From Life’s Unexpected Turns to Building Financial Security: Shauna’s Journey in Insurance

Life has a way of throwing the unexpected at us, often in ways we never see coming. Shauna learned this firsthand when, after four years of marriage, her husband suffered a stroke—one that erased all memory of their time together.

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She had left him in the ER for a few hours of much-needed rest, only to return the next morning to a heartbreaking reality: he no longer remembered being married.

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“It was as if those precious moments had been erased,” Shauna recalls. “I was left standing in a reality I never saw coming. That experience shook me to my core and it reinforced something I already knew deep down—the worst can happen. And in almost everyone’s life, it will, at least once.”

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That moment of reckoning didn’t just reshape her personal life—it also shaped her career. But Shauna’s story in insurance began long before that day.

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Carving Her Own Path in Insurance

Shauna’s grandfather, father, uncles, and cousin were/are all part of the Farmers Insurance network. Raised in a family of insurance professionals, it seemed inevitable that she would follow in their footsteps. And for a while, she did.

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At just 16, she started working in insurance, gaining hands-on experience across different areas of the industry. She later stepped away from the professional world for a time to raise her children and, later, acquired her own Farmers agency with her second husband.

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Then came one of her biggest challenges—a divorce that wasn’t just personal but also a business breakup.

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Shauna made the bold decision to leave Farmers Insurance and become an independent agent, knowing it would provide more options and flexibility for her clients. What she didn’t realize at the time was just how valuable that decision would be for the niche she would ultimately serve.

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Finding Her Niche: Protecting Property Investors and Contractors

Rather than being a generalist, Shauna chose to specialize, focusing on property investors and contractors, two industries that shake hands and overlap perfectly. This wasn’t just a business decision, it was uniquely tied to her upbringing.

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Her other grandfather, Marion Rayback, who helped raise her, was a master plumber and property investor. If you’ve ever been to The Rayback in Boulder, you’ve actually stepped into the old Rayback Plumbing shop, where her grandfather built his business.

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Growing up around plumbing supplies, rental properties, and hands-on work, she developed a deep understanding of the challenges contractors and investors face.

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“These are my people,” Shauna says. “I’ve immersed myself in the world of real estate investing and construction—attending summits, joining networking groups, and actively participating in The Club.

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“I am constantly striving to build relationships with insurance underwriters, studying industry-specific coverages, and working to understand which companies fit which clients. I dive deep into the projects my clients are working on because I’ve realized something important—property investors and contractors don’t think inside the box, and neither can I.”

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She continues, “To truly serve my clients, I have to be an expert in my field, understanding how to secure policies that most other agents and brokers wouldn’t even think to ask for.”

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For Shauna, insurance isn’t just about policies and premiums—it’s about understanding risk, utilizing leverage within insurance products, and creating real security for each individual.

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A Personal Mission: Teaching, Empowering, and Creating Financial Stability

Beyond business, Shauna has a deep passion for teaching. Each year, she is invited to teach a high school economics class, introducing students to the financial foundation of insurance.

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“One of the biggest things I’ve learned from working with these students is that there is a large population of young people who desperately need direction—a career path that offers good income without requiring a college degree.

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“I can provide that for them.”

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Shauna’s not-so-distant dream is to create a nonprofit that will teach high school students and struggling parents how to build a career in the insurance industry.

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She wants to provide an opportunity where people can earn based on their drive (not their degree) while maintaining a flexible schedule, so they can still be present for their families.

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“There are so many people—single parents, young adults, career changers—who just need the right opportunity,” she says.

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“Insurance can provide a stable income, freedom, and financial security.” She laughs and adds, “And yes, for all my big thinkers, I’m working with a good CPA who has identified a few tax benefits that come with this plan.”

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Refocusing, she recalls how meaningful these lessons have been for her students.

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“It has been so fun watching the kids’ eyes light up as I teach them that there are career choices, not just job choices, that don’t require a college degree.

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“For some of them, lack of finances makes college an impossible path.

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“I know how they feel.

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“When I was a single mom, the bottom dropped out from under me when I kept my home and my ex took our business.

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“I had to rebuild from the ground up without a lot of resources—and I found hope through my path in insurance.

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“I’m excited to share that path with others.”

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Looking Ahead: Scaling Smart and Safeguarding Futures

Shauna’s focus is now on growing her internal team, fine-tuning systems, and continuing to serve the business owners and property investors who rely on her.

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As mentioned earlier, she has big plans—but she’s committed to doing it right.

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“Paul Sparks is constantly teaching us in The Club that scaling isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter, I agree with that.” she says.

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“I see that it’s also about educating my team, serving the communities I’m a part of, and surrounding myself with the right people to build connections and open opportunities—which is why I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of The Club.” It’s a group of amazing individuals who I am honored to rub shoulders with. 

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Through all of this, one thing remains clear—Shauna has not just been selling insurance.She has been building security for herself and her people. And she does it with the unwavering belief that while life is unpredictable, being prepared makes all the difference.

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