Trust - Gallagher

***“Trust is something that can only be built by consistently doing the right thing over an extended period of time.” - Jeremy DeBruin*** Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest on today’s show is Jeremy DeBruin, Senior Area Vice President at Gallagher. Jeremy's story perfectly captures what sets the credit union market apart, and he shares how growing up in a blue-collar family shaped his outlook on work, leadership, and service—and why a pivotal moment from his childhood gave him an appreciation for a people-first philosophy. We discuss Jeremy's path into executive benefits, and the role Gallagher plays in helping credit unions hold onto exceptional leaders while remaining accountable long after a plan is put into place. Jeremy explains why his team is committed to providing guidance, administrative support, and follow-through for decades, ensuring credit unions have a trusted partner throughout the life of every plan! Throughout our conversation, we spend time discussing what the strongest organizations are doing to prepare for the future, from succession planning and attracting younger leadership to building cultures that encourage talented people to stay and grow. Jeremy offers some thoughtful insights into how trust is earned, why patience often leads to better decisions than chasing the latest trend, and how an entire team working behind the scenes helps deliver the consistency clients depend on year after year. As we wrap up the episode, Jeremy undergoes the usual round of rapid-fire questions, and he shares the leadership lessons that he learned from his father and longtime mentor Rich Brock. He also shares his fascination with mechanical watches, his favorite places to travel, the books that help keep his priorities in perspective, and why he remains deeply grateful to spend his career serving credit unions. Enjoy my conversation with Jeremy DeBruin! **Connect with Jeremy:** Jeremy DeBruin, Senior Area Vice President at Gallagher ajg.com Jeremy: LinkedIn Gallagher: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube **Show notes from this episode:** Shout-out: Oakland Athletics Shout-out: New York Stock Exchange Shout-out: Jeremy’s parents Shout-out: Campbell’s Soup Shout-out: Dave Ramsey Shout-out: Bank of America Place mentioned: Sacramento, CA Place mentioned: New York City, NY Shout-out: Rich Brock Shout-out: Apple Place mentioned: Anchorage, AK Shout-out: Home Depot Book mentioned: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom Book mentioned: Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom Book mentioned: For One More Day by Mitch Albom Shout-out: Jeremy’s wife Shout-out: Jeremy’s kids Shout-out: Mother Teresa **In this episode:** \[0:51] - Jeremy reflects on how his childhood fascination with the stock market sparked an early interest in finance. \[2:46] - For Jeremy, watching his parents switch to a credit union inspired a lifelong appreciation for member-focused banking. \[5:08] - Hear how a church mission and college connections led Jeremy to executive benefits and Gallagher. \[7:37] - Gallagher helps credit unions retain leaders via benefits and support. \[9:55] - Jeremy explains that future-ready credit unions prioritize younger boards, succession planning, and cultures which attract emerging leaders. \[11:35] - Jeremy argues that maintaining trust requires consistent integrity, careful recommendations, and lasting client accountability. \[14:05] - Jeremy points out how behind every executive benefit recommendation is a great deal of analytical work from an unseen support team. \[16:30] - Gallagher prioritizes long-term administrative support for executive benefit plans lasting even decades after implementation. \[18:47] - Learn why Jeremy looks up to his dad as a leader. \[22:12] - Jeremy is enthusiastic about his love for mechanical watches. \[23:11] - Jeremy reflects on how a hometown board meeting reminded him that volunteer directors represent ordinary members like his parents. \[26:16] - We discover why Jeremy loves Mitch Albom’s books. \[27:21] - Staying present with family and friends is Jeremy's main strategy for managing work-life balance. \[28:58] - Jeremy remains deeply grateful to support credit unions whose mission positively impacts everyday people. *Consulting and insurance brokerage services to be provided by Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. and/or its affiliate Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc. Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., a non-investment firm and subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., is a licensed insurance agency that does business in California as “Gallagher Benefit Services of California Insurance Services” and in Massachusetts as “Gallagher Benefit Insurance Services.”* *Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth. Neither Osaic Wealth nor their affiliates provide accounting, legal or tax advice.*