Lessons After 20 Years of Nomad-ing With Andrew Jernigan | TNE066

How long do you see yourself living the nomadic life? Most of us have only just begun in this journey and there’s really no telling how long we can actually keep it up. In today’s episode, I sat down with veteran digital nomad Andrew Jernigan to talk about his amazing journey through the decades living the nomadic life together with his family. Andrew is the CEO and co-founder of insurtech company Insured Nomads that works towards helping nomads travel the world without fear. 

In this week’s episode, Andrew shares how he handles the hurdles and unique dynamic of raising a nomadic family and managing a remote company at the same time. He also discusses the importance of slowing down and why it won’t get in the way of you reaching your goals. And lastly, he goes into detail about how his company Insured Nomads can help nomads live the nomadic lifestyle easier and also change the insurance game in the near future.

[2:26]Andrew’s Nomadic Timeline

[13:55]Nomadic Family Dynamics

[21:22]What is R-A-F-T?

[25:00]The Potential Pitfalls of the Nomadic Life

[27:00]The Art of Slowing Down

[33:58]How To Live A Long-Term Sustainable Nomadic Lifestyle

Andrew Jernigan's Links:

Twitter: AndrewJernigan
Facebook: Andrew Jernigan
Instagram: jandrewjernigan
Website: www.insurednomads.com

Omar's (Host) Social Media:

Instagram - @nomadables

TikTok - @nomadables

Facebook Group - NOMADABLES - Accountability & Growth Community for Remote Workers- Perfect to meet fellow online entrepreneurs, remote workers, and digital nomads.

YouTube - Omar Mo

LinkedIn - Omar Mo Nomads Cast

Twitter - @nomadables

Pintrest - @nomadables

Clubhouse - @pods

WEBSITE: https://www.nomadables.com/

Support the show (http://www.nomadables.com)

Transcript

TNE 066: Lessons After 20 Years of Nomad-ing Andrew Jernigan 

Omar 

There may be some of you listening to this podcast that have dreams of travel. I mean, why else would you tune in to the Nomadic Executive? Some others who are just starting out props and a few others on top of that, but I've been doing this for a few years now. 

Well, today we're joined by a veteran in the nomad space who has been on and off the road since the burst of the dot com bubble back in 2000. We're joined by Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads, paving the way for the first insurtech for global benefits to help digital nomads, remote workers, and travelers alike really go out there and travel safely. Join us while we dive into some of the greatest lessons learned from Andrew's long journey on the road.

All right, Andrew Jernigan, welcome to the nomadic executive man. excited to have you on today.

Andrew Jernigan 

It is great to be here with you. Thank you, Omar. 

Omar  

Absolutely, man. You're doing quite a few exciting things in the whole nomad space right now, especially with your venture, Insured Nomads. So congrats with that.

Andrew Jernigan  

Thank you. It’s, It's great to be entering the second year now. And it's a really exhilarating journey.

Omar  

I bet it is from what it sounds like too. So walk me back a little bit here, right? Let's go ahead and dive right in. I'm really curious about how, like, when you... when did you first start your entire digital nomad journey, let alone start an insurance company, the nomad space, but walk me all the way back to when the first thought in your mind even crossed them, hey, I want to go out and travel.

Andrew Jernigan  

That would be 1996. 

Omar

That’s a while back.

Andrew Jernigan

And, no, my, my picture isn't old. Just Luckily, I have the genes of my dad who's 83 years old and looks like he's 60. I'm hitting 50 soon. And yeah, so it's in 96, I was in Amsterdam, and walked out of a Virgin Megastore. You've probably heard of Richard Branson, and the Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Virgin Railways, etc. Back then he had these music stores that were incredible. And just expensive spaces. That was an experience to go in and buy a CD.

Omar

Right?

Andrew Jernigan  

I walked out and I had a moleskine type journal and in you know, in a sidewalk cafe, I wrote in my, in that notebook, that ‘I'm definitely going to marry someone from another culture’. And I'm gonna travel the world. And I was in my 20s and said, you know, am I gonna go for a master's in business administration? My going to get an MDiv, Master of Divinity? What am I going to do? I hadn't even finished undergrad at that point.

Omar  

Yeah. So what was that at that point? Was Amsterdam, some sort of mini vacation for you at that point? Were you still in college?

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah, I was actually working with a nonprofit there. 

Omar

I see. 

