Jack Beguedou provides life insurance advice, shares story behind Hood Sommelier

From helping people with their life insurance plans to hosting his YouTube channel, Jack Beguedou receives joy from personal connections.

An Omaha insurance agent and spirits expert, Beguedou grew up in Togo and moved to the U.S. at age 19 “to pursue the American dream.” Seventeen years later, he is a father and entrepreneur who runs his own insurance agency.

Life is short

Over the past year, Beguedou says COVID-19 has illustrated how quickly change can happen.

For that reason, he says life insurance may be an important consideration for many families.

“It reminds people that life is so fragile and we can never be prepared enough,” Beguedou says. “Having life insurance, protecting yourself, and protecting your family depends on the decision you make today.”

Plan ahead

While some people might dismiss life insurance due to their age or single status, Beguedou says the decision impacts the entire family.

He says people should talk to their insurance agent with policy questions. An agent will look at a person’s gender, age bracket, and lifestyle to determine a plan that works best.

“Chances are, yes, you might not need it today, but you’re eventually going to have a partner and have a kid,” Beguedou says. “You should probably think about having some sort of coverage just in case your life changes.”

Culture and spirits

In addition to advising people about life insurance, Beguedou reviews whiskey brands and offers tasting techniques on his YouTube channel, Hood Sommelier. Along with teaching newcomers about spirits, he says he seeks to bring representation for immigrants and show that anyone can become a whiskey expert.

“I’m the Hood Sommelier because I have no certification,” Beguedou says. “I’ve learned from the ground [up], and I want to bring everyone together to know more about it.”

Make connections

Throughout his life, Beguedou says whiskey has helped him relate to many people. He advises people to build bonds through shared interests.

“In this time, we need unity,” Beguedou says. “Sometimes, you just have to find more ways to connect with people.”

About Jack Beguedou

Millennial entrepreneur, WSET ii Spirits expert, and content creative Toyi “Jack” Beguedou is building community through his spirited digital platform, the Hood Sommelier. Jack is a native of Togo in West Africa who currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska and is a proud “girl-dad” to his daughter Brennan.

Jack is the co-host of YouTube web series MONDAY SUCKS, founder of the trending, TRUTH IS BARREL PROOF PODCAST, SCOTCH SCHOOL education series , AFROFUSION food and spirits pairing series and owner of BEGUEDOU INSURANCE SERVICES LLC.

As a native French-speaking immigrant, Jack resonates with the importance of creating community. His thoughtful and inspiring approach to content development focuses on humanizing the spirited consumer journey experience. Jack enjoys being an educational resource to both consumers and talent in the hospitality community. A community architect at heart, Jack bridges the gap between curious consumers at every level and brands through empowerment and engagement.