| You have done your research on the various | | | | |
| life insurance products available, and you | | | | As far as which company you choose to go |
| are now ready to sit with an Insurance Agent | | | | with, is entirely up to you. Some people want |
| or Financial Representative to assess your | | | | the comfort of knowing all their products are |
| needs, but where do you start? There are so | | | | with the same company, and that that company |
| many agents, offices and firms, how do you | | | | has the strength and longevity to stand |
| know who can help you? Which company do you | | | | behind what they sell. The financial |
| go with? | | | | representatives and advisors for these large |
| | | | insurance corporations typically sell only |
| First thing first, regardless of which agency | | | | the proprietary products, as their pay |
| or representative you eventually choose, you | | | | structures mandate them to do so. The benefit |
| need to know that they are licensed properly | | | | to this is that you know you are getting a |
| for the insurance products and financial | | | | solid product backed by a solid company. The |
| services you seek. | | | | down-side is that they are usually not able |
| | | | to offer a wide variety of products for the |
| An Insurance Agent starts out by obtaining | | | | sake of price comparing. |
| their "Life, Health and Annuity" license for | | | | |
| the state they practice in. This allows them | | | | Others like the idea of a smaller Insurance |
| to sell term and whole life insurance, health | | | | office because you are able to develop a much |
| insurance and fixed annuities. | | | | more personal relationship with your Agent, |
| | | | and they can cater more to your individual |
| They agent also needs to obtain their Series | | | | needs. The products and services that they |
| 6 (securities) license in order to sell | | | | offer are still backed by large insurance |
| mutual funds, variable life insurance and | | | | corporations, so need to worry about the |
| variable annuities, or any other investment | | | | financial stability of the products you |
| vehicle that houses mutual funds. | | | | purchase, but an independent financial firm, |
| | | | since they are not associated with any one |
| It would be safe to say, that most Insurance | | | | proprietary company, are able to offer a |
| Agents who are associated with large | | | | larger variety of services for the sake of |
| Insurance Firms or have their own | | | | product and price comparison. |
| free-standing Insurance Agency, have these | | | | |
| two licenses in order to sell the wide | | | | When it comes to choosing the right life |
| variety of products these offices offer to | | | | insurance company, or agency; know the facts. |
| satisfy all your needs. | | | | And by knowing a little bit about the |
| | | | professional services that each agent can |
| But you should still do your due diligence | | | | offer, and knowing what type of business you |
| and ask if their licenses are up-to-date and | | | | feel most comfortable with, you will be able |
| that they have not let them expire; as these | | | | to move forward and feel secure with the |
| licenses require a certain amount of | | | | insurance and financial protection you |
| additional education and certification every | | | | ultimately choose for you and your family. |
| 2 years to keep them current. | | | | |
| | | | *** This article is intended for |
| It is also good to know if they have earned | | | | informational purposes only, and should not |
| any additional designations. A person who | | | | replace discussing your individual needs with |
| takes the time to learn and grow within their | | | | your local Insurance Agent or Financial |
| own industry is a person who has chosen this | | | | Representative. |
| as their life's career. And you can feel | | | | |
| confident that they will be specialists | | | | After securing her position as a Top Seller |
| within the Insurance and Financial field, and | | | | in the Insurance and Financial Industry over |
| will be around for years to come. | | | | the course of many years; Christee Fontanez |
| | | | shifted her focus several years ago to |
| Here are the most common designations: | | | | internet marketing and advertising. She |
| | | | combined both professions and now works to |
| CFP -- Certified Financial Planner | | | | assist English and Spanish speaking consumers |
| | | | find an Insurance Agent or Advisor to help |
| CLU -- Chartered Life Underwriter | | | | them secure their family's financial freedom |
| | | | regardless of language preference. |
| ChFC -- Chartered Financial Consultant | | | | |