Andrew Jernigan

And ended up going back spending most of ‘97 there. And it's just... it's, it's a blur of, of maturing with my global perspectives, and a city that has so many nationalities represented in such a small area. That, you know, the Dutch really stole my heart. I've been back many times, even, you know, right before COVID. Got to go there with my son. 

And so that was where I wrote it for the first time. And, you know, during the following year, got to hit several different countries and decided, “Okay, definitely. This is… this is the life for me.” And about three years later, someone told me about a girl. And I said, She's the one I'm gonna marry. So I flew to Brazil and met her.

Omar  

I never met her before that.

Andrew Jernigan  

No, I met her and proposed 10 days after I met her.

Omar  

That's crazy.

Andrew Jernigan  

In April, we celebrate 20 years of marriage.

Omar  

Wow. 

Andrew Jernigan  

We have covered five continents together.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

Lived long term, and many of those.... Others have been just working, you know, and traveling, raising three kids using every form of schooling possible. And been in many different ventures together that... and she is one of the co founders of our company now. Insured Nomads. 

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

She was a medical doctor when I met her. She was finishing residency at the time. And then she specialized in travel medicine. Later got her master's in Business Administration and a master's in public health. And is my cohort - cohort in innovation and compassion.

Omar  

That sounds really awesome.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. So going back though, I moved to Brazil.

Omar  

I want to move back even further than that. Before you go there.

Andrew Jernigan

Go there, yes.

Omar  

Build a lot of value to my audience. It's not everyday that I have someone on my podcast that’s been a nomad as long as you have.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. You know, the term digital nomad wasn't even used until ‘97.

Omar  

I figured. So you were there you were a “digital nomad” before it was even a think

Andrew Jernigan  

Right back when I was carrying my clunky Dell and dial up internet.

Omar  

Explain. First of all, give me a feel for the vibe of what Amsterdam was like back in 96. Like you're going to this little record slash music store, walking in. What's the place like? What's the feel like? And is it much different now today than it was before? Oh, that's

Andrew Jernigan  

Oh that’s great that you asked. I went back to the same building right before COVID. I didn't tell my son who was with me anything about the music store. But we went to that same, same place and I was walking through memory lane. The place was still quite charming. 

But of course, Virgin closed their music stores. They don't have virgin cola anymore. You know, Richard Branson is quite the entrepreneur and, and so he starts and stops things as they... as things evolve.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

That store was one of those that changed with time. The city itself though, it's been a shelter for the nomadic from the West Indies, trading companies, you know, when they’re trading spices, entering Europe and sending them around the world. So the city is, I wouldn't say it's changed at all since then.

Omar  

Interesting.

Andrew Jernigan  

Is a lot of years, it's quite the same. It's probably not much different than it was 200 years ago.

Omar  

That's a good thing. I like to think, you know, I think with all these cities being so modernized these days, and everything being cut down and changed all the time, like to find a shelter or a refuge like that, especially for a nomad… I think it is comforting in a way.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. And I say these things in a positive light that I don't think the city's changed in 200 years. In that, sure, of course, it's changed. We change every day, we must change every day. But in a place where I....I deeply respect the Dutch, you know. Powerhouse to new ideas, non stop even remote dot com, led by an innovative Dutch thinker, Job van der Voort. 

Omar

Right. 

Andrew Jernigan

And the Dutch are close to my heart. So when I say the city hasn't changed, I say that with great respect. Because I would live there in a heartbeat. And actually hope to have a home there in the coming years.

Omar  

That's good. So after, after the… the Netherlands, after Amsterdam, where did you go? He said he traveled for about three years. And at that point, you were pretty much a solo traveler?

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. Oh, I did return and finished my undergrad. Got my bachelor's degree and was able to, to get some good experience in the healthcare administration, in the US online banking. Back when, you know, working for a large regional bank on the team to develop online banking for the first time. Where you know, now it's, it's normal back then it was okay, how do I pay someone online? 

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

That was a novel thing. 

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

Going back into that, that, that was right after Amsterdam to jump into that. And so technology was my go to when I ventured into working around the world. I was designing sites and selling hosting, outsourcing the labor to skilled folks in other countries. And I was the point person to my clients.

Omar  

And you were doing this all the way in the 90s, late 90s. 

Andrew Jernigan

Yes.

Omar

That still blows my mind.

Andrew Jernigan  

From Brazil, from other places.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

Well, if I was in Boston, if I was in Brazil, it was, you know, working with designers and, you know, programmers in India, Pakistan and other places to serve my clients and in their cushy homes.

