Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Little.
Hi Chad, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m from Columbus, Ohio — grew up on the east side and went to Catholic schools there, starting at Christ the King (now All Saints) and then Bishop Hartley High School. I played basketball and ran track, but once I realized I wasn’t going to play sports at a major level in college, I made a different choice. Instead of going to a small school in a small town or committing to something I didn’t love enough at the time, I decided to attend an HBCU. I wanted both the cultural and the educational experience, plus I thought “A Different World” (a television show based off of an HBCU college in the 90’s) looked very cool, and attending Clark Atlanta University turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I declared marketing as my major, and eventually completed my bachelor’s in marketing at Franklin University.
Looking back, I was always a bit mischievous as a kid and into my teen years. I think that rebellious streak had a subconscious impact on the choices I made later in life. It pushed me toward independence and ultimately entrepreneurship — I never liked the idea of being boxed in, and I always felt drawn to carve my own path.
My first job was with a major cable company here in Columbus, selling Internet, cable, and phone door-to-door. That role was tough but rewarding — I never punched a clock or sat in a cubicle. Instead, my income directly reflected my effort, and I believe that sparked my entrepreneurial mindset. I learned I valued time freedom and independence. I did that successfully for 10 years.
Around year nine, I was given the opportunity to open a satellite agency for a major insurance company in Columbus. That’s where I gained hands-on experience with both insurance and business ownership — contracting, operations, and leadership. After three years, I sold that book of business and briefly went back into corporate, selling commercial insurance across Ohio. But I knew my true passion was entrepreneurship, so I launched the Chad Little Agency.
This time, I built it differently — I went direct with top insurance carriers instead of working through a middleman. That gave me flexibility, freedom, and the ability to truly serve clients’ best interests. As an independent broker, I’m not tied to one company like Anthem, Aetna, or Humana. I can move clients to the plan that best fits them, year after year, without bias. That’s important to me — I don’t just “make a sale,” I provide options that actually solve problems.
I’m licensed in P&C, life, and health, but I’ve found my niche and passion in health insurance. I work across Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and small group benefits. With Medicare, I not only help seniors find affordable coverage, but I also enjoy supporting them beyond the policy — whether that’s answering everyday questions, providing resources, or simply being a trusted person in their corner. With ACA plans, I like helping young entrepreneurs and families who want independence but still need quality healthcare. With small groups, I guide business owners — often for the first time — in choosing benefits that help them retain employees and run their companies smoothly. I also provide life insurance solutions for families planning for the unexpected.
One thing that sets me apart is that I always offer free consultations. Sometimes I’ll even tell someone, “You’re already in the right place — no need to change.” That honesty builds trust, and it’s how I prefer to do business.
This career has given me so much — the ability to travel, invest in real estate, enjoy golf, and spend time with my family. I have four kids I’m very proud of (Lexi, Zeke, Elias, and Zaccai), and a strong life partner, Nicole. My office is here in east Columbus, not far from where I grew up. I’ve come full circle, and I’m grateful. At this stage in my life, I’m happy, motivated, and focused on continuing to help people while building a business that reflects my values.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been far from a smooth road, to say the least. For one, I was never the best student. It’s not that I wasn’t smart academically — I just didn’t have a passion for education in a traditional sense. If I’m being honest, I’ve always been a bit of a rebel at heart, and I think that’s what kept drawing me back to entrepreneurship.
In corporate America, I struggled with the politics. I never liked how some people behaved just to get ahead. For me, it felt like it could corrupt a person’s natural spirit. Now, I respect and applaud people who can thrive in that environment with integrity — but I wasn’t one of them. I think part of that comes from my early career, going door-to-door in sales. That experience taught me to manage myself and operate independently, so I naturally resisted being micromanaged or reporting to a boss. And in corporate, that can lead to bumping heads.
On the flip side, when you step into entrepreneurship, you’re managing everything yourself. That takes discipline — and sometimes it feels like you’re in it alone. Early on, I struggled with knowledge gaps because I didn’t have weekly team meetings or training sessions handed to me. I had to research industry changes, regulations, and compliance on my own. I had to carefully read and understand every contract I signed, because no one was briefing me.
And while I value time freedom, being an entrepreneur also means you carry the burden when things go wrong. If you’re on vacation and something happens, you’re the one taking the call, putting out the fire, and handling the problem. There’s no HR department to fall back on.
