Who is Thinksmart Insurance? A Vietnamese-speaking insurance agency in the US

Thinksmart Insurance is an independent insurance agency founded in 2013 that helps Vietnamese-American families with life insurance and long-term financial planning, in both Vietnamese and English. If you found us on Facebook or YouTube, or a friend sent you our way, this page explains who we are, which insurers we work with, what working with us looks like, and how to check any insurance agency before you sign a policy.

What Thinksmart Insurance does

Thinksmart Insurance is an independent insurance agency, not an insurance company. The policies are issued by large US insurers. Our job is to help you understand the options, compare them, complete the application and look after the policy for years afterward.

Our mission is to be a “financial doctor” for Vietnamese families: listen first, find the gaps in the family’s finances, and suggest a plan that fits the budget. Many people who moved to the US as adults never grew up with life insurance, living benefits or retirement accounts, so a large part of our work is simply explaining things clearly in the language people are most comfortable with.

Our story since 2013

Thinksmart started in 2013 with a simple idea: Vietnamese families in America deserve insurance advice in their own language. Since then we have served more than 20,000 clients and hold licenses in all 50 states. Whether you live in Georgia, Texas, California or anywhere else, we can work with you by phone or video call.

Our main office is at 1424 N Brown Rd #450, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, and local clients are welcome to book an in-person meeting. You can read more on our About us page.

Which insurers does Thinksmart Insurance work with?

We currently partner with three large insurance groups. Each has its own strengths, and the right choice depends on your age, health, goals and budget.

National Life Group

National Life Group is one of the oldest life insurers in the country, based in Vermont with roots going back to 1848. It is known for life insurance policies that include living benefits. See is National Life Group reputable for more.

Corebridge Financial (formerly AIG Life & Retirement)

AIG’s life and retirement business became a separate company called Corebridge Financial. Many policies are still issued by its subsidiary American General Life, which is why long-time clients often still call it “AIG insurance.”

Allianz

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America is the US arm of the German Allianz group, well known for annuities and indexed life insurance.

We don’t claim any one insurer is “the best.” The best insurer for you is the one that approves your application at a fair price with the benefits your family actually needs.

Independent insurance agency vs. a single-company agent

Whoever you work with, your contract is always between you and the insurance company, and claims are paid by the insurer, not by the agency.

Life insurance plans we help with

• Term life: coverage for 10, 20 or 30 years at a low cost, a good fit for young families with a mortgage and small kids. See term life insurance.
• IUL (indexed universal life): protection plus cash value that can help with retirement. See IUL insurance.
• Max funded IUL: an IUL designed with the highest premium allowed to put more toward cash value, for people with steady income.
• Coverage for children: the Kid Millionaire plan helps parents start early.

Many policies also include living benefits: if the insured has a serious illness such as cancer, a stroke or a heart attack, part of the death benefit may be paid early, depending on the policy terms.

Working with Thinksmart Insurance in 5 steps

1. First conversation: by phone, video or at the office. We ask about your family, income, debts, health and goals.
2. Work out the need: calculate how much coverage makes sense using real numbers. See how much life insurance do I need.
3. Compare options: walk through suitable plans and explain premiums, benefits and exclusions in plain language.
4. Apply: complete the application and the medical exam (often done at your home), then wait for the insurer’s decision.
5. Stay with you: premium reminders, beneficiary updates, regular policy reviews and help when it is time to file a claim.

The consultation is free. Agencies are generally paid a commission by the insurer when a policy is issued, and the premium you pay is set by the insurer.

Who usually comes to Thinksmart Insurance?

• Young families: a new home, small children and a need to protect the paycheck if something happens.
• Newcomers to the US: people who are still learning how American insurance works and want it explained in Vietnamese.
• Nail salon owners, restaurant owners and the self-employed: no employer coverage, so they need to protect the family on their own.
• People close to retirement: looking for another source of retirement income besides Social Security.
• Adult children helping parents: sons and daughters who want someone to explain a policy to their parents in Vietnamese.

3 common misunderstandings about insurance agencies

“The agency pays the claim.” It doesn’t. The insurer pays. That is why the financial strength of the insurer matters, and why a good agency only works with large, established companies.

“Working with an agent costs more than buying direct.” Premiums are set by the insurer and filed with the state, so in most cases you pay the same price for the same policy whether you use an agent or not. What an agent adds is help choosing, applying and claiming.

“Once the policy is signed, the agent’s job is done.” A life insurance policy can last decades. Incomes change, children are born, homes are bought and sold. Reviewing the policy every few years keeps the coverage in line with your life, and that ongoing service is a big part of what we do.

Help when it is time to claim

Insurance only matters if the family actually gets paid when it counts. When a client becomes seriously ill or passes away, our team helps the family gather documents, contact the insurer and follow the claim to the end. Learn more on our insurance claims page.

Some clients have agreed to share their real stories, such as Ms. Hong’s claim after a stroke and Mr. Cuong’s claim after a liver transplant.

How to check any insurance agency before you sign

Whether you work with us or anyone else, these simple checks protect you from mistakes and scams:

• The agent’s license: every state’s Department of Insurance offers a free online license lookup. Ask for the agent’s license number or NPN and look it up yourself.
• The insurer’s name: the application and policy must clearly name the insurance company. Premiums should be paid to the insurer, never to a personal account.
• The illustration: for an IUL, ask for the insurer’s official illustration showing both guaranteed and non-guaranteed values.
• The free look period: most states give you a window, usually 10 to 30 days after delivery, to review the policy and cancel if you change your mind.
• Real reviews: read the agency’s Google reviews and ask people you know who have worked with them.

For more, see common life insurance mistakes.

Our core values

We hold ourselves to five values: dedication, responsibility, transparency, integrity and compliance. Transparency means explaining the limits of a product as clearly as its strengths. Compliance means following state and insurer rules even when that makes an application slower.

We also know not everyone needs to buy right away. Some families only need affordable term life, some need a long-term retirement plan, and some should pay down debt first. Good advice fits the family’s real situation.

Frequently asked questions