Omar  

So you’re early tech, then. You were with your wife at this point, how did the dot come bubble, when it bursted, like how did that affect you? Especially as a digital nomad? 

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah, I bought and sold dot com as well, during that time. It's... it's a thing when that was even possible, more so than today. So, you know, marrying someone that I knew wanted to be a doctor in Africa, my, my focus is shifted. Okay, let's get debt free. So we can make a difference.

Omar

Right. 

Andrew Jernigan

And it took a few years to say, ‘Okay, this is the organization we're gonna go serve with.’ And my wife and I are, are in that rhythm to where we support each other, both of us as full professional. It's not one or the other. 

It's, you know, holding each other's arms up. So knowing that she graduated med school wanting to go practice medicine, in an area that needed her skills and a country in Africa, it took some time to say okay, let's get debt free. Let's raise funds. And let's do it.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan  

So we ended up in the middle of Ghana, West Africa, for about four years. During that time, we we took off for six months to go to Ireland...to Ireland came... Yes, but to Liverpool for her to get a specialized boat. Graduate Diploma in travel medicine. And, you know, then back there off to Chiang Mai for a bit, and then back to Ghana. 

And we ended up building it from a clinic to a, to a hospital in the bush, in a - in a remote area of Ghana. We're about an hour and a half or so from the closest refrigerator where we lived. But we also had Satellite Internet. And so, from that place that, you know, it builds it up to where they were able to, you know, do...serve people from about 42 villages that would walk there.

Omar

Right. 

Andrew Jernigan

Carrying their, their sick parents on their back walking for two hours.

Omar  

It must have been a really humbling experience to see that there. Yeah,

Andrew Jernigan  

Very. And so from there, we ended up back in the US for, you know, six, seven months. And then move back to Brazil, four to one city for a while. And then over to California, Mozambique, back to California. A few other countries here and there. 

And in that journey, and it's... it's been a wild ride. Especially as we decided before marriage. I'll pause there, engaged twice. And two of those said, “You know, no, I don’t want to live around the world.” 

That was tough for me to say, okay, sorry, this is part of my life. I'm free to live wherever I'm called and decided to be in season. So you know, my wife and I, it's kind of our phrase to say, you know, I'm excited about life with you. Right? Because what's it going to be in the next season, over the next horizon?

Omar  

I mean, you traveled so much together. Has there ever been a point where naturally as a nomad you have these waves too, right? 

Sometimes you want to fast travel and move around to different places and just see as much as you can. And other times you want to slow travel and maybe stay somewhere for six months, a year, whatever. Has there ever been a moment in there for you? And even now, for as long as you've been traveling where you just decided, you know what, I just kind of want to stay in one place now or has that never left you?

Andrew Jernigan  

No it’s come in various times, especially raising a family.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan  

Because kids need friends. That… they need stability. Sure, there's worldschooling. There's online schooling, there's international schools, local schools in different countries, we've had a teacher travel with us. Many flavors of education. But especially when you're raising a family, though, those little nomads often cry out for for predictability,

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan  

We have traditions, even though they may not be normal. We have cherished moments and memories in different places. But you have to, there are absolutely downsides to not being in one city always.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan  

And, oftentimes this thing of, oh, if I just raise my kids to experience the world. One kid may want to experience the world, while another may say you know, I'd rather not. 

One of our moves. We actually told one of our kids, okay, you can stay here in the school with your family - with family that lives nearby. You have a friend that said you can live with them. You can go with us or you can go to a boarding school.

Omar  

What did they pick?

Andrew Jernigan

Boarding school. 

Omar

They picked the boarding school?

Andrew Jernigan

In another continent, away from us and away from their family. And friends. 

Omar

Interesting. 

Andrew Jernigan

Yeah. Like I've always wanted to go to X country. We had been there but the kid hadn't. So that was the choice. Now...

Omar  

As nomadic parents It feels like you also give your children a lot more autonomy.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. And sometimes it's not a positive thing also, because kids don't need to be making those decisions. Kids need the parents making decisions.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

In many cases. Other times, is they make great decisions. They just happen to be a smaller, younger body. So it's a delicate balance of saying: Okay, how much ownership do we give a child in this process?’ How much responsibility do we put on their shoulders? 

Sometimes it's not their role to carry that responsibility. And running a remote company, globally distributed? It's a balance, also. How much responsibility do you put on someone's shoulders? When... you have to look at the emotional age of your team members.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

I mean, are they ready for that kind of responsibility within a company?

