Meet Emily Jolley | Triangle Health Advisors, Owner and Licensed Agent

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

Hi Emily, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’d been working in the health insurance industry for a couple of years, but for an agency that was captive, meaning that I had limited plans that I could offer to my clients. Because I have my clients’ best interests at heart, I found that I was referring my clients to agents who had different offerings than I did. I eventually realized that I was sending away more clients then I was keeping, and so Triangle Health Advisors was born! I now partner with many different carriers, and can help my clients choose from a broad range of options, best suiting their needs and budget.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Triangle Health Advisors was born out of a desire to be able to put my clients on the best possible plan for their needs. Health insurance is not one size fits all, and I take the time to meet with each of my clients virtually, and review all plan options available to them. I’m a former preschool teacher and director, so I really take pride in explaining what can be a very confusing system, in a way that people can easily understand.

Starting a business has been one of the most rewarding adventures of my life, but it has not been without it’s challenges. Being a business owner can feel very lonely at times, especially if you’re also the sole employee. But, having the wonderful business community here in the triangle as a resource has really been invaluable to me. The spirit of collaboration instead of competition, even within my own industry, has been such a cornerstone to my success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start with a smash burger from Patty Boy at The Durham Food Hall (best in the triangle!) and then the Friday night double retro feature at Carolina Theatre.

Saturday morning, I’d suggest that we go to the South Durham Farmer’s Market for some pastries from La Recette Patisserie, and a coffee from Bean Traders while shopping for local produce. South Durham has a strong yard/garage sale presence, so from the farmer’s market I’d have us check some out some good sales, and then stop for lunch at Mediterranean Grill and Grocery in Parkwood. The owner makes everything fresh, from the falafel to the tzatziki, and it’s all delicious!

For dinner, I’d head back into downtown for an upscale Indian feast at Viceroy, washed down with some unique cocktails/mocktails.

Sunday brunch is for schnitzel as big as your head, and beers to match at Guglhupf. No visit there is complete without a quick pop in to their bake shop for some linzer cookies!

A walk in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a great way to work off that schnitzel and get ready for an early patio dinner at Kokyu. Got to try the burnt end nachos!

Monday is a great day to check out Hillsborough Day Spa, and take advantage of the amenities like the sauna and steam room. A quick stop before or afterwards to Samantha’s Pupusas is a must. Their pupusa menu is the largest in the triangle, and they also have an amazing bakery.

Tuesday I’ve got to get some work done, so I head to the Frontier RTP free-coworking space, and then pop over to Boxyard RTP for some of the best BBQ in the Triangle at Laurence BBQ. Their brisket is so juicy!

At some point a visit to The Durham Performing Art Center (DPAC) to check out a musical is a Durham staple. Before the show, I’d want to have a quick drink at Corpse Reviver, Durham Distillery’s cocktail lounge and then grab a late night bite after the show at Motorco’s Part’s and Labor.

Depending on the season, take advantage of our local sports teams, the Durham Bulls and the Carolina Hurricanes!

If we were craving a sweet treat and a coffee, we’d head over to Dulce Cafe in south Durham. Their assortment of cakes, tarts, and pastries is nothing short of amazing!

To cap off the week, we’ll head to Nanas in Rockwood. A must try is the N.C. Shrimp Risotto. Don’t leave without trying the Banana Pudding Bombe! It’s a sweet end to a great week in Durham!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe a lot of my success to Triangle BNI. My industry is often criticized for lots of cold calling and pushy sales tactics, which is not how I wanted to build my business. Someone suggested I try BNI (Business Networking International), which is a seat specific networking organization with chapters all over the world, and about 30 in the Triangle area. Within 6 months of joining a chapter, I was able to sustain my business on referrals alone, and when I decided to go independent and start Triangle Health Advisors, the people in my chapter were so supportive and really gave me the courage to take that leap of faith.

Website: https://trianglehealthadvisors.com

Image Credits
Headshot – James Rippe – Ripptowne Photography
Logo – Graphix Solution