Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Zhou.
Hi Ruth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Over the past seven years, my church community and I have faced multiple heartbreaking losses. We’ve said goodbye to eight dear friends—three of them children. In fact, the first ever funeral I went was that of a 7-year-old child on a cold winter day. That day is forever etched in my memory. As a trauma. And a reminder…. that human lives are so precious and yet fragile.
I don’t know about you, but when I was younger, I thought we were invincible. Tragedy was something that happened to other people, far, far away from our lives. But when loss kept coming closer, it shook me to the core. And silently but surely, I started a soul-searching journey.
Each funeral after that, I silently wondered. Who will be next? And when is my turn? None of us have a crystal ball. Only the good Lord above knows our time on earth. That’s scary.
Then I began to ponder… what would happen to my own family if something unexpected happened to me, suddenly and tragically. We were still in our 30s and blessed with four young children. Life was full—school and sports runs, church events, silly dance parties (we have an unusually musical and fun pack) and the beautiful chaos of raising a young family. In many ways, we were still just beginning to build our future.
But losing friends our age—some even younger—shook that sense of security. It made me realize how fragile life really is. I started picturing my husband and children trying to pick up the pieces if I were suddenly gone. Who would help them? Would they be okay emotionally, practically, and financially? Would they have the freedom to grieve, or would financial worry make that heartbreak even heavier?
Because I’ve seen a father having to get back to work just a couple of weeks after he lost his child. And another father who could not keep him and his son in the U.S. after his wife had passed. It was devastating enough to lose a loved one, but having to make such a big transition while figuring out how they would afford their lives in the coming months… it was heart wrenching to witness.
Those late-night thoughts didn’t go away. They started turning into questions I couldn’t ignore. That’s when I began thinking seriously about how to prepare for the unpredictable.
When I shared some of my heavy thoughts with a financial professional during what began as a routine business call, he paused and said something that stayed with me: “The very first step of sound financial planning is to prepare for the unexpected—through life insurance.”
Unlike an investment that grows for the investor, or health insurance that protects the insured, life insurance is an act of sacrifice—a gift where the one who pays the price will never be the one to receive the reward.
So then, naturally I proceeded to reach out to several agents, but the experience left me frustrated and confused. I felt unseen and pressured into policies that didn’t fit my family’s needs or my budget. It became painfully clear that many life insurance agents were more focused on sales than on service. I remember thinking, If I were in their shoes, I’d never do it this way.
That realization became a spark—a calling. I wanted to bring light into this industry and to be the kind of agent who does the right thing even when no one is watching. I wanted to help people understand, not overwhelm them. To care, not just sell.
Looking back, I can see how every chapter of my life prepared me for this big leap of faith. Right out of college, I spent years as a street evangelist in New York City, learning to connect heart-to-heart with people from all walks of life. That’s a story for another time, but it was definitely a major favorite chapter of my life! Later, I worked in digital marketing sales, where I discovered how communication and trust can change someone’s decision. I could genuinely enjoy connecting with like-minded Christian leaders and sharing our vision and passion. Plus, as a mother of four rather brilliant children, I am forced to practice (and often fail at executing) patience, empathy, and the art of guiding others every single day—helping my children do what they may not feel like doing, but know is right.
Those experiences became the foundation for the way I approach life insurance today.
I’ve come to realize that, what we “sell” is not just a life insurance policy. It’s emotional breathing room for when your loved ones need it most. It’s security—knowing that a roof will stay over your family’s head on one of the hardest days of their lives. It’s peace of mind—that while it takes time to heal from grief, financial strain won’t be another burden.
It’s legacy. It’s the last “I love you.”
Today, my mission is to bring light, clarity, and compassion to every conversation about life insurance—so no family has to face loss with confusion, fear and loads of bills. We are not invincible. No one can predict what will happen tomorrow. But we can prepare ahead for the unexpected. I find deep joy in simplifying what often feels complex, helping people make informed choices, so that families can be protected.
But above all else, I’ve come to genuinely enjoy getting to know each person and their stories. A widower who told me the love story of his life with his late wife of 42 years — “One kiss was all it took.” A single mother who lived fiercely and sacrificially for her children all her life, and is still thinking of them beyond her lifetime. A father who wants to leave “I love you” money to his 4 children. A young couple who is wise beyond their ages in considering the legacy they will leave to their children. When I meet a lonely grandfather, I can listen to his stories and pray with him. A single conversation can brighten up someone’s day. If my often untimely phone calls can bring joy and laughter to even a single soul, and if a single family gets protected so that they have the emotional breathing space to mourn when that day comes… it is worth fighting for.
We were all created to connect, to love, and to care for one another. And to live out that calling while making a living—there’s no greater reward.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As an Asian woman, stepping into the world of sales and networking didn’t come naturally to me. In many ways, my upbringing taught me to stay humble, quiet, and avoid drawing too much attention to myself. I was taught that modesty was strength—that it’s better to let your work speak for you than to speak for yourself.