Omar  

Makes a lot of sense.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah, it could be someone on a 50 year old body that really is possibly still a child. And not really ready for that to make that decision yet.

Omar  

And vice versa too, where it's a 20 year old person, and they have the right mind of a 50 year old unable to make decisions greatly. So…

Andrew Jernigan

Absolutely.

Omar  

Interesting.

Andrew Jernigan

Yes.

Omar  

It's interesting that you compare that to nomadic parenting, as well as parenting in general, but specifically, even in your case. So where is it that you're able to judge the line of where you give the child more autonomy and where you make the decision?

Andrew Jernigan  

Ask me that again in 15 years when they're adults. When they're all adults, and they can tell me if I made the right choices with that. Because it's my kids right now are: one out of the house and two still in the house.

It's even a little bit awkward to process it because one thing could be listening to this podcast tomorrow. It's, you know, and I'm very transparent, healthy communication, bold communication, to be ready to say, I'm sorry, I'm messed up. And for them to understand, hey, we know there's not a book on how to be a dad. So we allow for imperfection, and allowing for mistakes from them. Because through mistakes, we actually have successes,

Omar  

Right. That's good that you learn that and it's, I know, for certain, like, I'm 27, right, but I didn't see my parents as people until I was like, 18. You know, and I think that's a common thing that's that happens among the younger kids. Like, they just see their parents as parents and because they're their parents, they see them as like, the figurehead of just like everything, you know?

They don't see them as just human beings also trying to learn along that way. And it's doubly amplified there being a nomadic parent versus just someone in one city, because there's so many different intricacies that go into that. 

Andrew Jernigan

Right. 

Omar

Right. So to juggle that, and then also juggle a marriage and juggle the work that you're doing and the kind of mission that you have, and the kind of impact that you're leaving, all while staying nomadic at the same time...

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah, and the effect on friends, you leave behind.

Omar  

The, the churn rate of friends, one-hundred percent.

Andrew Jernigan  

You know, I’m exactly 20 years older than you. It’s 47 currently, and that's for another few days.

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

No, it's, it's a unique journey of walking with friends that don't go from country to country with you. One of my very best friends…his birthday is tomorrow. We met in 1991. I will call him, I will text him. He was my best man at my wedding in Brazil. We've traveled the world together on occasion. 

But yet, it takes extra maintenance, for relationships, when you leave people behind. When you meet them in one country, you go on to the next. When you have relationships where you might never have met in person, but then become closest friends. Because of this virtual world we're living in now. 

And family that doesn't understand why you weren't there for that funeral. Why you weren't there for... at their bedside in the hospital. Why you weren't there at the celebrations. Were you just selfish and exploring the world and didn't care about them?

Many times when we are in this journey of life, going from one place to another we can be so focused on ourselves that those who we also need to be caring about are left behind. So building a bridge to them, being hold in our journey, so that we're able to care for those in every season and, and go back at the drop of a hat and reconcile relationships.

Omar  

I want you to elaborate on that building a bridge a little bit more. Because this is a common like, I would consider you in the older generation of nomads and people anywhere from seven years and less maybe the newer generation and nomads. And these are problems that we realized, and we've seen ‘em  but we just don't know how to handle them or deal with... with them.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah, and it's unlikely to go to a dear friend of mine, who put it as a “raft”. R-A-F-T.

Omar

Like a boat?

Andrew Jernigan

Yeah, right, when we leave a place, we need to consider this raft. And that is... it's not literally that raft that that platform that floats in the water. But it makes sense for reconciliation, affirmation, farewell and think destination. 

So reconciliation is the R. You’re making sure your relationships are all right. From the place you're leaving, and the relationships along the journey. The affirmation, you know, saying thank you, showing appreciation to the people in your life. The F being Farewell, the healthy part of grieving, and saying goodbye in a proper manner. 

And that T is thinking destination, you know, thinking about the next place you're going. Talking about it with in advance, to those your traveling partners, your kids, your partner, even just self talk, you know? Of researching in advance and thinking next steps while you're also taking care of the past steps. That transition is just vital for having healthy transitions. 

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

In this, in this cross cultural lifestyle.

Omar  

Does it ever wear down on you? Is it harder than it used to be?

Andrew Jernigan

Yes.

Omar  

I always thought it would be easier. So that surprises me.