So yes, there have been struggles — knowledge gaps, discipline, the weight of responsibility — but I wouldn’t trade it. Those challenges forced me to grow, and they’ve shaped me into the entrepreneur and business owner I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My title is Independent Insurance Broker, and what that really means is freedom — for me and for my clients. I’m not tied to a single company. Instead, I work with all the major carriers you’ve probably heard of — Anthem, Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, CareSource, Devoted, and many more. That independence allows me to match people with the best plan for their needs instead of trying to force-fit them into one company’s offering.
I started out primarily in the Medicare space, helping seniors navigate a complicated system with confidence. From there, I expanded into the Affordable Care Act marketplace for individuals under 65, private insurance, and small group plans. Whether I’m helping a business owner find a reliable, affordable group plan for their employees or guiding an individual through their Medicare choices, my role is the same: to educate, to provide options, and to make sure people feel supported in a space that’s often confusing and intimidating.
What sets me apart is twofold. First, I’m independent — not captive to a single company — so I can always put the client’s needs first. Second, I’m from Columbus. I know the struggles people face in this community, especially on the east side where I grew up. A lot of folks don’t always feel comfortable talking to someone about healthcare, or they feel like agents don’t “speak their language.” I pride myself on being approachable, down-to-earth, and willing to sit side by side with someone and figure it out together.
What I’m most proud of isn’t one single milestone. It’s the cumulative journey — the wins and the mistakes — that brought me here. Every setback taught me something valuable, every success reinforced why I do this work. If I like where I am now, then I have to celebrate not just the highlights, but also the struggles that shaped me. To me, that’s the true measure of growth.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Honestly, I’ve got to go back to what I mentioned earlier about being a bit mischievous and rebellious as a kid. I don’t know if many people in mentor positions would’ve jumped at the chance to take me under their wing — from the outside, it probably seemed like I didn’t need help, and maybe some people didn’t even want to help mentor a rebellious, mischievous kid like me. I came from a two-parent household, both sets of grandparents married over 50 years, and my parents — Robert and Blanche Little — stayed married more than 50 years themselves. They worked hard to send us to Catholic schools, and while we were “quote-unquote middle class,” we weren’t anywhere near wealthy.
So while I may not have had a long list of formal mentors, there were people who left a lasting mark. One of the first was my high school basketball coach at Bishop Hartley, Sam Davis. He poured a lot into me — not just making me a better player, but holding me accountable, being fair, and pushing me to want more from myself.
Of course, my parents were my biggest supporters. My late mother, Blanche, was my biggest cheerleader and advocate. There’s just nothing like a mother’s love — and I’ll never have that kind of support from anyone else.
Another huge influence has been my sister, Camille. She’s resourceful, self-driven, a big thinker, and an incredible family organizer. She’s been my supporter and cheerleader, but more than that, she inspires me. I’ll never forget in grade school when I had a science fair project on photosynthesis. I wasn’t the strongest student, but Camille basically walked me through it step by step. I ended up taking third place in my category. For a kid who was used to winning in sports but not academically, that was the first time I believed I could be smart, not just athletic. That small moment planted a seed of confidence that’s stayed with me.
Sports, especially basketball, gave me my first taste of success — the first thing I was ever really good at. But as I grew into adulthood, other people played key roles. A former high school teammate who was a senior when I was a sophomore got me my first real job at the cable company. That 10-year stretch in door-to-door sales taught me discipline, independence, and the mindset I still carry as an entrepreneur. It wasn’t my final stop, but it was the foundation for everything that came later.
At the same time, the reality is that not everyone wants you to do well in life. That’s been a sad and sometimes disappointing lesson. I wish that spirit in people’s hearts could change, because for so many — especially young people and young entrepreneurs — all it takes is one person believing in them, one person showing support, to change the trajectory of their life. But the truth is, not everyone wants you to succeed.
So in a lot of ways, I’ve had to be my own mentor. I’ve grown through trials, mistakes, and tribulations. I’ve learned in life that some people that you think would naturally support you more, you discover the contrary, but equally while others you never expected to support you, you are pleasantly surprised by. A lot of my journey has been quiet — because I prefer it that way. I don’t need the attention. As long as the people closest to me know, as long as I can show up and contribute in a positive way to their lives, that’s success enough for me.
And today, beyond all of that, the person who has been my biggest supporter, advocate, and true teammate is my life partner, Nicole. She’s been instrumental not just in my business, but in who I’ve become as a man, professionally and personally.
Pricing:
- Free Consultation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chadlittleagency.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadlittleagency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576810989275
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadlittleagency/
