The Old Western Insurance Story
🐂 How It Started: A Rancher’s Wisdom & a Family Tradition
My grandpa, William “Bill” J. Murdock, was one of the most practical and caring men I’ve ever known. He built and managed our family’s large cattle ranch here in Montana — and lived as big as the characters you see on the show Yellowstone. Albeit, no gun fights that I’m aware of.
When he passed, people from all across North America filled a rodeo arena to celebrate his life. He left some pretty big boots for his five grandkids to fill.
He’d seen it all — the wild ups and downs of ranching and life in Montana: brutal blizzards, hailstorms, floods, fires, droughts… and also the tough stuff like family health issues and the early deaths of his parents, relatives and friends.
When it came to insurance, he didn’t mince words.
“If you can’t afford the cost of insurance, you sure as hell can’t afford the cost of the problem it was going to protect you from.”
And he meant it. He carried life insurance on as many family members as he could. He made sure anyone who qualified had good health insurance in Montana— even back when it was hard to get. His records prove it. Insurance was his way of protecting his people, his land, and his legacy — and it’s a lesson I took to heart.
When we went through his files after he passed, we found he’d taken out life insurance policies on nearly every immediate family member he could, at one time or another and he always made sure everyone that could get it had solid health insurance. Everything he did he did to build and protect his legacy.
On my dad’s side, insurance ran in the blood too.
My grandma and my dad both sold life insurance at one point or another. Grandma especially loved the work. She used to travel from town to town meeting clients for local banks—it was all done in person back then on paper, no technology. She believed in it because she saw how much it helped people and just liked getting to know people.
So maybe it’s no surprise I ended up here too…
🙏 A Leap of Faith
In 2019, a friend offered me a job in insurance. I didn’t jump right in. As a diabetic myself, I knew insurance plans were life and death for me and I wasn’t sure I wanted to take on that responsibility.
I also didn’t like how pushy some life insurance agents were out there. I thought, “If I’m going to do this, I have to go all in and stand up for people.” I was a little hesitant because like the average person, I honestly didn’t know there were so many ways of helping people with my licenses.
So I prayed about it—asked for a sign. A billboard.
A few months later, I decided I did like the opportunity and wanted to do it. I knew I could help people and the numbers made sense. But I still hadn’t really gotten a sign.
So I went to the living room to get my phone and the second I picked it up to call my friend that I was ready, a commercial on the TV popped on and said:
“It’s time for you to start your own insurance agency.”
I’m not making it up. I was shocked at the timing! I’d never seen that ad before. But that moment pushed me to trust God and go for it.
Within my first month, I was ranked #5 in the company nationwide—helping more clients than even my manager who was training me.
Since then, I’ve expanded my business into Medicare, Retirement, Food Benefits, Mortgage Protection & Final Expense Life Insurance. I work with dozens of products representing around 85 insurance and financial carriers. I’ve helped thousands of people navigate their finances, insurance, and health coverage from all over the country.
But it all started with a Montana rancher who believed in doing the right thing before the storm hit—and that’s still how I try to operate today.
2027 Enrollment & Review Scheduling
Enrollment Dates
Existing Clients
Your reserved review dates
New Clients
General enrollment dates
Existing Old Western Insurance clients: Clay takes hundreds of calls during this time of year. These review dates are set aside especially for you, so you don’t get lost in the shuffle.
New clients: Feel free to grab any available time that works for you during the general enrollment dates.