Andrew Jernigan  

It gets easier if you quit reaching for more.

Omar  

Explain that a little bit.

Andrew Jernigan  

And everyone's on their own personal journey. So I must say my reflections are of myself. 

Omar

Right. 

Andrew Jernigan

But I'm always stretching to grow personally, expand my, my borders. And I think if I were just in a place to where I'm not actually expanding, I could move from city to city just absorbing it in. And, you know, just being a sponge. 

But due to my personality and gift set that I'm generally building. And whether it's building, I'll take, go back in time again, building the hospital in Ghana, drilling wells, you know, working in Mozambique with work with kids, schools, orphans, to... you know, other business ventures that we've been part of. 

These are… An integral part of my life is building, connecting other people building bridges. And so that's why each transition adds another layer to life. That is enriching, but it's also stretching and uncomfortable. But I like uncomfortable.

Omar  

That's where you feel like you thrive. I get it.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. I like the challenges.

Omar  

I get it. So the pros will always outweigh the cons for you in your head?

Andrew Jernigan  

For me. Yes. We're each unique. 

Omar

Right.

Andrew Jernigan

Everyone's journey is... is unique in this. I had to, I had to take - take a step back. I just gotten back from Mozambique and back about seven years ago. And boundaries weren't in place. 

I was in a roll where I was on the phone in the middle of the night to Taiwan. And then, you know, at the end of the day and another section of the world and didn't have good boundaries. Ended up with a heart attack and open heart surgery.

Omar  

Jesus.

Andrew Jernigan  

I was going faster than my body can keep up. Even though I was in the gym. I was fit. But stress got the best of me. And a few months later, I've... you know, we were on vacation as a family in South Africa walked into a bookstore in the mall, picked up a book called “Soul Keeping”. That really imprinted some valuable things that I've implemented in my life. 

One of those I decided: Okay, this book has had so much impact on me. I'm going to summarize it in a phrase. And that phrase was hurry is my enemy. You can, you know, put the title link in the... in the show notes. But it's.... the title of the book is Soul Keeping.

Omar

Okay.

Andrew Jernigan  

And we really have to be serious of eliminating hurry from our life. We hurry through relationships, we hurry through days, and we don't get a chance to listen to ourselves or listen to others. So yes, thriving on challenges, loving to solve problems is great. But if we're not taking care of ourself, we can't love others.

Omar  

So how do you - how do you take care of yourself? Andrew? What are the things that you've done to slow down the hurry? I think this can bring some value to my audience. But not only that, but to me as well.

Andrew Jernigan  

It's a crucial factor in running a business, running a family, running your own life, is taking time to calm your mind, to meditate, all throughout the day. If you'd said that to me, sometime back, I would have thought you know, I can't do that. I don't have time for that. Or, you know, I just don't slow down for that. 

Now, it's an integral part of my day where I'll stop for 10 minutes, multiple occasions throughout the day. And just pause everything. And it's a reset. Just to slow down, calm your heart, be able to listen, be able to respond clearly to needs. And of course, eating well, staying active and getting enough sleep. There was a book that during that same season, had some powerful influence called Eat, Move, Sleep.

Omar

I've heard it.

Andrew Jernigan

Yeah. You shouldn't have to write a whole book eating well, get moving, and… 

Omar  

You’ll be surprised the kind of stuff they write entire books on these days, honestly.

Andrew Jernigan

Right. Those are the - you know, it was impactful.

Omar  

Yeah. Sometimes it takes someone yelling at your face in a full like 500 page book for you to really understand something that you already knew automatically before. It's the strangest thing, but it's how we work, I think.

Andrew Jernigan  

Isn't it? Yeah, we can hear something over and over. But sometimes we just have to buy a 300 page volume. 

Omar

That's right.

Andrew Jernigan  

And get it. So the same thing happened to me last year. When I told myself for quite some time, that part of that eating better, taking care of my body... You know, the exercise? I'm just gonna stop pouring alcohol in my body. I thought, you know, no, that calms me. There's nothing wrong with it. But really, it's quite toxic. 

And the clarity that it’s, it's brought me the willpower that is brought back in that... no, at the end of the day, I don't have to grab something strong and then sweeten it. Or a wonderful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or anything else to slow down and be calm. Anytime there's some substance in your life that you end up abusing, it affects relationships. 

Omar

Right. 

