Her first job out of college was at a bank, where she started as a trust specialist and moved up to its retirement division. As she simultaneously worked toward her MBA at Clarke University in Dubuque, a classmate encouraged her to apply at a local insurance agency. She started at the firm in 2013 as a marketing representative, launching her career in the employee benefits space.

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Kristen Smithberg

Kristen Smithberg is a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers commercial real estate, insurance, benefits and retirement topics for BenefitsPRO and other industry publications.