice you would give a person entering the advisory business today?

One piece of advice to a New Advisor would be to not be afraid of the competition. Figure out what focus you want to have. I’ve always believed that one should be a Specialist not a Generalist. Not to mean you should turn down any business at the outset, but try and focus on any area you want to be an expert in. This will lead to a lot of referrals. Build your “center of Influences” as well.

What do you think the insurance industry will look like in 10 years?

I think in 10 years the Insurance Industry will be fully automated. You won’t have the choice of doing a paper application. I feel the Industry will open up to all types of on-line issuers and not really protect the Advisor of today.

What’s something you want to learn or wish you were better at?

I would have loved to be able to do seminars to large Groups of prospects. I do enjoy speaking to people, but not large crowds.

If you could go out to dinner with anyone in the world, who would it not be and why?

Well, that’s a very interesting question. I would love to, but not go out for dinner with Warren Buffet. I think I would be a complete fool and not have anything intelligent to say. As much of a down to earth individual he is, I think my head would be garbled, not knowing what to say. I had the opportunity to meet him some 10 years ago in Omaha, at his Annual love fest. I was fortunate to exchange some words with him within a group. I don’t think however, I would have been able to do it just one on one, especially at a dinner that hopefully he would be picking up the tab at!!

What was one of the most meaningful moments of your career?

The most meaningful moment is when you’re with a client, who tells a friend how my work has impacted their situation in a positive way and then getting the call for assistance. Nothing could be better as I said earlier, my business for many years has been based on referrals, whether clients, or people who know me in the Community.