Andrew Jernigan  

And that's one of the sadly that's one of the things that's totally permissible. My 18 year old son recently said, “Oh, it's the cigarette of today.” Because you can still put it in every movie and every every sitcom you can have people sipping a glass of wine. Where now you don't see people smoking and every, every movie.

Omar

Right. 

Andrew Jernigan  

If you still see people consuming massive amounts of alcohol. Yeah. Okay, we can do that with friends. I'm not really damaging my body.

Omar  

It's almost romanticized in a way too in a lot of modern media in a lot of social media.

Andrew Jernigan  

It is, and - and I hate the fact that just because I brought it up some people are tuning out right now. But you did ask me a question. How am I taking care of myself? 

Omar  

We speak facts on here. 

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah.

Omar  

I haven't drank in in a few months myself, so... But I do it for my own reasons. People do it for their own reasons, we don't filter things here. 

Andrew Jernigan  

Right.

Omar  

Yeah.

Andrew Jernigan 

So, I still can't believe that it's been in one week, it'll be six months.

Omar  

That's good.

Andrew Jernigan  

And I look at the years that it wasted. Sure, there are some nice romantic evenings. And even alone sitting out over some patio dining in Europe, enjoying your glass of wine alone with my journal or book. Like, well, really? Did I need that to escape the night. But carrying on. Next. Next topic.

Omar  

It's good that you had that journey. I think everyone finds things amongst themselves that they can cut out. They always find things that work worse for them. They're things that they have strong values of before they believed one thing about it to five years, 10 years later down the road, they believe something completely opposite. 

It happens all the time. And I think that's the journey of life. And like you said, like you've emphasized multiple times, everyone's on their own journey, and everyone's on their own path and what's working for someone might not work for someone else, you know?

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes, and respecting each other in their journeys. No matter what other people’s decisions are, being able to respect where they are, because my decisions today may be wrong. And I land at  a better decision tomorrow.

Omar  

It's the empathy. And I think that's something that comes through no -  like nomadism, if that's a word. 

Andrew Jernigan

Is it?

Omar

I think it comes through nomadism. And like having that deep seated empathy and understanding that everyone's really on their own journey. They're all making the decisions that they think and see is right for them, you know? Sometimes sure, like, you can interject and try to say, hey, like, I think that if you go this direction, you go that direction, but ultimately, it's their choice. 

You can give guidance as a friend or a mentor, or romantic partner or anything else. But at the end of the day, you've got to respect what they did, because it's their life. 

Andrew Jernigan

We're each responsible for our reactions.

Omar

Right. In our reality even.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes, our decisions, our reality, we're the ones responsible for that, how we react to someone’s statement, their feedback, their input and our lives, our reaction to that, whether we react offended or defensive, or pensive, and actually give it some thought.

Omar  

Right. So if you had to, I guess, then, I mean, you've had this journey for quite some time, you've lived it for quite some time. And almost all my friends that are nomadic, that really enjoy the lifestyle, want to live it for that long, too. 

So for anyone that has that will do two sets of advice here, for one for people that are just starting out, and want to go down the whole digital nomad journey route. And two, for people that are in my phase, anywhere from like two to seven years of already traveling, what piece of advice would you give, let's start with the first group, the aspiring digital nomads.

Andrew Jernigan  

Live simply.

Omar

Simply.

Andrew Jernigan

Don't get attached to possessions. And live a simple lifestyle. That doesn't mean don't enjoy the finer things. And don't treat yourself well. Treat others well for sure. Also, in that, be generous with other people. But work toward being a minimalist.

Possessions are highly overrated. And so the further you get in this, consider also thinking of the future because at some point, you may want to settle down. Possibly in one of those countries you visited. So be setting money aside investing, saving from the start, even before you ever start this lifestyle. 

Or if you're amidst the lifestyle, set aside a percentage if you have to start at 2% of every month's income. Start somewhere and keep building on that and growing it. So that one you have that emergency fund. Two you have a future pad fund for long term stays. 

And as your income grows, significantly increase how much you're putting aside for the future. Because you may at some point have a partner. And expenses do increase with that you may end up having kids or you may adopt kids or you may have people that you've met along the way you treat as kids and want to send money to them on a regular basis.

Omar  

That's right. And that I think, I think that covers both... both groups then, right? Being minimalist for the for the younger group, and save money and invest for the older group.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. And for that older group as well, even though you're a minimalist, have things that you keep, whether it be that Persian rug from when you pass through Turkey, that's only two by three, you know? A very small piece or a, you know, a journal that you bought somewhere else. Have things that...

