JR Rivera’s story feels like a sunny San Diego day—bright, energetic and full of possibility. Sitting down with him, you can’t help but catch the spark of his entrepreneurial spirit, a flame ignited long ago by his parents.
“My first sales job was at age 8, selling bread door to door in West Point, Nebraska,” he said with a laugh, recalling how his mom peddled popsicles and tamales while his dad sold hot dogs and tacos. That hustle stuck with him, shaping a man who thrives on building something from scratch.
After serving in the military at 29 Palms—“not as tropical as it sounds,” he noted with a smile—and studying in San Diego, Rivera returned to Nebraska with a hunger to build something both meaningful and all his own.
“I’ve always had that spirit of entrepreneurship,” he said, envisioning a team and culture that feel like home. Insurance wasn’t the exciting career he originally pictured—“No kid says, ‘I want to sell policies!’”—but it clicked. “It’s an essential part of people buying their first home, their biggest asset,” he explained, his voice warming as he described helping clients through life’s milestones.
Rivera’s path wasn’t a straight shot. He switched majors from entrepreneurship to real estate, graduating in 2016 under the GI Bill, thanks to his Marine Corps service. Leading more than 50 Marines at the age of 19 taught him leadership and people skills he now channels into business. After years at State Farm, he teamed up with a friend in 2019 to blend insurance with real estate partnerships, learning the ropes in Nebraska and Arizona. Then, in 2024, he took the leap, launching AXNT Insurance—a name that reflects his goal to “emphasize the difference” in the service the company provides. In an industry that can often feel unexciting, AXNT stands out and steps up.
What sets AXNT apart? As an independent agency, Rivera’s team shops for clients, offering tailored options from 16 companies. “We’re middlemen who do the work for you,” he said, focusing on eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Supporting clients through claims—like last year’s storm chaos—was challenging, seeing so many people he cared about struggle. But he’s grateful he could be there when they needed him most.
“Having somebody there in those terrifying times makes a difference,” he said, his tone earnest.
Rivera lights up when talking about his team. “They make me feel young,” he said with a grin, describing an office buzzing with music and dance moves before coffee even kicks in. Building a crew with “that salsa inside”—a fire he credits for keeping work vibrant and dynamic.
Beyond insurance, Rivera’s new podcast, Mindset 52, spotlights high achievers balancing work and life—a passion project that mirrors his own drive. Reflecting on AXNT’s 2024 wins and 2025 goals, he’s all optimism.
“High energy feeds energy,” he said—and you believe him. Rivera’s not just shopping policies or insuring homes; he’s building a community, one heartfelt connection at a time.
Learn more about AXNT Insurance at axntinsurance.com.