Meet Kate Spilsbury | Foundational Planner & Holistic Retirement Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Spilsbury and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Before I started my company 4 years ago I shared with my mentor that I was struggling with balance. My job was demanding and often required 60 hour work weeks. I was trying to also juggle various leadership programs in my community, volunteer work with my church and raising a toddler.

Her response to me was, “Kate, there is no such thing as work-life balance. I like to think of it as work-life integration.” It changed my whole perspective. Work-life balance means I would have to give something up in one area so my life and my work could be equal and balanced. To me that isn’t fair to either my life or my work as it really isn’t something achievable, especially long-term. There will never be an exact balance.

My vision shifted again recently when I attended a training and I asked a question to a very successful business person about how he balances it all, especially with having young children. His response was, “there is no balance, only intentional congruence.” This is even more empowering to me because it takes work-life integration a step forward. Everything I do in life should connect to everything else that I do.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Four years ago when I started my business I never expected to be where I am now. I had been working with the same company for over 8 years and thought I would remain there the rest of my career. I had never considered opening up my own business, but when the idea was sparked in my mind I couldn’t put the desire out. Everything kept pushing me to take the leap. It all happened so fast, in only a matter of months.

Besides helping folks navigate the waters of health insurance & Medicare, I have focused on educating how to have a strong foundation for your financial house to sit on. I do that through helping people…

Eliminate their debt in 9 years or less without spending more money than they do currently.

Estate Planning – making sure these important documents are put in place to protect their legacy and make their wishes known in the event of incapacitation and death.

Guaranteed Retirement Income – Especially with how the market is right now, helping people know exactly how much money they will have to retire when and how they want to.

Long Term Care – 75% of us will become incapacitated during our lifetime and will need money for care. I help people plan for the unexpected so they don’t need to rely on family, go-fund me, or the government.

As the daughter of a nationally recognized teacher, I value education and feel that if people have the education they can make the best decisions for themselves. So I provide various in-person and virtual educational seminars.

I am very proud of the fact that my services and education are no charge. I educate on topics that people are unfamiliar with and generally try to avoid discussing. My goal is to help businesses grow and be protected. I’m also passionate about sharing with individuals and families that you don’t have to be a 1%er to get ahead in life. Sharing how they achieve their wealth shouldn’t be a secret.

Another thing that sets me apart from people who do things similar to me is I am not focused on rate of return since I work with guarantees. Often people wonder how I make money. Just like with health insurance, I receive a commission from the insurance company if someone chooses to move forward with any of the planning we discuss.

My entrepreneurial journey has been like a roller coaster, up and down, experiencing some major health setbacks. The interesting thing is I wouldn’t have landed where I am today without those challenges.

I would just want people to know that my company, Mere, works simply for the benefit of its clients and the community for which it serves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a 4th generation Floridian and absolutely love everything about Florida. I also have a secret love of travel planning and often plan trips – most of which I try to take. If my bestie were to come and visit for a week we would skip the normal stuff people do, like the amusement parks. We would do some natural things… *Beach time – playing in the waves, sunbathing, shell collecting, and even a fire and s’mores on the beach

*Go shark teeth hunting over in Gainesville

*Tube down the Ichetucknee River

*Kayak the marshes in Amelia Island

*Stroll St. George street, restaurant hop in St. Augustine, take an airboat ride & visit Alligator Farm

*Do a taco walk in Jacksonville’s 5 Points Riverside area

*Take a day trip to Swim with the manatees in Crystal River and see the mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs and top it off with scalloping

*Take a downtown tour of Jacksonville by skyway and scooter with stop offs at Sweet Pete’s for a chocolate tour, Chamberlin’s Book Mine, MOCA, MOSH, and more

*Go to some sports game like the Jaguars, Jumbo Shrimp, RollerGirls, JaxSharks, Icemen, Armada, Giants, and the like.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My main champion has always been my husband, Omar Spilsbury. He knew from the time we started dating 15 years ago that I was destined for great things. Never has he held me back or been jealous of my success. He constantly seeks for ways to be supportive and to cheer me on as I grow what he likes to call, “my empire!”

Website: www.merebenefits.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katespilsbury

Twitter: https://twitter.com/merebenefits

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MereBenefits

Other: Google — https://goo.gl/maps/bXPCGxhsS4XBN8zaA

Image Credits
main photo is taken by: — Renee Parenteau.
pictures taken outside with computer/padfolio: — Whitney Villanueva presenting picture with some people wearing masks: — Al Bogacious