Omar  

Sentimental value,

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes, that you can keep. And that you may store at a friend's house and they mail you one day, right? When you do have that pad in a later place so that you can have some memories. Because life is... it's good to have markers through the journey.

Omar  

Kind of like mini checkpoints. I get it.

Andrew Jernigan 

Yes.

Omar  

That's, That's cool. I mean, at this point, now, you're in the US. Is it Michigan, I believe?

Andrew Jernigan  

Um, no, I'm in the Greater Philadelphia area for the first time of my life. Right. I left. I was in Brazil till December 31st. Arrived in the US on January 1.

Omar  

Of 2021?

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. 

Omar 

Okay. Nice.

Andrew Jernigan  

Started the year in the US bright and early, that's five o'clock in the morning landing into Texas. That was a culture shock. Again, the re-entry back into my own culture. Right. And we've had more snow this year in the Philadelphia area than they've had in many years. It seems before it can melt they get another four inches.

Omar  

Same in Texas, as you - as you've heard, I'm sure.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yes. So for those right now. We're listening from Singapore and Indonesia, Brazil, etc. The snow is wonderful, but do enjoy your beaches. I do.

Omar  

That's right. That's where the... I mean, all the mountain people that are listening to this right now, don't hate on it. But I'm a beach guy. And anyone that's been on my podcast knows that if you've been listening to me long enough, you know this as well.

Andrew Jernigan  

I beach in Rio, that was where I was all of 2019 - no, 2020.

Omar

I'm jealous. What's your future plans? And are you going to stay in Philadelphia in the US? Where are you gonna go next?

Andrew Jernigan  

Well, we're a remote company. So that's the joy of that is that I'm not nailed down here. Today, I was out of state all day, very confined, social distance, only saw one person, and kept our distance there. 

We're, you know, with offices in Germany and London and different places around the world. We are not sure where I will be next. Probably, you know, a base here, for sure, for the kids’ sake, especially. But whether it's Bangladesh or Botswana, there's nowhere that is off limits for me. Except maybe, you know, North Korea may not be there as much.

Omar  

A complete location independent lifestyle, man. I love it. I think this is a good transition as well. Why don't you tell my audience what you do?

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah, I'm one of the co-founders and CEO of Insured Nomads. Insured Nomads is actually the first insurtech. So in global benefits, so that's blending technology, with that dormant old industry of insurance, that holds the money of the world. 

If anything breaks or burns down, injured, destroyed insurance steps in and says here's the cash. Even if the bank folds, there's an insurance company behind it to make sure everyone gets their money. 

So sadly, most people feel like they won't even use the insurance they pay for. And if they do, it'll be difficult. So in building an advanced tech enabled product, it has to be accessible to the people. Has to be useful. 

So our policy ID card, that plastic card in your wallet, or in our case, also the digital card in your iPhone, Android wallet is connected to the MasterCard network in our new plans coming out in May, so that makes it easy to pay for your health care. 

But also through tech, accessing counselors through our well being and mental health program within it. Having your ID card right there right. Having a panic button in the app for boots on the ground response for personal safety, political unrest, natural disaster with evacs without a claim, no deductible anything like that for personal safety. There's a virtual bodyguard. 

Building in the Features of airport lounge access when you're traveling. The, you know, I could go on but it's exciting, building in features tech-enabled alongside a robust insurance product that gives you even maternity after 10 months on the policy. Because everyone else is 12 or 24 months on the policy before pregnancy is covered.

Omar  

Real quick, I want to cover that panic button. If you press the red button, do people like come through the windows and the roof and then come down with guns? Like what happens exactly?

Andrew Jernigan  

Not in every house because some houses don't have glass ceilings. My house doesn't have a glass ceiling. Go to the moon where I live. Yeah. So there's no one crashing through the ceiling.

Omar 

Right.

Andrew Jernigan  

So now, it's it is with, you know, the, the top contractors around the world if you're, you know, responding boots on the ground, if you're in, you know, the worst area to the to the best cities. They're going to coordinate with local law enforcement as well as contracted out responders to get you to safety. 

If that means, you know, a hurricane or cyclone has hit an island and you were there for a wedding. Airplanes or airports are closed. That means probably a flight has to be chartered to get you back because that's a covered evac when natural disaster hits. 

So that's unlike anybody in the industry. Because too many of the times people are paying for in health insurance, and they don't get sick. That's great. Didn’t get sick, didn't get injured. 

