Did I Do A Good Job?

Giving Hope To A Mourning Family 

My cell rang at a late hour the other night.  I didn’t answer because I didn’t recognize the number.  A voicemail was left and I listened.  A male identified himself in a tearful voice to inform me that a client of mine had died. This hit me hard because the client was a good friend.  I remember my presentation to him and how we arrived at the amount of coverage.  I remember discussing the health issues discovered in his exam and the decision he had to make when he was approved table 4 thus doubling his monthly premium.  “What do u think?” he asked.  I pointed to the beneficiary, his wife of 25 years.  “How important is she?”  I said.  He accepted the policy.  Last year he called me.  His wife had died after 35 years of marriage.  I handled her 401k and he needed advice on the leftover distribution. On doing this I pointed out the need to change beneficiaries on his policy.  He changed it to his 3 children.  These 3 will receive the amount evenly split 3 ways which is a financial blessing to them because he had gone through all savings in retirement.  He was renting.  This policy was his lifeline to them.

This isn’t a new story for me.  I’ve been a life agent since 1974 selling life insurance every chance I could.  I sold people in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s and up.  They’re now in their 70’s and 80’s and many have passed on.  The dominant question in my mind every time I handle these calls and claims is “Did I do a good job for him/her?”  “Did I keep in touch?”  “Did I advise them correctly?”  Or “did I just make a sale and move on?”

These people/clients made me a good living; provided me and my family with a career.  I’m thankful for them.  My return is looking at the faces of the beneficiaries when I inform them that their loved one cared for them and wanted to leave them with Love and just a little bit more.

We in the life industry are performing great works.  Be proud.  Let’s make them better.