When people think about financial security and preparing for the unexpected, they may not immediately think of life insurance as part of that equation. But for Heather Birmingham, a licensed advisor at Battle Born Financial Advisor and Health Insurance Brokerage (BBFA), making sure families and businesses understand their options has become both her profession and her passion.
Heather has been with BBFA for about a year, working alongside Brent and Jodie Leavitt, and she says that this new path came after some major changes in her own life. What began as an unexpected transition turned into an opportunity to learn, grow, and serve her community in meaningful ways. “I’ve been loving it,” she said. “I’m learning a lot every day, and more importantly, I’m helping people in Pahrump plan for their futures.”
September is recognized as Life Insurance Awareness Month, and for Heather, it’s a chance to highlight not just policies and premiums but the heart behind them. “It feels like every month is something awareness month,” she explained with a smile. “But this one is really important because it gives us the opportunity to educate people. We’re not pushy salespeople—we’re brokers. Our goal is simply to meet people where they are, help them understand what they need, and give them peace of mind.”
Part of that education involves clearing up common myths. “Not everyone needs life insurance,” Heather explained. “If you have no dependents and enough savings to cover your own expenses, it may not be necessary. But if you have children, a spouse, or parents who depend on your income, then life insurance is about making sure they’re taken care of if something happens. I never want to see a grieving family have to hold a fundraiser just to cover funeral costs.”
When talking about the types of coverage available, Heather makes a clear distinction between term life and whole life insurance. Whole life policies are permanent and can be excellent gifts for children because they build cash value that can be used later in life—for college, a first home, or other major expenses. But Heather is careful to point out that whole life isn’t the best choice for everyone. “When it comes down to it, the cash value a whole life policy builds rarely justifies the higher premiums paid over the life of the policy. At the end of 20 or 30 years you’ll likely only end up with about twenty thousand dollars, depending on how heavily you funded it throughout,” she explained. “I understand there are differing opinions on this, but one reason some insurance agents recommend these policies is because the commissions are significantly higher. As a broker, I don’t work under those same commission structures, so it’s not a motivating factor for me. My priority is matching my clients with the policy that suits them best in the long run.”
By contrast, term life insurance is affordable and covers people during the years when their income is most vital to dependents. “If you’ve got a five-year-old at home, you probably want at least a 15-year term,” Heather explained. “That way you’re covering your child not just until they turn 18, but through those early years of adulthood when they’re still finding financial independence.”
She also highlights the availability of riders that can be added to policies, such as children’s riders or return-of-premium riders. While the latter doubles the monthly cost, it ensures that at the end of the policy term, you get back every dollar you’ve paid. “It’s about tailoring policies to people’s real lives and needs,” she said.
Heather speaks from both professional training and personal experience. She notes that she herself waited until later in life to purchase life insurance, a decision that came with higher premiums. “If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be to do it sooner. For young parents, $20 a month can buy hundreds of thousands of dollars in coverage. Why wouldn’t you give yourself and your family that security?”
Another key part of her role is working with small business owners. Many are not legally required to provide benefits but want to give their employees some form of security. “We can help with group health, group life, retirement accounts—it’s really about empowering business owners to take care of their employees,” she explained. “Our motto is ‘made easy,’ because we handle the details and help small businesses from start to finish.”
Heather also stresses that there’s no “one size fits all” age when it comes to getting coverage. For younger families, term life policies provide protection through the most critical years. For older adults, burial insurance can be an affordable way to make sure final expenses are covered. She recalls her own struggles when her father passed without any plan in place. “I was left selling his belongings to cover costs. It was devastating. That’s why I’m passionate about helping others avoid that situation.”
In fact, Heather has even discovered that in some places, funeral homes will accept proof of life insurance as collateral to cover immediate expenses, sparing families from paying out-of-pocket until the policy pays out. She is now looking into whether such an option exists here in Nevada.
Heather’s work is deeply rooted in community connection. She doesn’t just sit in an office waiting for clients to come to her. For Life Insurance Awareness Month, she’s hosting outreach events—including setting up a table at Black Cow Coffee House on September 21, where she and her colleague Tess Mattson plans to buy the first 20 coffees for anyone willing to sit down with her for a few minutes to talk about life insurance. “BBFA is paying for the coffees, and my bosses are so supportive of this kind of outreach,” Heather said. “They’ve sponsored every Community Baby Shower since I started that event, and any time I bring up community matters, they’re ready to help. They’re wonderful like that.”
She also points to the smartdecision.life website, a tool created by her team that includes resources such as a longevity calculator. By inputting current health and lifestyle factors, people can get an estimate of life expectancy to help guide decisions. “It might sound morbid,” Heather admitted, “but it’s actually empowering. I tried it myself and it said I’ll likely live to 87. That gives me perspective on how long I need coverage and when I should shift my focus to savings and investments instead.”
Heather’s message is clear: life insurance isn’t about selling a product, it’s about ensuring stability, dignity, and peace of mind. “The goal isn’t to have life insurance forever,” she said. “It’s to have it during the years when your family would need it most. Eventually, the hope is that your mortgage is paid off, your kids are grown, and your savings are strong. But until then, insurance is about protecting the people you love.”
With her warm approach, community focus, and genuine desire to help others, Heather Birmingham is quickly becoming a trusted resource in Pahrump. And as she continues to grow with Battle Born Financial Advisor and Health Insurance Brokerage, her work is a reminder that preparing for the future—no matter how uncertain—can actually be one of the most caring gifts a person can give their family.
