Influential Woman · Financial Services – Life Insurance and Financial Advisory
Heather Watkins
Owner / Field Underwriter / Advisor, Watkins Financial Solutions
Gilbert, AZ 85297
Her Story
About Heather
Heather Watkins is the owner, field underwriter, and financial advisor at Watkins Financial Solutions, also known as WFS Life, based in Gilbert, Arizona. With more than 20 years of experience in executive consulting, strategic leadership, and financial services, she brings a diverse professional background and a client-centered approach to her work. Through Watkins Financial Solutions, Heather helps individuals and families explore life insurance options, including mortgage protection, final expense, term life, whole life, indexed universal life insurance, and annuities. Her mission is to help families protect their homes, loved ones, and financial legacies through personalized insurance solutions.
Before focusing on financial services, Heather spent more than six years as an executive consultant with 3W Partners, where she partnered with senior leadership and boards of directors to advance technology, operational, and organizational initiatives. Serving as chief information officer for four years, she oversaw major electronic health record and enterprise resource planning implementations, managed a technology budget exceeding $23 million, and helped generate more than $18 million in hospital savings through strategic contract negotiations and cost-effective planning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped expand virtual healthcare services within six days despite limited internet infrastructure and contributed to converting a casino hotel into a temporary care and lodging facility for affected patients and households.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Arizona State University and draws on her extensive leadership and consulting experience to provide thoughtful, solutions-oriented guidance. She is passionate about helping others make informed decisions that support their long-term security and peace of mind. Her professional philosophy reflects discipline, optimism, and a commitment to assuming positive intentions in every interaction. Beyond her work, Heather supports organizations such as Optimist International, Make-A-Wish, and the Humane Society, demonstrating her dedication to community service and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my natural desire to care for and help others. I believe that every effort to make a positive difference, no matter how small or indirect, creates a ripple effect and eventually comes back to us. Knowing that others may depend on me motivates me to keep moving forward, fulfill my responsibilities, and honor the commitments and promises I make to myself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received from my father was to trust my instincts, consider other people's perspectives, and use my judgment to evaluate the advice they offer. He also taught me that if you show people love and kindness, the world will give that love back to you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women is to focus on your goals rather than labels or differences between men and women. Be authentic, recognize what makes you unique, work hard, and never expect special treatment. Trust your abilities, pursue what you want, and give yourself grace, remembering that success takes time and growth does not happen overnight.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is overcoming skepticism due to the growing number of scams, AI-generated content, and deepfakes. People are understandably cautious when communicating with someone they don't know, making it difficult to establish credibility over the phone. Building trust, demonstrating authenticity, and clearly communicating what is genuine are essential to developing meaningful professional relationships.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Discipline, positivity, optimism, and common sense are the values I prioritize in my work and personal life. I believe in always assuming positive intentions in every conversation and interaction, as this fosters trust and prevents unnecessary misunderstandings. I approach life with optimism and believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt while allowing their actions to reveal their true intentions.
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