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Who is Joe Pugh?
Joseph Lee Pugh began his insurance service career in 1967 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. After three years, he began his retail management career of ten years. During this decade he successfully managed a general merchandise store, a retail fabric shop and an upscale men's furnishing store. In 1980, he re-entered the insurance business in Gulfport, MS. For several years, he was involved in the property-casualty and life-health sectors of insurance marketing. In 1982, he began a series of public service programs that were well received throughout the state of Mississippi and parts of Alabama. He spoke on issues of concern to seniors and began a not-for-profit counseling service to further his outreach programs. This program has helped thousands of people throughout Mississippi and Alabama to understand such subjects as Medicare, Medicaid, Wills and estate planning, long-term care issues, financial management, preventing common scams, retirement planning and wealth transfer techniques, among others. These programs are still offered today and are free to interested groups and organizations. He earned the prestigious Registered Health Underwriter designation from the National Association of Health Underwriters in 1983. In 1985, Mr. Pugh began to specialize in health insurance, annuities and life insurance for consumers of all ages, with an emphasis on senior Americans. In 1988, Mr. Pugh received the highly acclaimed Certified Financial Planner (TM) designation from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado. On November 21, 1988, the International Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners (TM) authorized his use of the CFP (R) designation. In 1986, Mr. Pugh was elected President of the Mississippi Association of Health Underwriters, thus beginning his service to the insurance agent community and to consumers. In 1987, Mr. Pugh was elected Regional Vice President of the National Association of Health Underwriters and remained as a Trustee of NAHU until 1994. He served as President of NAHU in 1992-93. During this period he served on then President George Bush's Health Care Reform Task Force as a member of the Steering Committee. In 1992, he became a published author and national speaker as he traveled the United States speaking to groups, appearing on many ABC, CBS and NBC television affiliates around the country, including an appearance on CNN. He was quoted by magazines (Business Week) and newspapers on issues of health care reform and costs. Since 1992, he has been a contributing editor for Broker World, one of America's leading insurance trade publications. Each month, his articles address the issues of health care reform and emerging opportunities. Mr. Pugh has also been published in the Health Insurance Underwriter, Texas Insurance Journal, Life Association News and others. Mr. Pugh has earned the name "Mr. MSA" due to his promotion and advocacy of Medical Savings Accounts across the country over several years, He helped several insurance carriers’ breath life into the concept when Congress passed enabling MSA legislation in the late 1990's. Today, he continues to be a sought after expert on MSA's. Joe Pugh and Associates and The Pugh Group offer a diverse portfolio of products and services to insurance agents, brokers and consultants. Presently, the agency offers group insurance products, individual major medical, long-term care plans, group and individual dental products and other services to the agent community in Mississippi and Louisiana. Mr. Pugh also continues to offer financial planning services and insurance planning to individuals. He has several hundred clients who actively seek his advice and counsel on insurance matters and financial planning objectives. He is also available to insurance carriers and health plans, physician-provider groups, and large businesses as a consultant in the areas of insurance marketing & agent recruiting; physician organization & contracting; community health plan creation & operation; insurance loss & premium reduction techniques as well as alternative health care delivery systems & financing.
Monday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Yes. In many cases, if you prefer, we can refer you to one or more professionals to assist you. We also offer financial planning services and consulting services to insurance carriers, health plans, physician groups and large businesses in the areas of provider organization and contracting, insurance marketing & agent recruiting, health care expense management & loss reduction management and insurance cost reduction programs & employee education programs.
Yes. Our insurance and financial planning services are very comprehensive, yet there are goods and services we can not provide. In those cases we do refer you to other professionals whom we have developed a trust and confidence in their abilities and work ethics. There may be geographic reasons to refer you professionals situated more closely to your area.
Yes. I am a current member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and the National Commission On Accreditation of Benefit Advisors. I have served as a national Board member of each of these entities.
MGA's and GA's (General Agents) typically have the authority to contract with other agents and brokers by appointing them with a Carrier that the MGA/GA has a contract with. In effect, we appoint others who also solicit products/services directly with the consumer.
Our customary fee is $175.00 per hour, in increments of quarter-hours. However, their are often times when we give advice on a pro bono basis, when circumstances warrant. Don't let our fees turn you away. Call us with your situation. You may qualify for free services or reduced fees.
We prefer to charge fees only for our financial planning services. We do, however, disclose our compensation sources to our clients for each transaction. In all cases, we permit the client to decide which method of payment is best suited for him/her. The result could be fee only, commission only or a combination. In some cases, our services may be free.
From our office or a client's home or business. In some pleasant cases business is also conducted over lunch or dinner or in other more relaxed settings.
Yes, I earned the designation-credential in 1988.
While our agency does have a majority of middle-income wage earners, small business-owners and other high income professionals, we also have clients in other categories. Whether you are a welder or watchmaker, doctor or dog-catcher, electrician or educator, realtor or retired, or attorney or airline pilot, we can help you obtain your goals. In all cases, we try to help anyone who is in need. Our only preference in a client is simple. We expect them to learn from our service and use this new knowledge in their best interests.
The National Commission on Accreditation of Benefit Advisors awards this title to those who become accredited. Only those who possess the highest of ethics hold a degree in insurance or financial services or have earned professional designations and have demonstrated their commitment to serving others by working at least a minimum of 3 continuous years in the insurance and/or the financial services industries are awarded this prestigious credential.
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Who is Joe Pugh?