We really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. Please tell us a little about yourself.
Well, my name is Michelle Evans Oliver. Evans is my maiden name. I am married
with 3 children (2 living). Alexander Amir Oliver December 31, 1997-April 9, 2003, Lauren
who is 5 and Evan who is about to turn 1 at the end of this month. My
husband's name is Clarence, I call him Ollie. I was born and raised in
Richmond, Virginia. My parents intentions were for me to go to Virginia
Union University where they graduated from, but it was just to close to home
so I applied to a few black universities and decided on Virginia State
University. I majored in Marketing with a concentration in Advertising.
How did Virginia State University help you in your path to
entrepreneurship?
Since my major was marketing, I was always in the business department talking
to the professors and asking questions. That gave me a foundation to know I
can do what I set myself out to accomplish. In my junior year in school I
was a charter member of the American Marketing Association. I was actually
the AMA Queen!!! That also helped me get my feet wet and paved my way.
The HBCU Network: Since we're talking about school, what were some of your most memorable moments from school?
Michelle Oliver:
Wow, I am smiling thinking of this. Let's see... meeting my husband, pledging
AKA. Being in the American Marketing Association, and just sitting on the
Yard in front of Foster Hall, chilling.
The HBCU Network: Please let us know what The Oliver Financial Group is all about and
how you started the company.
Michelle Oliver:
The Oliver Financial Group focuses on Life and
Health insurance for individuals and business and also investments. My
target market right now is women. I still do a lot of business with men, but
women need more help because of our busy lives. My slogan is "Finding
Financial Solutions for Today's Modern Women".
The Oliver Financial Group actually started in my husband's head about 2
years ago. I kept telling him "no way". I officially started in May of this
year after researching and finding out that there are not a lot of black
women who own their own financial company. It is a white male dominated
industry.
My background, as I said earlier, is Marketing and Advertising so all of my
out of school jobs were in those fields. I applied for a job at Wachovia Bank as a
Manager Trainee. After becoming licensed, for life and health and Series 6
and 63, I became a Financial Specialist for Wachovia bank and working with
Wachovia Securities. A head hunter called me a few years later and said,
"Hey GE is a fun place to work and less stress." I listened and went to work
as a Wholesaler for GE Financial, working on the Independent Broker Dealer
Channel. I saw that I could do what the Independent Brokers were doing. I
had the same knowledge and savvy as they had and I was selling to their
client and I was not getting paid for doing it and they were getting all the
credit and pay. I talked to my husband who said you finally hear me and he
said to go for it. I have not looked back since.
The HBCU Network: Before you started your company, had you ever considered becoming an
entrepreneur? What was your inspiration?
Michelle Oliver:
I have always had a company. My
first steps in Entrepreneurship was a sticker club I had by mail. That was
the time when stickers were hot!!! I was 13 and the club was called
Stickerfantastic Sticker Club. I had over 30 people in the group and I did a
newsletter and sent out stickers every month.
After college I had my Marketing and Advertising company. Actually I still get referral business
from my newly named business, Trailblazer Marketing and Special Events. I am
not sure of inspiration. I think maybe it is because when I had an idea my
parents were always there to support me in whatever I wanted to do. I always
surrounded myself with friends who thought like me. Back in the day, we were
all big dreamers and I have always wanted my dreams to come reality. I
learned early in life not to talk a good game but back it up and if you
can't back it up then don't talk about it. Also, my husband has been a big
inspiration because he owns his business as well and knows what it takes
mentally and physically to start and maintain a business. He is very
business-minded and this is one of the reasons we get along well.
The HBCU Network: How do you market your company?
Michelle Oliver:
Great question. I knew when I was leaving GE I needed marketing backing. So
since my major is in Marketing it was a given to do the right thing. I knew
the best return on my investment was to get a lot of people in a room and
possibly get all or one as a client. So I market my business through
seminars and send out mass mailings and by word of mouth. I have also started a
networking group for women called "Strictly Networking" where women get
together and refer businesses.
The HBCU Network: What challenges did you have to start your business? How did you
prevail?
Michelle Oliver:
Challenges are like any other challenges a small business would
have. Getting started is always the hardest. Looking for clientele, funding
for marketing, getting all of the paper work together so you can be
legitimate, also getting your office together so it can be functional is key
as well. I prevailed by having an office already set up in my home.
Pre-planning is the key. I mapped out what I was going to do and did it.
BUSINESS PLAN!!! A must. I am a general agent for Kansas City Life Insurance
Company and they are fabulous about marketing materials and getting
information fast to me. I prevailed by pre-planning and bouncing ideas off
of people who were in business for themselves to get guidance from them so I
would not make the same mistakes as they did.
The HBCU Network: Where do you see The Oliver Financial Group in 5 years?
Michelle Oliver:
In 5 years I see The Oliver Financial Group in a few states across the US. I also see a staff
of agents who will do what I do and assist me in my seminars and my
marketing efforts. By the end of this year I am looking for two life agents
as well. We will be all over the state of Virginia and surrounding states as
well. I am sure I will be doing a lot of traveling for my seminars. My focus
is to not sell my clients one thing. I want to build a relationship where
they can trust me to be their one stop shop for all of their financial
needs. Also, I go back to the community and my focus is if you don't get
life health or investments from me go get it from someone. I want to educate
as many people as possible.
The HBCU Network: Do you have any advice for the HBCU Family and future
entrepreneurs?
Michelle Oliver:
I can go on for hours with advice, but the best advice I can
give and I have said it earlier... "Don't talk about it, be about it". There is
always someone with a great idea who is afraid of going forward and perusing
their dreams. The only one way to find out if it is going to work and
that is just to do it.
Another piece of advice is, it takes time. Most businesses are not
overnight sucesses. So stick with it and have a plan. Persistence is the key.
And Lastly, please be professional and business-like at all times. You are
selling yourself from the time you get up in the morning to the time you go
to sleep. Present your company like you are talking to Oprah or Donald
Trump. Act like everyone you talk to is a sale. Practice on what you are
going to say to someone if they ask you what you do. Perfect it. Make sure
your marketing collateral looks clean, professional and clear. If you do that,
you will be on your way to stardom with your company and success.
The HBCU Network: Thank you so much, Michelle! Good luck with everything!
Contact Information:
The Oliver Financial Group is registered and licensed to sell
investments in FL, GA, NC, SC, MD and VA.
Michelle Oliver
P.O. Box 9995
Richmond, Virginia 23228
Office: 804-553-1036
Cell: 804-928-2296
http://www.theoliverfinancialgroup.com