But adding in cyber security. That's VPN, antivirus protection, malware protection, online password manager, device locator, all these things that... When even when we're in your home country, you should be using a VPN on your cell phone. Because there are many computers, we've got our banking info here. 

So taking care of people in these situations is our priority in a high tech manner. And in a culture of innovation, but also a culture of generosity. We're committed to give generously to combat human trafficking.

Combating human trafficking, it's not just paying legal fees to get someone out of a marriage that they were sold into, or out of a factory worker situation that they didn't choose, or kids working in a mine. It's also providing housing for those kids and schooling for them. When they -  when we get them out of that commercialized labor scenario. 

So as an insurance company, we're not just there to protect the people that have our policies. But it goes beyond. And that's through our partnership with an organization called Not For Sale. 

Omar  

They're a human trafficking...

Andrew Jernigan  

Care and combatant organization. Around the world.

Omar  

Interesting.

Andrew Jernigan  

Yeah. So check them out: Not For Sale. Registered charity in multiple countries. Best rated on Charity Navigator on most of the charity watch sites for their transparency and wise use of money. So in FS, on Instagram and other sites… 

Omar  

I’ve got to say, you’ve built one hell of an infrastructure to be able to pull that off on on with Insured Nomads, all those different features and everything. Like how'd you do it? And this is probably a big question for a very big answer. But....

Andrew Jernigan  

It is. We have a great team that have come from leaders in the industry from SIGMA Global, United Healthcare, AIG, some of the some of the leading companies in the world. And our founding team and executive team comes from Aetna international and others. I also brokered over 25 of the leading companies. 

Once I got into international insurance. It is a dormant, quite apathetic industry that is averse to technology. And the consumer is not. Consumer uses technology for everything. Everybody uses technology for everything in our lives, these says. But sadly, insurance, which we're all reliant on, is an archaic PDF. Or even something mailed through the - through a postal delivery service and it's an envelope that we have to carry around with us always. 

So thinking outside the box, being willing to innovate and build beyond is essential and finding people who can do that wherever they are in the world. Today, I spent time thinking through some of these processes with our managing director in Germany. Phenomenal guy. Yes, in his 20s! Genius. And, you know, we have excellent advisors, including Eric Reese, who is the author of the book Lean Startup. 

Omar

I’ve read that book.

Andrew Jernigan  

He's the CEO of Long-Term Stock Exchange. He's one of our advisors. 

Omar

That's crazy. 

Andrew Jernigan  

It's, I could get on the list of an incredible lineup advisor -  of advisors for our company: Tayo Rockson, who has, as told by nomads podcast, and he wrote the book using...Use Your Difference To Make A Difference. He is on our advisory board to make sure also that diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness is an integral part of our business structure. 

He grew up around the world as a diplomat kid. And he's a consultant for equity in relationships. So when you say how do we do it, it’s through teamwork; it’s through collaboration. It's through wise counsel. And of course, through strong reinsurance partners, underwriters and other aspects that make us financially soluble.

Omar  

Right. That's awesome. And it sounds like an incredible concept too. I’ve  never heard an insurance company do so many different things. So I wish you the best with that, Andrew. That's for sure.

Andrew Jernigan  

Thank you visit us follow us Insured Nomads comm Insured Nomads on Instagram, Twitter, etc. Reach out to us!

Omar  

I want to ask one final question here, though, before we wrap up the podcast. And that is a question that I ask everybody that comes on my show. And since you have so much experience as a nomad, I think it'd be really interesting answer that you could give us. 

But that question is if you had a billboard in space, and every day when the sun rose, everybody could see that billboard in space. And you could have that billboard, say, a sentence or a few sentences. And all 7 billion people on planet Earth would see it every single day. What would you write on it?

Andrew Jernigan  

You are loved. Love yourself so that you can love others.

Omar  

I think a lot of people need to be told that quite often. Very profound.

Andrew Jernigan  

I might change that billboard if you ask me that question again in five minutes. That was spontaneous.

Omar  

I think the spontaneous answer is actually the best ones. So we'll leave it at that one. Thank you so much for coming on today, Andrew.

Andrew Jernigan  

Thank you, Omar. Pleasure.

Omar

What a great episode with Andrew. Sometimes I really sit back and wonder what life would have been like traveling back some 20 years ago. Either way, if you want to learn more from his veteran experience, be sure to go check out his podcast: The New Nomad.