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