When you meet Maureen Kirschhofer, you quickly realize you're speaking with someone whose life has been marked by reinvention, resilience, and remarkable leadership. From her early days as an art teacher to becoming a trailblazing manager in the insurance industry, Maureen’s story is as colorful and compelling as one of her paintings.

Maureen’s entry into the financial services industry was unexpected. “I was an art teacher,” she explains, “but after several rounds of departmental closures, I knew I needed to pivot.” Encouraged by others who saw her potential in sales, she took a chance, answering an ad from Paul Revere Insurance. With her father being a doctor, Maureen saw a natural opportunity to connect with medical professionals and sell disability insurance, a niche she would eventually dominate.

Despite starting out with no knowledge of insurance, Maureen was nominated for “New Agent of the Year” in Buffalo within her first year. That nomination came with one condition: she had to join NAIFA (then NALU). And it changed the trajectory of her career.

Relocating to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1985 to escape Buffalo’s frigid winters, Maureen faced a disappointing agency environment. Rather than accept the status quo, she sought and earned a managerial role at Paul Revere. For 10 years, she led the Jacksonville office, the only woman among 50 managers nationwide at the time.

“I had to learn to shoot, scoot, and be around cigar-smoking executives,” she jokes, reflecting on her trailblazing role. Her determination and people-first approach helped her thrive in an often male-dominated industry.

Maureen’s leadership extended well beyond the office. She quickly became involved in NAIFA at the local level, eventually serving as president of the Jacksonville chapter by 1990. Her resume includes presidencies at several organizations, including GAMA, CLU/ChFC, and the International DI Society where she’s also received top honors.

Notably, she served as NAIFA-Florida President during a challenging year, marked by leadership transitions that left her navigating uncharted waters. “It was tough,” she admits, “I had a lot more I wanted to give.”

Throughout her career, Maureen never lost her passion for art. She still teaches painting at the University of North Florida and participates in a weekly art group at her local library. Her home office provides space not just for client meetings, but for piano playing and artistic reflection.

That creativity has infused her insurance practice. “The ability to think and generate new ideas, that’s something I’ve brought from art into everything I do,” she says.

As a DI specialist, Maureen has focused on serving doctors, maintaining over 250 physician clients. Her advocacy doesn't end when a policy is sold, she’s deeply involved in the claims process, often supporting clients during some of their most vulnerable moments. “They don’t just lose income when they can’t work. Many of them lose their identity,” she says, noting the emotional toll of disability for those who love what they do.

Maureen is also a staunch advocate at both the state and federal levels. She has walked the halls of Congress and the Florida Capitol, building lasting relationships with lawmakers. Her community engagement even helped resolve a local flooding threat after a tornado.

Through it all, her motivation has remained simple: “I love people,” she says. “They’re the most important part of what I do.”

For those considering a career in financial services, Maureen is an enthusiastic champion. She actively mentors new professionals, guides them toward education and certifications, and shares the knowledge she’s gained over four decades. She believes in the profession’s impact and its potential to provide both purpose and prosperity.

She’s equally passionate about NAIFA. “It’s a way to broaden your career and surround yourself with people who care deeply about the profession,” she explains.

Now working independently from her home in Jacksonville, Maureen enjoys the freedom to serve clients on her own terms. Her favorite spot? Her backyard, where a quiet creek flows into the St. Johns River. “It’s peaceful and green not your typical image of Florida,” she laughs. “I can be at the beach in ten minutes or in my garden with my hands in the dirt. It’s the perfect place to recharge.”