But in this industry, connection matters. I quickly realized that to truly help people—to earn their trust—I had to reach out, speak up, and make myself visible. As someone who’s naturally introverted, that felt uncomfortable at first. I had to learn how to walk into rooms full of strangers, introduce myself, and start conversations that didn’t come easily.
At first, it felt like stepping into a world that wasn’t built for me. But over time, I began to see the beauty in how I’m wired. Introverts have a quiet strength. We notice what others miss. We listen sensitively, and we care deeply about what’s underneath the surface. Maybe sometimes a little too much. And it hurts when the other side does not reciprocate that care. But I am learning how to give without expecting anything in return, and refresh and refill my heart each day with new strength from above.
Instead of trying to be the loudest voice in the room, I leaned into what makes me different. My sensitivity became my superpower. I realized I don’t need to impress a crowd (even though I could if you asked me to preach the gospel!) — I just need to connect deeply with one person at a time.
Once I get over the mental block, things do come more naturally. And most importantly, I can enjoy it more freely. In those one-on-one conversations, genuine trust is built, fears are shared, and hearts open up. What started as a conversation between strangers turn into a natural human connection.
Perhaps because that’s how I work — I seek for more than a general “agent-and-client” transactional relationship — and some clients do not desire for that kind of closeness, I don’t get to connect with everyone. But I guess that’s okay. Because if you know how the world of independent life insurance brokerage works, I will become your agent “for life” if you choose to work with me, and that’s a big commitment on both sides. Till death do us part! I believe it’s imperative that there is a deeper trust on a human level.
I am grateful because now I see those early (and sometimes massive) discomforts not as limitations but as gifts. They taught me empathy, patience, and the deep joy of truly understanding someone’s story before offering them a solution. And that has become the foundation of how I serve—quietly, intentionally, and wholeheartedly.
So perhaps I am not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you don’t mind a little heart-to-heart, I spend a lot of extra time with my clients, sharing family stories, some quotes I found on social media, and lots of money-saving advice (did I say I am a bargain shopper?)
I promise to treat each client like my own family. I will listen to you intently, I will laugh and cry with you, and I will pray alongside you. Honestly I don’t know who will read everything I share until this point. But if you do, thank you for allowing me to share my story.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I come alongside families to protect what they love most – through easy-to-understand, and transparent life insurance planning.
My work goes far beyond policies and premiums—it’s about creating peace of mind, protecting family legacies, and ensuring that when life brings the unexpected, people have the financial and emotional space to heal.
So every conversation goes beyond the money – the coverage amount and the premium price. We discuss your goals, your priorities and uncertainties. We make sure the solution we suggest comfortably fits within your means, so that you don’t need to stretch your budget to make it work.
I specialize in simplifying what often feels complex and overwhelming. Many of my clients tell me they appreciate how I make insurance understandable and approachable. I take pride in listening deeply, asking the right questions, and crafting coverage that truly fits each person’s needs and story—not just what’s on paper.
What sets my business apart is the heart behind it. I built it from a place of loss, faith, and conviction—to be a light in an industry that often feels transactional. Oh by the way, I do work with a wonderful team of partners who are wizards in the health insurance & medicare space as well as retirement planning. Being able to work with value-aligned individuals is such a dream come true for me.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The life insurance industry is entering an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how companies operate. Honestly, it’s confusing and fearful to many professionals.
AI is streamlining time-consuming parts of the process, from underwriting to customer service. Algorithms can quickly evaluate health records, analyze risk, and even predict client needs with remarkable accuracy. Clients can now get quotes in minutes and approval within hours, compared to the days or weeks it once took.
But we need to remember that, because life insurance is a highly regulated industry, technology can only go so far on its own.
Confirming a client’s identity, verifying financial and medical information, and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws still require human oversight. A policy cannot be put in place without a real, licensed, human agent – or “field underwriter” as we sometimes call ourselves – inputting the information of the client and signing the paperwork.
Most importantly, trust cannot be automated. Customers share personal and emotional details about their families, their values, and their fears. That level of honesty happens only through meaningful conversations. This means that even as AI handles the data, agents will remain essential as the relational bridge—communicating with empathy, guiding clients through choices, and helping them feel secure in deeply personal decisions.
I mean, AI will not be replacing the human heart of the profession for sure.
On a different note, the U.S. demographics is shifting to be an “aging society.” It kind of reminds me of what Japan went through when I was there 20 years ago, but probably not as bad.. The senior population is growing rapidly—by 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65. With longer life expectancy comes new concerns: chronic illness, caregiving costs, and the emotional weight of preparing for the final stages of life.
Life insurance, long-term care policies, and hybrid products will play a more vital role, providing both financial cushioning and emotional assurance. Seniors frequently need someone who can explain these complex options clearly and compassionately. As a result, agents who combine genuine care with strong communication skills will stand out—not just as sellers, but as trusted advisors offering comfort, dignity, and clarity through life’s later chapters.
Pricing:
- Life insurance is not one-size-fits-all. Coverage options and pricing all depend on your goal, age, health, and medical history.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abundantlife.agency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Life-Insurance-Made-Easy/61581743214661/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthzhou-cp/
- Other: https://www.agentecard.com/ruthzhou/
